Based on the Isle of Man, award-winning software development firm Microgaming Software Systems Ltd was founded in 1994 and has built a strong reputation for reliability and innovation since then.
Its (admittedly contested) claim to fame is having founded the world’s first genuine online casino in the same year, however, a decade later, it developed the world’s first mobile casino software.
So few would dispute that Microgaming is a grandfather to the sector and a pioneer in shaping today’s online gaming industry.
It’s a leading global operator, with a number of major web-based casinos including the Palace Group, Carmen Media Group and others using its software. Its solutions serve 160 market-leading gaming sites globally, in 24 languages across land and web-based and mobile platforms. These include more than 120 casinos plus 40-odd poker rooms which use its software.
Products cover poker, casino, bingo, live dealer and sportsbook activities, among others.
Other clients include Casumo, Grosvenor Casinos and William Hill.
Later launches
In May 2010, Microgaming founded Quickfire Games, which licenses its game content to third-party developers and casino platform providers.
Six years later, its virtual reality (VR) headset game line-up was launched, using Oculus Rift tech and with a focus on VR roulette.
Microgaming Poker Network (MPN)
Formerly called Prima Poker, this web-based poker network has software which lets participants play multi-player versions including Texas Hold’Em plus five and seven-card stud poker against real people in real-time.
Microgaming pioneered anonymous tables, in a bid to reduce the effectiveness of player-tracking tools, and offered a fully integrated achievement system in November 2013.
However, in September 2019, Microgaming announced it was closing MPN in 2020 after more than 16 years, following an internal review of its product portfolio and strategy. In a statement the company said:
The model, which has provided an entertaining, unique experience, no longer fits with our strategic vision for poker, so we’re redistributing key resources across the business.
Microgaming products
Games
Games, consistently highly rated by players, include the likes of Avalon, Dragonz and Thunderstruck, alongside household-name branded blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones.
In recent years, a key focus has been on developing slots, which is how most of Microgaming’s online casino clients make their money. But there are also table games including roulette and blackjack, alongside live dealer offerings.
In all, there are more than 600 unique games in the standard web-based casino powered by Microgaming, including 100 development partner offerings. New titles across mobile and desktop machines are launched each month.
Games are respected across the industry for their high quality, impressive graphics and speedy gameplay. They include some of entertainment’s biggest names and some of online gaming’s most imaginative creations.
Jackpots are often significant, and the Return to Player (RTP) percentages typically than what you might find elsewhere on the slots scene.
Those games which don’t need strategic decisions have an Autoplay function. Others have an Expert button letting you define the strategy which the Autoplay function uses.
Most Microgaming video poker games have an auto-hold feature to offer suggestions on which cards to hold, and which to discard. Unlike with many competitors’ offerings, this function prompts you to play the strategy that’s mathematically correct.
Software
This comes in either a download or instant-play interface, both offering a broad line-up of games. For the best experience, ideally, you need to download the whole package.
At around 200MB/casino, it can seem rather bulky, but the games selection alone should justify the use of space.
Casino games are released in Flash or downloadable editions, although there’s been a recent shift to HTML5 releases to enhance cross-platform compatibility.
Mega win on Mega Moolah
This Microgaming progressive slot title is one of the company’s most celebrated games. British soldier and Betway customer Jon Heywood won £13.2m from a single 25p spin in October 2015. The 26-year-old from Cheshire, who had toured Afghanistan, set a new world record for the biggest online slot machine jackpot.
Small wonder that Mega Moolah has become one of the most popular slots ever. Its progressive jackpot structure means its prize fund keeps rising with each spin. What’s more, it has to be won regularly!
Awards
Microgaming has a number of industry awards under its belt, including the following:
International Gaming Awards
- iGaming Software Supplier 2018
- Mobile Product of the Year 2017
- Innovator of the Year 2016
Malta Gaming Awards
- Slots Platform of the Year 2018
National Technology Awards
- Tech Investment Award 2018
Global Gaming Awards
- Digital Product 2014 – 2016
- Digital Gaming Innovation 2015
Responsible gaming
Microgaming says…
We incorporated principles of responsible gaming and fair play into our ethos from the very beginning.
For the company, that includes membership of the following:
- Microgaming is a founder member of the UK-based non-profit regulatory body eCOGRA, established in 2003. It resolves disputes between players and member casinos, and membership means being answerable to it should any dispute arise.
- Manx e-Gaming Association
- Remote Gambling Association – London-based and launched in 2005 to serve suppliers and operators
- The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) regulates Microgaming’s casino and poker products
- The UK’s Gambling Commission (established in 2005) regulates and licenses Microgaming
