It doesn’t matter whether it’s an online slot or a classic table game, today’s contemporary iGaming titles are largely powered by industry-leading programming languages. Languages that provide fast, agile, and secure casino gaming on all platforms.
Programming languages are one of the most important elements of developing a functioning, fully responsive slot game. Alongside other game mechanics like random number generators (RNGs) and game engines, the following six languages are most used to provide iGaming entertainment that’s lightyears ahead of the resource-hungry games powered by Flash plugins.
Java
Java is one of the longest-standing programming languages in terms of the modern era of online games development. The creation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) has made it possible for Java developers to design and build casino games capable of being played on any platform. Java has proven particularly popular with open-source iGaming software developers that look to build casino games specifically for Android users.
Java programming language is what’s known as a multi-threaded language. Multithreading relates to the action of creating multiple threads within a single process, resulting in minimization and efficient utilization of computational resources. Since its first iteration in May 1995, Java has undergone a string of versions. The latest, Java 17, was unveiled in September 2021.
HTML5
When it comes to choosing the best online casino operators to play at, mobile compatibility is one of the main deciding factors. This best online casino list contains a string of iGaming operators, like William Hill, Paddy Power, and 888 casino, that offer online casino experiences powered by HTML5 technology. This is the latest iteration of the markup language used to structure and display content on the World Wide Web. Most consumers now look for fully responsive online casinos that offer instant play versions accessible within most web browsers, without the need to download and install native apps.
HTML5 was one of the first programming languages that signalled the end for Adobe Flash. Its ability to define the layout for interactive features of slots and table games – without draining the device’s resource – has resulted in an agile yet hugely effective markup language for the iGaming sector.
JavaScript
JavaScript is what is known as a multi-paradigm programming language for iGaming developers. This means JavaScript is capable of simultaneously underpinning the procedural, functional, and object-oriented paradigms of the latest casino games. The other key strength of the JavaScript programming language from an iGaming development perspective is its compatibility with HTML5 and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
Scripts can be built into HTML5 and operate seamlessly whenever a web page is loaded within a browser. Historically, JavaScript was used exclusively for browser-based gaming but is now more widely utilized across other platforms too. That’s due to the rise of ‘MV frameworks’, which help JavaScript developers to structure their JavaScript apps and promote code reusability that’s essential in iGaming software studios when iterations of successful slot games are released at a later date.
C++
C++ is widely considered to be the world’s most used programming language across all industries. It’s also a popular way to code for iGaming developers too. C++ is the successor to the original C programming language. One of the biggest benefits of C++ is its ability to execute high-detail games, with extensive animations and audio, at breakneck speeds.
One of the main reasons that iGaming development studios look to use C++ is its object-oriented form. Its structured approach provides clarity for programs and, like JavaScript, enables code to be reused to optimize development costs over time. C++ is also seen as a good entry-level for burgeoning iGaming development studios that can later branch out into more complex languages such as Python.
Python
Speaking of Python, as we’ve already mentioned, this is one of the most advanced programming languages possible for any slots developer to master. The number of iGaming titles powered by Python is increasing by the month, given its automation features. As iGaming slot developers build slots that perform the same tasks over and over, Python offers a more efficient way to automate these processes using scripting.
The open-source nature of Python is what makes this an increasingly popular programming language in the iGaming industry, making it free to use and distribute at a commercial level – ideal for start-up studios. As an open-source language, Python has a very active community of developers online. Many of whom contribute to enhancing the language’s modules and libraries, developing new and engaging scripts for iGaming coders.
C#
Last but by no means least, C# remains a solid programming language of choice among iGaming developers, largely due to its uncomplicated nature when compared with C++. In many ways, C# acts as a proving ground for many iGaming developers. Once a programmer can master C#, they are usually able to code in several of the other languages mentioned above.
C# is a language that was founded in 2001 by Microsoft’s Anders Hejlsberg. It has long been used to support web, mobile, and app development requirements in the iGaming industry and many others. As a cross-platform language, C# can also be built in a .NET application and deployed across multiple operating systems (Mac, Windows, and Linux, for example). As the “Swiss Army Knife” of programming, C# has been there for developers since the dawn of the iGaming scene. It’s also one of the most secure languages with type conversions not enabled, which can cause data loss and other costly issues.
Today’s reality is that the iGaming industry is now spoilt for choice in terms of the number of agile, efficient programming languages open to developers. They all have their benefits in delivering the most authentic and immersive online casino experiences.
