Demo modes and test environments on platforms
Introduction
Demo modes and test environments allow operators and developers to safely validate game mechanics, payments and integrations without risking "combat" data. Properly built sandbox infrastructure speeds up the release of features, improves quality and facilitates certification of games and compliance modules.
1. Test Environment Architecture
Isolation by levels:
2. Demo mode for players
1. Feature flag `demoMode=true`
Enables the "Try for free" button in the UI.
Starts games with virtual currency, without real transactions.
2. Demo Wallet Account
At the first entrance, there are tens of thousands of "tokens."
Auto-reset balance at threshold or timer.
3. Restrictions
Access only to the demo provider slot directory.
Output and VIP programs are not available.
4. UI indicators
Badge "DEMO" on the backs, plate over the balance, disabling marketing triggers.
3. Test accounts and data
Seed-scripts
Hundreds of test players are generated with different statuses ('verified', 'vip', 'highRoller').
Fill in the history of transactions and tournaments to verify analytics.
Anonymization of production-snaps
When loading a staging database, all PII fields are replaced with aliases.
Synthetic payment records instead of real PSP webhooks.
Shared fixtures
JSON files with typical scripts (failed deposit, successful spin, bonus activation).
4. Integration and payment testing
1. Sandbox PSP mode
All requests to '/payments/sandbox/* 'return predictable statuses (' approved ',' declined ').
Imitation of 3-D Secure flow and Webhook callback with HMAC signature.
2. Mock provider services
Start local HTTP services that respond to '/slots/{ id }/spin 'and '/live/*'.
Configured through OpenAPI specifications and Pact contracts.
5. CI/CD and test automation
End-to-End tests
Cypress/Playwright: checking demo spins, registration, quests.
Smoke-tests
After sending to staging, the machine launches basic scripts: login, spin, deposit, within.
Contract testing
Pact tests for integrations with PSP and game providers.
6. Security and access control
Restricting network access
Sandbox environment in a separate VPC with VPN access only for the dev command.
RBAC
Test accounts can only see demo data, do not have rights to change config flags.
Audit-logs
All sandbox traffic is logged separately and cleared monthly.
7. Data monitoring and reset
Health checks
'/health/demo ', '/health/staging' return the status and timestamp of the last reset.
Scheduled resets
Cron jabs reset demo balances and roll test data into the nightly window.
Alarms
PagerDuty notifications when data migration fails or a deployment fails.
Conclusion
Effective demo modes and test environments on online casino platforms provide safe and fast testing of all features from spins to payments to tournaments. Clear isolation of environments, Feature flags, mock services and CI/CD automation guarantee high quality releases without risking production and player privacy.
Demo modes and test environments allow operators and developers to safely validate game mechanics, payments and integrations without risking "combat" data. Properly built sandbox infrastructure speeds up the release of features, improves quality and facilitates certification of games and compliance modules.
1. Test Environment Architecture
Isolation by levels:
- Development: local containers with simplified dependencies and in-memory databases.
- Staging/Test: a mirror copy of production, but with snapshots of anonymized data.
- Sandbox/Demo: open to clients for trial spins; periodically reset data.
- Deployment via CI/CD: each commit to test and staging branches automatically creates a new version of the environment.
2. Demo mode for players
1. Feature flag `demoMode=true`
Enables the "Try for free" button in the UI.
Starts games with virtual currency, without real transactions.
2. Demo Wallet Account
At the first entrance, there are tens of thousands of "tokens."
Auto-reset balance at threshold or timer.
3. Restrictions
Access only to the demo provider slot directory.
Output and VIP programs are not available.
4. UI indicators
Badge "DEMO" on the backs, plate over the balance, disabling marketing triggers.
3. Test accounts and data
Seed-scripts
Hundreds of test players are generated with different statuses ('verified', 'vip', 'highRoller').
Fill in the history of transactions and tournaments to verify analytics.
Anonymization of production-snaps
When loading a staging database, all PII fields are replaced with aliases.
Synthetic payment records instead of real PSP webhooks.
Shared fixtures
JSON files with typical scripts (failed deposit, successful spin, bonus activation).
4. Integration and payment testing
1. Sandbox PSP mode
All requests to '/payments/sandbox/* 'return predictable statuses (' approved ',' declined ').
Imitation of 3-D Secure flow and Webhook callback with HMAC signature.
2. Mock provider services
Start local HTTP services that respond to '/slots/{ id }/spin 'and '/live/*'.
Configured through OpenAPI specifications and Pact contracts.
5. CI/CD and test automation
End-to-End tests
Cypress/Playwright: checking demo spins, registration, quests.
Smoke-tests
After sending to staging, the machine launches basic scripts: login, spin, deposit, within.
Contract testing
Pact tests for integrations with PSP and game providers.
6. Security and access control
Restricting network access
Sandbox environment in a separate VPC with VPN access only for the dev command.
RBAC
Test accounts can only see demo data, do not have rights to change config flags.
Audit-logs
All sandbox traffic is logged separately and cleared monthly.
7. Data monitoring and reset
Health checks
'/health/demo ', '/health/staging' return the status and timestamp of the last reset.
Scheduled resets
Cron jabs reset demo balances and roll test data into the nightly window.
Alarms
PagerDuty notifications when data migration fails or a deployment fails.
Conclusion
Effective demo modes and test environments on online casino platforms provide safe and fast testing of all features from spins to payments to tournaments. Clear isolation of environments, Feature flags, mock services and CI/CD automation guarantee high quality releases without risking production and player privacy.
