The foundation of all the very best online slot machine games is state-of-the-art software, creating a flawless user experience. Fortunately for the global iGaming industry, which has experienced vast growth from revenues of US$20.51bn in 2009 to an estimated $47.11bn this year, according to Statista figures, the sector is awash with pioneering software development studios around the world that are continuing to push the creative boundaries for casino players online.
Many of the best online slot titles are now ‘powered by Microgaming’. This casino software development company, based in the Isle of Man, UK, was behind the world’s inaugural online casino in 1994. Although the company took the eventual decision not to operate their own online casinos, they continued to innovate and develop improvements to iGaming software and related technologies.
Microgaming: the masters of industry-firsts
In February 2014, the company were the first developers to create an online slot game tailored to the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. They’ve never been strangers to industry firsts, agreeing a deal with Playboy to create the iGaming industry’s inaugural branded live dealer studio, where players could play classic table games and interact with human dealers dressed as Playboy bunnies via high-definition live streaming. Perhaps Microgaming’s finest hour has been its development of many progressive jackpot slot games, each of whom are connected to the overall Microgaming Progressive Jackpot Network, creating life-changing jackpots for lucky winners to rival those in land-based casinos. Click here for more online casino operators, which utilize their innovative software solutions, with over 600 3D slots and casino games to choose from.
NetEnt: Masterminding the explosion of 3D slots
Speaking of 3D slots, Net Entertainment have long been praised for their innovation and use of three-dimensional graphics and engaging high-definition audio to take online slot gaming to the next level. Their captivating visuals and state-of-the-art surround sound qualities, coupled with their desire to design 3D slots that were mobile friendly, have ensured that NetEnt slot titles have become a household name in online casinos worldwide. Their most notable titles include Jack Hammer and Jack Hammer 2, the Guns N’ Roses video slot and the branded Aliens video slot; the latter of which was the first title where NetEnt utilized real-time 3D animated visuals.
Augmented reality: the future of iGaming
In what direction is the world of online slots headed? Augmented reality (AR) is almost certainly the future of the real-money gaming sector. The industry is already in the midst of a surge in immersive live casino games, streamed to players around the world on desktops and mobile devices. However, the world’s leading iGaming brands are now looking at ways of enhancing that online casino experience further by incorporating AR into its classic table games. Imagine donning an AR headset to transport yourself into a virtual casino floor environment, just like you’d find in Vegas or Atlantic City, and play your favourite casino games whilst experiencing real-life audio and conversing with other virtual players. That is the kind of iGaming environment I think we’d all love to see for ourselves!
