I am looking to develop a bitcoin gaming site (not a casino). It will be a simple site where users can play a game for chance to win bitcoin.
Site will need an admin section to view members, communicate with members, issue payouts, etc
Each user will need a wallet on the site.
Need to integrate offers (Ex: Watch this ad to play again).
It is a fairly simple site compared to a bitcoin casino or something like there but there is still a fair amount of development needed. I wanted to know the best way to build this on a budget, and what I could expect to pay.
I have built many websites but my coding experience is limited so I will need to source out a lot of the development.
This is my plan so far:
First would be to design the overall layout of the site. This will just be the HTML design, no actual functionality. All pages will be there (Home page, Member profile, wallet, etc). This will be first.
Then step by step hire developers to integrate functionality into the site.
-Create an admin page
-Create a wallet
-Allow btc to automatically be deposited into their wallet if they win, etc.
Obviously my description is a simplified description with not many details, but I just want to see if I am on the right track to do this most cost effectively and also have the most control. I haven't built a website such as this before but I've had this website concept in my head for a while and I think it is worth pursuing it.
1. do not, never have a hot wallet on your website.
just use mysql databases to store things like a deposit address for your customers. and another database to have a pending withdrawals list. which a separate server/system away from your site manages the actual wallet stuff
(imagine it like fairground rides. the rides never touch the money. they just play with tickets. the tickets are bought/redeemed separately)
2. there are many open source games already around so do something simple and honest first to gain some fame, popularity, loyalty and ofcourse some funds. and then use those funds and loyalty to expand to the main project you really want to have
if you dont have the upfront funds or the expertise. dont run before you can walk so start small
3. as point one mentions. you dont need to worry so much about paying out at every win if you just give them a internal 'balance' that just goes up and down depending on win or lose deposit/withdrawal. they can get funds back when they press for a withdrawal request.
trying to manage dozens/thousands of tx's for every play especially with block time concerns as it means for someone to instaplay by just paying into a address of choice and if it wins funds go back to the address funding it. is messy.
'satoshi dice' was an example of this and it was very messy, and done purely as a means of pushing the network to see what it could handle
aswell as the 20min gap between when the person presses send, you get 1 confirm,(win occurs) you send back, the customer gets 1 confirm.. people wont actually get to 'instaplay' by one tx at a time as its too slow for that. so its better to have a deposit and internal balance and then withdraw when had enough