My experience as a software Engineer in real money gaming companies

I spent a significant part of my software engineering career working at real Money gaming companies in India’s top largest three real money gaming companies and it has millions of users . On the surface, it looked like a dream job — massive scale, millions of users, high concurrency systems, real-time games, digital wallets, and a business that runs 24/7.

But the deeper I got, the more I realized — this industry isn’t what it seems.

This post isn’t a rant. It’s a candid reflection — a summary of my learnings, insights, and the realities of building tech in a morally grey space. If you’re a developer considering joining a real money gaming company or thinking of starting your own RMG app, I hope this helps you see what you might be walking into.

The Tech Was Intense, and That Was the Good Part

Let’s start with the good.

I got to work on: • Real-time game engines with socket connections, state management, and anti-fraud logic. • In-app wallets and secure payment gateways with cash flow audits and transaction atomicity. • Scaling apps to handle millions of concurrent sessions with precise latency thresholds. • Integrations for push notifications, referrals, tournaments, jackpots, and regional bonuses. • State-wise access restrictions, KYC/AML compliance, and robust user verification flows.

It was a firehose of technical growth — the kind of engineering most developers dream of. But then came the uncomfortable parts — the ones that make you sit back and ask, What am I really building?

What They Don’t Tell You: The Harsh Truths of Real Money Gaming

1. ⁠The Product Isn’t the App. It’s Addiction.

The real product in RMG isn’t the game — it’s the behavior loop. The dopamine rush, the instant rewards, the promise of easy money. The UI/UX is carefully crafted to trigger impulse. You build notifications, leaderboards, “bonus” systems — all aimed at keeping users in the loop.

And users? They lose money more than they win. You see it in the data, and after a while, you can’t unsee it.

2. Revenue > People, Every Time

The business prioritizes DAUs, deposits, and burn rates — not employees. You’re expected to ship fast, iterate even faster, and work late nights before big IPL campaigns or regional tournaments.

I’ve seen brilliant engineers burn out. Mental health isn’t a metric here — only revenue is.

3. There’s No Real Innovation — Just Optimization of Loss

There’s no excitement of “what new problem are we solving today?” Instead, it’s: • Can we improve the first deposit conversion rate? • Can we retain players who lost yesterday? • How do we get users to play one more game before they quit?

You’re not creating — you’re optimizing human weakness.

4. Morally Grey Becomes Normal (And That’s Dangerous)

Initially, it bothered me — watching deposit patterns from Tier-2/Tier-3 users where people were clearly losing beyond what they could afford. But over time, you get numb.

That’s the scariest part. You normalize manipulation. You build “spinner wheels” and bonus mechanics that feel like they belong in a casino, not an app. You work on a leaderboard feature that subtly encourages the player who already lost Rs. 10,000 to “climb back up.”

And you ship it because that’s the business.

5. The Legal Ground Is Shaky at Best

RMG is always one court ruling away from collapse. State governments ban and unban games overnight. You’re constantly tweaking code to enable or disable gameplay in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana, etc.

The business survives not on stability, but on agility under pressure. That might sound thrilling, but it’s exhausting and risky.

Why I’m Leaving (And Why I’m Not Coming Back)

I’m leaving because I want to build something that adds real value to people’s lives. Something that helps, not exploits. I don’t want to spend another year creating clever features that make losing money feel fun.

I’ve realized that growth isn’t just technical — it’s also moral. What you build, who you build for, and why you build it — these things matter. And no compensation package is worth that compromise long-term.

I’m leaving because the cost of staying is my sense of purpose.

Should You Join or Build a Real Money Gaming industry in future?

My honest advice: No. Don’t.

Whether you’re considering joining as an employee or launching your own RMG startup, ask yourself: • Do you want to build a product that helps society or profits from addiction? • Are you okay building systems that are designed to be addictive, with psychological hooks to keep users engaged? • Can you build a sustainable, legally stable business in a country where laws are unpredictable and sentiment can shift overnight?

Final Thoughts: Build With Integrity

As engineers, we hold power. The power to build things that can change lives — for better or worse. Not every line of code is neutral. Some enable addiction. Some empower progress. Choose wisely.

My time in the real money gaming industry taught me a lot — about tech, scale, systems — but also about myself.

And I’ve made my choice. I choose to build things that matter.

Thanks for reading.