The Rise of NetEnt casino games

The Rise of NetEnt Casino Games

If you ever played online casino games like slots and roulette, you’ve probably played some NetEnt games. Undoubtedly one of the most renowned software providers in the iGaming industries, NetEnt has published some of the most popular online casino games in the world, especially when it comes to slot games. Operating from Stockholm, Sweden, the company employs more than 1,000 people and has been a part of Evolution Gaming since its acquisition in 2020.

NetEnt was founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Pontus Lindwall, the son of an experienced entrepreneur in the Swedish gambling market. The company was created with the main goals of providing online casino games with a wide variety of slots and video poker titles, and developing a jackpot network of slot games. 

After launching its casino platform and releasing its first titles in the early 2000s, NetEnt continued to expand in the following years, becoming one of the leading software providers in the iGaming industry. While NetEnt focused on game development, it also pushed for innovations in the mobile market, and in 2011, the company launched its first mobile gambling platform. 

In 2015, NetEnt expanded into the US market, by getting a license to operate in the state of New Jersey. Finally, in 2020, the company was acquired by Evolution Gaming, the largest live dealer provider in the industry, in a merger that gave birth to a new umbrella company.

Regarding its licensing and regulation, NetEnt holds several licenses and certifications from some of the most recognized and reliable gambling governing bodies in the world, including the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. NetEnt is also a member of eCOGRA, a leading independent and internationally approved testing agency, which guarantees total fairness, unpredictability and online safety in all NetEnt games.

Even though NetEnt’s game catalog isn’t as extensive as some of its competitors like Playtech and Microgaming, the company is noted for the quality of its games, currently being one of the most popular providers in the iGaming industry. Apart from classic titles like Starburst – which, according to this review on ukbestonlinecasino.com, is the most popular slot in the world right now – and Gonzo’s Quest, NetEnt has also focused on branded titles, having published a wide variety of licensed games such as Jumanji and Hell’s Kitchen.

As one of the leading companies in the market, NetEnt has been praised for publishing a wide variety of slot games, with an above-average quality, especially when it comes to gameplay, graphics, and return-to-player percentage, which can reach 98 percent in some titles. Therefore, there are endless alternatives to play NetEnt games, with over a hundred operators and casino websites offering its titles.NetEnt’s Starburst is currently regarded as the most popular slot in the world, praised for its beautiful design and simple gameplay. With a 5-reel layout, this game offers 10 paylines and a lot of free spins bonuses, even though it lacks scatter symbols.

Gonzo’s Quest is another extremely popular NetEnt game, and is usually a part of welcome offers in many online casinos. The game features a 5-reel layout with 20 paylines, and a 96 percent return-to-player, which is remarkably high for such a slot.The company is also known for its progressive jackpot network, through its Mega Fortune slot, which even held the Guinness Book World Record for largest jackpot network in 2011. Over the past decade, NetEnt has been competing with Microgaming’s Mega Moolah for the world’s largest progressive jackpot.

As most developers and software providers in iGaming do, NetEnt has also ventured into branded offerings, and their list of licensed games is one of the best in the market. Whether it’s collaborations with the movie industry, musicians and rock ‘n’ roll acts, or even video game franchises, NetEnt’s branded games are among the most popular slots in the world.

Some of their most recent branded games include Jumanji, based on the acclaimed movie franchise, Hell’s Kitchen, which brings celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey to the world of online slots, and Street Fighter: The World Warrior Slot, an innovative and beautifully-designed slot based on the world famous fighting game franchise. NetEnt is also known for its collaborations with musicians and bands, having branded slots from rock ‘n’ roll acts like Ozzy Osbourne, Jimi Hendrix, and Motorhead.