The British slots business

Online slot machines made in the UK

By browsing UK gambling sites, we found that all slot machines look alike, and in fact, they are all the same. Even if there are over 100 regulated online casinos in the UK, at the slot provider level, there are only a small handful. Among these suppliers, there are two which are British – Microgaming and Playtech. Both these groups are giants on a global scale, supplying to almost all of the international online casinos.

Microgaming

This casino game maker launched in 1994 and is a web pioneer in the world of online casino games. In three decades, this group, which started out from a small startup, has grown to become the world’s largest player when it comes to slot machines. With over 800 titles in its catalogue, Microgaming is the ideal partner for UK online casinos. What’s more, they have opened up to all countries where gambling has been regulated on the Internet. Based on the Isle of Man, this legendary group is, without a doubt, a benchmark in the online casino industry.

Microgaming.co.uk

Playtech

Playtech is Microgaming’s rival. Also based in the Isle of Man, its founder Teddy Sagi is an icon of the industry. Starting from nothing, but armed with ambitions, Teddy has built an empire. His company Playtech was set up in 1999 and quickly established itself as a standout in all niches of gambling. When it comes to slots, Playtech does almost as well as Microgaming. Where the Playtech Group has achieved its greatest successes is with its affiliate partners. Unlike Microgaming, which works with partners of all sizes, Playtech only favours the big fish. The Playtech label is also on the biggest online casino and betting sites, including Bet365, William Hill and Unibet.

Playtech.com

UK groups leading the way

In the UK, slots providers are predominantly British. The only foreign group that has managed to break into the market is Net Entertainment. Short for NetEnt, this creator of slot machines and table games started in 1996. Based in Sweden, it ranks among the top three slot machine suppliers in terms of international business volumes. Microgaming and Playtech are, in a way, the big bosses, and Net Ent is the challenger. While the success of the Playtech and NetEnt groups are known because they’re listed on the stock exchange, Microgaming remains discreet about its results.

Microgaming – Independence and development

Microgaming is managed by a private group who’ve mastered Internet technologies. This group has always known how to stand out, and it seems that their formula is the one to follow. In any case, when it comes to online slots, Microgaming is the champion, especially when it comes to their greatest achievement the Mega Moolah.

Mega Moolah

This progressive slot game has the biggest jackpots out of any online casino. The success of this game is so huge that even newspapers and TV press are talking about it. With millions of players taking their chances every month on the Mega Moolah in the UK, it’s the most iconic slot machine on the Internet. Of course, other Microgaming games like Roulette, Blackjack and some video slots are also bestsellers.

Past and present

Online slot developers and providers have nothing to do with land-based casino slots. As surprising as it may seem, the operators of the largest web-related slots groups aren’t the owners of the casino chains found in the US, UK or elsewhere. In fact, it’s young entrepreneurs with impeccable timing who managed to make their mark in the juicy online slot machine industry are. These entrepreneurs, running companies like Microgaming, Playtech and Net Ent, are true pioneers of the Web. Moreover, but to a lesser extent, these gambling groups have followed the same ascent as brands such as Amazon, Google and Facebook.

What’ll happen in the decades to come? It’s a safe bet that the slot machine providers will always be the same due to their experience and forward-thinking vision. Microgaming, Playtech and Net Ent trio are continually investing in innovation. For example, these three groups are investing heavily in the virtual reality and artificial intelligence sector. These terms may sound way too futuristic, but given the development model of the three gambling giants, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them dominate any new niche relating to online slot machines in the years to come.