When we think about online poker, the first thing that comes to our mind is downloading the poker app to start playing. But what if you really don’t have to go through the hassles of downloading the app, signing up, verifying your identity, and more, before you can start playing? Possible? Yes! With the Telegram Mini App, you can now start playing your favorite games, including poker, in just a few taps.
These games can be easily accessed from the chats section and are lighter, seamless, and instant versions of the poker apps. Telegram Mini Apps are gaining rapid popularity, and a lot of operators are striving to launch their games there.
If you are also among those who are looking to launch their poker game on the Telegram mini app, then this blog will be your perfect guide to making this decision.
What Are Telegram Mini Apps?
Let’s give you a quick rundown of what Telegram Mini Apps are before moving on.
With just a tap, you can access apps and games through Telegram Mini Apps, which are essentially web pages inside the Telegram app. You can access games immediately without installing a separate app, thanks to these mini apps, which show up in the Telegram chat or channel section.
With just a few taps, you can access your preferred poker game, and because of the Telegram app’s large user base, you also have the advantage of reaching a large audience.
Why Launch a Poker Game on Telegram?
The idea of developing a poker game has been prevalent for years, but launching a poker game on Telegram has its own reasons.
1) Telegram has an established and massive user base, which gives you access to millions of potential players.
2) Telegram has an existing payment system and supports payments within the mini app, thus avoiding the hassles of third-party payment integration.
3) There is no need for a separate app installation or going through a lengthy process to access the games. With the Telegram Mini App, players can access the games with just a few taps.
Things to Consider Before Launching Your Poker Game
You will need to consider the following points while you plan your poker app launch.
Social Game or Real Money: First of all, you need to decide the purpose of your poker app, whether it is for social players or regular real money grinders. If you want to go for a real money app, then you should be well aware of Telegram’s ad policies related to gambling and the region where the app will be launched.
Jurisdiction Rules: There are various countries where gambling is illegal, whereas Telegram still exists. You should check for the local jurisdiction’s policies relevant to gambling and proceed accordingly.
Payment Methods: Choosing the payment gateways for deposit/withdrawals or other in-app purchases is also vital. You can opt for Telegram’s internal payment system or integrate external payment gateways, or both, depending on your requirements.
RNG Certification: To gain the trust of players, you will need to get the RNG certified by renowned labs. When the RNG is backed by a reputable name, it instills a lot of confidence in players.
What You Need Before Launching
Now that you have decided to create a poker game on the Telegram mini app, there are a few things that need to be done before going to the market.
A Stable Poker Game: First things first, a stable poker game that works seamlessly on all devices is a must. Most importantly, the game should run smoothly on mobile browsers, as Mini Apps are web pages inside Telegram.
Telegram Bot: This will be the route that your players will take to play your poker game within the Telegram app. Players won’t be required to search for your game on the app store. Instead, by clicking on your bot, they can simply access the game and start playing.
Scalable Server: You should have a scalable server to accommodate an increasing number of players and ensure that all features function smoothly, even under an immense load. Always avoid the embarrassment of getting into situations where your game crashes, especially when there are tons of players playing on it.
Security: The poker game should be safe, with advanced security systems in place and an RNG certified by reputable labs, ensuring fair gameplay for all players. A fair and secure platform is at the top of every player’s wish list, and providing the same can help you boost retention.
Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Poker Game on Telegram
1) Start with Design
The first step is to design the user experience. You want your poker game to look great and function smoothly. Start by creating prototypes to get a sense of how the game will flow. Focus on a simple, user-friendly design—players should be able to easily understand how to navigate the game.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Simplicity: Keep the user interface (UI) clean, and don’t overwhelm players with too many options.
Liveliness: While keeping it simple, you can add fun animations and smooth transitions to make the game engaging. Smooth animations when dealing cards or announcing winners add to the excitement of the game.
Mobile Optimization: Ensure that your design works well on different screen sizes since Telegram Mini Apps are typically used on mobile devices.
2) Set Up Your Telegram Bot
Create a Telegram bot and set it up to open your Mini App. For metadata and manifest setup, follow the mini app docs.
Here’s how to do it:
Create the bot: Head to the BotFather on Telegram and follow the prompts to create a bot. You’ll get an API token that will help you integrate the bot with the Telegram Mini App.
Set up the bot: Once your bot is created, you need to configure it so that it can open your Mini App. This involves registering the bot within the Telegram Mini App system and setting up metadata and manifest files.
Manifest setup: Follow the official Telegram Mini App docs to correctly set up your manifest file. This file provides important information about your app, like the title, description, and how it should behave.
3) Integrate Game Logic
This is where the magic happens—game logic. For your poker game to run smoothly, it’s crucial that game rules like shuffling cards, awarding pots, and handling blinds are executed by the server. This ensures that the game remains consistent and fair for all players.
Here’s what to consider:
Server-side control: The server should be the one that controls all the rules of the game, including dealing cards, calculating the pot size, and managing the betting rounds.
Sync with the client: Ensure that the game state is correctly synchronized with the client app. This prevents issues like players seeing outdated game information.
Fair play: You’ll need a robust system for shuffling cards and making sure that all game logic is transparent and reliable.
4) Integrate Telegram Mini App API
Now that your bot and game logic are set, it’s time to integrate the Telegram Mini App API into the game. The API helps you communicate with users, get their data, and send structured messages.
User data: Use the API to fetch user data (like player IDs) and use it to personalize the experience. For example, you can show a player’s game history or leaderboard rankings.
Main Button: Set up the Main Button on the Telegram interface, which will allow players to easily access the game.
Pop-ups and sendData: Utilize pop-ups to show in-game notifications, like when it’s a player’s turn. You can also use the sendData method to send structured messages, such as game results or updates.
5) Payment Methods
If the app is going to be a real-money poker app, decide if you want to opt for Telegram’s internal payment system or third-party external payment gateways that can be integrated with the Telegram mini app.
6) Testing
Once your app is ready, thoroughly test it to cover all aspects and features, ensuring everything works correctly before going live on the Telegram mini app.
Play through the game: Test all the game mechanics like card dealing, pot awarding, betting rounds, etc.
Bot interactions: Verify that the bot responds to player actions correctly and that the game loads without issues.
Payment tests: If you have real-money transactions, make sure payments go through smoothly and securely.
7) Soft Launch
A soft launch is your chance to test the game with a small group of players before the full launch. This could be a beta test among friends, colleagues, or a limited group of users. This step helps you catch any issues that might not have been apparent during internal testing.
8) Going Live
Once you are confident that the app is stable and functions seamlessly, you can now launch your app anywhere you legally can. Promote it on Social Media and Telegram Channels to reach as many players as possible.
If you want to avoid the hassle of developing a poker game yourself for a Telegram mini app, partnering with Creatiosoft is the perfect solution. Our expert poker game developers for hire make it easy to bring your ideas to life on Telegram.
Wrap Up
It is a bright idea to build a poker game on the Telegram mini app, where players can avoid the hassles of downloading an app and going through all other formalities before starting to play. However, make sure all aspects mentioned in this blog are kept in mind and develop a poker game that is user-friendly, fun, and fair.
