A 5-Minute Guide to Casino Software Providers

What are Software Providers?

Software provider groups are specialist companies that produce gaming products for online casinos. The iGaming industry has developed massively over the past three decades and so has the technology driving it. Today, casinos have a massive amount of choice when it comes to selecting which games they will offer their players.

Each provider strives to create innovative products and use the most advanced and engaging technology. It is their role to design and create a game that has high quality visuals and audio along with unique features and animations. If a title is visually pleasing, it will attract more attention than an outdated game that doesn’t share the same aesthetic characteristics.

There are a few casinos that employ their own software which is known as propriety software. However, most sites have moved on to use the gaming products from third parties – i.e., the software providers. The gaming portfolio of an online casino depends on how many providers they use and what games they offer. For instance, at Plaza Royal Casino, our gaming portfolio consists of more than 1000 games including slots, table games and live casino titles from software providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Evolution Gaming.

What to Look For in a Software Provider

It’s all well and good playing titles from the best software providers in the industry, but what makes them the best? When choosing a specific game from a software provider, there are a few things you should be looking at:  

• Graphics: First and foremost, try and find games that are well presented. Regardless of a game’s theme, it should be visually pleasing and engaging. You will find that each developer has its own style and there are bound to be some you prefer to others.
• Sound: Sounds is almost as important as graphics. The ambience of every single game can be enhanced through a fitting soundtrack. If the background sound effects and music is in sync with the theme of the slot, it will result in a far more appealing gaming experience.
• Animation: As far as animations go, a slot or table game is far more attractive if it excites you. Gone are the days of simple graphics. In today’s industry, animations can keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation and they are just as important when developing a game.
• Interface: This refers to how the game looks on the devices you play it on, such as mobile, desktop and tablets. The game should look good on all sizes of screen with clear and easy to use controls.
• Branded games: These titles have popular themes that you have probably seen before. Think of movies, artists or even historical characters. The theme may attract the player to the game.
• Features: As we are looking at live casino and video slots, you should expect to play titles with exceptional features. Many players specifically look for games that are packed with features, but others may prefer games that are slightly simpler.
• Security and Fairness: Make sure that any game you are playing is from a licensed developer. This way, you can be sure that you are playing a fair and safe game.

The Best Casino Software Providers

Below we have compiled a list of a few of our favourite developers. The providers included are amongst the most famous and have excellent reputations within the gambling industry.

Microgaming

At the top of the pile is Microgaming, who have been creating gaming products since 1994. In total, Microgaming has developed more than 1,000 titles including video slots, classic slots, table games, and far more. The software provider is behind numerous innovations within the industry and some of its most noteworthy games include progressive jackpot titles such as Mega Moolah.

NetEnt

NetEnt has long been a major presence in the iGaming industry. The developer, which was recently acquired by Evolution, has produced over 250 award winning games and serve hundreds of online casinos around the world. On top of that, they are recognized for their exceptional branded slots, such as Mötörhead and Narcos. Typically, NetEnt titles have stunning graphics and adjust well to all types of screens – including the smallest of smartphone devices.

Betsoft

The ideal pick for high quality slots is Betsoft. Unlike Microgaming and NetEnt, Betsoft contributes to the iGaming industry in a more precise way, targeting the niche audience that like to play 3D animated games. Their main product are slots with high resolution and beautiful animations to go with their innovative themes. The big appeal here is that many players enjoy the unique bonus features, second-screen theatrics and overall presentation of the game. Betsoft employs HTML5 technology to ensure that all of its games are fully mobile compatible.

Quickspin

Another company that specializes in the production of slots is Quickspin. The company is relatively fresh, having been founded in Stockholm in 2011 and it was then acquired by Playtech, another software developer, in 2016. They have a portfolio of just under 100 video slots and have been developing 12 slots a year for the past few years. The big appeal in Quickspin slots is the attention to presentation and unique characteristics.

Play’n Go

Play’n Go has been around for over 20 years and it has obtained licenses in many European countries including Malta and the UK. The provider develops video slots, table games, video poker, bingo, and scratch cards. They also can claim to be the first software developer to make the switch to producing mobile slots. In addition to a number of branded slots, Play’n Go has developed many player favourites such as Book of Dead, Reactoonz and Riche Wild slots.

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play is a relatively young software provider having been established in 2015. However, it is certainly considered one of the big guns in today’s iGaming industry. What it has achieved over a short period of time is nothing short of a phenomenon. The software provider has a growing portfolio of games that includes over 100 titles. This includes video slots, live casino games, bingo and 3D virtual sports.

Evolution Gaming

Last but certainly not least is Evolution Gaming. If you’re into live dealer games, there’s no better software provider to choose than Evolution. The company set out to revolutionise the live dealer experience and they have certainly achieved this. Evolution was founded in 2006 and can boast winning the EGR B2B Live Casino Supplier of the Year 10 times in a row. Their games include roulette, blackjack and baccarat, along with casino poker, gameshows, and more.

Closing Remarks

We hope that our 5-minute guide to software providers will make it a bit easier for you to choose a game. At Plaza Royal Casino, we offer games from masses of providers in order to bring you a varied catalogue that will appeal to all types of players. As you browse through our collection, you will recognise many of the developers mentioned above and in time, you are sure to recognise their individual styles.