Casino games are a lucrative industry, with new developers entering the market all the time. What was once something you could only do in a brick and mortar casino is now something you can participate in online anytime you want to.
Games developers continuously look to enhance the player experience with new styles of games so this is a fast-paced business. Here are the game developers who remain at the front of the game.
Microgaming
Microgaming is credited with creating the first software that enabled players to enjoy casino games on the computer. Since the 1990s, they have published slots and casino table games from their location in the Isle of Man.
Mega Moolah is the brand’s most well-known game because it features a progressive jackpot that has paid out some substantial sums to players over the years. Its record payout to date is €18,915,872.81 (equivalent to $21.7m at the time) which was inscribed into the Guinness Book of World Records in September 2018.
Other games Microgaming is known for include Agent Jane Blonde, Romance and Thunderstruck II. Their lineup also includes bingo, poker and sports betting.
In more recent years, they’ve developed games on a virtual reality platform, most notably in 2016 when they launched a VR roulette game that is played through a VR headset.
Megaways
Created by Big Time Gaming, Megaways is a premier brand for online casino games. Founded in 2011 by Nik Robinson who is still the CEO, the company is a powerhouse in the industry thanks to innovative new graphics and themes that continue to lead the way in game development.
Megaways took the gaming industry by storm – a slot game set-up that features an incredible number of ways for the player to win, in fact, up to 117,649 winning line combinations.
Some of the best Megaways slots online include Bonanza Megaways, Irish Riches Megaways, Ted Megaways, Monopoly Megaways and 1 Million Megaways.
The Megaways game format is used by many other game developers under license from Big Time Gaming.
In 2021, Big Time Gaming was acquired by Swedish Gaming giant Evolution.
Evolution Gaming
Since 2006, Evolution Gaming has been creating top-quality live dealer games and now has up to 400 online casinos. The reason why live dealer games are so popular is that they provide a real-time experience online.
When you can’t make it to a brick and mortar casino, you can enjoy the action and the potential to win from the comfort of your own house. Players can use their devices to stream the game and watch and play in real-time. Doing things a bit differently has really set Evolution Gaming apart from the other big names in the industry.
Based in Sweden, it is a leading B2B provider with more than 500 customers. The company employs more than 10,000 people in Europe and North America.
Live games from Evolution include poker, baccarat roulette, monopoly and deal or no deal. Other games include Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, Starburst and Jumanji.
Playtech Casino Software
One of the most famous and largest names in the casino gaming industry, Playtech has over 5,000 employees and a presence in over 17 countries. Playtech was established in Estonia in 1999.
In 2001, Playtech released its first online casino and has grown exponentially in the years following, even taking over other smaller brands and developers. That includes Eyecon, VirtueFusion, Ash Gaming, Qickspin and many more.
The brand has over 600 games in a variety of formats. That includes blackjack, bingo, lottery, roulette, poker, card games, sports betting and scratch cards. Recently, Playtech also joined the live dealer genre, offering real-time games to players around the world.
Playtech provides software to some of the biggest names in the sports betting industry – particularly in the UK (William Hill, Bet365, Ladbrokes) and Italy (Snai, Sisal).
NetEnt
With more than 200 titles under its belt since its inception in 1996, NetEnt is a Swedish gaming company that is seen incredible success over the past couple of decades.
NetEnt is a brand name and wholly-owned subsidiary of Evolution. In 2019, NetEnt bought Red Tiger Gaming, expanding into the United States, the UK, Poland and Malta. They now have 1,000 employees and expect their growth to continue into the coming years.
Some of their biggest games include Dead or Alive II, Gonzo’s Quest and Reel Rush. They also operate Megaways games under license from Big Time Gaming, including Divine Fortune.
NetEnt also provide software for online sports betting and bingo sites in the UK for companies like Coral and Gala.
IGT
International Gaming Technology was founded in 1990 and its holding company (51% stake) is De Agostini.
It began life as Lottomatica in Italy but when that company acquired the US gambling company Gtech in August 2006, they adopted that as their operating name. When they then acquired IGT in 2015, they once again changed the operating name. IGT is headquartered in London and operates in the UK, US And Italy. The name changed to IGT when they
IGT reigns in popularity because of its niche of classic slot games. With more than 12,000 employees, it’s one of the biggest names in the industry. IGT is the name behind the online casino at Paddy Power and also has some big-name games, including Wolf Run, Cleopatra and DaVinci Diamonds. They also produce high-quality online poker games,
