The History of the Biggest Slots Developers

Slots games have become big business in recent years, as the move towards online casino playing has opened up opportunities to create many new games of this type on different themes. Who are some of the top slots developers and what kind of games have they produced?

Scientific Games Brought Land Slots Online

This game design company is based in Las Vegas and they have produced a range of casino games, both for land-based locations and for online operations. They are now made up a number of companies that have all come under the Scientific Games umbrella, with a combined history of over 85 years in the gaming industry.

Among their most famous games is the cheerful Rainbow Riches slot, which started life as a land-based slot machine from Barcrest and has now been turned into one of the most popular online slots. With a bold Irish look over five reels and three in-game bonus features, this is a good example of how a land-based slot can be brought onto the internet.

NetEnt Introduced the Avalanche Feature

NetEnt is one of the most consistently innovative names in the business, with an impressive portfolio of games that continues to expand all the time. They started life in Sweden in 1996 and soon began to produce online slots that set the standard for gameplay and features.

2010 saw them launch the Gonzo’s Quest game, with a revolutionary avalanche feature that gave winning players a second chance to get a set of matching symbols. Another advance they have made is with the release of Twin Spin, where they linked reels together to provide a more exciting experience.

Microgaming Offers Progressive Jackpots

One of the other giants of the online slots sector, Microgaming has been around since the mid-1990s when online casinos first started to appear. In fact, their Cash Splash game was said to be the first online slot that could be played for real money, with a progressive jackpot for players to try and scoop.

Currently, their best-known games include Mega Moolah, which also has a progressive jackpot and that has come out in various different versions over the years, and the vampire-based Immortal Romance.

"MicroGaming" (CC BY 2.0) by Hyperion Gaming

Playtech Introduce Movies and Superheroes

This company was founded right at the tail end of the 20th century. They are present in many betting markets, with sports wagers, table games and bingo all among their products. Playtech was founded in Estonia by an Israeli entrepreneur and the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Their most famous slots games include a number of licensed movie and superhero tie-ins that have raised their profile considerably. They have also produced the epic Age of the Gods series of slots that take players through a number of different historic and fantasy settings in the company of powerful characters like kings and wizards.

The continued growth of the online slots sector should ensure that these established names carry on achieving success provided that they keep up their high standards of quality and innovation. We might also see more new developers appear, as the growing demand for new themes and features encourages others to try and follow their example.

Picture Source: Needpix