Even if you are new to the world of online gambling, you probably already know the titles of a game or two. But have you ever wondered who is behind them? You may have checked out who developed the game, but do you know anything more about the software provider? The gambling industry is very highly competitive not only in terms of games, but also in terms of iGaming software providers who strive to develop as many good games as possible to make their name in the market. Which are the best online gambling software providers? Our Irish Online Casino guide will give you the answer.
Casino software has two meanings. On the one hand, these are the games provided by the software developer. On the other hand, this is the casino interface. So, a gambling software provider is a company that develops casino games, and in some cases the interface of casinos, and by means of concluded contracts makes them available to gambling sites for rent, giving them the right to include them in their game catalogues and for gamblers to be able to play them in demo or real money mode. What games a casino has in its portfolio depends on which software companies it has a contract with. If until a few years ago, casino games and especially slot machines were mechanical and had a relatively primitive gameplay, then with technological progress and a significant increase in the power of computers, it became possible to be created much more complex graphics and the distribution of games was facilitated. The competition between casino software providers is very high, as they compete not only to create new games but also technologies.
As already mentioned, the competition between casino gaming software companies is huge. There are many game providers fighting for their place in the market. Some small companies subsequently become partner companies of some of the giants in the field. This has advantages for both parties - for the small company it is the distribution of its games under the umbrella of a large player, and easier promotion, for the large corporation, it is the opportunity to offer even more games to gambling operators. Some gaming providers manage to come up with innovative technology to implement in their games and their name becomes famous thanks to this, as is the case with Megaways slots. But which companies are in the top 10 online casino software providers?
NetEnt took its first step into the casino industry in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden. Since this is the year associated with the beginning of the Internet boom, NetEnt was able to ride the waves and be among the companies shaping the iGaming niche. Thanks to the creativity and unique game content that it offers in accordance with the course drawn by it called "ultimate gaming experience", NetEnt got its place among the best iGaming companies in the world. At the moment, there are over 170 NetEnt online casinos where you can access the games developed by the company, the number of which exceeds 220.
Microgaming is one of the pioneers in the casino game software industry, licensed in over 20 jurisdictions. Established in 1994, the mere fact that the company has been around for so many years is enough to give you an idea of the quality of its games. Without a doubt, Microgaming is one of the longest-standing developers which is behind the appearance of more than 800 titles in over 25 languages. Some of the most popular slot machines have been created by it, and Microgaming online casinos have been favoured by players, especially since 2015 when by playing a Mega Moolah progressive slot was won the largest online jackpot ever.
Playtech started its historic path in the casino industry in 1999 and holds 140 licenses on a global scale. It is a diversified company engaged in the development of a variety of games, including poker and live dealer tables, as well as sports betting. To date, the company has produced over 700 casino games, approximately 100 of which are progressive jackpots. Playtech is renowned as one of the best developers of table games and live dealer tables, but it also has a very successful series of slots, one of which is based on a comic book series. Playtech online casinos are not few, and this is not surprising considering how much the provider offers.
Evolution Gaming was founded in 2006 with a lineup of over 35 live games, over 300 tables, and more than 3,000 slot machines. As you might have guessed, Evolution Gaming is considered one of the top providers of live casino games and they are even considered market leaders in the niche. In addition, their live dealer tables are available in different languages, thanks to the fact that the company has bases in various parts of the world such as Malta, Latvia, Georgia, Canada, USA. Evolution Gaming is one of the first to offer live mobile games. Evolution Gaming online casinos are not uncommon because every gambling operator strives to develop a good live casino.
The Swedish company was founded in 2007 under the slogan "We Are Game". Despite coming later than other top providers in the industry, Play'n Go has managed to make its way and build a name for itself as one of the best software developers. The company specializes in the development of high-quality, high-definition slot machines and bingo games. Play'n Go slot machines are known for being interactive and the characters in them can communicate messages to the players. They are also accompanied by beautiful graphics, interesting gameplay, and good sound effects. One of his most famous slot series is Rich Wilde, which includes the famous Book of Dead slot. If you are looking for Play’n Go online casinos, you can find the best one for you on our site.
BetSoft was established in 2006 and has developed around 200 slot machines, many of which are known for their 3D cinematic features. It is considered to be the pioneer software company in ToGo. Don't know what this is? This is a technology through which players can enjoy an equally good experience on both desktop and mobile devices. In addition, the company is committed to cross-platform compatibility, meaning their instant-play software competes with their downloadable version. BetSoft online casinos feature slot machines with beautifully designed 3D graphics and animations, making them some of the most modern casino games.
Although it only started in 2015 in Gibraltar, Pragmatic Play's portfolio is already quite developed, and the company offers a variety of games at Pragmatic Play online casinos with which it has contracts. In a short span of time, Pragmatic Play has become one of the top names in the industry thanks to the many awards it has managed to win in less than a decade. Globally, this casino online software provider has over 20 licences, including from the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. Pragmatic Play specializes in the development of slot machines, table games, poker, live dealer tables, and bingo. At the moment, there are about 300 titles in its portfolio.
Considering that it appeared in 2010, iSoftBet is a relatively young casino software company. There are two ogre development studios based in Europe - in London and Luxembourg. In addition to the production of traditional slot machines, the studio specializes in the production of 3D games, and so far iSoftBet has developed over 200 mobile-friendly casino games. iSoftBet has a platform for aggregating games, which means that iSoftBet online casinos with which the company has an agreement can be supplied with casino games produced not only by it, but also by 50 other providers, which with a simple mathematical calculation indicates that it has the potential to offer around 2,000 titles - enough to make up the library of an online casino.
The software casino industry saw the birth of Red Tiger in 2014, the result of a collaboration between people with a lot of experience in this market niche. Since its inception, Red Tiger has been not only one of the fastest growing, but also one of the best casino software providers. This is largely due to the fact that in less than a decade it has managed to win a number of significant awards, some of which are: GIA Casino Supplier of the Year in 2019, EGR B2B Innovation in Slot Provision in 2020, and EGT B2B Mobile Gaming Software Supplier in 2020. Red Tiger's specialization is in slot machines and table games as in 2019 the company was bought by NetEnt and since then it works in collaboration with them, so Red Tiger online casinos can have a contract only with NetEnt to offer Red Tiger games.
Playson debuted in the industry of online casino software developers in 2012. The company has partnered with Quickfire, Bet Construct, Leander Gaming, and 1x2 Gaming to develop high-tech games. In addition, Plaisson pays close attention to the game testing and regulation process that is carried out by Quinel. The developer's games are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and can be played on the territory of almost all European countries. All this makes its own contribution to the rapid establishment of the brand in the market and its transformation into one of the best software companies. For this reason, the number of Playtech online casinos keeps growing.
Being one of the most competitive industries worldwide, the software providers in our top 10 ranking are only a small part of the development companies, and it would be unfair to limit ourselves to only them and not mention others. It is a fact that casinos strive to contract with the best online casino software providers, because the opposite situation would be a serious omission for any gambling site, but they also try to include as many gaming companies as possible so that they can offer variety of games and stand out from your competitors. What are the other companies you should not overlook when looking for a casino?
The Australian company Aristocrat Leisure Limited was established in 1953 in Sydney. For players, Aristocrat is synonymous with a slot machine, as these are the games it mainly develops with diverse themes and impressive graphics. Among its most popular games are 5 Dragons, Where's the Gold, and Queen of the Nile.
Bally was founded by Advanced Patent Technology in 1968 in Las Vegas, Nevada. When it was founded, it was familiar with the development of slot machines for land-based casinos, but with the appearance of online casinos, it specialized in the production of online slots. Its slot machines are known for their good mechanics, gameplay, and bonus rounds. Some of them are Vegas Huts, Cash Spin and Golden Pharaoh.
The Australian company Big Time Gaming was launched in 2011 by a team of experts in the field of casino software development with more than 30 years of experience. This is very clear as the company quickly joins the list of developers who present innovative technologies. Rasputin Megaways, Christmas Bonanza, and Survivor Megaways are some of their most famous titles.
Elk Studios is also a relatively new player on the market, appearing in 2013 in Stockholm. This casino software company is considered to be "pushing the boundaries" of the industry since its inception. A characteristic feature of their games is that they are developed so that there are many possibilities for the formation of winning combinations. Some of their most famous titles are The Lab, Electric Sam, and Avalon Gold.
NextGen was founded in 1999 in Sydney, Australia. NextGen Gaming, as is the full name of the company, which is also known as NYX, due to the merger of several corporations in 2011. The provider has more than 100 partners worldwide and has developed more than 300 casino games. Slide a Wild and Dynareel slot technologies are the work of NextGen, and some of their most popular titles are Medusa, Foxin Wins, Gorilla Go Wild, and Irish Eyes.
Novomatic is an old-school Austrian software provider founded in 1980. When the company was founded, its purpose was to develop games for land-based casinos, but with the advancement of technology, Novomatic also started developing online games for demo and real money play. The slot machine that is gaining ground in the online market is Book of Dead. Other popular titles are Dolphin's Pearl, Lord of the Ocean, Sizzling Hot, and Lucky Lady's Charm.
Push Gaming became part of the casino software industry in 2010. Although it has been around for over a decade, it is only in recent years that it has received the recognition it deserves after winning several awards. The developer's focus is on creating online slots with lots of engaging animations and bonus rounds that are also suitable for mobile play. Some of Push Gaming's most famous slot machines are Tiki Tumble, The Shadow Order, Golden Farm, and Wild Swarm.
Quickspin debuted in 2011 in Sweden under Playtech. The company focuses on developing slot machines with creative design, innovative gameplay and unique features. For example, the Swooping Reels feature implemented in the Big Bad Wolf slot inspired competitors to create Cascading Reels, Avalanche Reels, and Tumbling Reels. Among the best slots developed by Quickspin are The Three Musketeers, Rapunzel's Tower, Sakura Fortune, Goldilocks, Treasure Island, Pied Piper, and Panther's Reign.
Relax Gaming dates back to 2010, when it was founded in Finland with one main goal - to become a leader among software providers in the online casino industry. The company relies on high-tech solutions in the creation of casino, bingo and poker games. Relax Gaming has about 100 games in its portfolio and has contracts with over 50 European suppliers. The Great Pigsby, It's Time, Tower Tumble, Let's Get Ready to Rumble, and Epic Joker are among its best games.
Founded in 1998, Real Time Gaming has been involved in the online gambling boom since its inception. The company was initially based in the US state of Georgia, but then moved to Costa Rica. Real Time Gaming uses specific algorithms in the development of games to recreate animations in real time as close as possible to real actions. Among their most common titles are Caesar's Roman Empire, Aztec's Treasure, Megasaur, and God of Wealth.
Software provider StakeLogic was founded in 2014 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company's goal is to innovate and "revolutionize" online gambling through game development. It has more than 10 gaming licenses that allow it to operate in over 20 markets. Currently, it has contracts with over 500 operators, to which it offers more than 250 slot machines, table games and live dealer offerings. Mystical Santa, Black Gold 2, Giants Fortune, Candyways Bonanza 2 and Super Joker are some of its best slot machines.
Thunderkick was launched in 2012 in Sweden and has been making waves in the online casino industry ever since, becoming one of the most cutting-edge graphics studios. This company, as its name implies, is not afraid to be different, and that is precisely its main goal. Some of their most famous games are remakes of blockbuster movies that other developers have made, but Thunderkick offers a different reading of them. Turning Totems, Babushkas, Luchadora, Midas Golden Touch, and Pink Elephants are among their best titles.
Wazdan was founded in 2010 in Malta and quickly established itself as a developer of high quality HTML5 slot machines. A few years later, it was also licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and is already the winner of several awards. Wazdan releases about a dozen new slot machines every year and currently has about 140 titles in its catalog. Let's mention some of the most famous its projects: Great Book of Magic, Captain Shark, Black Horse Deluxe, Sonic Reels, Beach Party, etc.
WMS Industries is one of the oldest software companies to produce casino games. It has existed since 1943 and its headquarters are located in Chicago. In the 1980s and 1990s, it developed some of the most popular land-based casino games and later spun off its subsidiary Williams Interactive to focus on developing only online casino games. 2013 is the year WMS Systems started working as part of Scientific Games. WMS is behind a number of industry hits such as James Bond – Casino Royale, The Lord of the Rings Rule Them All, James Bond – Thunderbal, etc.
Yggdrasil Gaming was founded in 2013 with headquarters in Malta, Gibraltar, Poland, and Sweden. Although it was more of a niche software developer in the beginning, these days Yggdrasil creates high-end casino games, with some of its most famous creations being 3D slot machines. Boost, Super Free Spins, Brag and Infinite API are features characteristic of Yggdrasil slots. Joker Millions, Vikings Go To Hell, Vikings Go Berserk, Vikings Go Wild, Blood Moon Wilds, Beauty and the Beast, and Sahara Nights are some of its top titles.
Live casino options are a must for any gambling site. If you'd rather join a live dealer table than play an online table game, in the following table we've listed the top live casino software providers, some of their best-known titles, and the casinos where you can play them.
Software Provider | Top Live Games | Where to Play |
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Evolution Gaming |
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Pragmatic Play |
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Microgaming |
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When it comes to online slots, this is where the biggest competition is between casino software providers. Hundreds of titles are released every year and slot providers have to be quite inventive to outdo their competitors. In the table, we have included some of the best slot machine manufacturers, their popular titles, as well as gambling sites where you can play them.
Software Provider | Top Slot Games | Where to Play |
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NetEnt |
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Novomatic |
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Big Time Gaming |
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If table games appeal to you the most, in this section you will find out which are the best casino game providers of online blackjack and online roulette titles. The two games have multiple versions from different regions of the world and these companies aim to develop games for each one. In the table below, we have included the companies, some of their titles, and where you can play them.
Software Provider | Top Titles | Where to Play |
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iSoftBet |
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Playtech |
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Play’n GO |
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If you are one of the players who prefer lottery games and bingo games in particular, or you like to play poker, in this section you will find out which are the best gambling software providers that create casino programs for these games. In the table below, you will find the best companies, some of their popular games, as well as gambling sites where you can play them.
Software Provider | Top Titles | Where to Play |
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Playtech |
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Pragmatic Play |
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Play’n Go |
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Considering that there are thousands of casino games in the online gambling market in Ireland and hundreds of software companies that provide them for players, it is difficult to navigate and judge whether a provider is good. When it comes to determining the best in the industry, our experts handle a large handbook of criteria that an operator must meet in order to be categorized as good. The experts at Irish Online Casino carefully review all the details related to the particular software developer as well as its catalogue of games and evaluate them based on the manual and their expertise gained after years behind the scenes of the casino industry. What criteria do we rate providers against?
We are aware that what players are most interested in is the game selection. Therefore, an important factor for us is approximately how many new titles are released annually. A good sign is that the provider's portfolio contains a variety of games, but at the same time it is clear in the production of what type it specializes in. It is better to be very good in one area than average in several different ones. So, the quality of the games is essential, not the number.
This is one of the conditions that every game produced by the supplier must meet. For those of you who do not know, RNG stands for Random Number Generator. These are software parts that are implemented in game codes. It serves to generate completely random results when playing casino games. In this way, the outcomes cannot be predicted and are equally fair to both the player and the house.
RTP is an abbreviation coming from the phrase Return to Player. This is a statistical number presented as a percentage, giving the player an idea of what value he can expect to be returned to him over the long term. For example, if the RTP rate is 95%, this means that for every €1.00 spent, statistically the player could get back €0.95. The value of the average RTP rate of the games is calculated to be around 95%. However, progressive jackpots may also have a lower rate. However, for standard slot machines it is not a good sign to be below 95%.
Game volatility is one of the most important features of any game. This is a term that reflects how likely you are to land a winning combination as well as what size it would be. Games are divided into three groups: high volatility, medium volatility, and low volatility. With low volatility, the game is more likely to pay out more frequent but smaller winnings. With high volatility, the opposite is true - the game is more likely to pay out infrequent but larger winnings. It is good for a provider to have both low and high volatility games to have titles suitable for a wider range of people.
Game features are another very important factor in evaluating a provider's portfolio. Games should be developed with high quality, even if they have a classic structure and simple gameplay. This includes the overall layout of the game, the production of the graphic design and sound effects, and whether they correspond to the theme of the game. That is why the big software companies devote themselves to the production of 3D slots filled with many animations. It is important for slot machines to have at least one or two bonus features, as a game without a single bonus round is unlikely to attract any player's attention.
You may find it strange that the user experience is among the criteria for a software company, but it is actually quite logical. The gameplay of the game should be clearly explained in the instructions, the meaning of the buttons should be unambiguous, and all important information about the game should be easily found in its menu. Of course, for the user experience, all these things about the games that we have already mentioned are also important. A good sign is if the company has won awards, as well as if it has positive reviews from players and experts.
Mobile optimization is extremely important these days. Games must be designed in such a way that, first, they can be played on both desktop and mobile devices; second, that there is no loss of quality when playing on different screen sizes; and third, to be compatible for both Android and iPhone users. This is possible by implementing HTML5 technology in game codes. Software companies that do not produce mobile friendly games are unlikely to last long in the industry.
Just as gambling sites need a license to operate legally, so do software companies. A licence issued by an official regulatory body ensures that the company complies with certain standards and is subject to regulation. The providers strive to acquire as many licenses as possible so that they can offer their games in more regions of the world. If they do not have a license to operate in a particular region, casinos operating in that region cannot offer their games.
Gambling software has two meanings. On the one hand, it is the interface of the casino and its functionalities. On the other hand, this is the software behind all casino games.
There are many software developers in the gambling market. Each of them excels in different niches. For example, Microgaming - slots, Playtech - table games, Evolution Gaming - live dealer tables. Which is the best online casino software provider depends on the specific niche.
Games from which software companies the casino will offer depends on which companies it has contracts with. The more agreements there are, the better. Typically, casinos aim to contract at least with what are considered to be the best companies in the industry.
There are four types of online casino software:
There are many good slot providers out there. Some of the best, however, are Big Time Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, Novomatic, etc.