What Are the Oldest iGaming Providers?

If you are newly venturing into the online gambling or iGaming arena, one of the first things you will learn is how important the iGaming provider or online casino software provider is. Among the most dominating names you will find Microgaming, NetEnt, and Play’n Go, which are some of the oldest casino software and online slots providers. If you are interested in the history of the Internet-based gaming, here are some of the stalwarts that have defined the industry.

A Brief History of Online Casinos and the Role of the Oldest Game Providers

The 1994 launch of Microgaming's gambling software, which was secured with software created by online security software provider CryptoLogic, revolutionized the new wave of online gambling.

The idea of issuing gaming licenses to online casinos was originally suggested when the Free Trade & Processing Act was passed, which ushered in a sizable pool of investors and gambling organizations, also known as the iGaming industry.

Even though the digital casinos of today are hardly recognizable from those that existed in the early days of iGaming, by the end of the 1990s, safe, secure, and entertaining real-money online gambling was prevalent.

Hundreds of businesses today provide feature-rich, highly graphic games and advanced gaming mechanics for online casinos, but the oldest ones continue to rule the market because they were the forerunners in the industry.

Only a small number of casinos use proprietary software, but the majority use software developed by specialized gaming companies that produce games with more elaborate and unique bonuses, themes, and gameplay and are easier to access thanks to HTML-based no-download web gaming.

Microgaming

The only software developer that could say “We launched the first true online casino software," Microgaming is usually the first name that iGaming enthusiasts come across when they enter a gambling arena, anywhere in the world.

The company’s reputation for excellence is still unparalleled in the iGaming industry. Microgaming’s progressive slot Mega Moolah holds a Guinness World Record for paying out a $6,374,434 jackpot, which is still the world’s largest casino payout ever won. But that is not all; Microgaming’s VR roulette, launched in 2016, is another milestone. The Microgaming Poker Network (MPN), which was once the largest poker room in the world, was shut down in 2020, but the cash games, tournaments, and special promotions are still there.

NetEnt

Being one of the oldest iGaming suppliers in the history of online casinos, if there is one thing that could compete with the calibre of Microgaming’s record-breaking Mega Moolah jackpot slot, it has to be NetEnt's Mega Fortune Dreams.

Although Microgaming holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest casino payout ever, NetEnt has featured four multi-million-dollar jackpots over the years and is one of the strongest pillars of the iGaming industry.

NetEnt has the finest design quality and most engaging game mechanisms, as well as the largest number of slots with the highest return-to-player (RTP) rating. NetEnt lives up to its promise of providing better gaming through experience and a winning approach.

NetEnt released one of the first tumbling reel slots, Gonzo's Quest, among other incredible titles such as Starburst, Twin Spin, Blood Suckers, Guns n' Roses, and Wild West.

Cryptologic / Amaya

Cryptologic Limited, one of the first companies in the Internet-based gambling sector, was launched in 1996 and introduced InterCasino as its first licensee. Cryptologic was acquired by Amaya Gaming Group in 2012. Although Cryptologic's selection of games isn't as extensive as Microgaming's, the company stands out for the innovative proprietary technology it has developed for safe online casino transactions. The Marvel Slots jackpot slot series is the major draw in Cryptologic's game portfolio. Out of all other software vendors, only Cryptologic has obtained the rights to the Marvel-themed games.

Betsoft

The most significant development from BetSoft Gaming is their 3D slots, which have swept the iGaming market with a "stampede" of immersive gaming experiences.

The Slots3 series of games is another distinctive creation in that it features animations and HQ 3D cinematic graphics similar to Pixar movies.

BetSoft launched Drive as a promo toolbox that allows casinos to modify the terms, and prizes, and alter the bonus amounts according to their policies. Additionally, these operators can use the tool kit to give free spins and cash rewards.

Finally, with their ToGo brand of transportable mobile video slots, which includes titles like The Slotfather, Safari Sam, and Three Wishes, Betsoft has been making inroads into the mobile iGaming market since 2012.

Old Doesn’t Mean Old-Fashioned!

It’s common to think that the first representatives of some particular branch must inevitably become outdated over a period of time. However this statement seems to be irrelevant concerning the oldest iGaming providers, because their products are still popular and their ideas inspire other companies of the sector. If to take into consideration such gambling vendors as Microgaming, NetEnt, Cryptologic / Amaya and Betsoft we can confidently say that they not only had great influence on the development of the whole branch but also keep being leaders now.