Casino Software
When online casinos first cropped up there were only two software companies, each of which started making games around the same time (1994/5). Since then the number of such companies has grown dramatically and new developers keep appearing with new and unique ideas and slants on the casino games that you know and love. In this article we'll take a quick look at what some of the more popular software companies have to offer.
For each developer we also provide lists of online casinos that offer their games as well as more detailed information about the company and their product. You'll find links to these articles at the end of each summary, or simply click the relevant heading.
UK Licensed Online Casino Software Providers
MICROGAMING
Microgaming are without a doubt one of the giants of the gaming software world. They have been in the industry since the very beginning of online casinos, having started in 1994 and now provide software to over 400 online gaming brands in 24 languages.
They provide well over 600 uniquely branded games and around 2,000 when you take into account the various Flash and download versions of these. Covering online gaming, land-based companies such as casinos and, increasingly, mobile platforms, Microgaming are effectively a one-stop-shop for any aspiring casino, poker room, bingo site or live dealer provider.
Their size is their strength and allows them to offer a huge range of progressive jackpot games, with the network’s total jackpots hovering around the £6m at the time of writing and individual game prizes often reaching the £3m mark. Their size, reputation and the fact they only work in regulated markets means they are a highly trustworthy company we wholly recommend.
NET ENTERTAINMENT (NETENT)
Net Entertainment are another of the top boys in the gambling software world and are right up there with the very biggest and best. NetEnt was founded in 1996 in Scandinavia and is listed on the Swedish NASDAQ, which, along with the fact they are fully transparent and don’t operate casinos directly, helps assure customers they can be trusted. They have offices in Sweden, Malta (where they are certified) and a number of other locations and provide solutions to companies such as BetVictor and Sky Vegas.
Their games generally return 95% to players, considerably higher than many other providers, with the focus on player retention rather than short-term profit. The quality of their games helps in this respect, as does the selection and range. With a good range of huge progressive jackpots and superb graphics and sound, as well as big brand slots and games, NetEnt are a true force to be reckoned with.
PLAYTECH
Playtech are right up there in size and quality with the best gambling software companies in the world. Established in 1999 by Teddy Sagi they have offices in nine countries, including “E”-stonia (as it’s known to some tech geeks!) and the Isle of Man, where the bulk of its 2,600 staff are based. They provide hosting, customer service, transaction management and software that spans online casinos, bingo, scratchcards, social gaming, binary options, lotteries, poker, mobile platforms and even sports betting. So that’s everything then! If you’ve ever gambled online there is a strong chance you have used their software… and liked it!
They put an emphasis on responsible gambling and operating in regulated markets and these factors, along with their size, reputation and independent fairness accreditation – as well as enviable client list – makes them a thoroughly trustworthy company.
IGT (WAGERWORKS)
International Game Technology (IGT) is a Nevada-based (handy for Las Vegas!) company that started life in the 1950s providing slot machines to real life casinos and currently manufactures around half of all the slots in the USA. If you’ve been to Vegas you’ll know that’s a lot of slots! With offices in various countries around the world, including tech-capital Estonia and also the UK, Argentina and Russia among others, they employ over 5,000 people. Turnover is almost $2bn and the sheer size and industry experience of the company makes them a force to be reckoned with.
In 2005 they acquired WagerWorks and expanded into the world of online gaming and with a great range of big name slots such as Sex and the City and Star Wars, as well as some huge progressive Mega Jackpots, casinos powered by their software are invariably a joy to behold.
WMS
WMS began life way back in 1943 when a Stanford University-trained engineer who came up with the ‘tilt’ mechanism for pinball machines set up the company (under a previous name). More recently it has become one of the most innovative providers of casino games in the industry, providing slots that are jam-packed full of great features and which look and sound great while playing intuitively.
As well as providing the software for many an online casino, they also provide games for bricks and mortar casinos, powering many of the casino machines that are becoming more popular than the traditional table games in many land-based casinos. With a strong commitment to innovation and a dynamic team of developers, WMS look set to increase their market share as they design and build evermore exciting casino games, and snap up more licensed titles such as The Lord of the Rings and Monopoly.
EVOLUTION GAMING
Despite being around since 2006, Evolution Gaming has only been making waves relatively recently. Working with some of the biggest, most respected gaming companies around, they have been developing some top live casino games, specifically their roulette and video poker offerings. Their games are flawless and great fun to play as they – more than most – give a real feel for being close to the live action, with some of their clients running live shows in which players can participate.
Evolution have also embraced the mobile gambling revolution, developing games that are as pristine on mobile devices as they are on desktop computers. And with the acquisition of the naming rights to a host of big brands (including Deal Or No Deal), they are set to enjoy a prosperous future. That is, as long as they maintain their commitment to producing innovative, well-presented games that add something new to the industry.
AINSWORTH
Ainsworth may not be one of the biggest names in online gambling, but having been involved within the industry for a number of years, they've developed a huge portfolio of casino games, which can be found at online gambling websites around the world. Their high-quality video slots and casino games were initially developed in a Flash-based format, but can now be enjoyed in HTML5, and this has ensured mobile players can enjoy the games without needing to install third-party applications. Ainsworth never quite made it to the likes of NetEnt’s or Microgaming’s popularity base, but the company remains one of the more committed and talented developers.
While Ainsworth have been hesitant to enter new markets in recent years, rumours have recently surfaced that they will soon be entering the live dealer games, and this would be a great addition for the developer – although they would, of course, need to ensure they are at the top of their game in order to allow them to compete against the likes of companies, such as Evolution Gaming and NetEnt.
AMAYA
Amaya are a leading casino game and software developer, known primarily for their involvement within poker markets. The company has even acquired two of the world’s largest poker networks, including Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. Amaya is based in Canada, Toronto and was one of the first online gambling companies to be traded publicly – even to this day, it's shares can be found on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
While the provider is best known for its poker and business management, they also create a number of casino and video slot games. The availability of these games is skewed at times, however, with not all online casinos offering access to the company’s titles. Amaya's games are often cited as being some of the most stable and reliable titles around with their Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker table games being both cutting-edge and fun to play.
ASH GAMING
Ash Gaming is a London based software company that first emerged into the casino development market back in 2000. Since their start, the developers have gone onto build a solid name for themselves, releasing a wide range of games, spreading across many different categories. The company soon caught the eye of the iGaming world and a lucrative acquisition deal saw the company purchased for a reported eight-figure sum (although it’s believed that a number of perks and handouts were also included as part of this takeover).
While Ash Gaming haven't been as visible in recent years, their games and software creations can still be readily found online, and the reliability and stability of their full game range is a testament to the developer’s high levels of workmanship.
BALLY TECHNOLOGIES
Bally Technologies are one of the world’s largest producers of slot machines and various other pieces of gaming technology. Initially founded back in 1968, they are also one of the world’s oldest companies, although it wasn’t until 2004 that the company started producing games for the online casino markets.
Owned by Scientific Games Corporation and Stark Games Holdings PTY Ltd, Bally Technologies have developed a wide variety of games during their penetration into the online market. Since the move, they’ve created over 600 games. Some of these games were created in partnership with other software providers in order to increase their exposure and also allow other smaller software providers a chance at competing with the likes of NetEnt and Microgaming – the giants in the industry.
Scientific Games – the parent company of Bally Technologies – also own WMS and Williams Interactive, so you will often see all three, or commendation of these three companies credited on certain games.
BARCREST
Barcrest are one of the most popular UK-facing developers in the world today and their games have become a phenomenal success with players thanks to their creativity, win potential, and exciting gameplay. Barcrest games can be found both online and off-line, and the company has seen rapid growth, particularly in the last five years, thanks to their state-of-the-art graphics work within games and the creation of so-called mega spins, which are high roller games that allow players to wager up to £50 on a set number of spins on Video slots.
Barcrest show no sign of slowing down, and they continue to produce titles that capture players imaginations and have ensured that they’ve secured themselves a reputation as one of the top casino software developers on the planet.
BLUEPRINT
Blueprint are one of the most well-known casino game developers within the UK, and their game titles can be found in bookmakers, arcades, bingo halls, and online casinos all throughout the country. Many of their titles have gone on to become global hits, with the likes of Genie Jackpots, Wish Upon a Jackpot and Spartacus, helping the company rise quickly to fame. Despite their games being relatively low-paying and surprisingly volatile, players continue to flock to Blueprint's games with the storylines, the graphics and the bonus features displaying a much higher quality than most software providers are capable of producing.
Blueprint show no signs of slowing down and continue to release extremely well-made games, ranging from casino table games, like Blackjack and Roulette, to their acclaimed slots, which they are producing more and more of each and every year.
CRYPTOLOGIC
Cryptologic is one of the only software providers to be traded on the public market and this Irish-founded casino games and software development company was first created in 1995 in Dublin by two brothers, Andrew and Mark. The company quickly grew in strength, despite their relative lack of experience within the market itself. The brothers were determined and worked from their parents' basement whilst they focused on building Cryptologic.
The company was, at first, meant to be a payment processing firm, but a change of business direction saw the brothers get involved with casino development instead, and it’s fair to say they did relatively well out of their change of heart.
After a number of struggling years, Cryptologic was acquired by Amaya games in 2011. There was a rarely-seen clause of the agreement, which allowed the Cryptologic team to continue developing games, and indeed, many of their titles can still be found at online casinos today with the company unafraid to embrace new technologies and game mechanisms.
ELECTRACADE
Electracade is a software company based within the United Kingdom, and today, it is owned and operated by Openbet, which is one of the world’s largest providers of casino software solutions to operators and casinos. Electracade produce a range of interactive and exciting gaming products, and were one of the first software providers to trial cross-compatible games – a decision that has since proved to be industry changing with virtually every provider offering such a service.
While the company themselves aren’t particularly popular or well-known to players, their game range is still relatively expansive, having created over 400 different titles to date, which is fairly impressive for a company founded in 2004 with no real experience in the industry. Today, Electracade continue developing games, and are generally viewed as being one of the most successful casino developers from the United Kingdom, which looks unlikely to change any time soon.
ENDEMOL GAMES
Endemol Games are one of the subsidiaries of Endemol, which is one of the world’s largest media producers. The company is well known for television shows, such as Deal or No Deal, Big Brother and Golden Balls. This close connection has proved beneficial to Endemol Games, as it has allowed them to use many of their brands, such as Deal or no Deal and Big Brother within their slots without having to pay extortionate licensing fees like other providers would have to do.
Today, the software developer continues to release new video slots, and while they do offer a small number of casino table games, their focus is almost entirely on slot games, which doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
GAMESYS
Gamesys are a well known developer of casino, bingo, and social gaming products, primarily targeting the UK market, with some of their services available for other European countries and other countries around the globe. Alongside their creation of various casino games, Gamesys also operate a number of online betting websites. The company came under criticism, however, when they tried to tap into Facebook's users by subtly offering free gambling games, which were, of course, used to drive traffic to real money casino sites.
Today, the company continues to be one of the leading forces in the casino software development industry. Their video slot and casino table game portfolio is diverse and built to a very high standard of quality, with Gamesys viewed in a positive light by most casinos and operators today.
ISOFTBET
iSoftBet are a relatively mysterious software provider, who seemingly appeared out of thin air, a number of years ago. While no one has really been able to track down where the company started or who first founded it, a large number of their games can be played online at various online casinos, and their popularity appears to have increased, as the mysterious company move to change their games from Flash to HTML5.
The majority of games within the iSoftBet portfolio are bright, vibrant and fun to play, and the games are generally regarded as solid and extremely reliable. It's been almost a year since the developer has released any notable games, though they have been in the process of re-coding their game range to ensure all of their titles are mobile-friendly, so this has most certainly taken over any new development work.
LEANDER GAMES
Leander Games may not be one of the most instantly-recognisable names in the online gambling world, but they’re one of the most popular software providers, thanks to the incredible range of different video slots and casino table games that they have released over the last 10+ years, in which they’ve been one of the market leaders, especially within the United Kingdom. While their games haven’t benefited from the widespread availability that some of the larger software providers have enjoyed, Leander Games have done very well for themselves, and are seen as one of the smaller companies, despite managing to give most of the bigger companies a serious run for their money.
Little is known about the future of Leander Games and they have been somewhat coy in revealing what they are up to at present, although it’s very likely we will see them continue to optimise their games for mobile players, as well as creating cross-platform games from the offset.
NOVOMATIC
Novomatic was founded way back in the 1980s, initially manufacturing and distributing physical gaming history machines throughout Australia, which is their country of origin. After seeing a huge opportunity to grow within the emergence of the online gambling industry, the company started producing and developing their own video slots, releasing their first title in the early 2000's. Today, they’re one of the most popular game creators in the world, and their games are known for being incredibly volatile, yet insanely lucrative, when they decide to pay out.
Novomatic have enjoyed multiple hit titles and many of their games have gone on to become legacies in their own right. Book of Ra, which is one of their most famous games, has been made into a spin off version by almost every other game developer around, showing just how respected the developer is. Today, they show no signs of slowing down, and are always releasing new games, using a combination of their experience and newly-developed technologies to ensure players are enjoy a dynamic, modern gaming experience.
NEXTGEN GAMING (NYX)
NextGen Gaming (NYX) are one of the older software developers around today and they were first founded back in 1999, just on the cusp of the online gambling boom. It wasn't really until 2011, however, that they became the mainstream name they are today after agree to merge with NYX, who was another medium-sized casino developer at the time. After the merge, NextGen Gaming (NYX) saw their exposure rapidly increase, quickly becoming a mainstream name, familiar to many recreational players.
Today, their games can be found at many of the world's top online casinos, and new technological advancements have seen their games adapt just as quickly as they once did, and their business continues to grow in both reach and popularity.
PLAY 'N GO
Play 'N Go is a player-focused casino developer that was first founded in 1997 by a number of self-professed ‘geeks’, who, together, had a vision of bettering the online gambling industry by creating fairer, more reliable online games. While many dismissed the idea of a new, young company like Play 'N Go seeing any real success, their games proved to go down well with players, and today, they're one of the biggest names in online gambling, with games featured in hundreds of casinos around the world.
Some of their notable titles include: Rich Wilde: Book of Dead, Seven Sins, Super Flip, and Holiday Seasons. The company show no signs of slowing down with new games released at an average rate of around one ever three months.
QUICKSPIN
Quickspin is one of the newest software developers to join the casino software market, and despite being founded in just 2011, they've gone on to achieve tremendous success. With multiple hit slot games under their belt, Quickspin remain a market leader in a very competitive marketplace. Even more interesting is that, despite choosing not to develop any casino games or video poker titles, Quickspin have managed to attract all different types of players.
This can possibly be credited to their use of state-of-the-art-gaming technology, which, in turn, ensures bonuses, features, and unique game mechanisms can be built into their games. It's thanks to this creativity that some of their most popular slots, including Gold Lab and Dragon Shrine, are featured at almost all large-scale online casinos.
The company show no sign of slowing down with their most recent release, Wins of Fortune, already named 'Game of the Week' at Videoslots Casino. It's clear that players are big fans of the way in which Quickspin develop their titles, and it will be interesting to see what they can come up with next.
RED TIGER GAMING
Red Tiger Gaming may not be one of the most well-known company's in casino game development, but players are beginning to become more accustomed to the name, largely thanks to two of their hit games, Rainbow Jackpots and Lucky Halloween. These two games both received critical acclaim from players and operators alike. Red Tiger Gaming place great amounts of emphasis on their games graphical design, and all of their titles render in crisp HD, making them a premium choice for players looking for a professional, high-quality gambling experience.
The company had, until recently, focused exclusively on their slot game portfolio, although just a couple of months ago they brought out Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat table games, making it anyone's guess as to which direction the software provider will choose next.
THUNDERKICK
Thunderkick are a developer that many players won't be familiar with yet and with a portfolio of less than 30 games, they're by no means the biggest software provider around either. The company, however, proved that size isn't everything with their release of Fruit Warp, which is a game that has since gone on to be one of the most successful slot games in history. The game has reportedly been played for over 1 billion spins already and it's featured at a huge number of online casinos – many of which are classified as industry leading.
Thunderkick rarely offer updates on their current projects and they appear to prefer working in a closed-door environment. This means they are likely to leave game release dates until the very last minute, which is possibly to boost suspense or maybe to keep nosey competitors at bay. Whatever the reason, they certainly make you want to know what is next, so we will wait in eager anticipation.
YGGDRASIL
Yggdrasil is one of the world's top casino game developers and they are known for building games of spectacular appearance, as well as mastering the art of cross compatibility, ensuring both PC and mobile users can enjoy the titles. Primarily known for their visual-based slots, Yggdrasil also offer a number of scratch card, bingo, and table games, although they can prove challenging to find, especially at UK online casinos.
This is due to licensing laws, as well as the time it takes new games to go through testing procedures and fairness control. While they are still fairly new, as a company, it's refreshing to see a team with such dedication to what they do, and their future indeed looks very bright.
Software Without a UK License
In this next section, we’re going to look at a number of software providers that you won’t find at UK online casinos because the software company doesn't hold a UK license or comply with the terms of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. However, many of them did used to provide games to UK players before the new laws came - we've left this section here for reference purposes.
Note: Just because a software provider doesn’t hold a UK license, does not mean they’re untrustworthy or ‘dodgy’. For some companies, they simply don’t want to work within the UK market, due to strict legislation. However, it is illegal for any UK player to play at a non-licensed casino so if you're based in the United Kingdom, you wont be able to play games from any of these providers (legally at least).
Realtime Gaming
The largest software provider to target US-based markets, Realtime Gaming were established back in 1999 and have a long history in creating casino games and software. The company offer a collection of over 300 games, split into various categories, including video slots, casino table games, Video Poker. and Lottery games. The company also powers over 90 online casinos and, as a result, are one of the bigger names in casino software around the world.
Unfortunately, you won’t find Realtime Gaming titles in any UK-accepting online casinos. Realtime Gaming only hold a Curacao gambling license, which means they’re not allowed to offer their games to UK players. The reasons for this ‘lack’ of license are debated, but it’s likely the games wouldn’t meet the high-standards that the UKGC sets out.
Rival
Founded in 2006, Rival, or “Rival Powered”, are one of the world’s largest online gambling software providers with over 250 titles released to date, including everything from video slots, to Blackjack, to Pai Gow, and scratch-card games.
Despite their widespread appeal of the games, the software provider has chosen not to enter the UK market and currently do not hold a license. Only a small number of online casinos can be found to run Rival games, and unfortunately, for the time being, it doesn’t look like this situation is going to change for UK players.
Konami
Generally regarded as one of the leading Asian software providers, Konami was founded way back in 1969 in Japan, and today, has offices all over the world, including the United States, Australia and Europe. Their games have received critical acclaim from punters and operators alike, and some of their most well known games include Action Stacked Sevens, Rocky Slots, Ancient Dragon and Chip City.
Unfortunately, they also do not hold a UK license, so you won’t find any of their games available to play.
Visionary iGaming
Visionary iGaming are a software provider that specialise solely in Live Dealer Games, and, founded back in 2008, they were one of the pioneers of Live Dealer Casinos, offering both games and turnkey software solutions to casinos.
Their game-range, whilst modest, features most of the casino table games you’d expect to find at an online casino, including Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and a few poker variants.
But, you will not find the company at any UK-Licensed casinos, as they don’t hold a license from the UKGC. A shame, as their games are really well-made, and their live studios are equipped with the best equipment around. However, there are plenty of other reputable UK-facing Live Dealer Casino software providers to choose from.
BETSOFT
Betsoft used to be a relatively big name in the online gambling world, and unfortunately, to this day, they still are to a certain extent. But, a string of unethical – potentially illegal – business practices saw the company lose their license and the UK no longer allows its players to play Betsoft games.
This should come as a positive to any UK player, as the company has a dark history, particularly when it comes to their Jackpot Games. In fact, one of the web’s most trusted, reliable “Jackpot Trackers” – a website which monitors casino game jackpots and advises players when a jackpot is ‘hot or not’ – issued an official warning, stating that abnormalities surrounded the software providers jackpot games. Along with multiple horror-stories about the company refusing to pay out jackpots won and dodgy, unethical business practice, the software provider is blacklisted at most reputable casino review sites.
2014 saw the company have their gambling license suspended by the Alderney Gambling Commission, and while there was no specific reason given for the suspension, most critics believe it due to Betsoft offering games to US players, which is in direct breach of the Commission’s regulations.
Other examples of Betsoft operating unethically include the discovery of them operating non-random Keno games, meaning they would change the game-rules after a player won a jackpot to avoid paying out. Also, the fact that their RNG (random number generator) testing certificates cannot be proven as authentic leaves their reliability in question.
While it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Betsoft ever enter the UK market, be warned that any online casino offering Betsoft games to UK players is operating fraudulently and should be avoided at all costs.
Sheriff Gaming
Sherriff were once a popular software provider, based in the Netherlands, famed for their 3D Slot games that offered exciting bonuses, and big-win potential. That was all before their CEO was arrested for money laundering and drug dealing, however. This meant their Gambling licenses were revoked and accusations were made that their games contained secret code to pay big prizes to the owner’s friends and family.
Sounds like the kind of software provider you want to be playing with, right? All joking aside, Sherriff are one of the worst software providers in online gambling history and while details of their cheating has never been completely proven, there was enough doubt surrounding the company that Alderney Gaming Commission revoked their license, refusing to return it.
Sherriff then tried to – unsuccessfully, we might add – re-brand its games under the name “Blue Gem Gaming”, but this ploy wasn’t to last, as players (and authorities) saw through it, and Sherriff had no choice but to close shop.
While they’ve been out of the public eye for a while, news reports from a few months ago show the CEO, Stijn Flapper, arrested once again on suspicion of money laundering and “illegal business activity” – further proof of why this dodgy, illicit gaming company should remain closed for good.
Pragmatic Play
Once a fine example of a ‘class act’, Pragmatic Play have lost virtually all credibility they built up over the years, despite the industry giving them multiple opportunities to conform. While – at the beginning of their career they created enjoyable, well-received games, things turned sour when some players reported Wild Symbols disappearing, even once landed on the reels. So, after numerous player-reports of the casino not paying out and then ignoring their messages, the reliability of the casino began to deteriorate.
Fast-forward to 2011, and the software provider were caught up in a 'my dad’s bigger than your dad’ Internet DDoS attack, which lead two years of legal battles, and ultimately, the demise of the software provider. Today, its only licenses are in Curacao, which means, as a UK player, the only online casinos you’d find offering Pragmatic Play games would be unlicensed, illegitimate ones.
Update: In a fairly unprecedented move, Pragmatic Play have now been granted a UK Gambling License, and while the company is under new management, and has, in fairness, passed all of the UK Gambling Commission’s strict regulatory rules, it remains to be seen how this software provider with a less than desirable past will sit in this highly-competitive market.
Closed/Discontinued Software Providers
Since the birth of the ‘online gambling revolution’ in the mid-90’s, hundreds of online software providers have existed online that have tried to claim their share of the trillion-pound industry. Some, such as NetEntertainment, Microgaming and Playtech, have achieved tremendous success, offering games to players in a number of markets. and multiple game-categories. But others, however, have not been so lucky.
With an industry that is so dominated by a few big-name providers, small companies that wish to begin developing their own games really have their work cut out for them, and, unfortunately, despite often creating really popular, enjoyable games, these smaller companies end up shutting down, due to license issues, being pushed out of a market, or, in some cases, for operating fraudulently.
Vuetec
For a while, Vuetec were one of the leading pioneers in the online gambling space, helping sculpt the Live Dealer Games that have today become so popular. Founded in 2002, the software provider had a fantastic game-range and offered both white-label software solutions, as well as games to casinos around the world.
Even going as far as providing the payment-processing merchant services for its casino clients, Vuetec looked set to continue its foothold in the online casino market. Yet a surprise closure in 2015 lead to the company ceasing to operate completely. Little information was provided as to why they shut down, and to this day, they haven’t publicly commented on their closure, so, as you can probably guess – you won’t find any Vuetec games or casinos.
Odobo
Initially founded in 2011, Odobo took a bold move, entering such a competitive and regulated industry, but nonetheless, they gave it a go, and for what it’s worth, they did a really good job.
Odobo acted as somewhat of a “middle man” between software providers like Playtech and Iforium, and while they did offer their own HTML5 content, their primary focus was on lowering the cost online casinos faced when offering gaming solutions to players, while enhancing the end-user experience. Unfortunately, mid-2016 saw the company cease operations, citing heavy costs and higher-than-expected regulatory fees as the main reason for the closure.
Chartwell (Chartwell Technologies)
Chartwell was a gaming provider which was originally founded in Calgary in 1999. At first, the software provider at first was a large success with some of the UK’s largest online casinos using the software, including Bet Victor and Betfair. At one point, the company employed 130 staff members, and had offices in Canada, the United Kingdom and Malta – never looking set to cement its position in the industry as a market leader.
Indeed, 2005 saw the Calgary-based company acquire another software provider – MicroPower – which later went on to become a popular Poker Platform, targeting the European market. Unfortunately, when the United States of America passed the “Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act" (UIGEA) in 2006, it caused many online gambling companies to pull-out from operating in the USA (essentially stopping US-based players from using their software), and Chartwell Technologies followed the large number of companies who stopped accepting US players.
As such, their revenue took a significant hit, and the next few years proved a struggle for the software provider. Whilst they achieved moderate success targeting the European market, Chartwell failed to get back on track and couldn’t compete against some of the more modern software providers. As such, they decided in 2011 to sell their business to Amaya Gaming Group, who acquired all software and games developed by Chartwell. Chartwell ceased trading completely after this acquisition, and today, is a small piece of online gambling history, regarded by most in good-standing.
Kismet was a software developer, offering complete packages for online casinos from the games themselves, to the back-end software, and even customer support. The software provider’s casino solution appeared on-track to become a market-leader with Harrods Online Casino – the same brand as the luxury shopping centre in London – at one point using Kismet for their entire casino platform.
Unfortunately, as downloadable casinos became less-commonplace, and with more popular software providers like NetEntertainment and Microgaming dominating the market, the software provider ceased trading over 5 years ago and now is remembered by few. For those of us who used it, it really is a shame, considering their software was versatile, reliable and arguably ahead of its time.
Grand Virtual
Grand Virtual was an extremely niche casino software provider based out of Massachusetts in the USA. Developed by Cambridge Interactive Development, the software provider built a collection of 73 video slots and around 15 casino table games. Despite seeing tremendous growth at the beginning of their business’ life, they shut down in 2013 with online casinos using the software opting to transfer to other software solutions, such as NetEntertainment and Microgaming.
The shutdown remains somewhat clouded in confusion with no definitive answer on why the software provider shut up shop, but many experts believe the USA’s confusing online gambling legislation caused the owners to leave the gambling industry in fear of breaching future laws passed by congress.
Notable names that used the Grand Virtual platform included Everest Casino, Imperial Casino, along with Casino Lux, Casino Treasure, Casino Fantasy and Casino Glamour – the latter four of which have all shut down.