Best casino software providers

Top casino software providers

More casino providers appear regularly, as the world of online casinos is always on the hunt for new, exciting casino games. As online gaming grows in popularity, players get to enjoy new options related to their interests.

Game developers and gaming operators rose to the challenge. Games Global was one of the first providers to take matters into their own hands, as they started to create high-end casino games of all shapes and sizes. Afterwards, many other companies like NetEnt (with its live dealer solution), Play'n Go, Yggdrasil and Thunderkick followed suit.

Now, we have plenty of options with each provider specialising in a slightly different game offering. Some create games that are classic and easy to follow, and some of them create games that are exciting with new mechanics at every turn - some even going so far as to create a classic video game experience with gambling offerings!

With a healthy amount of competition amongst these software provider giants, they have managed to keep casino gaming exciting and dynamic, with new innovations appearing frequently.

Software providers and slot categories

From simple 3-reel slot machines built with Flash software to modern video slots and progressive jackpots, online roulette, blackjack and video poker on HTML5, things have changed. Not only have the look and feel of the games improved, but the gameplay has become even more exciting over time. Good software providers make sure that their games are filled with exciting and thrilling gameplay features, such as free spins or bonus rounds. On top of this, the switch to HTML5 has made games available on many operating systems meaning that there is no difficulty running them on a phone as well as a desktop computer, for example.

With new features like different variations on Wild Symbols, Scatter Symbols and different reel systems like “Avalanche modes” and “Tumbling reels”, there’s always something new. Looking for the best online slots? Check out our top-rated online slots before you play.

How do they work?

Before smartphones and tablets came into the picture, the only way to spin the reels of slot machines online was through your old trusty PC. Casino games on desktop computers tended to be made in Flash, which is no longer industry standard as it stopped games from being available on all types of devices.

Eventually, as smartphones and tablets became commonplace, there were extra software issues that would make running Flash impossible on some devices. As eventually Flash support was discontinued, leapt into HTML5 - a relatively new way of building sites that were interactive, flexible, and far more useful for playing newer games and building better websites.

HTML5 is supported by all browsers and devices, and also allows for players to play their favourite slot machines on their mobile phones without skimping on quality. This way players can be assured that they can play their favourite games on the go and still enjoy the same experience as they would on desktop. Any good software provider keeps mobile-first casinos in mind when creating a concept for their new games.

Our software providers review process

On our site, you can find a collection of detailed reviews on all the most popular software developers. And we also review the newest providers, giving you all the facts and background on each company. We examine gambling licences as well as trustworthiness and the quality of games on offer.

General reputation

You probably already know about the reputation of the most popular software providers, but what about newer studios? We give an overall rating for this important aspect, and we talk to other industry experts to give us a better overview of a provider's reputation. 

Number of games

At the top of each of our provider reviews, we clearly highlight the number of available games. We also mention which countries these games are available in or if any are restricted. You can also test out many of the games for yourself by using the links which we provide in the reviews.

Average RTP and volatility

Our reviewing process considers a provider's most popular games, and then we drill down further by evaluating the RTPs and volatilities. We include a table with this information clearly displayed so that you can choose a game which suits your style of play.

Rating the best casino software

What goes into an online slot game? One of the biggest factors in how a casino slot will play is volatility. Slots can vary between low and high volatility. Volatility is how often the slot symbols change, the variance in their appearance, and how wildly different each spin will be when playing. A lower volatility slot may vary less or have fewer events changing the spins, and a higher volatility slot will contain more changes on the reels. In addition to this, the slot's RNG (random number generators) has to be top-notch.

Games volatility

A slot's volatility, also referred to as its variance, is a metric used to roughly determine how often the machine will award a player a win of any size, after playing for an extended period of time. A win or reward on a slot is known as a hit rate and is a major factor in differentiating slot machines from one another.

Players who prefer to relax and gamble on slots purely for recreation and entertainment will find slot machines with lower volatility more appealing.

There are many popular games with lower volatility, such as Starburst by NetEnt and Yggdrasil's Holmes and the Stolen Stones. These allow players to spend a small number of credits on a large number of spins. Here, the payouts will be a good deal more consistent, but in turn far lower than the larger wins associated with high volatility slots.

On the other hand, high volatility means that the hit rate of a slot will be rather low, but the payouts can be far less consistent. This means that the player will have to bet a large sum of money to see a return on their balance. In many cases, the potential for a far bigger win is a real possibility, which in many players' minds justifies the longer waits and the higher spend. This style of slot mechanics appeals to players who know what they are doing and are in it for the big prizes.

As the online casino industry matures, software providers have been focusing on creating visually appealing, thematically charged and entertaining high roller slots to match this demand.

iGaming theme and sound

The casino game should be fun to look at and listen to - after all, you are the one that's playing it! With casino games coming in so many different themes it makes it easy for players to pick something that appeals to them! Game developers generally pick a theme and soundtrack that go together and which is pleasing. Visual effects to make the game more exciting, as well as an encouraging soundtrack and sound effects all, work together to improve the game experience.

What makes the best online casino software 

There are plenty of aspects that play into what makes casino software good. Is it trustworthy, has no bugs, and works well on any device? Or is it slow, from an unknown developer, and full of errors? Obviously, you'd want to look out for games that fit the first type - so here are a few pointers.

• Ensure that the company that makes the games is licensed under several jurisdictions. You will be able to view their licences on their website;

• Check that the casino software is provably fair and that it runs using an RNG in order to create a true chance when playing;

• Check that you can run the game on both your mobile gaming or tablet and your desktop - a good casino gambling software will be built in HTML5 and run on any device

We recommend you also check out the exclusive online casino's page where you’ll find not only casinos powered by a variety of different software providers but also unique players’ features.

Note that the credibility of software companies reflects the overall quality of online casinos that work with these software providers. It is worth paying attention to the software providers of online casinos in order to feel safe playing for real money.

References

• Top 8 Casino Software (World Financial Review)