Playtech Casinos

Like most major online casinos, Playtech originated primarily through downloadable casinos, which players could download to their desktop PC’s. However, as is the case with technology, improvements are rapid, and with the online casino industry being one of the fastest-growing industries around, downloadable casinos are generally now defunct, and Playtech games generally are not found in downloadable clients.

Instead, their games are developed for Instant Play, which means you can open them up right from your Internet Browser, and begin playing there and then. This holds a larger number of benefits over the older downloadable casino clients – most notably that you needn't actually download any software. You also don’t need to update the software when new games are released, and Instant Play allows for easier change between software providers.

Best UK Playtech Casinos & Bonuses

Mobile Gameplay

Another large benefit of the Instant Play build of Playtech’s games is the fact that it allows mobile players to get in on the action. While not all devices will find the mobile-gaming experience as smooth as others, in general, if you’re using a modern smartphone or tablet (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows, and more, included), you should be fine. But, players with weak Internet Connections or small screens may struggle to enjoy the game in its full ‘glory’.

Additionally, many Playtech casinos (or online casinos that offer Playtech games) allow users to download a Mobile App with Bet 365 being one notable example. These Apps are built for iOS and Android devices, and save you from entering your details each time you log on to play.

Slots

Playtech has a fairly comprehensive range of video slot games, and while the software provider has been through a fairly volatile stage in their company history, recently (due to the expiration of their hugely-popular Marvel video slot games), they’ve actually come out on top with a lot of new partnerships lined up.

DC Superhero Slots

Playtech are currently working on a few new games, including Suicide Squad, Batman v Superman, and the Justice League. Most notably, however, is the fact that Playtech have won the licensing deal to produce the two Dark Knight titles, currently offered by Microgaming. This is a huge blow for Microgaming, as they are two of their most popular slots, and it’s likely to increase Playtech’s share in the online gambling industry fairly significantly.

Jackpot Slots

Playtech are known for being somewhat the pioneers of progressive jackpot games and their jackpot games offer players the chance to win millions of pounds. One of the longest-running progressive jackpots they offer is 'Gladiator' – a slot based on the mobile of the same name.

A recent win from a lucky player saw the £1.4 Million jackpot taken down from a £1.50 spin, so it’s clear jackpots really can be won from a relatively small stake.

Table Games

As the main platform for some of the world’s largest online gambling companies you’d expect Playtech to have a vast game-range, kitted out with multiple game variations, and a number of different side-bet options. So, if you thought that, you’d be absolutely right! The Playtech casino table game range is extensive, and below, we’ll look at just some of the games available.

Roulette

Currently offering over 25 different Roulette titles, the selection from Playtech is more than generous, and you’ll find all types of the game in its classic, raw forms, as seen with American Roulette, European Roulette, and French Roulette. You’ll then see variations that use the regular rules and format, but offer slightly differing betting, graphical, or playing options, which include Premier Roulette Pro (as pictured above), 3D Roulette Premium, Club Roulette, and Premium Roulette French.

Pinball Roulette

Lastly, you’ll find the unique, almost-weird game variations that some players would refer to as ‘gimmicks’, yet for some players, these are the most exciting types of Roulette games to play.

One of our favourites is 'Pinball Roulette', which is a game that uses exactly the same odds and betting options, but instead of a spinning Roulette wheel, it drops a ball through a Bagatelle board, to determine which number lands!

101 Roulette

101 Roulette is another really cool, unique game, which sees 101 numbers on the board, offering payouts of 99:1 for picking the right number. That means a £5 straight-up number bet returns a whopping £495!

All of Playtech’s Roulette games are Instant Play games, meaning you can play them right from your Internet Browser with no downloads, software installs or plugins required. Plus, thanks to the high-quality workmanship that’s gone into the game development, almost all of the titles render in stunning high-definition, allowing for a clear, crisp gaming experience.

Blackjack

While the Blackjack selection offered by Playtech isn’t quite as big as their Roulette range, you’ll still find 18 different titles to choose from and what can be said for the Blackjack games on offer is that there’s more variation – away from the classic, standardised Blackjack you may be used to. Of course you’ll still find commonly-seen titles, like Premium Blackjack, 'Blackjack', UK Blackjack, and Blackjack Pro though.

Cashback Blackjack & Blackjack switch

But you’ll also see some pretty unique varieties, such as 'Cashback Blackjack', which, as the name suggests, awards cashback on losses on the game. Our personal favourite, however, is 'Blackjack Switch' – ideal for a bit of fun, when you want to try something new and get away from the regular casino games.

In Blackjack Switch, you must play two hands, but you can switch your second cards dealt on each hand. This can obviously provide a huge advantage, and, of course, it’s not without penalty, as the game rules change slightly, and, for example, a dealer 22 counts as a push.

Progressive Blackjack

Another really cool Blackjack variation we liked was the Progressive Blackjack, as pictured at the start of this section, which currently features a jackpot total of £114,000.

In order to be in with a chance of winning the progressive jackpot, you’ll need to place an additional side bet, and the jackpot is paid if your first two cards, the dealer's first two cards match (are an Ace and in colour).

Live Dealer Games

Riva Dealers

As with almost all software providers of Playtech’s size and reputation, they offer all players a Live Dealer Casino, and they actually own and operate two different studios where the games are held. Their first studio is based in Latvia, and this is called their “Riva” studio. Here, games like Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, and Casino Hold’ Em are played, along with a few variations on the classics, like American Roulette, French Roulette, and VIP Baccarat.

Asian Dealers

Now, Playtech also own and operate a second Live Dealer Casino, this time, in a completely different part of the world! Manilla in the Philippines is where you’ll find their 'Asian' Live Dealer Casino and it features much the same as the Latvian one, aside from two core differences:

1. One of the core differences is, of course, that the dealers are Asian. This may sound a little race-imposing to some readers, but it’s actually because many Asian players prefer to play against dealers they can chat to and interact with in their native language.
2. The second reason, is that the Asian Live Dealer Casino offers more specialised games, which are popular in Asia. You’ll still find Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker and so forth, but you’ll also see less-well-known games on offer, like Pai Gow, Hi-Lo, and Sic Bo.

Regardless of where you’re from, you can play in either Live Dealer Casino and they both offer the same high-quality gaming experience you’d expect from Playtech. This means minimal lag, friendly dealers, and a reliable service!

Video Poker

Video Poker isn’t the most popular game in Europe – especially online (it’s far more commonly played in land-based-casinos in the United Stated of America). But that hasn’t stopped Playtech building a substantial range of games for players to enjoy with both regular, ‘common’ game variants, such as All American Poker, Aces & Faces, and Deuces Wild, to rarer, less-commonly-seen games that includes Vegas Royal Video Poker, True American Video Poker, and Multi-Hand Deuces Wild Deluxe Video Poker.

All of Playtech’s Video Poker games have relatively low minimum stakes – typically from between 10 pence and 20 pence – and this allows newer players, or those on lower budgets to enjoy the action, as well. After all, hitting a lucrative Royal Flush on any stake is going to pay well, so it’s nice to see they’ve allowed everyone to enjoy the games.

Jackpot Games

Playtech were pioneers in the creation of progressive jackpot games, and some of their progressive jackpot titles rose to fame, thanks to the Marvel brand attached to them. Unfortunately, the licensing for Playtech to use Marvel has now expired, so you won’t find any Marvel games available.

Age of Gods

But, what you will find, is an influx of exciting, lucrative, fun progressive jackpot video slots with jackpots ranging from a few thousand pounds, up to million-pound-paydays!

Ages of the Gods is one of the most popular franchise and is made up of three video slots, all sharing the same jackpot. The games include Age of the Gods: Furious 4, Age of the Gods: King of Olympus, and Age of the Gods: Prince of Olympus. The jackpot figure currently stands at £154,000, and it’s been a while since anyone’s won, so it’s a great time to get involved.

Batman

If you prefer playing for even more money, you’d be wise to check out the Batman range, which is, again, a trio of three slots that share the same jackpot. These three games include Batman & the Joker Jewels, Batman: The Riddler Riches, and Batman & Batgirl Bonanza. At the time of writing, the jackpot stands at just over £500,000, and with the minimum stake just 50p, you could be worth half a million quid, for less than you spend on coffee each day.

About Playtech

• Year Founded: 1999
• Owner: Teddy Sagi
• Traded Publicly: Yes; London Stock Exchange Main Market
• Share Price:

History of Playtech

Playtech is one of the most established and reputable online gambling providers in the world, and from developing their own games, to full turnkey online casino solutions, the company has vast experience in gambling products, both for consumers (players), and businesses (the online casinos.) In fact, Playtech are so reputable in the industry, the world’s largest online casinos can be found working with the software provider. This clearly shows they’re not a company who are messing around, and they’re equipped with the skills and attitude to be a market leader in this cutting-edge industry.

Founded initially in 1999, in Tartu, Estonia, Playtech acquired its first casino license in 2001, and the company has seen rapid growth in the following years. 2006 was the year the company really saw the exponential growth it had been searching for, as it become listed on the London Stock Exchange, becoming a publicly-traded company. This same year, the company branched into three new markets, including: Spain, Estonia, and Serbia.

From then, on to the present day, Playtech worked on building strong partnerships with both online casinos, and other online gambling companies, and they formed strong partnerships with other leading game providers, including GTS (the largest provider of Bingo games in the United Kingdom), Ash Gamming (well-known for their high-quality games), and PTTS (a management-systems company that helped Playtech streamline their services and expand at a far more rapid rate than before).

The Future for Playtech

Playtech are currently focusing their efforts on creating “cutting edge games across all systems that players can access from a single login”, and while it’s unclear exactly what this system will entail, it appears that Playtech may be trying to centralise a group of online casinos, or, perhaps – in another potential move – claim a slice of the online casino market share for themselves. That, for now, will have to remain to ‘be seen’. What is clear, however, is that Playtech are continually developing new technologies, new systems, and new integrations to enhance the online gambling experience for players and casinos alike.