NetEnt

NetEnt is a pioneer and one of the major players in the online gaming market, which is still dominated by just a handful of big game providers such as Playtech and Microgaming. Upcoming smaller studios are eating into the market share, but NetEnt has been holding on to approximately 15% of the global market and about 30% of the European market of all online gaming transactions. With a 200+ strong catalogue of video slots and table games as well as NetEnt Live, their live casino segment, they are listed virtually at every reputable online casino. Anyone who registered an account with an operator will probably have played at least once a NetEnt game.

It all started in 1996 with a small studio in Stockholm, Sweden when the internet age was still in its early days and connections were running through a phone line. Foreseeing the future, the team around founder Pontus Lindwall started early to develop online casino games and were the first to build their software based on Java, which later became the standard for all online casino games. That only changed in 2013, when the new HTML5 format made its appearance to cater for mobile applications. All games from NetEnt have been designed since to the new standard, making them easily accessible on any desktop or mobile device across all OS platforms.

Today, the HQ is still in Stockholm, but the company has branched out to various countries including Malta and the USA, to cater for the rapid growth in online gaming and is employing more than 1,000 people. In 2009, the company was publicly listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Their core strategy has been from day one to offer their games only in regulated markets. This meant that players in countries such as France, Spain, Denmark or Italy had to wait for a long time before they were able to play NetEnt games online as the company was expanding into their market only after obtaining the proper licenses. Other countries like Canada were added in 2018 only. They made however, the first inroads into the US market as more states are legalising online gaming. They currently hold licenses for the states of New Jersey and Las Vegas.

Unbeknownst to many, NetEnt even operated online casinos in the early days but spun off that business segment in 2007 to focus on their core activity, developing online casino software and games. One of their most successful slots, Gonzo’s Quest, was released in 2010, followed by the first mobile games in 2011. Only two years later, they launched their own Live Casino segment, NetEnt Live, offering online live dealer games streamed directly from their studios.

Over the years, NetEnt released some epic slots that are today absolute player favourites. Dead or Alive, Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Rock slots trio – Jimi Hendrix, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Motorhead – and more recently Lost Relics, Jumanji and Vikings. Not to forget Starburst, the all-time most played online slot. Last but not least are their progressive jackpot slots such as Mega Fortune or Hall of Gods, which have produced dozens of millionaires since their release.

Overall, the design team aims to produce a healthy mixture of low, medium and high volatility games that appeal to a wide audience. After all, online gaming is attracting people of all ages and backgrounds, each with its own preference. Their creations are all state-of-the-art games with high-quality graphics, engaging game play and entertaining features.

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