There is now a huge selection of online slots available online – millions of different titles can be played. The selection of different game providers is just as large. Merkur Spiele, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and hundreds of other developers are courting players online. Choosing the right provider for your next game can therefore be a real challenge, especially for casino beginners.
Ultimately, you should definitely choose your game developer carefully. Unfortunately, not all providers impress with great games and fair payouts. Quite the opposite: with some providers, not only is a bad gaming experience to be expected, but fraud and theft are also a risk.
That is why we have put together the following guide to the top five most popular developers of online slots. All of these providers not only promise an unforgettable gaming experience, but also the chance to win incredibly high prizes. We have summarised the most important facts about the providers, along with the most popular games and the highest jackpots. Happy exploring!
Why is the quality of the developers so important?
Before we take a closer look at the top 5 software providers, we would first like to explain why it is so important to choose the right developer. Even though there are now hundreds of game developers, the quality of the games can vary greatly. So whether you experience fun and winnings or frustration and fraud in an online casino depends largely on which provider you choose.
First of all, there is the aspect of fair play. All major game developers, including the top 5 presented in this article, are regularly checked by independent institutions. The best known of these is probably eCOGRA, which ensures that the information provided by the developers in terms of possible winnings and payout percentages is actually correct. So if you choose a top developer with an eCOGRA license, you don’t have to worry about fraud or theft.
However, such a licence does not automatically mean that a particular provider is a top provider. After all, the games should not only be safe and fair, but should also provide plenty of fun and thrills. In our article, we therefore only recommend game manufacturers that can convince with the latest special features and the most exciting storylines.
In addition, the providers presented here also score points with the best graphics and soundtracks. If you play a slot machine from one of these providers, you can look forward to another feature: manufacturers like NetEnt regularly bring slots with popular themes from pop culture onto the market: for example, there are slots from well-known films like the Avengers, but also slot machines dedicated to a particular music band or celebrity.
The top 5 slot providers
You already know why it pays to choose only the best slot providers. In the following paragraphs, we will therefore introduce you to the 5 best slot game providers, along with their special features and most popular games.
NetEnt
Net Entertainment is at the top of our list of the top 5 – but most players probably know the provider by the name NetEnt. The provider from Sweden is not only one of the most successful and popular online slot manufacturers in the world, but is also one of the oldest developers around: the company has been developing some of the best casino games ever since 1996.
NetEnt was founded by one of Sweden’s largest providers of offline casino games. The company’s experts already had a wealth of knowledge when it came to the preferences and demands of casino players – all that remained was to implement it in the online world. And NetEnt has done an impressive job of doing just that: last year alone, the manufacturer generated a turnover of almost 200 million euros, which clearly speaks to the popularity of NetEnt games.
The Swedish company is now responsible for more than 200 classics. Some of the most popular games include Vikings™ Video Slot, Lost Relics™, Gonzo’s Quest™ and Starburst™ – one of the most successful slot machines of all time. In addition, NetEnt is one of the leading developers of virtual reality slots: the next few years are likely to hold many more highlights from the Swedish manufacturer for casino fans.
Merkur
Merkur is a household name for every casino fan in Germany: after all, the brand has been responsible for the majority of offline slot machines in German casinos for decades. Merkur is part of the Gauselmann Group, one of the largest gaming companies in the world, which is still headquartered in Germany. The Gauselmann Group not only manufactures slot machines, but also operates physical casinos, sports betting and other gaming services.
This means that Merkur games are not only completely safe and offer high winnings. No, the provider’s many years of experience also ensure that its slots provide maximum fun and action in the casino. In fact, Merkur is probably responsible for the most famous slot in Germany: Book of Ra, the classic slot machine with an Egyptian theme.
Players can choose from more than 150 different Merkur titles. These include, among others, classics in a 3-reel retro design that hark back to the origins of slot machines. But the manufacturer also scores points with modern slots that inspire with a variety of exciting features such as free spins, ladder games, progressive wins and rewin features.
By the way: you can now also play slot games online at stay casino promo code. That’s because the manufacturer also offers many of its games as free demos. This in turn gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the features of a game without having to make a deposit. Only when you are sure that you like a particular game should you make a deposit to start raking in real money winnings.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is also one of the most popular casino game developers. The provider not only produces exceptionally good slots, but also casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat. These can also be played in the live casino, among other places. Playing in real time against a real dealer under original Vegas rules promises not only high winnings, but also maximum thrills.
But that’s not all. Pragmatic Play is one of the most advanced developers in the online gaming market. Among other things, players can also experience virtual sports here. These include horse racing and football matches, for example. In addition, Pragmatic also offers scratch cards and bingo games, which are always a great pastime.
In addition, Pragmatic Play is known for offering games with a very high RTP. RTP stands for Return to Player, which is the payout percentage. An RTP value above 96% is considered excellent and allows for high winnings. Almost all Pragmatic Play games have an RTP of over 97% – 88 Gold even reaches 97.52%! So these slots really do offer you fantastic chances of winning.
But there’s another reason why Pragmatic Play is so popular with players: the manufacturer regularly organises tournaments with incredibly high cash prizes. These tournaments are about achieving a higher score than all the other participants over a certain period of time. If you succeed, you will receive not only the winnings from the actual game, but also the tournament prize: up to €500,000 is distributed.
Microgaming
Microgaming is also one of the veterans of the online casino scene. The Malta-based company has been developing first-class games of chance since 1994. The provider impresses above all with its huge selection: there are now more than 1500 games to choose from, which are offered in more than 800 top online casinos around the world. In this area, Microgaming is therefore one step ahead of most of its competitors.
This is all the more surprising when you consider that Microgaming only offers slots. In contrast to, for example, Pragmatic Play, the company from Malta does not provide any table games or other games such as scratch cards. Instead, Microgaming has specialised entirely in the development of first-class slots, which in turn benefits the quality of the machines. We currently consider Microgaming slots to be among the best online casino games available.
The provider is particularly well known for its jackpot slots. In fact, Microgaming holds two world records in this area: for the highest total casino jackpot win – more than a billion euros in 20 years – and for the highest individual jackpot win of all time, worth 19.4 million euros. Even better, Microgaming pays out these winnings immediately, so players don’t have to wait for a deadline to expire. It’s no wonder that the company is one of the most popular iGaming developers in the world.
Betsoft
Betsoft is a British company that has also been developing casino games since 1994. Players around the world can now access a mix of slots, table games and video poker. Some of the most popular Betsoft slots include Safari Sam, At the Copa and Gypsy Rose, all of which have an RTP of 97%.
Betsoft is the leading developer of 3D games that use cutting-edge graphics, impressive features and great soundtracks to give users a completely new gaming experience. This new type of online slot will gradually replace the classic slot machine designs over the next few years.