From the makers of PHP Poker

PHP poker scripts exist. We built the upgrade.

The modern successor to the PHP poker script, from the team that has run one since 2008.

Thinking of buying a PHP poker script online? Most PHP poker scripts are unmaintained, poll the server for every move and shuffle with rand(). Poker Engine is the platform we built to replace ours: TypeScript, Node.js and real-time WebSockets.

A six-player Texas Hold'em table in play in Poker Engine, with the player's cards and action buttons

A typical PHP poker script vs Poker Engine

The same game, built for how poker sites run today.

Typical PHP poker scriptPoker Engine
StackPHP, MySQL, jQueryTypeScript, Node.js, React
Real-time playPolling and AJAXSocket.IO WebSockets
Card shufflerand() or mt_rand()crypto.randomInt() with Fisher-Yates
ConcurrencyRace conditionsMutex and serializable transactions
TournamentsRarely includedMTT, Sit & Go and satellites
BotsAlmost neverSix strategy profiles
Admin panelBasic35 pages with reporting
SecuritySQL injection riskJWT, 2FA, AES-256
Automated testsUsually none8,400+

Why poker outgrew PHP

We wrote PHP poker software for years. These are the limits we kept running into.

  • Real-time play

    PHP answers one request at a time, so PHP poker scripts poll the server and tables lag. Poker Engine keeps every seat on a WebSocket with guaranteed delivery and a five-minute reconnect window.

  • A fair shuffle

    PHP’s rand() and mt_rand() are not cryptographically secure. Poker Engine shuffles with Node.js crypto.randomInt() and Fisher-Yates.

  • No race conditions

    Two players acting at once can corrupt a PHP table. Poker Engine processes actions behind a mutex and moves money in PostgreSQL serializable transactions.

  • Room to grow

    Stateless PHP rebuilds its context on every request. Poker Engine keeps game state in a long-running Node.js process with Redis, and moves up to a bigger server or Kubernetes when you need it.

  • Tournaments and bots included

    PHP scripts sell tournaments as add-ons and rarely ship bots. Poker Engine includes MTT, Sit & Go and satellites, plus six bot strategies to fill empty tables.

  • Tested, not hoped

    Most PHP scripts ship without tests. Poker Engine runs 8,400+ automated tests and has been stress-tested with 200 tournament players at once.

From PHP to Poker Engine

What moving an existing site involves.

  1. Try the demo

    Play at the tables and open the admin panel to compare it with your PHP script.

  2. Pick a licence and a server

    Starter, Professional or Enterprise, on a server that runs Docker. Shared PHP hosting won’t run it.

  3. Install

    Run the installer, or have us install and configure it for you.

  4. Switch your domain

    Point your domain at the new server and open the lobby.

From PHP Poker to Poker Engine

The same team and the same customers, on a new foundation.

  1. 2008

    PHP Poker

    Where it started. We bought the copyright of PHP Poker from its original developer at phppoker.net.

  2. 2013

    Online Poker Script

    In 2013 PHP Poker became Online Poker Script, with tournaments, add-ons, themes and an admin panel.

  3. Today

    Poker Engine

    A ground-up rebuild in TypeScript. The PHP version is retired: no longer sold or supported.

PHP poker script questions

The questions PHP developers and site owners ask us most.

Can I still buy a PHP poker script from you?

No. Our PHP poker script is retired and no longer sold. If you want to buy a poker script today, Poker Engine replaces it: TypeScript, real-time and self-hosted, from €2.500 a year.

I know PHP. Can I work with TypeScript?

Yes. TypeScript reads much like modern PHP with types, and most PHP developers find their way around the codebase within hours. Docker also removes the Apache or Nginx plus PHP-FPM setup you are used to.

Do you still sell an Ajax poker script?

No. An Ajax poker script asks the server for updates over and over, which is why tables lag. Our PHP and Ajax version is retired; Poker Engine pushes every action to every seat over WebSockets instead.

Why Node.js instead of cheap PHP hosting?

Real-time poker needs WebSockets, Redis and PostgreSQL running all the time, which shared PHP hosting does not offer. A small VPS from about €7 a month is enough to start.

How is this different from CodeCanyon poker scripts?

Those are usually single-developer side projects. Poker Engine has 8,400+ automated tests, a 200-player tournament stress test, compliance tools and a team that has built poker software since 2008.

I run the old PHP version of Online Poker Script. What now?

The PHP version is retired and no longer sold or supported. Get in touch to plan a move to Poker Engine.

Ready to upgrade from PHP?

Open the demo and compare it with the PHP poker script you have now.

Try the live demo Pricing

Have questions about Poker Engine? We reply fast.