In the ever-evolving world of online casinos, slot providers play a key role in shaping the gaming experience for players. Slot providers are the companies responsible for developing the best video slots you play when you gamble online – and with hundreds of providers now active, it’s more important than ever to play games from reputable, trustworthy game studios.
In this guide, we will explore the UK’s leading slot providers and highlight some of the best slots sites in the UK where players can enjoy their games.
Top Established Slot Providers
NetEnt
Swedish provider NetEnt has been at the forefront of the online gaming industry since 1996. They’re known for producing fantastic-looking, high-quality real money slots – and they were one of the first software providers to launch dedicated mobile versions of their games.
Some of their most popular titles include Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Dead or Alive II. Plus, thanks to the popularity of their games, NetEnt slots are available at most of the top online casino sites, and they also often feature in promotions offering slots free spins.
NetEnt was also one of the first online gaming companies to offer live casino games – although their live product was retired after they were acquired by Evolution (previously Evolution Gaming). The brand is still considered a pioneer in terms of software development.
Microgaming
Microgaming is another industry giant, having launched the world’s first online casino software platform in 1994. They have an extensive portfolio of over 800 casino games, including some of the most popular new online slots in the UK.
Some of Microgaming’s most popular slots include Immortal Romance, Thunderstruck II, and Dragonz. They also offer the world’s most popular progressive slots, with titles like Mega Moolah and Mega Moolah ISIS offering guaranteed million-pound jackpots!
IGT
International Game Technology, or IGT as they’re more commonly known, is one of the world’s largest slot providers for the land-based casino market – although their games have also become relatively popular online. IGT has been around since the 1950s, and they’re considered the “gold standard” in casino game development.
IGT’s slot portfolio is massive, and some of their popular games for the online gambling market include Cleopatra, Family Guy, Da Vinci Diamonds, and Pixies of the Forest. Some IGT slots also feature in promotions, like free spins with no deposit and no wager required!
Playtech
Prestigious software firm Playtech is another huge gambling company, although their games aren’t as visible as those from other leading software providers. That’s because they focus more on backend software, and platform solutions – not things a slots player will see very often.
However, Playtech does have a solid portfolio of games – and they have also acquired several other prominent game studios, including Ash Gaming, and Quickspin. Some of Playtech’s most popular online slots include Age of the Gods, Green Lantern, Gladiator, and Frankie Dettori.
Big Time Gaming
One of the best slot providers in the world is Big Time Gaming – an Australian game studio that has gained immense popularity in recent years thanks to its innovative Megaways mechanic.
Many believe that the Megaways mechanic single-handedly changed the online slots world for good – and it led the way for hundreds of clones, with providers realising players increasingly want high variance games with massive win potential.
The Megaways mechanic is highly unique, as it does away with conventional pay lines and reel layouts. On each spin, the height of each reel changes, with up to seven symbols able to land. This means the number of pay lines also changes – with most Megaways slots offering as many as 117,649 ways to win on every spin.
Today, many of the best online slots UK players can enjoy feature the Megaways mechanic – and this includes games like Bonanza, Dragon Born, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Rising Stars, Smaller Studios, and Newer Slots Providers
Push Gaming
Push Gaming is a relatively new provider that has quickly made a name for itself thanks its high-quality slots. Their games typically feature stunning graphics, unique themes, and exciting bonus features – and they generally offer higher maximum wins than most competitors.
One of Push Gaming’s first online slots to go “mainstream” was Tiki Tumble – a unique game with unlimited free spins and increasing multiplier bonus. At the time, many saw this as their alternative to BTG’s Megaways mechanic – although since its release, Push Gaming has gotten even more creative with its themes and mechanics.
Today, some of the provider’s most popular online slot game titles include Razor Shark, Big Bamboo, Retro Tapes, and Mystery Museum. Their games are also fully mobile-optimised, and you’ll find them at almost every mobile slot site!
Hacksaw Gaming
Hacksaw Gaming, founded in 2018, is another relative newcomer that was quick to make a name for itself – and today, is one of the top slot providers in the world. Based in Malta, Hacksaw Gaming initially focused on mobile scratch cards – but they soon pivoted to slot games, usually including complex maths and high variance gameplay.
One of their first slots to go viral, if you like, was Chaos Crew – a slot with a unique bonus round where players can win up to 20,000x their stake. Since then, they’ve continued to push out very volatile games, with other popular titles including Stick ‘Em, Cubes 2, and Rusty & Curly.
Nolimit City
Nolimit City is a Swedish provider that has been creating slots since 2013. While it took a while for their games to become popular (largely due to the low variance nature of their old games), they exploded a few years ago – and are now considered one of the world’s best slot game providers.
The company became well known for its innovative features like xNudge and xWays, which are both mechanics never seen before in online slots – and these soon became staples in their games.
Some of Nolimit City’s most popular games today include Punk Rocker, Tombstone RIP, and San Quentin xWays – the latter of which offers a staggering maximum win potential of 150,000x!
Quickspin
Quickspin is a Swedish provider that’s known for fairly low volatility games – and while this isn’t something a lot of casino players prefer today, the slot provider has always done well for itself thanks to its impeccable graphics, sound effects, and themes. In fact, the provider proved so successful before the Megaways era, that they were acquired by Playtech in 2016 in an eight-figure deal.
Some of Quickspin’s most popular slots include Northern Sky, Big Bad Wolf, Sakura Fortune, and Cash Bandits – and they also offer some of the best RTP slots bet UK players can enjoy.
Pragmatic Play
Renowned developer Pragmatic Play, previously TopGame, went mainstream a few years ago when they acquired a gaming licence from the UK Gambling Commission. Since then, they’ve become one of the largest and best online slot providers, known for simple, great-looking games with decent win potential.
Some of their most popular slot games include The Dog House, Gates of Olympus, Sugar Rush, and Sweet Bonanza. They also offer jackpots in many of their games, and, recently, they’ve opened a live dealer casino, too – which has become hugely successful, rivalling Evolution’s product!
Tips on Choosing the Right Online Slot Providers
When choosing a slot provider to play with, there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, you’ll want to consider a provider’s reputation; ensure their games are licenced by the UK’s Gambling Commission, and check to see if players have raised any significant complaints about their games online.
Once you’re happy that a slot provider is trustworthy, you’ll want to consider the game selection they offer. While many providers offer hundreds of games, this isn’t always a good thing; look for quality games, and check to see what other players are saying about them. This is actually one of our top slot machine tips; after all, before investing your own money into games, you want to make sure they’re actually good!
Finally, if you’re looking for the best slots bonus UK players can claim, you may also want to consider a slot provider that works with a casino to offer free spins. Some of the names we’ve covered today – like Pragmatic Play and NetEnt – run frequent promotions which allow you to play their games for free!
Our Final Thoughts on the Best Slot Providers
In conclusion, the world of online slots is constantly evolving, with slot providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Big Time Gaming churning out new titles. However, just because these ‘household names’ are the most popular names in the industry, don’t forget to check out games from smaller, or newer studios like Push Gaming and Nolimit City.
If you’re still undecided on which provider to try out, don’t forget our slot tips from earlier. When selecting a slot provider, consider their reputation, game quality, and promotions. You may also want to look for free slots with no deposit bonus offers to try out new games without risking your own cash.
Ultimately, whether you prefer classic slots or modern video slots with huge win potential, the key is to choose reputable providers and play at trusted casinos or progressive jackpot sites. Browse the recommended slots sites here at Punters Lounge to find the best slots sites!
