Nowadays there are plenty of online casino software companies that develop and create games for the casinos. Some are land based providers that expanded onto the virtual gambling world; others offer online gaming products exclusively. If you are interested in playing casino games on the Internet, you should be familiar with the top software providers that offer fair and safe games, quality products and good game variety. The following are the top five virtual casino software companies that lead the way in the online gaming industry.

  • 1
    100% Bonus Up To 250£ Welcome Package! T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.765%
    Microgaming
  • 2
    100% Bonus Up To 5BTC Or 500 Euros - Welcome Package! T&Cs;' Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.623%
    Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, BetSoft, Play'n GO & Man
  • 3
    100% Bonus Up To 1,000€ T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.45%
    Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, Aristocrat
  • 4
     
    100% Bonus Up To 100€ Welcome Bonus + 100 Free Spins!, T &C Apply, 18+ Payout Ratio: 97.89%
    Microgaming, NetEnt, NextGen, ELK
  • 5
    100% Bonus Up To 1,000€ Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 97.12%
    NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Amaya
  • 6
    100% Bonus Up To 100£ Free Spins And Free Cash. Ts And Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96.29%
    Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Nyx Interactive, Play'n
  • 7
     
    100% Bonus Up To 1,000€ T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 98.79%
    Microgaming
  • 8
     
    100% Bonus Up To 50€ Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96%
    NetEnt, Betsoft, NextGen Gaming, Playson
  • 9
    100% Bonus Up To 750€ T&Cs; Apply - 18+ Payout Ratio: 96.91%
    Microgaming
  • 10
     
    100% Bonus Up To 500€ Matched Deposit Bonus And Free Spins. Ts & Cs Apply. Payout Ratio: 96.2%
    Playtech

Top 5 Casino Software Companies

There are countless gaming companies out there. This is a very lucrative industry after all, and many have jumped on the bandwagon over the years.

Casinos rely on gaming developers to create the slots, the table games and everything else that they then offer to their players. They rely on them to provide the entertainment, to make their money and even to offer security, payment solutions and more. Basically, all online casinos use one or more programs, and the only thing that makes each of those casinos original is the branding they employ.

So, who are the best software developers out there? Who has the best games, the biggest graphics and the best payouts?

Here are our top 5:

1. Microgaming Casinos

Microgaming are the biggest and most celebrated pioneers in this industry. They launched the first online casino way back in 1994, and they have been growing their brand ever since. Back then, Microgaming was a small fish in a fairly small pond. They may have been the first and they may have been the only ones, but as a result, there were very few players willing to join up and play their games.

This changed in time though, and when it did, Microgaming realized that they could make money licensing their games to others than they could from running their own casino.

So that’s what they did. And because they didn’t have to spend any time running an online casino and keeping millions of players happy, they were able to devote more time to creating innovative and game-changing slot machines and table games.

So far, Microgaming has created over 800 online casino games and more than 500 game variants.Its casino products are available online, in real time and on the go. Microgaming are always reinventing the wheel, and as well as being the very first online casino in the world, they also created the first progressive slot machine.

Microgaming stand out as the industry leaders because they were the first, they are the biggest and they create new titles at a greater rate than any other developer.

Popular games on the Microgaming platform include Mega Moolah, Game of Thrones, Avalon and Thunderstruck. They are also the ones to who created the popular Double Exposure Blackjack, which has the lowest house edge you will find on any blackjack game. Microgaming is also one of the founders of eCOGRA, an organization that stands for fair, responsible and secure online gambling.

2. Playtech

Playtech was created some time after Microgaming. And when Microgaming was leading the way - being used by thousand of casinos and millions of players around the world - Playtech was just finding its feet. However, in a short space of time it was able to rival Microgaming and today it is on par with the aforementioned provider.

In fact, when you factor in the additional services that Playtech offers (including share trading, binary options and more) you could argue that they are bigger than their rivals. Playtech have also acquired many other gaming companies, including Ash Gaming, who had established themselves as an industry leader before the acquisition.

Playtech is the provider responsible for the creation of some of the most popular online slots in the industry. These include the Marvel Series of slots (Iron Man, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk etc,) all of which are based on the superheroes from the Marvel comic books. They are also responsible for many top mobile games and have some of the best casino games and live dealer games in the industry.

Check out the top 10 Playtech casinos for 2016 where you can enjoy seamless gaming, generous bonuses, top notch security and thrilling gaming atmosphere.

3. Net Ent

Net Entertainment, often shortened to “Net Ent”, is an online gaming provider that excels in everything it does and is prized for its exceptional games, its beautiful graphics and its innovative gameplay.

Net Ent may not be as big as some of the other providers, but its devotion to originality has made it one of the standout providers in this industry. There are over 200 gaming titles on the Net Ent roster, including some hugely popular, award-winning, game-changing slots. Some of the biggest and most popular of these titles include South Park, Gonzo’s Quest, Aliens, Starburst, Jack Hammer, Guns ’N’ Roses, and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Slots are where they truly excel, but Net Ent are also responsible for some jaw-droopingly beautiful casino games, including their blackjack title Blackjack Pro.

4. BetSoft

BetSoft Gaming does things a little differently. It is not as big as the likes of Playtech and Microgaming. In fact, it’s not even as big as Net Ent, but in many ways, it is similar to Net Ent. That’s becauseBetSoft focuses on creating a small number of slots and table games, while ensuring that each and every one of those games is as good as it can be.

BetSoft have created a huge range of standout titles over the years and they are the leading provider of 3D slots. These really are some of the most beautiful games you will ever play and BetSoft titles also use innovative and original features. These include unique ways to unlock bonus features, unique random features, and a great deal more.

All slot lovers should try and play at least one BetSoft title, as these are games that really have to be seen to be believed, games that will change you way you think about online gambling.

Some of their biggest and most popular titles include At the Copa, Rook’s Revenge, Good Girl Bad Girl and True Sheriff. As with the other providers on this list, they also have a selection of table games available, although these are not quite as impressive or as unique as their slots.

5. Everymatrix

With Everymatrix, everything is possible. It is one of the leading providers of complete online gaming solutions and it is used on countless online casinos and gaming sites. The Everymatrix name may not be very familiar to players, but it is a name that is certainly familiar to casinos and one that many of your favorite sites rely on.

The Everymatrix casino engine offers over 22,000 games from 33 providers. It also offers a selection of gaming and payment management solutions to casino operators. Everymatrix is also one of the leading providers of live dealer software, which lets you experience a real casino environment without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Other Software Providers You Need to Know About

As mentioned above, there are a huge number of companies operating in this market, and there are more and more being created all of the time. There has never been so much choice and variety, and this is great news both for the casinos and for the players.

The developers listed above are the best of the best (in our opinion anyway) but they are not the only good ones out there. Not by a long way. All of the following developers also create solid, fun, fair and safe software. They are all worth considering if you want the true online gambling experience:

Realtime Gaming

Often abbreviated to “RTG”, this developer was, at one time, considered to be one of the Big Three (behind only Playtech and Microgaming). If you factor in the number of casinos that use this software, then it would still be considered to be one of the biggest around. However, in terms of popularity, and in terms of the size of the casinos that use it, it doesn’t come close to the aforementioned providers. RTG does have its uses though. There are a great number of slots and table games on this software and they also have a long list of progressive slots.

IGT

This developer creates a range of slots, both online and offline. You can often find their slots on Playtech and Microgaming casinos and nearly all of the biggest online casinos in the world have at least 1 IGT slot. They don’t always get the respect and recognition they deserve though and you might not have even heard of them. However, if you have played games like Black Widow, Cats, Bubble Craze, 100 Pandas, Cluedo, Da Vinci Diamonds, Cleopatra, Family Guy or Ghostbusters, then you have played an IGT title.

SG Interactive

Another name you might not have heard of is SG Interactive, but they actually have a lot of pedigree. They own the Williams, Barcrest and Bally gaming brands, which means they are responsible for Rainbow Riches, one of the most popular online (and offline) slots in the world. They are a rapidly growing, hugely popular brand and their slots can be found in casinos around the world and in most online casinos as well.

Aristocrat

This is an Aussie gaming brand, but it is also one of the biggest and richest gaming brands in the world. Online gambling, and slots in particular (known as “pokies” Down Under) are huge in Australia. They have helped to prop this brand up for many years and it continues to grow and thrive as a result. They have headquarters all over the world and have been operating for many decades, creating games such as Bing Ben, Lucky 88 and Queen of the Nile, to name just a few.

Amaya

Again, you might not have heard of this company, but you will have definitely heard of their brands. They have been called the richest online gambling company in the world and they are behind everything from Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker, to Cryptologic and more. They have billions of dollars in assets and are acquiring new companies at a rate that only Google can top. This is a giant of a company, and it’s only getting bigger.



All of the following gaming developers also have a presence in this industry and if you have played in many land-based casinos and on many online casinos, then you will have played some of their titles before:


- Yggdrasil (now owned by Cherry AB)

- Viaden Gaming

- Thunderkick

- Rival Gaming

- Play’n Go

- NYX Interactive

- NextGen Gaming

- Evolution Gaming

- Mascot Gaming

Online casino software top companies

Casino Software FAQ's

There was a time when a casino software developer only created games and then licensed those games out to the casino. That casino would then sign a similar license with an e-commerce company, who would help them to complete transactions, while also providing security. These casinos still exist, and such licenses are common with many software providers. 
However, these companies are increasingly offering the full package, knowing that the more they offer, the more their clients (the casinos) will appreciate them and the more money they can charge. 

Online casino software top companies:

From the perspective of a player, this is important. If you see that a casino uses Playtech or Microgaming, you know that their software is fair and safe. But you should still research into the security features they use, into the auditing company they hire (if there is one) and into the certificates that they display. 
The biggest gaming companies vet all of the casinos they license their product to and it is difficult for outright scammers to become licensed. But it is not impossible and they can slip through the net, which means the onus is on you to spot them.

This is a good question, but it’s not a simple one to answer. In the case of Microgaming, Playtech, Net Ent and many of the other big names, the developers themselves set the payouts. They are set to a default standard, ensuring the players can play something that is fair, while the casino can still make a profit in the long run. 
However, some of the developers listed on this page allow the casino to set their own payouts. This can be positive, as it allows two casinos that use the same software to compete against each other, offering higher payouts. But in practice it makes life difficult for players as those casinos are more likely to decrease those payouts in order to increase their profits. 
This is perhaps the main reason that Realtime Gaming has such a bad reputation in this industry, as it lets casinos tweak the payouts. This is why it is important to understand which software your chosen casino uses, and why you should check the payouts of each slot/table game before you play. Luckily, this information is readily available.
As mentioned above, it is important because players associate the Microgaming, Playtech or NetEnt branding with quality. It’s something they know and recognize. 
Think of it like a chain of fast food restaurants. It might not make sense that someone would want to eat the same thing time after time, especially when they are in different locations. But they do, and they do because they know they can trust that brand to provide what they need and to do so without any nasty consequences. 
Such is the case with these software developers. It’s all about trust and familiarity. That’s what they thrive on and that’s why thousands of Playtech and Microgaming casinos have been able to thrive, despite offering the same product as all of their competitors.
It’s difficult to choose a definitive number 1, as it all depends on what you want from that software. If you don’t care about variety and just want slots that are beautiful and original, then you will favor BetSoft or Net Ent. If variety and size is important, then you might be better off with Microgaming or Playtech. 
Payouts also play a role, as does variety, jackpots and a number of other factors. And that’s before we even consider table games, live dealer games, virtual catch cards and other additions.
As mentioned above, it’s difficult to choose a number 1 across the board, as they all do different things and they all have their own merits. However, if we break it down into several sections and look at the different benefits that each software offers, we can pinpoint the “best” in those areas.


Payouts: Microgaming and Net Ent offer some of the highest paying slots you will find, with Net Ent edging it slightly (mainly due to the fact that a lot of the older Microgaming titles, as well as their progressive slots, all have very low RTPs). 
Size: When it comes to sheer size, you can not beat Playtech. They have everything you could ever want, from hundreds of slots and table games, to share trading and much more. 
Beauty: The best looking games can be found on Net Ent, BetSoft and IGT. If you were to focus on the software provider that consistently creates beautiful games and does not have any generic titles in its repertoire, then you would have to give the nod to BetSoft Gaming. 
Originality: They don’t come much more original than Net Ent. They are always pushing the boat out, always trying to do something new, something different. 
Slots: If we were to base the “best slot provider” on the factors of aesthetics, originality and variety, Net Ent would edge it.
Table Games: Based on the same factors mentioned above, the best table game provider would be Playtech.


All of this points to Net Ent and Playtech being the best, but of course, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Someone who is only interested in high payouts and attractive slots will not be interested in Playtech, and someone who wants to trade stocks and play progressive slots will have no interest in Net Ent.

If you go back 10 years, then mobile gaming was unheard of. Even if you go back 5 years, it was still in its infancy and it wasn’t all that accessible. However, that has changed completely and mobile gambling is everywhere. 
There are now more people accessing the internet via mobile devices than there are via desktops and laptops. There are more mobile gamblers than there are desktop ones. Gambling developers would be committing professional suicide if they didn’t appeal to this market so you will find that all of the companies listed on this page have some form of mobile gambling. 
In fact, many of them only create mobile games, and even the biggest ones, such as Microgaming and Playtech, now focus more on mobile gaming than desktop gaming. The industry is changing. There has been a massive shift to handheld, mobile gambling, but these companies are well aware of that and they are more than prepared to deal with it. 
Most of the new slots and table games that are released by these companies will work on your mobile device. You may have an issue with older games, but if those older games are popular then they will have probably been converted. If not, then they will likely be ignored and mobile versions may never be created.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. This guide has covered the best and the worst, and it has also covered those seemingly insignificant gambling companies that actually have more of an impact on your gambling than you realize.

So why does all of this matter? Why do you need to know who creates the games and who sets the payouts? Think of it this way. If you’re playing poker, you need to understand your opponents in order to beat them. The same goes for most gambling games, and it’s no different here. The more you know about the people who created the software, and the more you know about that software, the better your chances are of beating it.

This is just an overview and we have extensive guides on all of these developers, so make sure you do your research.

After all, the more you know, the more you can win!