Whilst there is a large number of online casinos out there, with many more opening all of the time, all of your favorite online slot machines are created by just a handful of developers. In fact, many of them are created by just a couple of them, as we will explain in this article, which lists all of the big developers in the industry. If you have ever wanted to know who creates the slots you love so much, this article will fill you in.
Microgaming
As one of the biggest names in slot machine development and one that has been involved in the online casino industry from the very beginning, there is a good chance that you have encountered this company or one of their many creations in the past.
About Microgaming
Microgaming used to be an online casino. They created a number of slots and table games and they established their own online environment which people could play. This was back when the online casino industry was in its infancy, and Microgaming may have actually been the first online casino ever. Over time they received a lot of requests from companies wishing to use their software and in the end they realized that they could make more money licensing this software and charging for it, whilst also taking a commission, than they could from running an online casino. That was when Microgaming was truly born, and they also gave birth to the industry on the whole, whilst inspiring all of the other developers you will find on this list.
Microgaming Creations:
Microgaming were the first ones to create many online slot variants, including progressive jackpot slots. These were created some 5 years after they had initially launched their online casino and the first game was Cash Splash, which is still available to this day. Other progressive jackpot slots include Mega Moolah, which has a huge jackpot regardless of which site it is on. Microgaming were also the ones to create the Chain Reactors series of game and they have acquired the licenses for everything from the Dark Knight franchise to the Jurassic Park franchise.
Microgaming Casinos:
Microgaming is used by some of the biggest names in gambling, including Bet Victor, Platinum Play, Royal Vegas, 32 Red and many more. It is prized for its varied games and its compatibility, which is why so many big gambling brands seek to license it for their own casinos.
Playtech
Playtech is often seen as the biggest contender for Microgaming, and there are many who believe that Playtech is actually better than Microgaming. It didn’t get there first, but some still prefer it.
About Playtech:
Playtech is a powerhouse in the world of online gaming and it is one of the most respected names in the industry, competing closely with Microgaming for the title of the biggest and the best casino software developer. Playtech doesn’t just create online casinos and also licenses sports book software, poker rooms, bingo software, binary options software and even social gaming software.
Playtech Creations:
One of the most celebrated of games created by Playtech is the Little Britain slot, which is officially licensed from the TV show of the same name and includes a number of classic characters and catchphrases. Playtech is also a great source of superhero slot machines, the best of which is the Iron Man slot.
Playtech Casinos:
Playtech, just like Microgaming, can be found on many top casinos. Playtech is used by Paddy Power, Sky Vegas, BetFair, William Hill, Coral, Gala, Boyle and many other big names.
Realtime Gaming
Realtime Gaming has been around for almost as long as Microgaming, at least in one form or another. It works a little differently to the two developers mentioned above and allows the casinos a little more room to maneuver, including offering them the ability to tweak the payout percentages. This is not ideal, at least from the perspective of the player, but most casinos are audited and closely monitored anyway, so it is very rare that anything untoward will happen.
About Realtime Gaming:
Realtime Gaming has some slick and smooth software. It is not the most graphically advanced, but it is one of the quickest and easiest to use. Realtime Gaming is not available on the biggest sports betting sites like the two developers mentioned above, and it tends to be found only on online casinos, albeit ones that offer high bonuses. One of the issues with Realtime Gaming — as well as the fact that casinos can fix the payout percentages — is that it doesn’t seem to be as strict as other developers regarding who uses its software. This leads to some unscrupulous casinos carrying the Realtime Gaming name, and when they get a bad name for themselves they ultimately damage the name of Realtime Gaming as well.
Realtime Gaming Creations:
There is no shortage of games on the Realtime Gaming software, from an impressive number of blackjack and roulette variants, to scratch cards, video poker and more. As for the slots, some of the better creations include Football Frenzy, High Fashion, Naughty or Nice Spring Break and Jumping Beans.
Realtime Gaming Casinos:
Realtime Gaming isn’t as popular with big gambling brands as Playtech and Microgaming are, but it is used by many online casinos, including the Club World Casino group, who own casinos such as InetBet, High Noon Casino, Allstar Slots and many more.
IGT
Short for International Game Technology, the IGT logo and brand is one that is recognized across the industry and one that is widely respected when it comes to high quality games.
About IGT:
Whilst they specialize in lottery machines and lottery products, and also dabble in many other offline gambling solutions, IGT also create a number of online games and products, which have been used around the world. This is a huge company and one that has a revenue of over $6 billion dollars, with offices in more than a dozen countries worldwide.
IGT Casinos:
IGT tends to be used alongside other software, which is why you will find it on top online casinos like BetVictor, Ladbrokes and Coral.
IGT Creations: Some of the slot machines created by IGT and found in both offline and online casinos include Let’s Make a Deal, Family Feud, Jeopardy!, The Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune, all of which you will probably recognize as coming from hit game shows. Some other great games created by IGT include The Amazing Race, Star Wars and Sex and the City, whilst one of the newest ones at the time of writing is the Elvis slot, based on the king himself.
Others
Not all developers license entire online casinos. As with IGT, there are those that focus on a handful of games and license these to a number of casinos, making them available regardless of whether those casinos use Microgaming, Realtime Gaming or Playtech. The three developers below all create games that you can find on many casinos, games that you have probably played a few times yourself. These are three of the biggest and best names when it comes to high quality online slot machines created outside the boundary of casino software.
WMS Gaming
With both online and offline games behind them, WMS Gaming have created a number of unique slots, the highlight of which, at least as far as we are concerned, is the Wizard of Oz themed Ruby Slippers. One of their newest creations is a slot machine based around the eccentric rocker Elton John, and others include The Flintstones and Willy Wonka. The beauty of WMS Gaming is that even though they have been around since 1974, they seem to be getting better and better and have produced some fantastic slots of late.
BetSoft
When it comes to 3D slot machines, you can’t find much better than BetSoft. The only issue we have with these guys is that their games aren’t readily available and you usually have to search a lot to find a casino that has BetSoft games, However, you can play them for free on the BetSoft site, which we would highly recommended. The Rockstar slot is one of the best, but Weekend in Vegas is also a great slot. In fact, all BetSoft games are brilliant and if you love your slots you will surely love their selection.
Net Entertainment
If you have been playing online slots for any length of time then you will have no doubt come across Net Entertainment, often shortened to “Net Ent”. Their games include the South Park and South Park Reel Chaos games, two of the most ingenious and generous slots to be released in the last couple of years. Mega Fortune, Gonzo’s Quest, Dracula and The Invisible Man were also created by Net Ent, as was Jack and the Beanstalk, which was one of the biggest slots of 2011.