Online casinos have become one of the most popular forms of gambling. With so many people spending more time at home these last few years, they’ve started to look for entertainment they can enjoy while staying in.
The increasing popularity of online gambling has only brought good things to the industry and, ultimately, the consumer. This article will look at the most popular casino software providers keeping the market fun — ranked from least to most according to sheer game volume.
Difference Between Casino Operators and Casino Software Providers
Though online casino operators and software providers may sound similar, they are two completely different entities. When you sign up for an online casino, you enter a user agreement with a casino operator. They are the company that owns and operates the website.
On the other hand, you won’t encounter a casino software provider’s product until you play a game. To compare it to non-digital gambling, the casino operator is the brick-and-mortar casino. The casino software provider is the company that makes and supplies the slot machines.
Do Online Casinos Make Their Own Games?
For the most part, online casinos do not develop or produce their own games. Instead, they partner with casino software providers. As such, casino software providers are the developers responsible for the games you love.
Online casinos usually partner with multiple software providers to keep users engaged. This only benefits player, as it gives them more variety in game choice. As the online gambling industry continues to grow, the casino software provider space is only becoming more competitive.
With so many great names already out there, we’re excited to see what new companies might pop up in the coming years. After all, new companies and more competition mean better games for consumers.
Due to the way casino software providers distribute their games, you’ll often see the same providers across multiple casinos. If you’ve frequented a few online casinos, you’ll probably already recognize some of the names on our list.
However, like mobile games and other online entertainment, not all casino software providers are created equal.
Here are the five most prominent casino software providers, ranked from least to most games:
5. Red Tiger (254 Games)
Red Tiger hasn’t been in the field as long as some of our other entries, but it’s still a force. Though they only started in 2014, they’ve already significantly impacted the online gaming world in that short amount of time.
In fact, they made such an impression that NetEnt bought the company in 2019. The deal was reportedly worth around £220 million, so certainly nothing to sneeze at. Red Tiger continues to operate as its own brand, releasing new games under the original company name.
The cash infusion that came with the acquisition from NetEnt has allowed Red Tiger to produce substantially more games. Now, they have more than 254 slot games for casino operators and players to choose from.
4. IGT (269 Games)
Headquartered in the UK, multinational casino software provider IGT is one of the biggest names in the industry. IGT, or International Game Technology, was an early innovator in online gaming, with the company founded in 1990.
Unlike many of the entries on this list, IGT also supplies brick-and-mortar casinos as a physical slot machine producer. With over 12,000 employees, it’s no wonder they can produce so much. Many of their operations are based in Las Vegas, the world’s casino capital.
IGT has some of the most recognizable games, including games based on popular media like Family Guy and Ghostbusters. They currently offer 269 unique online casino games.
3. NetEnt (274 Games)
With its growing popularity and expanding catalog, finding an online casino with NetEnt slots available is easier than ever. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t offer NetEnt games.
And it’s no surprise why, as NetEnt has been at the forefront of casino software development for decades. Originally called Net Entertainment, the Swedish company was formed in 1996. As the first company to develop casino games using Java, it has always been a pioneer in the space.
Though NetEnt’s games now use HTML5, the quality of their output has always been high. Partnering with over 300 casino operators globally, they are best known for their progressive jackpot slot games and newly available live casino platform. At the time of this article, NetEnt offers 274 titles.
2. Playtech (637 Games)
Playtech is a casino software provider that has been integral to the industry’s evolution. Formed in 1999, Playtech has a proven track record of offering innovative and entertaining titles. This includes games that adapt DC Entertainment favorites like Superman, The Dark Knight, Justice League, and more.
The casino game giant employs over 5,000 people across 17 countries and has over 140 global licenses. This means that casino lovers all across the globe can test Playtech’s reputation as a top software provider for themselves.
Currently, the company only offers 637 fun games. This high volume is possible because many smaller developers, such as Ash Gaming, fall under the Playtech umbrella.
1. Microgaming (800+ Games)
Like NetEnt, Microgaming is a well-respected software provider that was established in 1994. Microgaming was the first company to develop any online casino software, thus paving the way for this massive industry.
They’ve continued to lead the pack as the industry has grown and shifted, and they released the first mobile casino software in 2004. Not only do they produce games that players love, but Microgaming has also taken a role in how the industry runs. They are one of the founders of eCORGA, or the e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance.
There’s no doubt that Microgaming has reached legendary status in the online gaming world, and its excellent catalog of over 800 games proves it.
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