Rethinking the Backbone of iGaming: Why Data Storage Now Defines Player Experience
- Gambling IQ
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
As betting platforms handle millions of real-time interactions every minute, Nick McDonald, Senior iGaming Account Director at Fsas Technologies argues that smarter data storage defines how players experience, trust and return to digital gaming environments
The iGaming sector has become one of the most data-driven industries in the world. Every spin, bet, deposit and customer interaction generates information that must be processed, analysed and stored securely — often in real time. As the volume of this data accelerates, so too does the pressure on operators to modernise how they manage it.
“Data storage is no longer just a back-office issue,” says Nick McDonald, Senior iGaming Account Director at Fsas Technologies. Speaking to GamblingIQ, McDonald says that proper data storage has become a strategic decision that “directly affects performance, compliance and the player experience.”
For online gambling operators, milliseconds matter. Data availability, reliability and latency can determine how smoothly games run, how effectively promotions are delivered, and even how fast fraud or compliance alerts are triggered. “In iGaming, the infrastructure behind your data can be the difference between profit and loss,” McDonald says.
He believes that many operators are still too reliant on outdated storage systems and need to adopt a more forward-looking approach. “We often see a ‘we’ve always done it this way’ attitude,” he notes. “But the pace of data growth and regulatory change in iGaming means those methods simply aren’t sustainable.”
According to McDonald, businesses today are weighing three main approaches: Traditional Storage, Software-defined Storage (SDS), and Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI).
Traditional RAID-based systems remain useful for stable, legacy environments and provide reliable performance, especially where regulatory or financial systems demand proven resilience. Integrated failover and replication functions also ensure continuity — a vital factor in maintaining uninterrupted play.
Software-defined Storage, by contrast, offers near-limitless scalability by distributing data across multiple nodes. “SDS provides the flexibility iGaming operators need,” McDonald adds. “You can expand capacity instantly and adapt across cloud, edge and on-premise systems without sacrificing speed or security.”
Hyper-converged Infrastructure, which merges compute, storage and networking, delivers a simplified, unified platform ideal for operators unsure how their data volumes might evolve. Beyond choosing the right model, McDonald argues that understanding the data itself — how it’s used, accessed and secured — is crucial. “In iGaming, compliance is as important as performance,” he says. “Operators need rigorous access controls, encryption and recovery protocols built into their systems.”
Cost efficiency, scalability and management simplicity also matter. “The winners in this space will be those who can scale rapidly while keeping control of costs and complexity,” McDonald concludes. “The volume of data will only increase — and those who invest in smart, adaptable storage today will be best positioned to grow with it.”
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