The world’s top online casinos feature many elements, from strong promotions to award-winning mobile apps. Yet, the most important factor will inevitably be the selection of games on the platform. Without top games, casinos struggle to stand out from the crowd.
Online casino platforms do not develop their own games, though there can be some exceptions. By and large, they are dependent on gaming studios to provide their top titles for the platform. Most casinos will house games from multiple providers.
The slots selection at DraftKings Casino, for example, will not depend on a single game provider. It will use dozens of the biggest names in the industry, furnishing it with recognizable games and franchises.
But which brands power the iGaming sector right now? Which studios to casino players look for as a mark of quality? Let’s take a look at the global powerhouses
Evolution Gaming
There is an argument that Evolution Gaming is the most important game developer in the iGaming industry. It commands a large portion of the live dealer entertainment, providing the infrastructure and games for numerous major casinos across the world. It also took a big step into virtual gaming when it acquired the popular studios NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Red Tiger, and Nolimit City.
IGT
IGT is one of a handful of iGaming companies that have seen success in both offline casino resorts and the online sphere. That’s a supreme advantage, as it can bring many of its popular slot machines from Las Vegas to online platforms. A typical example is the Cleopatra slot, considered an all-time classic both online and offline. As with many of the biggest iGaming companies, IGT operates multiple studios and develops games through partner brands.
Games Global
Games Global is an interesting example as it wasn’t a huge name, but it became one after acquiring many of Microgaming’s assets. The latter was one of the pioneers of the online casino industry, creating 100s of games. The acquisition was akin to a startup buying an industry leader, like (hypothetically) Netflix buying Time Warner. The upshot is that Games Global became a powerhouse at the stroke of a pen, and it now benefits from providing many of Microgaming’s most beloved games.
Pragmatic Play
A modern success story, Pragmatic Play provides many of the world’s most popular slots today. These include the massively successful Big Bass games, Gates of Olympus, Starlight Princess, and many more. If a game is successful, Pragmatic Play tends to double down, releasing sequels and reboots. It’s been a winning formula.
White Hat Gaming
Known as Blueprint Gaming outside the U.S., White Hat Gaming is characterized by feature-rich games, often containing easter eggs and hidden features. It also benefits from its jackpot networks, which combine multiple progressive jackpots across different games.
Playtech
One of the early stalwarts of the iGaming sector, Playtech developed the blueprints for many of the trends that characterize online casino gaming today. Some of its dominance forged in the 2000s and early 2010s may be gone, yet it is still highly influential in all aspects of casino gaming. Its Age of the Gods series – a huge selection of interconnected games – remains a central component of many top online casinos.
Aristocrat
As with IGT mentioned at the top of this list, Aristocrat benefits from bringing its land-based slot franchises to the online arena. Big hits include the Lightning Link series. It is a multi-faceted studio, bringing a mix of modern slot games and classic-style play.