Microgaming

Microgaming offers over 850 different casino games and over 1,200 variants. Some of their most successful in-house casino games include Avalon, Thunderstruck, Immortal Romance, and Hot As Hades.

Microgaming Slots

Microgaming claims several “firsts” in the online slots world as well, having developed the first progressive slot game, the first branded slot game, and the first multiplayer slot game. They have also created an extensive collection of slots titles over the years. The Microgaming website boasts, “We offer the largest and most diverse portfolio of casino games in the industry, and we host the biggest and most popular names…”

Microgaming developed the first progressive jackpot slot game in 1998, setting a standard that other online slots developers quickly adopted. The company claims to feature the world’s largest progressive jackpot network, which has paid out over 874 million euros to date.

As of August 2018, five different multi-million dollar jackpots have been paid out to Microgaming progressive jackpot winners in the year-to-date. Mega Moolah was responsible for all of those wins, except for one win in Major Millions.

Microgaming holds the Guinness World Record for the largest jackpot payout by an online slot machine. In 2015, a bet on Mega Moolah at Betway Casino resulted in an impressive win of €17,880,900. Mega Moolah has also paid out big jackpots to mobile players, with a win of €7,968,311 in 2016. Furthermore, Microgaming pays jackpot winnings in one lump sum instead of smaller installment payments like many of its competitors.

Microgaming also lays claim to developing the first online branded slot, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, released in 2004. Since then, the company has gone on to release an impressive series of branded slots, including Terminator 2™, Game of Thrones™, Jurassic World™, and Playboy™ Gold.

Microgaming developed the first multiplayer slot game in 2009, Wheel of Wealth, allowing players to compete, socialize, interact in tournaments and community games, and score community bonuses. Gamblers can chat using built-in social features and see other players’ games while they play. Examples of Microgaming’s multiplayer slots titles include Playboy, Hitman™, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider™, Terminator 2™, Avalon, Immortal Romance, and Mermaid Millions.

In addition to Microgaming’s in-house slot game development, the company is working with independent game studios, including Triple Edge Studios and Stormcraft Studios.

List of Microgaming slots and payout percentages:

Branded games:

• Terminator 2™ – 96.62%
• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider™– 95.22%
• Game of Thrones™– 95%
• Jurassic World™– 96.36%
• Playboy™ Gold – 96.57%

Original games:

• Avalon – 96.01%
• Thunderstruck – 96.10%
• Immortal Romance – 96.86%

Original games – higher RTP:

• Hot as Hades – 97%
• Supernova – 97.05%
• Hot Ink – 97.50%

Progressive jackpots:

• Mega Moolah – 88.12%

Recent releases:

• Robin of Sherwood – 95.68%
• Wild Scarabs – 96.13%
• Temple of Tut – 96.01%

Microgaming does not publish the RTP for all of their slots games on their website. However, the RTP values for the slots games listed above were obtained from reputable sources.

Some slots titles on the Microgaming website do include a published RTP; however, only a small percentage of the overall catalog includes this information. Below are examples of titles on the site that include a published RTP.

RTP values published on Microgaming.com:

• Exotic Cats – 96.33%
• Super Sumo – 95.18% overall
• Temperance – 95.02%
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Las Vegas – 96.02%
• Adelia the Fortune Wielder – 96.50%
• Fortunes of Asgard – 96.10% (both modes combined)

Microgaming Roulette

Microgaming’s website features eight different online roulette games, including American roulette, French roulette, and European roulette.

European roulette variations include Premier roulette, multi-wheel roulette (played with eight wheels), and multiplayer roulette with chat functions for a social roulette experience.

In 2018, Microgaming released a new version of their standard roulette game that includes updated and more sophisticated graphics and features, racetrack and neighbor betting, special bets, and the option to save your favorite bets.

Roulette games on Microgaming’s website:

• Roulette
• American Roulette
• Roulette Royale
• French Roulette
• European Roulette Gold Series
• Premier Roulette
• Multi-Wheel Roulette Gold Series
• Multiplayer Roulette

Microgaming  Blackjack

Microgaming boasts a sizable roster of online blackjack games and variations. We counted over 30 blackjack games on the Microgaming website, including standard, Gold Series, and multi-hand versions of the game titles.

Compared to Microgaming’s relatively dated standard blackjack options, Gold Series games are typically more current, user-friendly, and provide a more authentic casino experience. Features include enhanced graphics, advanced settings, game customization options, more detailed tables, gold playing cards, background music, and casino sounds. Examples of different versions of the same game type include Atlantic City Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack Gold Series, and Atlantic City Blackjack Gold 6 Decks, as well as Vegas Strip, Vegas Strip Gold Series, Multi-Hand Vegas Strip, and Multi-Hand Vegas Strip Gold Series.

We have condensed the list of Microgaming blackjack games below to represent the basic blackjack game types provided by the company. This list does not include the Gold Series and multi-hand versions of the games if a standard version of the game is available. All games pay 3:2 for Blackjack, except Double Exposure, which pays 1:1.

Microgaming real money blackjack game selection:

• Atlantic City Blackjack
• Big Five Blackjack Gold Series
• Bonus Blackjack
• Classic Blackjack
• Double Exposure
• European Blackjack
• European Blackjack Gold Series Hi-Lo 13
• Spanish Blackjack
• Vegas Downtown
• Vegas Single Deck Blackjack
• Vegas Strip
• Multi-Hand European Blackjack Gold Series Perfect Pairs
• Premier Blackjack Hi-Lo
• Premier Blackjack High Streak
• Super Fun 21
• Triple Sevens Progressive Blackjack

Video Poker Games by Microgaming

We were unable to find any video poker information, screenshots, or demos on the Microgaming website, including the “games” section. The following list of online video poker games was obtained from a Microgaming-powered online casino.

Microgaming real money video poker games:

• Aces & Eights
• Aces & Faces
• All Aces
• All American
• Bonus Deuces Wild
• Bonus Poker Deluxe
• Deuces & Joker
• Deuces Wild
• Double Bonus
• Double Double Bonus
• Double Joker
• Jacks or Better
• Joker Poker (kings or better)
• Louisiana Double
• Tens or Better

Live Dealer Games

Microgaming’s website states that over 100 gaming brands use their live dealer casino software, and they are the only developer to offer Playboy-branded live dealer games where the dealers are dressed as Playboy Bunnies.

Microgaming offers standard live gaming options, including roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, as well as live sic bo and casino hold’em.

Microgaming’s live dealer games feature HD video streaming, multiple languages, multi-table playing options, auto bet options, and detailed statistics. You can even get notified when a seat becomes available at a blackjack table.

Microgaming live dealer games are available on desktop and mobile platforms, and eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) has approved the company’s live dealer software.

Mobile gaming

Microgaming pioneered the first mobile casino software in 2005 and now offers over 300 games on its mobile platform, including slots, progressive jackpot slots, blackjack, roulette, and video poker. The website provides surprisingly little information about the company’s mobile games and initiatives, however.

Microgaming’s mobile games are available for Android, iOS, and Blackberry. Their mobile gaming platform features crisp graphics, smooth animations, quality audio, and an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The quality of Microgaming’s mobile platform was recently recognized by the industry when the company was awarded the EGR Mobile Gaming Software award and the IGA Mobile Product of the Year award in 2017.

Awards and recognition

Microgaming has accumulated an impressive collection of gaming industry and corporate excellence awards over the years.

Microgaming has walked away from the EGR (eGaming Review) B2B awards ceremony with an award every year since 2010. The majority of Microgaming’s EGR awards are for their poker network and poker software, including the company’s latest win in 2018 for the best poker network. Microgaming also scored consecutive wins for their poker software and/or poker network from 2013 to 2016. In 2015, they won awards for both the best poker software and best poker network.

Microgaming also boasts a winning streak at the Global Gaming Awards, landing the best Digital Product award in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Also recognized for their innovation, Microgaming won the award for Digital Gaming Innovation in 2015. The IGA (International Gaming Awards) awarded Microgaming Innovator of the Year in 2016 and Mobile Product of the Year in 2017.

Microgaming has also been recognized outside of the gambling industry with awards for corporate excellence, social responsibility, innovation, workplace wellbeing, and company culture. For example, the company was awarded the Baker Tilly Isle of Man Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2012, the Celton Manx Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2014, and the Sure Award for Workplace Wellbeing in 2017.

Microgaming’s history

Microgaming claims to have developed the first “true” online casino software in 1994, the first mobile casino software in 2004, and several other “firsts” that are included in the timeline below.

Microgaming milestones:

1994 – The FIRST online casino software was developed and released by Microgaming.

1998 – Developed and released the FIRST progressive slot game, Cash Splash, paving the way for progressive slots games to become an industry standard.

2003 – eCOGRA was established with Microgaming as a founding member. eCOGRA is still a trusted, independent third-party testing and oversight authority in the gaming industry.

2003 – Launched MPN (Microgaming Poker Network).

2004 – Developed and released the FIRST mobile casino software.

2004 – Released the FIRST branded slot game, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, paving the way for branded slot games to become an industry standard.

2004 – Released Mega Moolah, Microgaming’s most famous progressive slot game that has paid out record-breaking jackpots.

2006 – UIGEA (the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) was enacted in the United States, and Microgaming exited the U.S. market.

2006 – Microgaming launched their sportsbook.

2009 – Developed the FIRST multiplayer slot game, Wheel of Wealth.

2013 – Two players hit the Mega Moolah jackpot for seven figures in one week, one player on a mobile casino, becoming the first-ever mobile casino millionaire.

2015 – A historical win on Mega Moolah of €17,880,900 set a Guinness World Record for the largest jackpot payout by an online slot machine.

2016 – Mega Moolah mobile paid out €7,968,311 to a lucky player.

2017 – Microgaming’s head office in the Isle of Man moved into a new corporate headquarters building that was constructed for the company.

2018 – Microgaming made multiple top-level management changes, including promotions and C-level appointments.

Offices and company culture

Microgaming’s corporate offices are located in the Isle of Man. Microgaming’s corporate LinkedIn profile lists the company size as 1,001-5,000 employees worldwide, but we were unable to find a more specific and verifiable figure within that range. Currently, over 300 people work at the company headquarters in the Isle of Man.

Microgaming’s new headquarters

Microgaming’s head office recently moved into a new building, which is linked to their old headquarters with a sky bridge. The state-of-the-art building received the BREEAM rating of excellence for sustainability, and it has been featured on lists of the coolest places to work.

Microgaming’s corporate culture

Microgaming has been recognized for its corporate culture, having won awards for social responsibility, workplace well being, and innovation. The company also boasts its Play It Forward initiative, which is a community-based charity supporting health, sports, and education. Microgaming recently became a founding member of the All-in Diversity Project to promote a more inclusive, equal, and diverse gaming industry.

The Microgaming management team

Significant changes have been made to Microgaming’s executive management team recently, including internal promotions and new C-level appointments. Microgaming boasts strong management and employee retention; most of the top-level executives listed below have been employed at Microgaming for ten years or more.

Microgaming’s CEO

After an impressive 17 years as the CEO of Microgaming, Roger Raatgever was promoted to executive chairman of Apricot Investments Limited, the holding company for Microgaming.

John Coleman was promoted from CFO (Chief Financial Officer) to CEO to replace Roger. John has been with Microgaming since 2004 as their CFO.

Andrew Clucas was promoted to COO (Chief Operating Officer) after serving as director of Microgaming’s Quickfire group since 2016. Andrew has been with Microgaming since 2009 after serving in the Royal Air Force.

Jean-Luc Ferriere was promoted to CCO (Chief Commercial Officer). Prior to that appointment, Jean-Luc was the director of network gaming at Microgaming and has held multiple positions at the company since joining it in 2008. Jean-Luc came to Microgaming from Derivco, a game developer that is partnered with Microgaming.

Microgaming investors

Microgaming is a privately held company. We were unable to find verifiable information about its ownership or investments in the company and its subsidiaries.

Microgaming audits and licenses

eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Game Regulation and Assurance) provides testing and compliance services to Microgaming. eCOGRA is a leading third-party testing agency that specializes in certifying online gaming software and is ISO-certified in the UK (ISO/IEC 17025:2005). Microgaming’s software is eCOGRA-certified based upon annual onsite inspections, testing, and ongoing monitoring using eCOGRA’s rigorous criteria.

Microgaming casinos undergo regular audits from eCOGRA, and the results are published and made available to the public online. Here are examples of some recent eCOGRA audit results for The Gaming Club Casino and 32Red Casino.

Microgaming’s gaming licenses

Microgaming holds a license issued by the Gambling Commission, the government agency that regulates gambling in Great Britain. The details of Microgaming’s license number 39073 can be found here.

Microgaming is also licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Microgaming Malta Limited holds a Type 3 Gaming Services license number MGA/B2B/124/2006, and Microgaming Europe Limited holds a Type 2 Gaming Services license number MGA/B2B/139/2007.