The most popular slot providers – what you should know
In the world of online casinos, game quality depends directly on the providers behind them – it’s the providers who create the games, refine the graphics and features, and give games their character. If you’re looking for interesting, fair and technically reliable slot machines, it’s worth getting to know the market’s most popular game providers.
Whether we’re talking about New Zealand-licensed or foreign online casinos, they can all offer players a huge range of different slots, but some providers are much more popular than others. In this review we’ll talk in more detail about slot providers. We’ll introduce a few specific providers, tell you where you can play their games, and give you other relevant information.
What are slot machine providers?
Slot providers (also known as game developers) are companies that create slot machine games for online casinos. They’re responsible not only for visual design and sound, but also for game mechanics, payout structure and RTP (Return to Player).
Good providers hold licences and certifications and offer transparent, fair algorithms. It’s up to them whether a game is appealing, and whether it has features like free spins, bonus rounds, or progressive jackpots.
It’s genuinely important to note that it’s the slot providers who are responsible for the actual game mechanics. When players lose, they often blame the online casino itself, but it’s actually the slot machine providers who are essentially responsible for the fairness of the game mechanics, since the online casino itself, in a sense, simply licenses the games.
Most popular slot providers online
Now let’s cover a few of the most popular slot machine providers that attract the most player interest, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. As we go through each provider, we’ll mention the games that could be called their flagship titles – if you’ve ever played slots, you’ll definitely have heard of at least one of the games we mention.
NetEnt
One of the most recognisable names in the iGaming world. NetEnt is known for its high-quality graphics and innovative solutions. Its most popular games include Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Dead or Alive II. These games run smoothly on mobile devices and have a solid RTP rating – the theoretical percentage of returns to the player.
NetEnt isn’t quite as prominent a name as it was five or ten years ago, but its most popular games still remain at the top and are loved by plenty of players.
Play’n GO
This provider became well known thanks to Book of Dead – one of the best-known online slots. Play’n GO offers themed games that are often high-volatility, so they appeal more to experienced players.
This provider is also highly regarded for its wide range of slot machines. Here you’ll find games in a variety of styles, featuring distinctive graphics and storytelling. What’s more, Play’n GO works fairly closely with most online casinos, which is why this provider’s slots often appear in top positions.
Pragmatic Play
An increasingly popular provider, known for its extensive game library and daily tournaments. Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus and The Dog House are just a few of its hits. It also offers Drops & Wins promotions, which let players win extra prizes.
Pragmatic Play was probably the first provider in the online casino market to offer players a buy-bonus feature. Anyone who plays slots knows that spinning three or four lucky symbols triggers extra free spins that give you the chance to win a solid prize. Pragmatic Play came up with the idea of letting players simply buy these extra spins outright, and it genuinely paid off.
Pragmatic Play’s constantly improving graphics also deserve a special mention, earning praise from both players and gambling industry experts alike.
Amusnet (formerly EGT)
We’re used to the fact that most slots nowadays are modern, tell stories and have modern features, but some players still value classic games the most, dominated by symbols like bells, sevens, cherries and so on. Here, probably the most prominent name in the online casino industry is Amusnet.
Amusnet offers plenty of classic slots. They combine the past and the present, in a sense. These slots, such as Candy Palace, have a very clear and simple mechanic, yet still manage to keep players engaged.
Yggdrasil
A modern provider focused on innovation. Vikings Go Berzerk or Valley of the Gods are great examples of how Yggdrasil combines theme, design and unique mechanics.
Yggdrasil isn’t yet especially popular in New Zealand, but this provider is gaining an increasingly strong reputation at foreign online casinos, so there’s little doubt that the New Zealand player community will come to love this slot provider before long.
How to choose a trustworthy provider?
There are genuinely a lot of different slots and slot-making companies these days, so choosing a provider whose games you want to play isn’t always easy. Because of this, we’ll briefly cover a few factors that can help you choose the game you want.
RTP rating
Every slot has its own RTP rating, which shows what percentage of spins is returned to players as winnings. Although the RTP rating is tied to specific games rather than to the provider itself, certain trends can still be observed.
The best providers usually offer a higher average RTP rating. Check the information online and choose providers with the highest RTP rating, since this improves your chances of winning.
Volatility
Games have different volatility ratings. High volatility means prizes in the game will be fairly rare, but the prizes themselves will be more valuable. Medium volatility means a moderate number of prizes, with prize values varying widely. Low volatility, meanwhile, means there are plenty of prizes, but their value is relatively small.
Every player has their own preferences, but it’s important to know that most providers focus on one particular type of volatility, so this is definitely worth paying attention to.
Licences and safety
It’s very important to check and confirm the reputation of the slot provider you’re interested in. The best providers, such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and others, are strictly certified. They hold licences such as MGA and UKGC. Holding these licences guarantees complete safety and reliability.
Mobile version
These days, most players play slots not on a computer but on a mobile phone, so it’s very important to check whether the game developer you’re interested in offers games that look great on mobile. The very best providers take care of this straight away, ensuring their games are presented on mobile devices in a modern, high-quality way.
Where can you play games from the best slot providers?
You’ll find games from the best slot providers at plenty of online casinos. But to save you the search, we’ll briefly mention a few specific online casinos with an especially wide slot selection and other advantages. All of these online casinos accept players from New Zealand.
Martin.Casino. This is one of the newer online casinos on the market, which quickly earned a great deal of user trust. Not only does it have plenty of high-quality games, but Martin.Casino can also offer solid bonuses, reliable payment methods and complete safety.
Flagman.Casino. This is another online casino with a wide slot selection, letting you play games from a large number of different developers. Flagman.Casino has a solid VIP loyalty programme, tempts new players with a solid welcome package, and is also known for its especially high withdrawal limits.
Wazbee.Casino. This is an especially good choice for those who like playing with crypto, since Wazbee.Casino is especially well suited to playing with cryptocurrency. Deposits and withdrawals here are practically unrestricted, and players can also receive a huge number of bonuses.
Summary
When choosing slot machines online, it’s very important to pay attention to game providers, since it’s ultimately them that determines game quality, fairness and your chances of winning. Names like NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, Amusnet and Yggdrasil have already established themselves on the market and offer slots suited to both beginners and experienced players.
When assessing game providers, it’s important to consider the RTP rating, volatility level, licences, mobile compatibility and other factors.
Trusted online casinos, such as Martin.Casino, Flagman.Casino or Wazbee.Casino, let you enjoy these providers’ games in a safe and convenient environment. Choosing responsibly will improve not only your level of entertainment, but also your chances of winning.
Which online casinos are the safest for playing slots?
As we mentioned in the article, the safest online casinos for slots are those with international licences, such as Curaçao, Malta, MGA or UKGC. This guarantees safety.
How long has it been possible to play slots at online casinos?
As with all online casino games, you can play slots from the age of 18.
I play slots online, but I keep losing all the time. What would you recommend?
You’ll find our recommendations on how to win at slots HERE.
I’m planning to start playing slots online. Can I expect any bonuses?
Yes, you can, but for that we recommend choosing the companies we’ve mentioned, since bonuses aren’t allowed at New Zealand-licensed companies due to local laws.