If you’re new to playing online slots, or even if you fancy trying something different, which slot software providers should you go with? In 2024, you can readily find titles from multiple providers at big, mainstream online casinos.
Established top-tier brands, fledgling developers and mid-ranking providers are often lumped together in open gaming and game aggregation platforms such as SoftSwiss, Quickfire and others. Finding sites which support thousands of options from dozens of developers isn’t uncommon.
You’ll often have the pick of the litter when it comes to game developers. Where do you begin, though? I’ve played potentially thousands of slots for well over a decade, and I’m here to share my insider advice. 
Seven Recommended Slot Developers Everyone Should Explore
There are a few hundred established casino software providers out there. Some deliver slots alone, while others have their fingers in many pies, including table games.
Many also work in tandem with others, while some lease their engines and mechanics to rivals. Of course, I need to cut this list down to seven, so I’ll be focusing on a cross-section of the best of all their features.
Obviously, if I were also interested in covering live dealer casino games, then you’d expect to see Evolution Gaming on my list. However, it’s slots that I’m covering today, so who are the super seven which come to mind? Let me introduce you to each right here. In no particular order, they include:
Games Global
Microgaming is arguably the first provider of online slots. However, in recent years, they sold off their portfolio of slots, including top progressive titles such as Mega Moolah, Thunderstruck II and Immortal Romance, alongside their Quickfire platform to Games Global.
The godfather of the 243 ways to win format and the Rolling Reels mechanic is ideal for anyone who favours fair, proven slots with cheap stakes, transforming wilds, and progressive free spin rounds.
NetEnt
The Scandinavian provider may not be owned by Evolution Gaming, but it’s still right up there with the top developers around. NetEnt was one of the first to truly grasp the potential of mobile slots, releasing them under its NetEnt Touch platform.
Today, it is renowned for its Cluster Pays engine, 98% RTP rates (in selected games), and Walking Wild mechanics. Notable games include Gonzo’s Quest, Bloodsuckers, and a game which features in so many free spin bonus deals, Starburst.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play had a tough start as Top Game, and their games were widely panned. Over the last ten years, they’ve done a complete 180, becoming one of the most trusted and loved developers around.
Their slots feature in exclusive Drops and Wins competitions, and their Hold and Win mechanic allows you to collect wilds and symbols to build up prizes. Wolf Gold and Big Bass Bonanza are not to be missed.
Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the creator of the MegaWays engine. The Australian company has since leased this out to virtually every slot provider under the sun.
The MegaWays mechanic has revolutionised highly volatile slot gameplay for high-roller casino players, giving you potentially hundreds of thousands of ways to win.
It may have started with Bonanza, but other renowned BTG slots to consider include Extra Chilli and branded/licensed games such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: MegaWays and Monopoly: MegaWays.
Play ‘n Go
While Novomatic may have created the explorer-themed Book of Ra and introduced us all to the “book slot”, it is Play ‘n Go, which popularised it with their Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead. Since then, they’ve produced ample Rich Wilde sequels.
The key thing to remember with these games is that they offer highly volatile action with scatter wilds. Not all Play ‘n Go titles fit this bill, though, with the developer also producing a broad selection of play styles to suit everyone.
Yggdrasil Gaming
Yggdrasil Gaming started off as a small Swedish provider which gained traction for developing quirky-themed games. Not much has changed since. Today, Yggdrasil is a giant in the industry, but they are still churning out zany themes with original and inventive features.
If you fancy bizarre numbers of lines, exceptional RTP rates and good prize-to-stake ratios, Yggdrasil should tick your boxes.
BetSoft Gaming
I would also like to touch on BetSoft Gaming here. Famous for its 3D slot machines, they are notable for being a bit more costly to play, but their original and inventive special features make them worth the extra investment.
The winnings you can receive in these gorgeous-looking, animated games are on par with some of the top-paying, low variance, non-progressive slots around, and their availability at offshore UK casino sites is second to none.
6 Essential Features to Look Out for in Online Slots
Now that you know which brands to trust, what are some of the specific features and goodies you should look for in top slots? As always, I can draw on my experience to guide you.
- Top RTP Rates: RTP determines how much of each bet is made available for all players to win over time. The higher, the better. Top-rated slots will have RTPs of at least 95%, but some go as high as 98%. NetEnt’s Bloodsuckers slot is famous for its high RTP rate.
- RNG-Certified Providers: Never play slots from providers which aren’t RNG-certified. iTech Labs, eCOGRA and TST certify that games are fair, so always aim for RNG-certified slots.
- Theme and Attraction: If you’re not interested in the theme of the slot or it doesn’t speak to you, don’t play it. Slot gaming is supposed to be fun, so only play games which interest you.
- Fair Prize-to-Stake Ratio: The amount you can win based on your stake will vary depending on the slot you play. Check the game’s paytable to ensure that you get good value for money in terms of what you can win versus what you’re wagering.
- Fully Available Features: I’m not fond of “buy-a-bonus” features. In the past, I’ve seen greedy developers cut out features and make them “pay to win”. I don’t like it. That doesn’t mean to say that you can’t use these shortcuts to trigger bonus rounds or still activate features the old-fashioned way, but just be cautious about playing slots that feature them. Such buy-a-bonus mechanics are often costly.
- Volatility Level: Play a game which has the ideal volatility level for you. Low-variance games pay often but offer small prizes. Highly volatile ones deliver epic wins, but once every blue moon. Ensure that you play a slot which offers you what you need or a medium volatile slot to balance everything out.
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