What is the best technology to build an online gambling / poker system ?

Question

What technology / software / framework could be the best match to build an online gambling / poker system (website, standalone applications) ? Would you recommend Java/J2EE, .Net / Erlang ? Thank you.

Answer 1

Use the language you know best. Simple as that.

Answer 2

Any selection for a framework/language should be based on money and/or your own experience. The probably all get the thing done, and Java developers will say Java, and .NET developers will say .NET.

Answer 3

I would recommend .NET technologies. If anyone has an updated PC they will have a version of .net installed as an update. Everyone will be able to run you application locally. Its easy to setup servers, just the other day I was trying to find some good tutorials for adding a website and I just needed to click a button. But these are high cost solutions, not so good for a start-up.

If you have more of a php open source background use a php/apache solution, with a java client for local applications.

Answer 4

Approach iPoker/PlayTech and ask to run a skin of their client. Your player base will be shared with other rooms who use the system, so that your room will instantly have critical mass. Building your own poker room and client at this point in the game would be very difficult given the entrenched competition.

http://www.ipoker.com/index.php

Their are significant scaling, performance, and security issues to consider so make sure that you plan for these if you do intend to go your own way.

Answer 5

Use Adobe Flex. It has everything:| 1.Penetration of runtime (Flash Player) is about 99%, comes with a rich library of components, robust support of video - you can create live poker, fast communication protocols and support of all popular server-side technologies.

Answer 6

I never wager real money in a web browser. The Flex idea would be nice to try for a game but if it was to ever be a real money site I'd make it an AIR application.

Answer 7

.Net for sure. What's been done in .net with Windows Presentation foundation to create rich graphical userinterfaces is amazing. The fact that the WPF code is in a very high grade reusable in Silverligt makes it a perfect solution for both web and desktop. Combine this with the ability to communicate with the server wit Windows Communications Foundation and you've got the royal.

Answer 8

I think we should ask this Erlang guy.

http://www.wagerlabs.com/blog/2008/09/openpoker-the-most-scalable-poker-server-in-the-world.html