iGaming exploratory testing is critical for trust and security within the industry. As global internet penetration grows, ensuring that games are used responsibly and in alignment with regulations becomes increasingly vital for iGaming providers.
Moreover, these platforms must address the common challenges of any online entertainment service: ensuring fast loading times, a smooth user experience, and compatibility across various devices.
To guarantee an excellent user experience, various testing methods are employed, including performance, payment, and connectivity testing. These can be either automated or manual, with each approach having its own advantages and disadvantages.
A key approach in testing is exploratory testing, where users conduct unscripted tests to uncover the most prevalent bugs.
Our team has recently concluded an in-depth exploratory testing program for a prominent global iGaming operator, revealing nine insightful learnings and an additional five bonus insights specific to what exploratory testing can expose.
But before delving into the findings, let’s first define what exploratory testing truly entails.
What is exploratory testing?
Imagine you had to solve a crime but were given a fixed script you couldn’t deviate from, no matter what clues you uncovered. The chances of solving that crime wouldn’t be too high.
QA (Quality Assurance) testing—which tends to use a script—uses this approach, while exploratory testing lets you go outside predetermined boundaries. QA definitely has its place and is essential for uncovering core errors. But eventually you’ll need to let your users loose on the platform to see what they uncover.
Exploratory testing shouldn’t be confused with Monkey Testing—where users repeatedly click buttons or type in gibberish into input fields to try and uncover bugs. Exploratory testing means simply that users will use the system, learn how it works, and experience it as real users do.
This type of testing emphasizes personal freedom. The user’s objective is to find bugs naturally, and they’re given leeway to achieve that.
We record user sessions so we can recreate any bugs they do see.
Why exploratory testing?
Exploratory testing has the following benefits:
- Very few requirements. Users simply start using and exploiting the platform.
- Requires little preparation.
- Reveals bugs based on how each user uniquely interacts with the system.
- Finds major, common bugs rapidly.
- The testing is intuitive and natural.
- Excellent for dynamic products. Scripted QA testing can’t catch all the bugs of a dynamic platform.
- Fills in any gaps left by scripted QA testing.
- A test group that closely represents the market you are targeting, matching their culture, and using their preferred devices, language, and currency. Internet connectivity also plays a role, and the test group will reveal any issues based on connectivity in that zone.
Testa iGaming exploratory testing case study
We tested a global operator that runs both online casinos and sports betting. Our testing focused on one of the operator’s specific markets.
We used everyday players who had never interacted with this operator or any of its platforms. Testers explored the system freely, recorded their experiences, and provided feedback.
9 things we learned from iGaming exploratory testing
1. Unsynchronized video and audio in live dealer game
Testers uncovered that, although they could successfully place a bet, the video sometimes had no sound. Additionally, the live dealer game video sometimes abruptly stopped, negatively impacting the gameplay experience.
2. Limited virtual currency deposit options
The availability of virtual currency deposit chains for this operator is currently limited. Expanding support for quickly depositing various cryptocurrencies would enhance the user experience and provide more flexibility for payment methods.
3. Poor internet connection and lag in live dealer games
This market experienced poor connectivity to the operator’s server, leading to poorer-than-expected quality in live dealer games. We recommended optimizing the CDN configuration for that target market to enhance performance and gameplay.
4. Lag caused by excessive animations in the game
Excessive animations inside the game resulted in game-lag every time the animations appeared, negatively impacting the overall gameplay experience for users.
Animations might enhance user experience if their device is powerful enough to handle them. But the widespread use of low-powered mobile devices means it’s better to have these animations off by default and allow the user to switch them on.
5. Post-betting crashes reduced confidence
After placing a bet in blackjack, several users experienced game crashes, raising concerns about potential fraudulent activities.
The experience shines a stark light on perception versus reality. User perception is essential. Although this operator works globally and is well-respected and trusted, users still felt uncomfortable when their games crashed straight after placing a bet. Such errors can lead to higher platform abandonment rates.
6. Lengthy loading times without reload mechanism or notification
The game often experienced prolonged loading times without an automatic reload mechanism or notifications, causing users to wait endlessly, thus negatively affecting user experience.
7. Accidental double-clicks due to mobile lag
Frequent lags on mobile devices often led to double clicks and unintended duplicates. To prevent this, the operator could implement a masking prompt, such as an overlay with a loading spinner, to indicate that the device received the click and is processing it.
8. Inaccurate search results in mobile keyword search
The keyword search functionality on mobile devices failed to display accurate results in both English and the local language.
9. Incorrect translations
Errors exist in local translations due to the operator’s rapid global expansion. Local players might have difficulty understanding or misinterpreting the content.
Solution
Solving the above issues isn’t impossible, but first, you must know the issues. Exploratory testing empowers companies to increase revenue by discovering UX deficiencies that might lead to lower user adoption and retention.
5 more examples that iGaming exploratory testing can uncover
Although we didn’t uncover these errors for the above operator, tests we conducted for other operators revealed the following:
1. Payment transaction delays and failures
Testers identified instances where payment transactions experienced delays or failed to process, resulting in inconvenience and frustration for players.
2. Inconsistent bonus terms and conditions
During exploratory testing, we discovered that one operator had inconsistent terms and conditions for bonus offers across different sections of the platform. This inconsistency can lead to misunderstandings and disputes between players and the operator.
3. Inadequate responsible gambling features
One platform didn’t provide all the necessary responsible gambling features, such as self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and reality checks.
4. Erroneous payouts
Exploratory testing revealed moments of game malfunctions, such as incorrect payouts or unexpected errors during gameplay. These issues can undermine the integrity of the platform and erode player trust.
5. Insufficient customer support responsiveness
During testing, we observed that customer support had inadequate response times, with delays in addressing player queries and concerns.
How to easily improve UX for your platform with iGaming exploratory testing
If a large global operator can experience UX deficiencies, smaller companies with more modest budgets are almost guaranteed to have them. Testing is essential to ensure your iGaming platform runs smoothly and provides a positive experience for all its users.
Testa is a software testing company that focuses on the iGaming market. We provide tailored crowdtesting, automated testing, and manual exploratory testing to ensure your gaming platform runs excellently and compliantly across all devices and geographic zones.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you improve your platform through high-quality exploratory testing.