Common Workflows

Step-by-step recipes for the most common site operator tasks.

1. Setting Up a New Site from Scratch

When you first deploy the poker engine, follow this sequence to get your site ready for players.

Step 1 — Log In as Administrator

Use the bootstrap admin username admin with the first-install password configured in ADMIN_INITIAL_PASSWORD.

Change the password immediately after first login:

1. Click your username in the top-right corner
2. Go to Profile Settings
3. Enter a strong new password and save

Step 2 — Configure Basic Settings

Go to Settings > General:

• Set your site title and description under SEO Settings
• Configure avatars and the lobby melody

Go to Settings > Game:

• Review the Rake Settings
• Set your Default Currency under Currency Settings

Step 3 — Configure Email (SMTP)

Go to Settings > Server, in the Email Delivery (SMTP) section:

• Turn on Enable SMTP
• Enter your SMTP host, port, encryption, username, and password, or start from a Provider Preset
• Enter a From Address and From Name
• Click Test Connection to verify the connection

Without working email, players cannot confirm accounts or receive password reset links.

Step 4 — Set Up Payment Providers

Go to Settings > Cashier:

• Click Add Provider and enter the API credentials for each payment method you want to offer
• Turn on the Deposits and/or Withdrawals toggle on each provider card
• Set deposit and withdrawal limits under Limits Configuration

Step 5 — Create User Groups

The default groups (Administrators, Moderators, Players, Bots) are created automatically. Create additional groups if needed:

1. Go to User Management > Groups
2. Click Create Group
3. Name the group and assign a permission level
4. Optionally configure feature overrides for fine-grained control

Step 6 — Create Your First Cash Game

See the "Creating Your First Cash Game" workflow below.

Step 7 — Enable Bonuses (Optional)

1. Go to Settings > Features
2. Enable the Bonuses feature toggle
3. Create your welcome bonus (see "Creating a First Deposit Bonus" below)

Step 8 — Create Bot Players (Optional)

If you want automated players to keep tables active:

1. Go to Bots Management > Bots
2. Create bot accounts and configure their strategy profiles
3. Assign bots to your tables

Step 9 — Test the Full Player Experience

Before opening to real players:

1. Create a test player account from Users > Create User
2. Log in as that player from a different browser
3. Make a test deposit
4. Join a table and play a few hands
5. Request a test withdrawal and approve it from the admin panel

2. Creating Your First Cash Game

1. Go to Tables
2. Click Create Table
3. Configure the table:
   • Name — a recognizable name shown to players
   • Game Type — Texas Hold’em, Omaha, etc.
   • Stakes — set small blind and big blind
   • Min/Max Buy-In — how much players must bring to the table
   • Min/Max Players — seat count
   • Rake — percentage taken from each pot
4. Click Create Table
5. The table is now listed on the lobby and players can join

To pause a table temporarily, click the pause icon. To resume, click play. To permanently remove it, use the delete button.

3. Creating Your First Tournament

1. Go to Tournaments
2. Click Create Tournament
3. Configure:
   • Name and description
   • Game Type and Variant (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, etc.)
   • Buy-In Amount — how much players pay to enter
   • Starting Stack — chips each player starts with
   • Blind Structure — how blinds escalate over time
   • Registration opens/closes — time window for sign-ups
   • Tournament start time
   • Prize structure — how winnings are distributed
4. Click Create Tournament
5. When the registration window opens, players can sign up from the lobby
6. At start time (or manually via the Manage button), launch the tournament

To manually start, pause, or cancel a tournament, click the manage icon next to it in the tournament list.

4. Creating Your First Deposit Bonus

1. Ensure the Bonuses feature is enabled: Settings > Features > Bonuses
2. Go to Marketing & Promotions > Bonuses
3. Click Create Bonus
4. Fill in:
   • Description: Welcome Bonus - 50% First Deposit
   • Trigger Event: On First Deposit
   • Bonus Type: Real Money (USD)
   • Amount: 50% (gives players 50% of their first deposit)
   • Start Date: today
   • End Date: your campaign end date (e.g., 3 months from now)
   • Active: checked
5. Click Create Bonus

The bonus fires automatically the next time a player makes their first deposit.

5. Handling a Problem Player

Investigating a Complaint

1. Go to Users
2. Search for the player by username or email
3. Click the pencil icon to open their profile
4. Review their balance, group membership, and flags

For deeper investigation, use the history endpoint to review their recent transactions, sessions, and gameplay.

Blocking a Player

If a player is causing issues:

1. Find them in Users
2. Click the lock icon on their row
3. Confirm the action

The player can no longer log in. They still have their balance on record. Block is reversible — click the open-lock icon to unblock.

Freezing a Player (Fraud Investigation)

For suspected fraud where you need to fully suspend account access during review:

1. Use the freeze account API: POST /api/v1/admin/users/:userId/freeze
2. Provide an optional reason (e.g., "Suspected bonus abuse — under review")
3. The system automatically notifies the player by email

The player cannot log in, use active sessions, play, withdraw, or transfer until the account is unfrozen.

Adjusting a Balance (Correction or Compensation)

If a player was incorrectly charged or deserves compensation:

1. Go to Finance > Balance Adjustment and search for the player
2. Choose Add Funds or Remove Funds
3. Select:
   • Currency: Real Money (USD) / Virtual Chips / Tournament Tickets
   • Amount: exact amount to add or remove
   • Reason: for example, Correction or Compensation
   • Additional Notes: explain why
4. Enter your admin password to confirm
5. The adjustment is logged in the audit trail

6. Enabling Maintenance Mode

To take the site offline temporarily (e.g., for updates):

1. Go to Settings > Features
2. Turn on the Maintenance Mode toggle. It is saved as soon as you click it.

Players attempting to visit the site see the maintenance page instead of the lobby. Admin accounts can still log in.

To restore access, disable the Maintenance Mode toggle.

7. Verifying a Player’s Identity (KYC)

When a player submits a verification request:

1. Go to Content > Messages > Verification Requests
2. Unread requests appear with a left border highlight and bold text
3. Click the eye icon to open the request details
4. Review the player’s submission (their message may include document information)
5. Choose:
   • Approve — marks the player as verified (TIER_1 level), enabling withdrawals or whatever features require verification on your site
   • Reject — sends a rejection with an optional reason; the player can re-apply
6. Optionally type a response message to send to the player

Verified players gain access to features gated by the isVerified flag (typically withdrawals and higher deposit limits).

8. Processing a Withdrawal Request

When a player requests a withdrawal:

1. Go to Content > Messages > Withdrawal Requests
2. New requests appear in the Pending filter
3. Click the eye icon on the request to review it
4. Verify:
   • The player has sufficient balance
   • The player is verified (if your site requires verification for withdrawals)
   • The withdrawal method is valid
5. Process the payment through your payment provider manually or via their API
6. Return to the request in the admin panel:
   • Enter the External Transaction ID from your payment processor (for tracking)
   • Optionally write a message to the player
   • Click Approve to complete the withdrawal
7. The player’s balance is reduced and the request is marked COMPLETED

To reject a withdrawal:

1. Click Reject in the withdrawal action modal
2. Enter an optional reason for the player, who receives it with the rejection

You can also process withdrawals from Finance > Withdrawals. See Cashier and Payments.

9. Moving a Player Between Groups

If a player should have different permissions or be promoted to a VIP group:

1. Go to Users
2. Find the player(s) to move
3. Check the checkbox on their row(s)
4. Click Change Group (N) in the top-right
5. Select the target group from the dropdown
6. Click Move to Group

The player’s session is immediately invalidated. They must log in again with their new permissions.

Alternatively, for a single user:

1. Click the pencil icon on their row
2. Go to the Basic tab
3. Change the Group dropdown
4. Save changes

10. Creating a Staff Account

To give a new moderator or admin access to the admin panel:

1. Go to Users > Create User
2. Fill in their details (username, email, password)
3. On the Basic tab, select the appropriate group (e.g., "Moderators" for a B-level role)
4. On the Settings tab, enable Email Confirmed and Account Verified so they can log in immediately
5. Click Create User
6. Share the credentials with the new staff member
7. Ask them to change their password after first login

For higher-level staff (admins), select the Administrators group or another A/A1 group.

If you need a custom role (e.g., "Cashier" with only financial permissions), create a new group first:

1. Go to Groups > Create Group
2. Name it (e.g., Cashier) and set the base permission level to B or A1
3. Open the Permissions modal
4. Grant only the financial permissions needed (withdrawal:approve, finance:view, etc.)
5. Deny any permissions the role should not have
6. Create the staff user and assign them to this new group