Microgaming Experience

The Inventors of Online Casinos

Have you ever wondered who first had the idea to virtualize casino games and offer them over the Internet? Hard to believe, but true: no one else but the company Microgaming had this idea back in 1994!

At a time when most households were far from having an Internet connection, the founders of Microgaming had a decisive innovative idea that turned out to be almost prophetic. They not only developed the very first software-based version of a casino game, but also opened the world's first online casino, called The Gaming Club.

Who these founders were is and remains a well-kept secret, since the company was privately owned from the very beginning. However, Microgaming is always associated with the South African entrepreneur Martin Moshal, who never identified himself as a co-founder or partner of Microgaming.

Not an easy start for a pioneer

Of course, the first Microgaming slots could not be compared with what we know today. The Internet was still an obscure thing that had not yet been really accepted by many, which is why they preferred to continue to visit the terrestrial arcades. The payment transactions were not yet secure enough, and the start of the industry was accordingly bumpy.

Nevertheless, the first online casino from Microgaming quickly got competition, including NetEnt. From then on, Microgaming focused exclusively on becoming a developer of gaming software and thus supplying the online casinos of the other companies with games. This business model is still followed today and Microgaming is one of the top online game providers in the world. While focusing on slot machines, however, it is far from over: Microgaming has also established itself as one of the top developers and providers of software-based casino games such as roulette, bingo and video poker.

The Cash Splash Revolution

However, Microgaming did not earn this status simply by being the first. On the contrary, after the foundation was laid for a booming online gaming industry, it really started. In 1996, Microgaming caused a sensation by launching the first progressive jackpot slot ever: Cash Splash.

In this slot machine, for each round of play that was lost, a part of the bet was automatically deposited into a pooled jackpot. There was not a jackpot per online casino, but a jackpot for all cash splash slots, no matter how many different online casinos were played. This allowed the progressive jackpot slot to grow to sizes never dreamed of – the players were thrilled.

Innovation without end: Microgaming always at the forefront

Once again, Microgaming stood out from the rest of the software developers with unprecedented innovation. However, there was no need to think about rest: the company was continuously expanding its range. The Microgaming Poker Network was launched and linked more than 20 online poker rooms where pretty much any version of poker could be played.

The MPN has only recently closed its doors, but for the software provider there have been several other milestones in the 26 years of existence: multi-player slot machines, themed slots such as Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park and Bridesmaids, the invention of the live casino and of course the ever-increasing demand for a mobile games offer for smartphones and tablets. The latest symbol of the perpetual progress of Microgaming's gaming technology is the new virtual reality games, which are just in their infancy.

The most popular slots from Microgaming

Now, of course, we can hardly talk about microgaming without at least a few of the best Microgaming slot machines being put in the spotlight. Because even if the career of the software manufacturer is as economically impressive as it is, the players themselves are usually not very interested, because for them it is not the financial turnover or the history that counts, but the experience of the developers, the entertainment value and the creativity of the games and, of course, the prospects for profits! Since Microgaming cult games can be relied on in these points, free spins are often offered for these games as part of a welcome bonus.

Mega Moolah

When people talk about high winnings when playing online slot machines, many first of all think about the game, through which Microgaming was even able to accept an entry in the Guinness Book of Records: Mega Moolah. This slot machine is considered one of the most popular ever and definitely the most iconic among the progressive jackpots. A few years ago, this game handed out the highest online casino jackpot win of all time: almost 18 million dollars!

Thematically, Mega Moolah takes the players on safari in the African savannah, which is further enhanced by the corresponding background noise. On the five reels you will find matching symbols: zebras, giraffes, elephants, water buffalo, antelopes and of course the letters typical of slots. However, the lion, the wild symbol, and the monkey, the scatter symbol are interesting. If you have three monkeys on the reels, a free spins feature will start with 15 free spins, during which all winnings will triple. In order to get one of the four Mega Moolah jackpots, the randomly triggered bonus round must open, in which a fateful wheel of fortune spins!

Thunderstruck II

This Microgaming slot machine has actually been around since 2004, which is why the successor version Thunderstruck II is now mainly played. Players immerse themselves in the world of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Thor himself is one of the symbols, along with his gods-cronies Loki and Odin, the conventional letters, a ship and Thor's house.

The Thunderstruck symbol serves as the Wild and Thor's Bonus Hammer is the scatter symbol. The appearance of three hammers on the reels triggers the feature of the Great Hall of Spins, the most important bonus feature, with the help of which you can trigger more features and win free spins. These many bonus features and of course the Viking theme are probably partly to blame for the fact that Thunderstruck and the Thunderstruck II version are so popular.

Game of Thrones

Winter is coming! Another specialty of Microgaming is the many slots inspired by modern pop culture. Of course, the famous TV series Game of Thrones has also inspired a slot machine that is loved by many fans. There are 243 paylines and fifteen symbols on five reels. The embattled iron throne is the scatter symbol, the Game of Thrones logo is the Wild and the other symbols represent the important houses of Westeros: Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, Targaryen.

High-class graphics and animations and of course the great medieval soundtrack with the sounds familiar from the theme music draw the player directly to Westeros. Of course, there is plenty of excitement: a free spins feature, a chance of double winnings in the risk game, a scatter bonus – there are enough exciting features.

Experience and seriousness

Microgaming games as a welcome bonus - even the online casinos advertise with the popularity of Microgaming to encourage new players to make their first deposit. In a casino review, it is considered a plus point if games from this manufacturer are part of the games portfolio. In total, there are more than 120 online casinos that offer games from Microgaming today – and they are all very proud of it!

Since we like to play ourselves, we think that Microgaming as a top game developer has earned the generally good rating of the player community. The fact that the company actually pays out the huge jackpot sums is just further proof that Microgaming is safe and relies on fair play in addition to high entertainment quality. In addition, there is the experience accumulated over decades and the status as the inventor of the online casino – it is understandable why this software manufacturer has such a trust-inspiring effect on the player community.