Plenty of studios make good slots. Far fewer change how an entire industry plays. Microgaming belongs to the second group: it was building online casino software when most people still doubted that anyone would gamble on the internet, and it was early to put real-money games on a phone. This review looks at what made its mobile games work, where they struggled, and the lessons operators can still take from them.
A pioneer from the Isle of Man
Microgaming was founded in 1994 and based on the Isle of Man. In the mid-1990s, land-based venues ruled gambling and online casinos looked like an experiment at best. Microgaming built for that untested market anyway, and its early years produced a string of industry firsts and milestones:
- 1996: it joined the Interactive Gaming Council, a non-profit body created to promote fairness and transparency in online gambling.
- 1998: it released what is widely credited as the first online slot with a progressive jackpot.
- eCOGRA: it was among the founding members of the independent testing and player-protection organisation that checks online games for fairness.
- 2004: it released mobile casino software, years before smartphones became everyday devices.
Until then the company had built only for desktop PCs. Its early move into mobile meant that, as phones and tablets improved, it already had the experience to adapt its catalogue for them.
What set Microgaming mobile slots apart
The mobile slots Microgaming released through the 2010s share a handful of design choices. Several of them were unusual at the time and have since become standard practice across the industry.
Two visual styles for two audiences
Older titles such as Retro Reels kept a clean, minimalist look. Experienced players liked it because nothing got in the way of a quick spin, which made these games a natural fit for casinos with an older audience. Newer releases kept the same simple layout but added detailed 3D artwork, which helped attract younger players without making the controls harder to read.
All settings in one panel
In slots such as Tarzan, the quick spin, graphics and sound options were grouped in a single pop-up with large toggles that a player could switch with one thumb. That sounds obvious today, but many early mobile conversions simply squeezed desktop menus onto a much smaller screen.
Statistics players could check
Games such as Emperor of the Sea included a statistics view with the number of spins played, spins per hour and a list of the biggest wins. Few suppliers offered anything similar back then, and it gave players a clearer picture of their own sessions.
Big entertainment licences
Microgaming was known for licensed slots based on Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, Tomb Raider and Tarzan. A famous name gives a lobby tile instant recognition and helps bring in new players. Licences do expire, however, so the availability of branded titles changes over time.
Bonus rounds with several stages
Titles such as Throne of Egypt spread their bonus games across several levels, with a bigger reward waiting at the end. That structure gave players a reason to keep playing towards the next stage. Return to player differs from game to game, so operators should check the figure on each title's information sheet rather than rely on an average for the whole catalogue.
Table games and live dealer on a small screen
Microgaming's slots made the jump to mobile more smoothly than its table games. Roulette, blackjack and baccarat all worked on phones, but betting grids and statistics panels need space, so the experience was clearly better on a tablet. European Roulette and Premier Roulette Diamond Edition were among the most comfortable versions, with clear layouts, table switching, statistics and quick bets. Multi-hand Blackjack and Baccarat followed the same rule: the bigger the screen, the easier the game.
The provider made up for this with choice. Where many suppliers offered one or two versions of each table game, Microgaming offered many variants of blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker. Its live dealer product added features such as bet behind on blackjack and the option to play several tables at once, and its Playboy-themed live casino showed how branding could give live games their own identity.
Where the catalogue stands today
The market has changed a great deal since these games were designed. Much of the classic Microgaming catalogue is now distributed by Games Global, and individual titles, branded ones in particular, come and go as licences and market approvals change. Before you build a campaign around a specific game, confirm that it is available for your licence and target markets. Our round-up of top Microgaming slots is a good starting point for a shortlist.
Five lessons for your mobile lobby
- Design for the thumb. Controls that work with one hand keep sessions going on a phone.
- Mix classic and modern. Simple, fast games and rich 3D titles appeal to different players, and a strong lobby needs both.
- Give table games room. Test roulette and blackjack on the smallest phones your players use, and point tablet users to the tables that suit larger screens.
- Use famous names with care. Branded slots attract attention, but check licence status and market availability first.
- Read each game sheet. RTP, volatility and features vary by title.
To add proven slot content without a separate project for every studio, look at our Slots Bundle or the wider casino games integration. For the bigger picture on mobile play, read our guide to mobile gambling and see how our platform handles mobile and tablet screens.
Written and reviewed by the iGaming Software Solutions Editorial Team.
