Casino gaming software providers are companies that develop games for casinos.
Providers license games to casinos. Online casinos pay for the right to offer the games on their websites. Providers charge an initial fee, followed by monthly rental fees. The rental fees are usually a percentage commission from the revenue produced by the games.
Many casinos can be bound to a single developer. But the best casinos carry a range of providers to suit the evolving tastes of players. Some can have a few, others a few dozens, and some go well into the hundreds. Yako Casino has 18 main providers, Casimba and Grand Ivy Casino features over 90 developers, although the selection is more limited in the UK.
And some of the biggest and best-established providers even have their own online casinos. NetEnt and Microgaming are examples of casino software developers.
Our casino reviews feature welcome bonus offers to play these developers’ best games for real money.
Best Casino Gaming Software Providers in the UK
Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is a provider of popular games such as Bonanza and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The developer launched its Megaways™ game engine in 2015. With an RTP as high as 97.7%, many of their games are quite profitable.
Blueprint Gaming
Blueprint Gaming is a leading provider of online and offline casino games renowned for their quality in terms of design and gameplay, whose eclectic and varied catalogue includes slot machines Megaways™.
Greentube (Novomatic)
Greentube is the interactive division of Novomatic. The developer makes it possible to play the parent company’s land-based slot machines on desktop and mobile devices, in addition to being a creative team that develops its own products.
IGT
IGT is one of the oldest and most famous providers of land-based and online casino games, one of the first to offer video poker machines and behind some of the most popular mobile slots in online gambling.
NetEnt
NetEnt can proudly boast of having so many games ranked high on the lists of the most rated and most played online slots. The Swedish publisher is often at the avant-garde, and remains one of the main leaders in the industry today.
Play’n GO
Play’n GO is a great innovator in the mobile gaming revolution and specializes in high-quality HD design and 3D graphics. Their outstanding reputation is well established in the industry and among gamers.
Playtech
Playtech is one of the leading publishers in the world of online casinos. They are behind some of the most popular and highest-paying mobile slot machines and has one of the largest progressive jackpot slot networks in the world.
Evolving technologies and a growing market
Online casinos have come a long way since the first generation of Flash games. The latest HTML5 technology improves online gambling on every level that matters to players. It provides almost unlimited potential for design and gameplay mechanics. And, since HTML5 games are supported by all browsers and devices, it means that development focuses on mobile-first, in order to adapt to the habits and demands of players.
Online gambling is one of the industries most affected by changing technologies. Casino software developers and casinos fight to stay at the forefront of security, design, mechanics, and much more.
Technological developments have brought about a huge surge in the number of providers.
The biggest providers, like IGT and WMS gaming, supplied games to major land-based casinos for decades, before expanding online. NetEnt and Big Time Gaming both got started in the mid-1990s, and they’re now two of the most important players in iGaming.
But the last fifteen years have seen a surge in promising independent developers that have already established themselves, like Red Tiger Gaming and Play’n Go.
Online casino software developers matter to players
With so many names out there, it’s hard to keep track of who’s who. And it’s normal to ask “Why should I care about casino software developers?”
But if you’re looking for new games, it’s important to keep track of where your favourite games come from. It also helps to be familiar with the specialisations of the biggest and best developers. This will help you know which are the best casino software developers for you. It’s also important to be informed about which are the safest online casinos and games.
Many developers specialise in specific types of games, like live table games or Megaways™ slots.
Just like in film and music, independent developers are essential to driving innovation and variety in a world where it often looks like everything has already been done. Red Tiger and Big Time Gaming were newcomers once upon a time, and they made such a splash that they established themselves as two of the most important players in the sector.
Choosing the best casino software provider
Choosing the best casino software provider is an important decision for online casino operators and players alike. The quality, variety, and popularity of the games can make or break the success of an online casino. Therefore, it is essential to consider some factors before selecting a game developer for your casino or your gaming preferences. Some of the factors to consider are:
Licenses, safety and security
Online casino gaming software companies must have licenses to operate in territories where online gambling is subject to regulations. Software providers and casino operators must have a license from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) to operate in the UK. On top of this, they may also hold licenses or certificates from other gaming authorities.
For players, licenses are a sign of reliability and trustworthiness. While casino software developers only need approval from the UK Gambling Commission to operate in Great Britain, certification from other major regulators is a good way to tell if certain casinos or developers are reputable. Below is a list of the five most important regulators that UK players may come across.
| Regulator | Region | Website |
| United Kingdom Gambling Commission | United Kingdom | UKGC |
| Malta Gaming Authority | Malta | MGA |
| Swedish Gambling Authority | Sweden | SGA |
| Alderney Gambling Control Commission | Alderney | AGCC |
| Curaçao Gaming Control Board | Curaçao | CGCB |
Obtaining a license requires subjecting casino software to rigorous tests. Regulators carry out lab tests and regular audits before granting gaming licenses. This guarantees that the games are fair and safe to play. They also ensure that players’ personal information is protected, that deposit and withdrawal payments are secure, and that the business practices of the companies comply with all the legal requirements and regulations.
Any “bad actors” are sanctioned and stripped of their licenses. It’s unlikely that UK players will run across any unlicensed providers, since casinos will stop featuring their software when this happens. Still, it’s a good idea to stick to well-known names and reputable casino software developers, which is why it’s important to stay updated on online gambling news and reviews.
Game portfolio
The casino game providers should offer a diverse and extensive range of games, covering different genres, themes, and features. The games should appeal to different types of players, from casual to high-rollers, from classic to modern, from slots to table games. The games should also be compatible with various devices, such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Innovation and creativity
The casino game developers should constantly innovate and create new and exciting games that stand out from the crowd. The games should have original and engaging gameplay, stunning graphics, immersive sound effects, and unique mechanics. The games should also offer generous payouts, progressive jackpots, and bonus features.
Reputation and reviews
The casino game development company should have a good reputation and positive reviews from both the industry experts and the players. The game developer should have won awards and recognition from prestigious organizations, such as the EGR Awards, the Global Gaming Awards, or the International Gaming Awards. The game developer should also have a loyal fan base and a high rating on online platforms, such as Trustpilot, Casino Guru, or AskGamblers.
Game features
Game features are one of the few spaces still open to innovation in online gambling.
The games we play have been the same for decades: slots, blackjack, poker, roulette and baccarat are the standard for online and offline casinos. Then there’s a smaller market for bingo, lottery, and races and sports betting.
With evolving technologies, developers compete to spice up classic games. Someone is always releasing the latest and best online casino software. And as table games grow in sophistication, developers can support every variety of poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more.
You can play live table games, like video poker, with live dealers and other players. Live casino games can provide the experience of a fully immersive casino environment. So much so, that in 2017 SlotsMillion created the first-ever virtual reality (VR) casino.
But the new frontier for casino software is in online slot games. At the design level, there’s everything from classic fruit machines, to video slots and 3D slots.
Read our in-depth article on online slots to understand all the best features.
Most importantly, casino software developers come up with special features and constantly put new spins on existing ones. Nowadays, bonus games have become a standard to break the routine and bring some excitement to regularly spinning slots. And there’s plenty more features that come in different forms with every new casino software release. Progressive jackpots, cascading slots and Megaways™ mechanics are two groundbreaking innovations that have changed the way we look at slots.
Go to our game reviews and click the Play Demo Mode button to play free slots.
- Progressive jackpots: Every time a player spins the reels of a game without winning the jackpot, part of the money carries over to the next spin. When a player finally wins the jackpot, they take all the money that accumulated over thousands, even millions of spins across different casinos and games. Mega Moolah is by far one of the most popular progressive jackpot games.
- Cascading slots: Symbols cascade instead of spinning down the reel, and winning combinations are destroyed, causing more symbols to fall down and replace them. First introduced by the Avalanche feature in NetEnt’s classic Gonzo’s Quest.
- Megaways™: Big Time Gaming’s groundbreaking mechanic features a random reel modifier that causes a different number of symbols to appear on each reel with every new spin. A great example of it is Aztec Gold Megaways™ by iSoftBet.
The future of online casino software providers
It’s impossible to predict where the online gaming industry is going. One thing is sure: we’ll know it when we get there.
Keep in mind that one the biggest drivers of innovation in online casino software are technological developments that don’t necessarily come from developers. Casino software suppliers are constantly on the lookout for the latest cutting-edge technology to improve their products.
Not too long ago, live dealers didn’t exist. Streaming technology changed that, and live table games quickly went from a novelty to an industry standard that we can’t do without.
The same thing happened with progressive jackpots. The maximum wins skyrocketed when they were first introduced, and the few games that featured progressive jackpots drew unprecedented amounts of players to them. Today, we take them for granted, and we can’t imagine what the online gambling world would be like without them.
Who knows what game-changing feature will revolutionise online casino gaming software and become a norm?
New technologies are constantly expanding the boundaries of gaming experiences.
All around the world, up-and-coming developers are emerging and quickly acquiring UK gaming licenses. So keep your eyes open for newcomers to UK online casinos.
Land-based providers
It’s common for the most important developers to have an offline and online presence. Like we said before, some of the most important online casino software developers were originally land-based providers.
WMS, IGT and Bally Technologies are some of the biggest providers of slot machines and other land-based gaming platforms to major casinos in Las Vegas and around the world.
Many other developers are also well-established providers of games for both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. Some of the most recognisable names are Playtech, Novomatic, EGT and Barcrest.
Then there are smaller players which are quickly expanding their presence, like Blueprint Gaming. This relatively young casino software developer acquired other software providers, to the point where their games are available at more than 100,000 land-based fruit machines from the UK to the Mediterranean Sea!
| Top slots providers | Online | Land-based |
| NetEnt | ✅ | ❌ |
| Red Tiger | ✅ | ❌ |
| Play’N Go | ✅ | ❌ |
| Playtech | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blueprint | ✅ | ✅ |
Leave a Reply