When you talk about the top casino software providers, you have to talk about Microgaming. This venerable company has been in the online gambling business for over 20 years and is still going strong. They have to be considered as one of the top providers of not only casino software but also all kinds of gaming software for the worldwide online gambling business. If you don't know much about them or their products, I hope this article will shed some light on the subject.
Brief Background
Beginning in 1994, Microgaming launched the Gaming Club, an online casino that many credit with being the first of its kind on the Internet. Although this venture was hosted under the auspices of Microgaming, the company soon decided that developing games was a much better way to earn their fortune than managing a portfolio of virtual casinos. And with that decision, they pretty much sealed the fate of virtual casinos and their developers.
Their first properly licensed Microgaming casino went live two years later. The following year, they became one of the founders of the Interactive Gaming Council (and later eCOGRA). Their Cash Splash game in 1998 became the first slot sensation linked to a network progressive jackpot. This was a major milestone for them.
In 2008, the company withdrew from the burgeoning U.S. market following the passage of the new Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This ban remains in place to this day, with all associated casinos unwelcoming to American customers. In a more positive development for 2008, Microgaming introduced the first 100-line virtual slot machine - the first of its kind, really. It was a groundbreaking innovation at the time.
The company established itself in the poker industry by creating a strong network known as Prima Poker. It was the first to offer private tables and would later be known as the Microgaming Poker Network (or The MPN). Adding this aspect really increased their credibility.
In 2016, the technology designer once again demonstrated its appetite for innovation by unveiling virtual reality advancements specifically aimed at the gaming world, not the least of which is the casino. The first product was all about roulette. But there seems to be plenty of reason to expect growth in the coming years. Constantly changing. Evolving. Growing.
Available Casino Games
Microgaming casinos have offered more than 850 unique casino games throughout their history. Each game has at least one variant, with many offering several. In their Internet incarnation, the games have even more variations, all to the delight of their customers. While most of us probably think of them as purveyors of blackjack and slots, they are also leaders in Internet poker and bingo.
The casino currently offers over 600 games. These titles can be accessed by downloading the company's software, or they can be played on any computer browser thanks to the no-download Flash option.
Return to Players
The return to player (RTP) percentage is one of the most important aspects for players because it indicates the long-term expected payback of a machine. For example, a machine with a 98% RTP should return $0.98 for every $1 you put in, not counting any taxes or other fees that may be involved. While this number may fluctuate in the short term due to random chance, it has been carefully calculated to provide an accurate projection over thousands or even millions of spins (or hands, depending on the game of your choice).
Microgaming slots have an average RTP of 96%, which is higher than what you can generally expect from a land-based casino. However, these games are not as analytically safe as many others, so you should expect some variance from one slot to the next. And of course, variance also means that some of their games will pay off better than others.
At the other end of the spectrum, the RTP for Craps is the worst you'll find. It's strange that a leading gaming company would be so unfriendly to Craps players, but the numbers speak for themselves. Just look at the returns on the following bets and you'll understand: Big 6/8 (90.91%); Hard 4 or 10 (88.89%); Any Seven (83.33%); Place 6 or 8 (98.48%).
Most Popular Slots
Some players stay true to their profitable games, while others tip and tumble towards the slots that are currently being hyped by their peers. Fortunately, Microgaming pays attention to both types of players and produces a number of games that combine respectable payouts (some of which are even at levels that could be considered progressive) with a certain kind of cool that makes them fun to play and talk about. Much of this is just a preamble to getting to the top slots that the fine folks at Microgaming make, but here you go:
- Moolah Mega - A progressive slot that offers the largest payouts of any Microgaming slot
- Bridesmaids - A licensed slot game inspired by the 2011 hit comedy film
- Playboy magazine may no longer feature nude spreads in its pages, but the name and logo are still among the most recognizable in the world. Of course, that recognition translates into dollars and cents for the bottom line. And those numbers dropped dramatically in the late 1990s, along with magazine revenues across the board. However, Playboy is still a long way from bankruptcy
- Norse mythology is the basis for Thunderstruck II, which has been one of the most popular online slots for several years
- Major Millions - a progressive slot that's made a few millionaires in its time;
Microgaming Jackpots
Unlike some of its major online casino competitors, Microgaming is not known for offering huge jackpots. However, there is still much to commend them for, especially when you consider that they operate the largest progressive network in the entire industry.
About 20 of the several hundred slot machines the company has produced pay out progressive jackpots. The most generous of these is by far Mega Moolah Mega, which pays out an average jackpot of $4,608,236 every 12 weeks and five days.
Although the average jackpot is over $1 million for just one game - Mega Moolah Mega - there are many other profitable options. For example, King Cashalot and Major Millions offer several different paths to around half a million dollars (the average jackpot for Cashalot) or more (the all-time high of over $1.8 million paid out by Millions).
If you win a jackpot, you can expect to receive your winnings in a single lump sum. This is far better than some competing brands, whose affiliated casinos pay out in dribs and drabs over a number of years.
Industry Awards Won by Microgaming
Being recognized by your peers is important in any profession. It shows that you have made some kind of ubiquitous mark in your field, and it also shows that your competitors respect you enough to give you some kind of award.
Microgaming has received many accolades since its first appearance in 1994. The company has been nominated for the most coveted awards in the eGaming industry, and has won many, many times in its more than 20 years of existence. Some of the company's most impressive awards include
- In 2001, we were named "Best Software Provider" by Casino Player Magazine
- In 2001, we were named "Best Roulette, Slots, and Progressive Games" by Casino Player Magazine
- In 2005, we were named "Best Software Provider" by the watchdog site Casinomeister;
Microgaming has forged its way into the upper echelons of the online gaming industry, and there's no evidence to suggest that they could fall from such a stable position. Their vast library of games combined with outstanding graphics leaves most competitors in the dust, and they've done a commendable job of keeping a tighter rein on the partner casinos that use their software. While certain odds could definitely use some improvement (we're looking at you, Craps!), that 20+ years of experience comes through in consistently delivering quality gaming sessions.