Host options: server, cloud, VPS
Introduction
Hosting infrastructure is the basis of the operability, speed and reliability of the casino platform. Three main options: dedicated server, VPS and cloud. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of performance, management, pricing and scalability. Below is a deep analysis that helps you choose the best option for a specific business case.
1. Dedicated server (On-Premise/Colocation)
1. 1 Description
A physical machine that is entirely rented or placed in a data center. The owner gets full access to the hardware and network infrastructure.
1. 2 Benefits
Maximum performance - All CPU, memory, and disk resources are available without neighbors.
Control: flexible configuration of BIOS, RAID, network, firewall and hardware security modules.
Projected costs: fixed rent and energy costs.
1. 3 Disadvantages
Scalability: Adding capacity requires purchasing a new server and configuring (days-weeks).
Fault tolerance: you need to build a cluster of several servers and balancers, which complicates the architecture.
Administration: physical support, hardware replacement, cooling and power responsibility.
1. 4 Recommendations
Ideal for high-load game engines and RNG modules, where ultra-low latency and absolute control over hardware security are important.
2. Virtual Private Server (VPS)
2. 1 Description
A hypervisor on a physical host divides resources into multiple virtual machines. Each VPS receives a guaranteed minimum of CPU, RAM and disk.
2. 2 Benefits
Quick start: deployment in minutes through the provider panel.
Isolation: independence from neighboring VMs, native OS and root access.
Cost: cheaper than a dedicated server with moderate loads.
Partial scalability - Increase VPS (scale-up) resources vertically without changing physical equipment.
2. 3 Disadvantages
Neck of bottleneck: with high load on the host, "hot" use of shared resources is possible.
Limited scalability - Migration to a more powerful VPS may require migration and configuration.
Fault tolerance - Typically one VPS per physical device - single point of failure risk.
2. 4 Recommendations
Suitable for medium-sized services: API layers, administrator panels, auxiliary microservices. A good starting point before moving to the cloud.
3. Cloud Hosting (IaaS/PaaS)
3. 1 Description
Virtual machines or containers run in the cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), where the provider provides infrastructure, network, scaling, and often part of the system software.
3. 2 Benefits
Scale-Adds/removes instances under load (Auto Scaling) automatically.
Fault tolerance: distribution by availability zones and regions, built-in balancer.
Actual payment: payment only for the resources used; possibility of spot instances for batch tasks.
Managed services: databases, message queue, caches, CDN, serverless functions - all without administration "under the hood."
3. 3 Disadvantages
Variable cost: During peak periods, costs can rise more sharply than in a fixed model.
Difficulty forecasting: paying for network traffic, I/O operations and storage affects the bill.
Security control: trust the provider, the need to correctly configure IAM, VPC, encryption and logs.
3. 4 Recommendations
Ideal for microservice architectures, real-time gaming sessions, dealer streaming and analytics pipelines. Quick display of new features and global coverage "closer to the player."
4. Comparison table
5. Selection depending on scenarios
Critical modules (RNG, engines) → a dedicated server.
Medium loads (API layers, admin panel) → VPS.
Peak sessions, global clusters, real-time → cloud.
Hybrid approach: Dedicated "heart" and cloud fronts/microservices to balance performance and flexibility.
Conclusion
The choice of hosting for online casinos is a compromise between control, launch speed, scalability, fault tolerance and cost. Dedicated server for maximum performance and security, VPS for fast start and reasonable price, cloud for unmatched flexibility and built-in services. Optimally combine them in a hybrid architecture, distributing the load according to the requirements of each platform component.
Hosting infrastructure is the basis of the operability, speed and reliability of the casino platform. Three main options: dedicated server, VPS and cloud. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of performance, management, pricing and scalability. Below is a deep analysis that helps you choose the best option for a specific business case.
1. Dedicated server (On-Premise/Colocation)
1. 1 Description
A physical machine that is entirely rented or placed in a data center. The owner gets full access to the hardware and network infrastructure.
1. 2 Benefits
Maximum performance - All CPU, memory, and disk resources are available without neighbors.
Control: flexible configuration of BIOS, RAID, network, firewall and hardware security modules.
Projected costs: fixed rent and energy costs.
1. 3 Disadvantages
Scalability: Adding capacity requires purchasing a new server and configuring (days-weeks).
Fault tolerance: you need to build a cluster of several servers and balancers, which complicates the architecture.
Administration: physical support, hardware replacement, cooling and power responsibility.
1. 4 Recommendations
Ideal for high-load game engines and RNG modules, where ultra-low latency and absolute control over hardware security are important.
2. Virtual Private Server (VPS)
2. 1 Description
A hypervisor on a physical host divides resources into multiple virtual machines. Each VPS receives a guaranteed minimum of CPU, RAM and disk.
2. 2 Benefits
Quick start: deployment in minutes through the provider panel.
Isolation: independence from neighboring VMs, native OS and root access.
Cost: cheaper than a dedicated server with moderate loads.
Partial scalability - Increase VPS (scale-up) resources vertically without changing physical equipment.
2. 3 Disadvantages
Neck of bottleneck: with high load on the host, "hot" use of shared resources is possible.
Limited scalability - Migration to a more powerful VPS may require migration and configuration.
Fault tolerance - Typically one VPS per physical device - single point of failure risk.
2. 4 Recommendations
Suitable for medium-sized services: API layers, administrator panels, auxiliary microservices. A good starting point before moving to the cloud.
3. Cloud Hosting (IaaS/PaaS)
3. 1 Description
Virtual machines or containers run in the cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), where the provider provides infrastructure, network, scaling, and often part of the system software.
3. 2 Benefits
Scale-Adds/removes instances under load (Auto Scaling) automatically.
Fault tolerance: distribution by availability zones and regions, built-in balancer.
Actual payment: payment only for the resources used; possibility of spot instances for batch tasks.
Managed services: databases, message queue, caches, CDN, serverless functions - all without administration "under the hood."
3. 3 Disadvantages
Variable cost: During peak periods, costs can rise more sharply than in a fixed model.
Difficulty forecasting: paying for network traffic, I/O operations and storage affects the bill.
Security control: trust the provider, the need to correctly configure IAM, VPC, encryption and logs.
3. 4 Recommendations
Ideal for microservice architectures, real-time gaming sessions, dealer streaming and analytics pipelines. Quick display of new features and global coverage "closer to the player."
4. Comparison table
| Option | Dedicated Server | VPS | Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Maximum | High (host-specific) | Flexible but virtualized |
| Scalability | Slow (hardware) | Vertical scaling | auto-scale |
| Fault tolerance | Self-configuration | Requires clustering | Built-in (multi-AZ) |
| Management | Full Control | Root Access, Partial Control | Managed Infrastructure |
| Startup speed | Days | Minutes | Seconds-minutes |
| Cost | Fixed High | Moderate | Actual (Dynamic) |
| Security | Hardware | Virtual isolation | Shared responsibility |
5. Selection depending on scenarios
Critical modules (RNG, engines) → a dedicated server.
Medium loads (API layers, admin panel) → VPS.
Peak sessions, global clusters, real-time → cloud.
Hybrid approach: Dedicated "heart" and cloud fronts/microservices to balance performance and flexibility.
Conclusion
The choice of hosting for online casinos is a compromise between control, launch speed, scalability, fault tolerance and cost. Dedicated server for maximum performance and security, VPS for fast start and reasonable price, cloud for unmatched flexibility and built-in services. Optimally combine them in a hybrid architecture, distributing the load according to the requirements of each platform component.
