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Casino Software Providers: Licenses, Testing Labs and Top Games

Most online casinos license their games from software providers and their cashier (the casino’s banking system) from specialist cashier companies. Some casinos even outsource customer support and marketing.

What we usually call an online casino is in fact the operator, the company that runs the site and manages the business.

Much of the development is also outsourced, and the game providers, who supply the core of the system, play a central role in every online casino.

What You Will Learn

  • Online casino games are supplied by game providers.
  • Major providers are licensed and regulated, and their games are tested by independent labs.

This article takes about 8 minutes to read.

What Is an Online Casino Provider?

What is an online casino provider?

An online casino provider is a company that develops and produces the games offered at online casinos.

Online casino operators license games from providers and offer them to their players.

Providers develop many kinds of games, including video slots, table games and live games, with a wide range of themes, graphics and gameplay.

Each provider’s games have a distinct style. Before you play, it helps to check which regulator issued the provider’s license and which independent lab tests its games.

How to Tell Whether a Provider Is Trustworthy

When assessing an online casino provider, a useful starting point is how it ensures the fairness of its games. Trustworthy providers are reviewed when they obtain a license and remain subject to ongoing oversight by the licensing authority and regular testing by independent labs.

First, trustworthy providers have their games tested and certified by independent testing labs. This testing confirms that game results are random and that the return to player (RTP) matches the published figure.

Trustworthy providers also tend to have a long history and track record. The longer a provider has been operating, the easier it is to confirm that it has repeatedly renewed its licenses and passed independent testing.

Some players question whether online casino games are fair. However, online casinos are legal and regulated in many countries, such as the UK and Malta, and the games offered there are made by the same providers covered in this article. Games offered under each country’s regulations are subject to regulator oversight and independent testing.

Besides the major companies, there are smaller and independent providers that are also trustworthy, each with its own characteristics. The providers covered below are used by many online casinos and have a relatively extensive track record.

Four of the Most Popular Online Casino Providers

Four of the most popular online casino providers

There are a great many online casino providers. This section covers four whose games are used at many of the online casinos we work with.

All four are known for carefully crafted game design and graphics, and all operate under the oversight of a licensing authority and undergo testing by independent testing labs.

Play’n GO

Play'n GO
Company
Play’n GO
Live games
No
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Alderney Gambling Control Commission and others
Testing labs
GLI and others
Headquarters
Sweden
Game types
Slots, table games, bingo, money wheel games
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Moon Princess Trinity

Moon Princess Trinity

The latest title in the popular Moon Princess series. It looks almost identical to the original Moon Princess, but it has higher volatility, so results swing more widely.

Sweet Alchemy 2

Sweet Alchemy 2

A slot developed by Play’n GO in partnership with an online casino. It plays like a puzzle game: clearing all the chocolate blocks triggers free spins.

Honey Rush 100

Honey Rush 100

Honey Rush 100 is a bee-themed slot. A group of five or more adjacent matching symbols forms a win, and each win adds to a meter. When the meter fills up, free spins are triggered.

WIN FAST

WIN FAST
Company
WIN FAST
Live games
No
Licenses
–
Testing labs
–
Headquarters
Isle of Man
Game types
Slots

“–” marks an item that has no single value or that we could not confirm in official sources.

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Hawaiian Dream Jackpot

Hawaiian Dream Jackpot

A version of Hawaiian Dream, a popular Japanese arcade-style slot (modeled on pachislot machines), with a jackpot added. Free spins are easier to trigger than in earlier games in the series, which makes it more accessible.

BATTLE DWARF

BATTLE DWARF

BATTLE DWARF is a Japanese arcade-style slot in which a dwarf fights monsters. It combines three parts in one game: slot play, battles and bonuses. Its RTP is about 95–96%, depending on the version.

Dreams of Gold Delight

Dreams of Gold Delight

Dreams of Gold Delight is an online slot with Chinese-style graphics and a free spins feature. Its RTP is 96.56%.

Nolimit City

Nolimit City
Company
Nolimit City
Live games
No
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
–
Headquarters
Sweden
Game types
Slots
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Mental

Mental

A horror slot set in a psychiatric hospital, known for its dark, intense free spins features. Its RTP is 96.08% (some casinos use a 94.20% version).

Blood & Shadow

Blood & Shadow

Blood & Shadow is a horror slot about a mysterious girl who performs a forbidden ritual in a remote location. Its RTP is 96.23%.

Densho

Densho

Densho is an online slot set in a world that blends Japanese tradition with modern design. It can produce high-multiplier wins. Its RTP is 96.25%.

Hacksaw Gaming

Hacksaw Gaming
Company
Hacksaw Gaming
Live games
No
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
eCOGRA
Headquarters
Malta
Game types
Slots, scratch cards
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Chaos Crew 2

Chaos Crew 2

Chaos Crew 2 is a punk-themed online slot with Banksy-style graffiti art.

Drop ‘Em

Drop 'Em

Drop ‘Em is an online slot with cute characters and a bright, pop-art look. When the Drop symbol lands, the gaps are filled with one randomly chosen symbol.

RIP City

RIP City

RIP City is a slot with a cat-and-mouse theme in the style of Tom & Jerry. If the cat wild lands early in the free spins, it can trigger a chain of consecutive wins.

Five Popular Providers of Live Casino Games

Five popular providers of live casino games

Live games, in which you play with a real dealer in real time, have become especially popular.

Players are drawn to them because they can interact directly with the dealer and enjoy an experience close to that of a land-based casino.

Evolution (Formerly Evolution Gaming)

Evolution (formerly Evolution Gaming)
Company
Evolution (formerly Evolution Gaming)
Live games
Yes
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
eCOGRA and others
Headquarters
Sweden
Game types
Live games, table games
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Crazy Time

Crazy Time

Crazy Time is an online casino game in a live game show format. The payout depends on the segment where the wheel stops, and the game also has four bonus games.

XXXtreme Lightning Roulette

XXXtreme Lightning Roulette

A version of Lightning Roulette with added XXXtreme features. It is a high-volatility roulette game with a max win of 2,000x.

Japanese Speed Baccarat

Japanese Speed Baccarat

A live baccarat game with a Japanese-themed studio backdrop. It keeps the standard baccarat rules but cuts the betting time and the pauses between rounds, so each round is completed in 30–40 seconds.

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play
Company
Pragmatic Play
Live games
Yes
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
GLI and others
Headquarters
Malta
Game types
Slots, live games, table games
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Sweet Bonanza CandyLand

Sweet Bonanza CandyLand

A live game that combines the Sweet Bonanza slot with a game show. It has three bonus games and a max win of 20,000x.

Snakes & Ladders Live

Snakes & Ladders Live

Snakes & Ladders Live brings a board game to the live casino. The host rolls special dice, and the payout depends on the result. Its max win is 10,000x.

Speed Baccarat

Speed Baccarat

Speed Baccarat is a faster version of classic baccarat, with each round taking about 27 seconds. It suits players who like a fast pace.

Playtech

Playtech
Company
Playtech
Live games
Yes
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
GLI and others
Headquarters
Isle of Man
Game types
Slots, live games, table games
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Adventures Beyond Wonderland Live

Adventures Beyond Wonderland Live

A live game show themed on Alice in Wonderland. It has bonus features and polished graphics and sound.

Unlimited Blackjack

Unlimited Blackjack

An online blackjack game with no limit on the number of players. Everyone plays the same hand, but each player makes their own decisions. With side bet options and high-quality streaming, it suits both beginners and experienced players.

Casino Hold’em

Casino Hold’em

Playtech’s Casino Hold’em is a casino game based on Texas Hold’em. Players compete against the dealer, using their cards to make the best five-card hand. Its main appeal is high-quality video and an experience close to that of a land-based casino.

Microgaming

Microgaming
Company
Microgaming (its game distribution business was transferred to Games Global in May 2022)
Live games
Yes
Licenses
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and others
Testing labs
eCOGRA
Headquarters
Isle of Man
Game types
Slots, live games, scratch cards, bingo
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Baccarat

Baccarat

Microgaming’s live baccarat lets you place bets while watching a live stream of the dealer dealing the cards. The interface has a simple, uncluttered design.

Roulette

Roulette

Microgaming’s live roulette lets you place bets while watching a live stream of the dealer spinning the wheel and launching the ball. The rules are the same as for roulette at a land-based casino.

Sic Bo

Sic Bo

Microgaming’s live Sic Bo (also called tai sai or dai siu) is a game in which you predict the outcome of three dice shaken by the dealer, with the results shown on the live stream. It offers a wide range of bets.

OneTouch

OneTouch
Company
OneTouch
Live games
Yes
Licenses
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
Testing labs
eCOGRA
Headquarters
Estonia
Game types
Slots, live games

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Dragon Tiger

Dragon Tiger

Dragon Tiger is a simple card game that originated in Asia. Players predict whether the Dragon or the Tiger will receive the higher card. Results come quickly, and the game depends more on intuition than on strategy.

Bombay Club Roulette

Bombay club Roulette

Bombay Club is an upscale live game with a black-and-gold design. It offers two roulette variants.

Other Providers

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Casino Providers

Can providers rig their games?

Whether online casino game providers cheat is a common concern among players. For the reasons below, neither the provider nor the casino operator can realistically alter individual game results.

  • Licensing and regulation: Reputable providers obtain their licenses only after passing a review by the licensing authority, which covers the fairness and transparency of their games. Licensed providers must also undergo regular audits and testing.
  • Testing by independent labs: Independent testing labs check the randomness and fairness of the games. If results were altered, the change would be detected.
  • Industry reputation: Major providers protect their reputation and brand. If cheating came to light, their reputation would suffer serious damage, and their business could suffer serious losses.
  • Technical security: Modern online casino technology is advanced and includes systems that detect cheating.

There are many providers in the online casino industry, however, so research them carefully before you choose. Sticking to casinos that use reputable, licensed providers gives you reasonable assurance that the games are fair.

Summary: Provider Expertise and Originality Determine Game Quality

Online casino providers are at the heart of every casino game. They develop and distribute the games that give players a high-quality gaming experience.

Games that combine reliability, fairness and entertainment value come from a provider’s technical expertise and originality.

What you can play at a casino depends on which providers’ games it offers.

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