Online Casino Software

This may come as a surprise to some, but online casinos don’t make their own games. Instead, online casino operators outsource to game providers who specialize in producing slot games, table games, or live dealer games. In other words, good online casino software makes all the difference when it comes to online gambling. To bring Canadian players the best experience, we’ve created an introductory guide to the best online casino software providers. Check out the following article and learn more about the creators of your favourite games!   

Table of Contents

Top 6 Casino Software Providers

Picking favourites can be difficult when there are so many major casino game providers to choose from. Based on the impact on the iGaming industry, general reputation, and game performance, our experts have selected six top casino software providers that we wholeheartedly recommend to Canadian players. 

NetEnt

Sweden-based game company NetEnt is versatile in game design, creating acclaimed slot games, as well as table games and live casino games. With NetEnt’s highly immersive slot games, you can enjoy high RTP titles such as Bloodsuckers (98%), or beloved classics such as Starburst. If you’re curious about all the new content that NetEnt has been creating in recent years, check out this page!

  • Starburst
  • Gonzo’s Quest
  • Dead or Alive

Evolution

As the online gambling industry’s most prominent live dealer game provider, Evolution Gaming content can be found on a majority of online casino sites. Evolution offers all the classic casino games through HD streams of charismatic dealers who interact with you in real-time. Alternatively, you can also experience the excitement of game shows, including Deal or no Deal, Monopoly, Dream Catcher, and much more. 

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play is another all-around game provider, delivering award-winning slot games, live casino games, bingo, and sports betting to players all over the world. Its hundreds of in-house games feature compelling game design and attractively high RTP that naturally draw in both new and veteran online gamblers. You may also recognize Pragmatic Play’s distinctive game shows, such as Sweet Bonanza Candyland or Boom City

  • Wolf Gold
  • Big Bass Bonanza 
  • Classics (blackjack / baccarat / roulette / poker / sic bo) 

Microgaming

Pioneering the way since 1994, Microgaming is a titan of the iGaming community. While Microgaming also offers table games and live dealer games, its famed slot games have captured the hearts of many online gamblers with their lucrative progressive jackpots and riveting bonus features. Particularly, Mega Moolah set a Guinness World Record with a stunning $17 million jackpot prize awarded to a lucky winner. 

  • Mega Moolah
  • Immortal Romance
  • Bonanza Megaways 

Playtech

Playtech is Evolution’s biggest rival when it comes to live casino games. As the oldest live dealer game provider, Playtech is home to the world’s largest poker network and bingo network! This software company will meet all your playing needs with its live casino lobbies that provide a premium augmented reality experience. That’s not all– Playtech also produces some of the world’s highest RTP slot games, such as Ugga Bugga or Goblin’s Cave with astounding 99%+ RTP rates. 

  • Classics (blackjack / baccarat / roulette / poker / sic bo) 
  • Age of Gods
  • Buffalo Blitz

Merkur

German-based game company, Merkur, is known for its slot games that are available in both online casinos and land-based casinos. Established in 1974, Merkur is one of the world’s oldest gaming software providers. Although Merkur may not be as famous as its competitors, its 150+ slot games are incredibly reliable and enjoy an outstanding balance between tradition and originality. 

  • Eye of Horus
  • El Torero
  • Dragon’s Treasure 

Of course, there’s an abundance of great game providers outside of the ones on our list that are available to players in Canada. As more and more people join in on the thrill of online casinos, competing game providers will enter the market to generate exciting and innovative content. You’ll find that most online casinos carry games from these major casino software developers:

  • Betsoft
  • IGT (International Gaming Technology)
  • Play n’ Go
  • Yggdrasil Gaming
  • Quickspin
  • Barcrest
  • Real-Time Gaming

Types of Casino Software

There are primarily three types of casino software that game providers will develop. Many games aren’t exclusive to one category, as game providers will create different variants for different platforms to accommodate your playing needs. 

Instant Play

Online casino sites utilize this form of casino software to bring players high-speed content without the need to download anything. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can load instant-play games directly from your browser. Many instant-play software can run without a problem on mobile browsers!

Download

This form of casino software is a bit more traditional, as modern players prefer streamable content to downloadable content. Although download software requires storage space, game performance tends to run faster. 

Mobile

Mobile software is the latest trend. With the advent of smartphones, players now desire the convenience of being able to play on the go. All it takes is a simple download from your mobile device’s app store, and you can log onto your favourite mobile casino from anywhere you want.

How We Rate Casino Software Providers

There is a wide range of factors to consider when evaluating a casino software provider. To recommend you the best there is, our experts take a look at the following:

Game Performance

A successful game software requires fast gameplay speed, optimized HD graphics, and dynamic animations to provide players with an immersive experience. 

Game Design

What distinguishes a top-rated game from a plethora of average games is the construction of the game design in terms of theme, soundtrack, and bonus features. 

Impact on Industry

How a game provider influences the iGaming industry can say a lot. Winning an award for innovation or game design can really help a software provider prove itself to its fans!

Company Reputation

How reliable is the software company’s reputation among online gamblers? At Luckyhat, we will only recommend dependable providers who are trusted by the community. 

Safety

All game providers must be licensed by an appropriate major regulatory organization to ensure that you can keep your confidential information private and safely withdraw your winnings within a satisfactory processing period. 

Game Fairness

You may wonder, who makes sure these game providers create fair games? The answer is third-party regulatory organizations.

All games by trustworthy major game providers such as the ones we’ve listed are tested for RNG (Random Number Generator) to ensure that all results are randomized. RTP (Return to Player rate) is also evaluated to give players a frame of probability. 

eCOGRA is a very popular tester by game operators for slot games and other non-live games. GLI (Gaming Labs International) and its subsidiary company, TST (Technical Systems Testing) is the to-go option for live games. 

Of course, there are other testing organizations. You will, however, find most online casinos referencing eCOGRA and GLI/TST. 

Online Casino Software FAQs

Can I Play Online Casino Games For Free?

You can play demo versions of casino games for free! However, you must make a real money deposit to win real money, just like a land-based casino. 

Are Online Casinos Legal In Canada?

As of 2022, Ontario has officially legalized online casinos! For Canadian players outside of Canada, don’t worry. Off-shore online casinos are perfectly safe to play

Which Game Providers Offer The Highest RTP Games?

Currently, Playtech has slot games of over 99% RTP. For the highest payout casinos, check out this page. 

Which Software Format Is The Most Popular?

Instant play is the most popular format right now, as you no longer have to download casino software as past online gamblers have. 

Which Is The Best Casino Software Provider?

It’s difficult to objectively deem one provider as above the others, as each has its advantages and disadvantages. It all comes down to which provider is the best fit for your playing needs! 

What Does RTP Mean?

RTP refers to Return to Player rate, which is the percentage of funds a game “returns to the player”.