Software providers

Software providers are the engine rooms of online casinos. They are responsible for creating the array of immersive games available to play and are the driving force behind exciting features found in the newest themed slots. Technological advances in recent years have paved the way for software developers to push the boat out but not all of them are built to the same high standards as the best around, so it’s worth knowing which ones to look out for.

How Software Providers Affect Your Casino Experience

Most online casino players are likely to remember the name of their favourite slot or table game but are less likely to be able to tell you which software provider it was developed by. It’s understandable because we tend to focus on the bells and whistles of the games rather than the software behind them. However, there are a couple of ways that software providers can affect your overall casino experience:

1. Range of Games – Software providers will often focus on specific kinds of games. For example, one provider may specialise in table games, while another creates slots. Some of the most popular slots are featured on most casino sites and tend to be created by a select few high-quality software providers.
2. Game Quality – Some of the most well-known software providers are popular because their games are more immersive than others. The best software providers around tend to create games that have exciting features, high-quality graphics, impressive animations, and well-known theming.

Of course, the best online casino experiences are found at casinos that have both a large range of games but also top-quality variants. That’s why it’s important to find online casinos that host games by reputable software providers that offer both, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution, and so on.

Slot Software

If you’ve ever visited an online casino, you’ll have noticed the huge amount of slot games on offer to players. Whether you’re interested in trying to hit a progressive jackpot or want to go for that elusive bonus round on your favourite slot, there’s something for everyone.

However, these slots aren’t created by the online casino themselves, but rather an array of slot software providers who work across lots of different casinos. There are plenty of different slot software providers, but the following are some of the most reputable:

• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• Evolution
• Playtech
• Play’n Go
• IGT

Table Games Software

Likewise, table games aren’t created by the online casino themselves but are instead made by a range of table games software providers that deal with lots of casinos. These software providers spend time creating popular games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps. Again, there are plenty of different table games software providers, but the following are some of the most popular:

• NetEnt
• Playtech
• Novomatic
• Quickfire
• WMS Gaming

As you can see, some of the providers in this list also create slots and other casino games, and this is the case with several of the larger providers. However, there are also software providers that specialise in certain areas.

Live Casino Providers

Technological advances in recent years at both the software end and player end have paved the way for software developers to be able to provide immersive live casino experiences online. These days, HD camera feeds are pushed through to players with a variety of angles, impressive casino backdrops, numerous games hosted by a range of live dealers, and 24/7 access.

One of the best things about live casino software is that players can interact with a professional dealer and other players via chatbox. This provides a level of immersion that you don’t experience with standard online table games.

There is a range of live casino software providers, but the following are some of the best you can find at modern online casinos:

• NetEnt
• Playtech
• Evolution
• Extreme Live Gaming

Again, some of the providers in this list have been included elsewhere because they provide high-quality games in a variety of categories.

NetEnt

NetEnt is one of the most popular casino software providers around and their games are found on most modern online casinos. They’re responsible for some of the world’s most well-known online slots, including:

• Starburst
• Blood Suckers
• Gonzo’s Quest
• Twin Spin
• Lost Relics

NetEnt’s speciality is slots, and they’re known to do it well. Their games are immersive, have high-quality graphics, contain an array of bonus rounds and special features, and the majority are mobile-friendly. They also tend to feature slots that have a return to player (RTP) percentage of 95% and above, making life feel a little fairer for players.

However, NetEnt doesn’t only deal with slots. They also create table games and live casino games, and this is a testament to how versatile the developers are.

Microgaming

Microgaming is another top-quality software provider that can be found at most of the best online casinos. They develop a range of games, but their slots often have popular themes, such as:

• Jurassic Park
• Tomb Raider
• Game of Thrones
• Tarzan
• Halloween

Fans of films and TV shows are likely to enjoy Microgaming slots as they’re packed full of theme references, songs, sound clips, and bonus features that are as entertaining as they are rewarding at times.

However, Microgaming also branches out to other games besides slots, and have produced bingo and poker software with free-roll events and bounty tournaments.

Evolution

Evolution is a software provider that excels when it comes to live casino games. They’re one of the most reputable providers in this regard and have created a range of live casino experiences, including:

• Live Roulette
• Live Blackjack
• Live Baccarat
• Live Poker
• Super Sic Bo
• Lightning Games
• Game Shows

If you’re playing a live casino game provided by Evolution then you can expect to see high-quality camera feeds with multiple angles, interactive chat, and side bets that raise the entertainment levels.

WMS Gaming

Some software developers are steeped in history, with WMS Gaming being one of them. In fact, as software providers go, it is probably one of the oldest out there. It was in the 1960s that WMS Gaming began to develop a bit of a name for itself. Of course, online casinos were not even something which had even been imagined back then and so its fame was found in land-based casinos. This was originally in the form of pinball machines.

As online casinos burst onto the scene, like most software providers, WMS Gaming had to change. Some companies died away, but WMS Gaming went from strength to strength. It is behind classic games such as Jackpot Party and Reel ‘em In. It also created the Monopoly series, as well as the Wizard of Oz. In 2013, it became a part of Scientific Gaming.

IGT

As software houses go, IGT is one of the most famous. We are sure players in South Africa will have played at IGT casinos even if they haven’t realised it. Formed back in 1975, this is another one of many software providers which honed its craft in land-based casinos. IGT didn’t just adapt to the online world when it came along – it went on to flourish.

Acquired by Gtech for €6 billion, IGT’s Megajackpots network is what we have to thank for the progressive jackpots we all know and love. It is also responsible for famous slot titles such as Cleopatra and Ghostbusters, as well as the many table games it produces.

Playtech

When compared to the software developers we have already looked at, Playtech could be branded a bit of a newcomer. That’s despite the fact it has been developing first-class casino games since 1999. Playtech’s ability to bring the very best to online casinos has been recognised with numerous awards over the years.

Players in South Africa are likely to recognise slot titles such as Age of Gods and America Dad. There is a good chance many will have also played at one of the live casinos which Playtech offers. Playtech has a great reputation for providing software for live blackjack and live roulette.

Novomatic

Novomatic is perhaps one of the grandads of the casino world. Established more than 40 years ago, like other software houses, Novomatic found fame in land-based casinos and was well respected for providing slot machines around the world. This developer acquired Greentube in 2010, which saw the birth of Novomatic online casinos.

Novomatic differs from some software providers in that it is not about glitz and show. What it offers is traditional games with a touch of class. The most famous slot title from Novomatic is probably Book of Ra, but it is also responsible for a great range of table games.

Play’n GO

If you have played at any online casinos in South Africa, we can practically guarantee you’ll have experienced games from Play’n GO. This software provider was established back in 1997 and is based in Sweden. Right from the start, Play’n GO offered something a little special and players quickly became fans of all that this developer has to offer.

The most famous software from Play’n GO brought about the Book of Dead slot. This is one of those slots that almost every player has experienced as it appears at so many online casinos. It is also the provider behind greats such as Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. Beyond slots, Play’n GO is also responsible for some great roulette and blackjack titles. There is even a good range of poker games to try out, too.

Quickfire

Quickfire is a little different to the software providers we have looked at so far. It is actually a gaming platform which allows you to access and play the whole range of Microgaming games. It also allows players to play NextGen casino games.

Microgaming itself can be considered one of the first software houses which catered for online casinos. With its catalogue coming into being back in 1994, it has continued to grow. It is responsible for great slots such as Jurassic Park, Terminator 2 and Game of Thrones. It also gives a huge range of table games to choose from such as roulette, poker, blackjack and more.