Online Casino Providers for UK Gambling
In 1994, Microgaming launched the very first real money casino games. Since then, the number of casino game providers has exploded!
These days, you can find everything from blockbuster slots to innovative live dealer games at all online casinos. A typical online casino can have over 1,000 slot games alone from more than 20 providers.
These casino software providers come in all shapes and sizes. Some are major players known worldwide, like NetEnt and Microgaming, while others, like ELK Studio and Hacksaw Gaming, focus on bringing something fresh to the table.
The casino game providers listed below are all licensed and approved to operate in the UK. Some smaller developers are not listed; their games are mainly available on massive slot sites like Videoslots.
| Provider | Founded | Popular Game |
|---|---|---|
| 1X2 Gaming | 2002 | Vampire Hunters |
| 4 The Player | 2018 | 5 Flaming Dollars |
| Amatic | 1993 | Book of Fruits |
| Bally's | 1968 | Monopoly Heights |
| Big Time Gaming | 2011 | Bonanza |
| Blueprint Gaming | 2001 | Buffalo Rising Megaways |
| Booming Games | 2014 | Tasty Bonanza |
| ELK Studios | 2012 | Ice Wolf |
| Evolution Gaming | 2006 | Dream Catcher |
| Lightning Box | 2004 | Fortune 8 Cat |
| Gameburger Studios | 2019 | 9 Pots of Gold |
| Genesis | 2008 | Golden Children |
| Hacksaw Gaming | 2018 | Cubes |
| IGT | 1990 | Cleopatra |
| Inspired Gaming | 2006 | Centurion |
| iSoftbet | 2010 | Lost Boys Loot |
| Leander Games | 2007 | Kraken Conquest |
| Light & Wonder | 1973 | 88 Fortunes |
| Microgaming | 1994 | Mega Moolah |
| Merkur Gaming | 2001 | Extra Wild |
| NetEnt | 1996 | Starburst |
| NextGen Gaming | 1999 | Medusa Megaways |
| Novomatic | 1980 | Bat Stax |
| Play'n Go | 1997 | Book of Dead |
| Playtech | 1999 | Buffalo Blitz |
| Pragmatic Play | 2015 | Wolf Gold |
| Rabcat | 2001 | Castle Builder |
| Red Tiger | 2014 | Dragons Luck |
| Relax Gaming | 2010 | Money Train 2 |
| Slingo | 1994 | Slingo Riches |
| Thunderkick | 2015 | Divine Lotus |
| Wazdan | 2010 | Magic Stars 9 |
| Yggdrasil Gaming | 2013 | Age of Asgard |
Best Online Casino Software Providers
Each provider has its own take on casino games, and many have gained a loyal fan base. The best way to see which provider’s style best suits your gaming is to try different games!
BonusFinder has selected the best casino game providers in the UK from the table above. Netent has amazing video slots (like Gonzo’s Quest), Evolution Gaming is the best live dealer casino game provider, and Microgaming has created the best progressive jackpot slots.
Below, we discuss five providers in more detail. We also highlight some of their top games you can start with!
1. Microgaming: The Best Progressive Jackpots
Microgaming started the whole real-money online casino industry. The casino software developer has created many of the world’s most played online gambling games. These include jackpot games like Mega Moolah and popular table games like European Gold Roulette and Vegas Blackjack.
| Game | RTP | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Masks of Fire | 96.24% | Bonus Rounds |
| Book of Oz | 96.50% | 5000x Max Win |
| Avalon II | 95.92% | Free Spins |
| Atlantic City Blackjack | 99.65% | Classic Rules |
| 9 Pots of Gold Roulette | 97.30% | Irish Theme |
These days, Microgaming is a part of the Global Games network, which also includes Gameburger Studios. Some might find Microgaming’s slots a bit dated in appearance, but the gameplay is as fun as ever.
To play a wide selection of games, you can get deposit bonuses from Microgaming online casinos like Zodiac Casino.
2. NetEnt: The Highest RTP Games
Net Entertainment was the first to create a Flash casino in 2001. Before then, you’d always have to download and install a casino on your computer. But Netent figured it was easier to play through your web browser and changed the casino business for the better.
These days, NetEnt is a massive conglomerate of numerous game developers, including Evolution and Red Tiger. However, the flagship brand is by far the most popular and releases new slots most frequently.
| Game | RTP | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Dead or Alive 2 | 96.82% | Fun Theme |
| Gonzo's Quest | 95.97% | Avalance Feature |
| Jack Hammer | 96.96% | 25 Paylines |
| Blood Suckers | 98% | High RTP |
| Classic Blackjack | 97.30% | Simplicity |
Most NetEnt casinos hand out free spins for Starburst, but there are some other great deals as well, like the offer from Barz Casino.
3. Big Time Gaming: The Best Megaways Slots
Big Time Gaming is the original creator of Megaways slots, which took the gaming world by storm in 2016. Since then, BTG has licensed their mechanic to many other developers, so you can find most of your favourite titles as Megaways versions!
| Game | RTP | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Falls | 96.51% | Bonus Coins |
| Monopoly Megaways | 96.50% | Game Theme |
| White Rabbit | 97.72% | High RTP |
| Donuts | 96.52% | 4x4 Layout |
| Book of Gods | 96.03% | Symbol Cloning Feature |
Big Time Gaming has also expanded its line of products. Megapays is a progressive jackpot network, and Megaclusters slots employ a cluster pays mechanic, where clusters break apart after wins.
Big Time Gaming slots aren’t normally included in free spins, but Mega Riches has a great offer with an additional deposit match.
4. Evolution Gaming: The Best Live Games
Evolution Gaming changed the online casino world by making live dealer games a huge thing. Evolution casino games are played live at a real-life brick-and-mortar casino, and you can get in on the action by betting on your phone or computer.
These live casino games have become hugely popular. Evolution Gaming is the biggest company behind hit games like Monopoly Live and 2 Hand Casino Hold’em.
| Game | RTP | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Infinite Blacjack | 99.47% | Freedom |
| Lightning Roulette | 97.10%-97.30% | Lucky Number Multiplier |
| Crazy Time | 94.41%-96.08% | Four Bonus Games |
| Monopoly Live | 96.23% | Additional Prizes |
| Baccarat Control Squeeze | 98.85% | Players Squeeze |
You can play Evolution’s games with The Vic’s welcome bonus; all live games contribute 20% towards wagering.
5. Playtech: The Most Variety
Playtech is the main game software provider for the largest online gaming companies, like William Hill Casino UK.
Playtech is the creator of the Age of the Gods slot series, which has become very popular among players on Playtech casinos UK.
| Game | RTP | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Age of the Gods | 95.02% | Progressive Jackpot |
| Buffalo Blitz | 96.49% | 4096 Ways to Win |
| Breaking Bad: Cash Collect & Link | 95.60% | Heisenberg Collect & Link |
| Gladiator | 96% | Gladiator Bonus Game |
| Oink Oink Oink | 95.91% | Free Spins |
Playtech also stands out from other game providers by providing games for local, state-run gambling companies worldwide. Unlike many other providers, they offer all types of software, from slots to live games.
You can claim free spins for the Age of the Gods slot from Betfred Casino:
Other Highlighted Developers
Book of Dead is the free spins game of many Play N Go UK casinos, making it one of the most popular slots ever.
Red7 Slots were an up-and-coming developer in the 2010s, but their games have been acquired several times over the years.
Other excellent new developers are Yggdrasil and Red Tiger; you can find their games at new online casinos.
Jackpot Providers
If there’s one thing casino game providers love to compete on, it’s jackpots; whoever has the biggest has bragging rights.
Online progressive jackpots have been around since the late 90s; by now, all major casino vendors have one. The biggest jackpots and providers:
- Mega Moolah / Microgaming Jackpot Network
- Mega Fortune / Netent
- Beach Life / Playtech
- Millionaire Genie / Random Logic
- Millionaires Club / Cryptologic
Mobile Casino Game Developers
Netent was the first to mainstream convenient mobile gaming in the early 2000s. They recognised that players wanted to skip downloading platforms and play directly in their browsers.
Around 2002, NetEnt launched the first “instant play games”. They worked seamlessly on mobile devices without downloading. Microgaming had also experimented with mobile games as early as the 1990s, but NetEnt took it a step further with NetEnt Touch.
NetEnt Touch was a mobile-friendly format that made games easier to enjoy on touchscreen devices when using mobile casino sites.
Once NetEnt had figured out the mobile technology, the rest of the casino industry followed. Nowadays, all casino software development aims for the perfect mobile gaming experience. Each provider has a mobile gaming platform (like Microgaming with QuickFire).
Many companies, like ELK Gaming, have actually been founded by former NetEnt employees, so mobile gaming is very familiar to them. All new slots sites in the UK work marvellously both on desktop and mobile devices.
Why Casino Game and Slot Providers Are Needed
In the early days of online gambling (pre-2000), online casinos tried to do it all themselves. This was not a well-working arrangement, as the fairness of the games depended on the slots sites themselves. The games were also often clunky or uninspired.
Soon after, companies like Microgaming and NetEnt pivoted from developing games for their own casinos to creating high-quality games for all gambling sites. This raised the standards and offered players access to a much wider variety of games they could trust.
Today, game providers design, test, and maintain the games you play; casinos just license the games for a fee. Providers are incentivised to make them both fair and fun, as their UKGC licence depends on it.
The casinos can’t change the outcomes of games, meaning you can trust they are truly random.
Safety & Security
Safety is at the heart of a good online gaming experience. Just like casinos need a UKGC licence to operate in the UK, game providers must follow a similar process to offer their games at the sites.
To get the licence, developers must prove their games are fair and consistent. Crucially, the game must operate the same in both real money and free play modes. This helps guarantee a trustworthy experience for players.
Gaming Platforms
In addition to game providers, there are also casino platforms. These platforms combine games from many different providers, aka, are the foundation of an online casino. The platform combines different games like casino, betting, card games, and poker. Well-known casino platforms include:
- Relax Gaming
- Nyx Gaming
- White Hat Gaming
- Microgaming Quickfire
- Softswiss
- Every Matrix
- SkillOnNet
- Inoru
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FAQ
- What are the most popular casino game providers?
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NetEnt and Microgaming are probably the most popular. They've been in the industry for decades, creating legendary slots and continuing to improve the gaming experience through software development. Evolution Gaming is the top choice for live casino games.
- Can I play Microgaming slots with my casino bonuses?
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Yes, that's possible at some online casinos. We've listed the best Microgaming casinos in the UK. When you claim a Microgaming bonus via our site, you can enjoy your favourite casino slots - just remember responsible gambling!
- Are online slots rigged?
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Absolutely not. Third-party gaming authorities (Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission) regularly test real money slots to secure fair casino gaming for online gamblers. BonusFinder only lists legitimate and trustworthy sites in the casino gaming industry.
