What Are Software Providers?

Software providers are the brains behind today’s hottest casino titles. They create everything from slots to live dealer games and even the software on which casinos run.

In the early days of online gaming, casinos were often powered by a single developer. Now, though, most online casinos offer games from multiple developers, sometimes dozens of them. The more developers a casino partners with, the bigger its catalog.
 

Software Providers: What They Do

What types of games do casino software providers make? Let’s explore the types of games you can find at our favorite online casinos.

Casino Games

Fancy yourself a poker fan? Or maybe you’re more of a blackjack buff. Software providers have recreated the Vegas experience with a variety of exciting single-player table games. These games are excellent for practicing your skills and betting strategy before challenging real players at the live tables.

Live Casino

If you can’t make the trip to Vegas or Atlantic City, playing live games at an online casino is the next best thing. These games feature a real-life gaming experience, allowing you to interact with other players and dealers. Try your hand at blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and poker.

Live game shows are another interesting addition to online casinos. Games such as Wheel of Fortune and Deal or No Deal put you in the contestant’s seat and give you the chance to win huge prizes.

Slots

When you think of software providers, slots are probably the first thing that comes to mind. Most developers cut their teeth on slots, first offering games with simple mechanics before moving on to titles with flashy graphics and bonus features.

Slots are the bread and butter of online casinos. At some, you’ll find hundreds or even thousands to choose from.

Specialty Games

There’s nothing quite like heading to the local bingo hall and watching those colorful balls drop while you check your card for a match. Can’t make it in person? Specialty game providers have you covered. In addition to bingo, developers offer a variety of fun games such as keno and scratch card titles.

Progressive Jackpot Systems

How would you like the chance to win a jackpot worth $1 million or more? You’ll have your shot when you play some of the industry’s top progressive jackpot slots. These games, such as Mega Moolah and Hall of Gods, feature jackpots that keep increasing until a lucky player wins them. 
 

Our Approach to Ranking Online Casino Software Providers

Wondering how to choose a good software provider? To select our favorites, here’s what we look for:

• Game variety: Our top developers have generous catalogs and hundreds of titles under their belts. We prefer developers that offer a variety of games, including slots, specialty games, and live dealer tables.
• Return to player (RTP): RTP depicts how much money a game returns to the player for every dollar bet. Good games have an RTP of at least 95%. The best offer is a 98%-99% RTP.
• Mobile compatibility: We look for developers whose games work perfectly on tablets and mobile phones. Bonus points if players don't need to download any special software to play.
• Safety and security: The best providers build their games with security in mind. They also partner with casinos that offer must-have safety features, such as encryption and two-factor authentication.
• Fairness: Yes, all casino games have a house edge, but none should be patently unfair. That’s why we look for games that offer reliable payouts.
• Licensing and regulation: Just as online casinos need licenses, so too do software developers. Providers with licenses guarantee that their games are safe and fair.
   

Why Is Software Vital to the Casino Industry?

Long ago, when online gambling was first starting out, casinos typically ran on software produced by a single developer. This meant that many games were only available at a single casino. On top of that, players never quite knew what to expect when hopping from one casino to the next.

Third-party developers changed the game for the better. Now, players can find their favorites at multiple casinos and enjoy peace of mind knowing they’ll have a quality, reliable gaming experience.
 

Key Tips for Choosing a Good Software Provider

How can you pick the best online casino developers? Just follow these expert tips:

• Browse the developer’s catalog before you start playing. Most developers list their catalogs on their websites. Here, you can learn how each game works, its RTP, and any bonus features on offer.
• Know the RTP before you bet. As mentioned above, the RTP depicts how much money you can expect the game to return for every dollar that you bet. The best games have an RTP of at least 95%.
• Pay attention to volatility. High-volatility games feature infrequent payouts, but when you do get a win, the payout is impressive. With low-volatility games, you’ll win smaller, more frequent payouts.
• Find online casinos offering generous bonuses for your favorite games. For example, some casinos offer free spins to try their featured game of the month.
• Check developer reviews at Optimobet. We’ve done the hard work of hunting for top developers so you don’t have to.
   

Top 10 Online Casino Software Providers

Which software providers are our all-time favorites? Below, learn about the 10 best software developers, including must-know information such as specialty, license, and RTP.

Developer	Year Founded	Specialty	License	RTP
Evolution Gaming	2006	Live dealer games	Sweden	97-99%
Visionary iGaming	2008	Live dealer games	Costa Rica	97-99%
BetGames	2012	Game shows, live games	Lithuania	96-98%
RealTime Gaming (RTG)	1998	Slots, video poker, table games	Costa Rica	95-97%
Betsoft	2006	Table games, video poker, 3D video slots	Malta	95-97%
Qora Gaming	2019	Slots, table games, bingo, hot drops	Curacao	95-97%
Nucleus Gaming	2014	Table games, 3D video slots	Seychelles	95-97%
Dragon Gaming	2004	Slots, table games	Cyprus	95-97%
Woohoo Games	2019	Table games, slots, bingo	United Kingdom	95-97%
Rival Powered	2005	Table games, slots, specialty games, video poker	Cyprus	94-96%

 

New Trends in Software Development in the Online Casino Industry

What are the most promising trends in casino game software development today, and where will the industry go next?

One of our favorite trends is cross-platform integration. This feature allows developers to provide their games at a variety of casinos and on multiple platforms, including desktop computers, phones, and tablets. That means you can fire up your favorite game no matter where you are whenever the mood strikes.

We’re also big fans of virtual reality (VR) in casino games. This technology allows you to see and interact with other players and the dealer, just as you would sitting at the table in Vegas. If the social experience is your favorite part of gambling, you’ll fall in love with VR.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another trend worth paying attention to. This cutting-edge tech enables casinos to study players and determine their betting habits, favorite games, etc. Casinos can then offer personalized promotions, such as free spins for a player’s most-loved game.

Lastly, we’re loving crypto-friendly casinos and developers. Crypto guarantees fast deposits and nearly instant withdrawals, so you’ll get your winnings much faster than with fiat payment methods. On top of that, crypto is anonymous and very secure.

 

History of Casino Softwares

You may think that online gambling is a relatively young industry, but it got its start decades ago in the 90s. The first online casino in the world, powered by developer Microgaming, launched in 1994. It was simply and aptly named The Gaming Club, and surprisingly, it’s still in existence today.

Here are a few other highlights from casino developer history:

• 1998: RealTime Gaming launches in Atlanta, GA, and later moves to Costa Rica.
• 2006: The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) severely restricted online gambling in the U.S., causing many providers to flee to overseas jurisdictions.
• 2013: Online gambling becomes legal in New Jersey.
• 2015: NetEnt launches in New Jersey and later expands to West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
• 2020: Playtech launches its games at U.S. casinos under a license from Borgata.
• 2021: Online gambling becomes legal in Michigan. Evolution Gaming expands to the state, and NetEnt launches there as well.
• 2022: Pragmatic Play launches its first progressive jackpot game, Wolf Gold PowerJackpot.

 

Explore Our Favorite Software Developers

Now that you’ve learned all about casino software providers, are you ready to find a new favorite? Choose one from our list of winners, head to a casino, and start playing today. Good luck and happy gaming!

FAQ

Discover more about online casino software providers here.