Software providers are the ones responsible for the quality of the games you play in casinos. The ones behind the magic, you could say. With so many online casinos available in Ireland, you may not have ever stopped to wonder which providers are behind some of your favourite games. Casino sites have grown and developed over the years, and it is down to the providers that the quality of games has gone from strength to strength.

These software houses are well established and have long produced what can only be described as the very best in entertainment. Once you are familiar with the games from each of the software providers, it is easy to recognise other games which they have created. Let’s take a look at some of the best software developers behind Irish casinos.

How software providers affect your casino experience

You may never have stopped to consider the huge impact that software providers have and how they are responsible for your overall casino experience. Each software provider brings its own advantages, and when you realise what these are, and you know which provider each casino uses, it may sway your decision as to which casinos you sign up to.

There are two main areas where software providers can impact your casino experience:

  • The range of games
  • The overall gameplay

Certain software providers specialise in certain types of games. While some providers will focus on developing online slots, others will sway towards table games, including live dealer. When you know which area a provider specialises in, you have more of an idea which games you can expect to see in certain casinos.

The best providers provide the best gaming experience. It is their software that is responsible for the quality of the graphics, in-play features, and the overall feel of the game.

Slot software

Online slots are amongst the most popular online casino games. If you’ve visited an online casino, then chances are you will have played slots. With progressive slots, 2D and 3D slots as well as classic slots, behind them all are great software providers. It is common for online casinos to partner with a mix of software providers so that they can bring you a wider range of games.

Some of the best slots that you will have come across at your favourite online casino will have been the work of software providers such as:

  • Play’n Go
  • IGT
  • Betsoft
  • NetEnt
  • Microgaming

Table games software

With certain software providers specialising in slots, there are others whose focus is on table games. By table games, we mean games such as blackjack, baccarat, and poker.

With some players enjoying the thrill of slots and never knowing what the next spin may bring, others are drawn towards table games where you get to use some skill rather than just relying on luck.

Some of the best providers of table game software are:

Live casino providers

The possibility of a live casino from the comfort of your own home was unimaginable at one point. Now we have access to live casino games 24/7, and with the option to play on mobile as well, they have never been more accessible than they are today.

The popularity of live casinos has continued to grow, and there is little wonder why. The engaging and interactive experience offered by live casinos is second to none, and behind this experience are great software providers.

Just as there are software providers that specialise in slots and table games, there are others whose focus is on live casino games:

  • Evolution
  • NetEnt
  • Extreme Live Gaming
  • Playtech

You will no doubt have noticed that some of these providers appear in more than one category. This is because, as providers, they are growing and expanding. This can be taken as a sign that they are serious contenders in the world of online casinos. We’ll take a look at some of the biggest and best.

NetEnt

Being one of the largest providers around the globe, it is highly likely that you will have played a game created by NetEnt. Some of the most popular are:

  • Guns ‘n’ Roses
  • Gonzo’s Quest
  • Blood Suckers
  • Starburst
  • Mega Fortune
  • Lost Relics

From the above, you can see that NetEnt focus on online slots, and this is something that they do well. With top graphics and gameplay, they provide an immersive casino experience. Add to this that most of their games are optimised for mobile, and you can see why they are one of the best providers out there.

As well as amazing graphics and overall gameplay, NetEnt games over some of the best return to player (RTP) percentages out there. With payouts ranging from 95%-98%, you have a seriously good chance of winning.

Microgaming

Microgaming is the world leader in the development of online casino games, including bingo and poker. Where slots are concerned, Microgaming specialises in themed games and have developed slots such as:

  • Game of Thrones
  • Jurassic Park
  • Halloween
  • Highlander
  • Tomb Raider
  • Tarzan

Microgaming doesn’t just prove a draw for those seeking TV and movie-themed slots. They also appeal to those seeking high payout opportunities with the largest progressive jackpot game in the world. Mega Moolah, in 2018 saw a record payout of €18,915,872.

It’s not just slots where Microgaming succeeds. In the world of online poker, they offer free-roll events, heads-up-games, and bounty tournaments. This makes Microgaming one of the best, all-round providers out there.

Evolution

If you’re a fan of live casino gaming, then there is no doubt that you’ll have experienced the work of Evolution. As the market-leading software provider of all things live, some of their offerings include:

  • Live casino Hold ’em
  • Live Three Card Poker
  • Caribbean Stud Poker
  • Dual Play Roulette
  • Infinite Blackjack
  • Immersive Roulette

How can we be so confident that Evolution is the best at what they do? In 2019, for the 10th year in a row, they won the Live Casino Supplier of the Year Award, as well as being awarded Game of the Year in 2015 for Immersive Roulette.

What makes Evolution games so great? The combination of interactive chat features, multi-camera angles, side bets, and game stats shown in real-time all add to the Evolution experience.

Big Time Gaming

If you have ever played Bonanza, you already know who Big Time Gaming is without realising it. For more than a decade, this software provider has been producing some great casino games such as Danger High Voltage, Queen of Riches and versions of Monopoly.

We have Big Time Gaming to thank for Megaways. If you are not sure what this is, it is the concept which allows us 1117,649 ways to win on slots. That on its own is enough reason to rank Big Time Gaming as one of the software developer greats.

Betsoft

As software houses go, Betsoft is definitely well established and respected. Producing games for more than 10 years, this provider has won multiple awards. Betsoft is known for producing interactive versions of blackjack, roulette, video poker and keno. When it comes to slots, the software here is best known for 3D games.

Betsoft also excels when it comes to mobile casinos. It has strived to ensure that mobile gaming offers the same experience desktop sites do. In fact, it has pushed to make the mobile experience even better. This is because Betsoft embraced HTML5 technology with all of its games.

Playtech

Since 1999, Playtech has been known for producing the software behind some of the very best online casino games. Playtech has won numerous industry awards over the years and cemented itself as one of the best software houses that exist.

Players in Ireland will recognise some of the great titles that Playtech is behind. Games such as Age of Gods and American Dad have been played and loved the world over. Playtech is also known for producing software which powers some great live casino games. The quality of the live games offered sees them comparable to those produced by Evolution Gaming, who has long been regarded as producing the very best in live casino games.

Novomatic

As software providers go, it is perhaps reasonable to see Novomatic as one of the originals. Famed for what it provided to land-based casinos, Novomatic saw online casinos beginning to take off and rapidly changed direction. Merging with Greentube in 2010 saw Novomatic online casinos being born.

Novomatic isn’t all about show when it comes to its range of slots. Instead, what this provider offers is a touch of class. Perhaps the most famous title from Novomatic is Book of Ra, which spawned a number of spin-offs. 

Play’n GO

As a player in Ireland, we can say with confidence that you will have played games from Play’n GO. The software from this company is behind some of the most famous casino titles you are likely to have come across. This Swedish software house has been producing games since 1997 and so are well versed in what makes a game great. Play’n GO casinos quickly became some of the most popular around.

If you are not sure if you have heard of Play’n GO, then we are sure you will have heard of its most famous slot. Book of Dead is known and played the world over and is a casino classic. As well as this slot, you will also find titles such as Lord Merlin and the Lady of the Lake and great table games such as blackjack, poker and roulette.

Extreme Live Gaming

Established in 2013, this software provider may be regarded as a bit of a newcomer. Being new doesn’t take away anything from the software that Extreme Live Gaming has created. As the name suggests, the speciality here is live games. In fact, live games are all Extreme Live Gaming do. You may not always find it easy to see this software house being mentioned as it was acquired by Pragmatic Play in 2018.

The software from Extreme Live Gaming aims to recreate the land-based casino experience. It is streamed from purpose-built studios in the UK and Malta and is HD quality. The use of HTML5 also means the live casino experience can be enjoyed on mobile devices 

FAQs

Does it matter which software provider a casino uses?

Yes. There are many providers out there, but they are not all of the same standard. Sub-standard providers will produce games that are not of the best quality. This has an impact on your enjoyment and experience. The providers that we have mentioned are all reputable and amongst the best.

Do online casinos only use one provider?

Sometimes, but this isn’t always for the best. If a casino specialises solely in live gaming, then it would make sense for them to be sticking with Evolution. Casinos in Ireland offer a wide range of games. To ensure that they have the best available games that there are, it makes sense to use a variety of software providers.

Which is the best software provider?

There can be no simple answer to this. As we have seen, while some providers develop a range of games, others focus on one particular area. We have shown you some of the best providers out there, but what is the best is down to personal preference.

Ireland has access to some of the best online casinos in the world. These casinos offer an amazing experience allowing players to fully immerse themselves when playing. In no small part, it is the software providers that we have to thank for how much online casinos have evolved.

Do all of the software providers allow mobile play?

Yes, these are among the very best software houses, which means they cater for mobile casinos. As soon as they begin to develop new games, the mobile experience is the first thought.

What games can I play from these software developers?

While some software developers may specialise in the likes of slots or live games, across the board all game types are catered for. This means there is a great range, which includes slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and much more.

What about free play games?

These providers allow players to try free versions of their games. That means you are able to enjoy free slots, free blackjack, free roulette and a host of other games. Of course, if you would rather play for real money, it is easy to find a real money casino.