Case Study - Bringing Casino Gameplay to Life: Animated Screens for Punt Gaming's Poker App

Overview

Client: Punt Gaming LLC
Industry: Casino Technology / Live Poker
Project Type: Real-Time Mobile Application Enhancement
Platform: Android tablets for live poker tournaments

Tech Stack

• Frontend: React Native (Player App)
• Backend: Laravel
• Database: MySQL
• Real-Time Sync: WebSockets
• Animation: LottieFiles, LottieLab
• Build Management: APK integration & deployment pipelines

Services Provided

• Product design & animation customization
• Backend feature development & API integrations
• APK updates and embedded asset management
• Real-time animation trigger system
• Quality assurance & staging environment setup
• Full stack implementation and rollout

---

The Project

Punt Gaming’s core platform delivers live Progressive Knockout Poker experiences through a multi-device system — including tablets used by players at each table. After previously building their full system (Tournament Director, Dealer, and Player apps), our latest collaboration focused on elevating player engagement by adding animated visual feedback with synchronized sound for critical game moments.

Punt Gaming’s vision was clear: create an immersive experience where tablets light up with excitement whenever a player gets knocked out, earns a bounty, or when a new round begins.

---

The Challenge

Until now, player tablets showed static content during gameplay. Punt Gaming wanted something more exciting and visually responsive to real-time events. This meant:

• Triggering different animations for different game states (e.g., KO, Bounty, No Player).
• Syncing those animations with live events driven by the backend.
• Ensuring animations and sound work consistently on every device, without relying on live streaming or external internet calls.
• Allowing customization at the casino level (e.g., logos, backgrounds, text styles).
• Managing the whole system through a user-friendly backend interface.

---

Our Solution

We designed and implemented a robust templating system that delivers custom animated screens with sound directly on each player's tablet, synced with live gameplay events.

Here’s how we made it happen:

1. Animation & Design

• Created multiple animated sequences using LottieFiles and LottieLab, including custom assets themed around poker (e.g., "Spades Poker House").
• Customized elements like background colors, text overlays, casino logos, and sound effects for full branding control.

2. Integration with the Player App

• Embedded animation assets directly into the Android APK to ensure instant playback and offline performance.
• Added support for dynamic template selection (e.g., animated vs. default modes).
• Tailored each animation to the tablet’s resolution for a seamless experience.

3. Backend & Template Management

• Developed a new admin interface to manage animation templates.
• Enabled casino admins to:
  • Upload logos
  • Select template backgrounds
  • Attach sounds
  • Assign templates per casino, room, or table
• Implemented a template builder and template seeder to auto-assign default designs to new casinos.

4. Real-Time Functionality

• Connected the animations to backend events through WebSockets so that:
  • A knockout triggers a KO animation
  • A bounty triggers a bounty animation
  • A player exit triggers a “No Player” screen
• Added animation text controls and sound playback on event trigger.

5. Testing & Deployment

• Built a staging environment to test animations with the production API.
• Deployed debug versions for internal testing and pushed updated builds for rollout.
• Ensured sound synchronization and UI responsiveness on all active devices.

---

The Impact

With this animation system in place, Punt Gaming now delivers a visually exciting poker experience that players can feel — not just play.

• Real-time animations bring energy and clarity to live events.
• Sound effects boost excitement and reinforce game progress.
• Customization tools empower casinos to reflect their brand across all touchpoints.
• The entire system is modular, so new themes or seasonal animations can be added anytime.

---

The Results

The new visual layer gives Punt Gaming's poker platform a lively and immersive edge — making each knockout or bounty moment feel more personal and celebratory. This update strengthens user engagement at live tables and paves the way for future enhancements like seasonal themes or animated branding per venue.