Microgaming history: From first online casino to industry leader

Microgaming history: From first online casino to industry leader

1. Starting the journey and creating the first online casino

Microgaming was founded in 1994 on the Isle of Man. It was this company that was the first in the world to introduce a fully functioning online casino operating over the Internet. With the global network just beginning to gain popularity, Microgaming managed to create a basic platform for online gambling by combining payment mechanisms, a player interface and a library of games.

This step is considered the birth of the iGaming industry: it was Microgaming that proved that gambling can exist outside the ground halls.

2. Slot introduction and first innovations

In the mid-1990s, the company actively developed games for online casinos. The first products were simple video slots and basic board games. Key features of early Microgaming solutions:
  • Support for multiple currencies and payment methods.
  • Simple interfaces designed for low Internet speeds.
  • First steps towards integrity certification.

3. Progressive jackpots and Mega Moolah

In the early 2000s, Microgaming took the decisive step of introducing online progressive jackpots. In 2006, the Mega Moolah slot was introduced, which became a real legend:
  • It set world records for payments in excess of tens of millions of dollars.
  • In 2015, a player in the UK won more than €17 million, which entered the Guinness Book of Records.
  • Mega Moolah has secured Microgaming's status as the leader in the jackpot industry.

4. Development of technological solutions

Microgaming was not limited to slots. The company has innovated for decades:
  • 2000s: the transition of games to the Viper platform, which provided smoother gameplay.
  • 2010s: launching games for mobile devices, even before smartphones began to dominate the market.
  • eCOGRA system. Microgaming became one of the founders of an independent organization that certifies the honesty and safety of online casinos.
  • VR experiments. The company tried to introduce virtual reality into slot machines.

5. Partnerships and expansion

Microgaming actively collaborated with the largest casino operators in Europe, Asia and Australia.
In the 2010s, the company launched Quickfire, a platform for third-party studios, which expanded the library to include games from independent developers.
Hundreds of slots have appeared in her portfolio, including * Immortal Romance, Thunderstruck II, Jurassic Park, Game of Thrones *.

6. Modern stage

Today Microgaming:
  • Provides a network of progressive jackpots with the largest payouts in iGaming history.
  • It operates in dozens of jurisdictions around the world, including licenses on the Isle of Man, in the UK, in Malta and other regions.
  • Supports thousands of online casinos and hundreds of independent studios.
  • It has a library of more than 800 games (slots, poker, roulette, blackjack, live products).

7. Significance to the industry

Pioneering. Microgaming stood at the origins of online gambling.
Innovation. The company was the first to introduce progressive jackpots, mobile games, network solutions.
Reputation. The brand is associated with honesty, scale and stability.
Influence. Many modern providers built their products inspired by Microgaming developments.

Result

The history of Microgaming is the history of the entire online gambling industry. From the first casino in 1994 to Mega Moolah's record-breaking jackpots and thousands of slots, the company has gone from innovator to standard-setter. Today, Microgaming remains one of the most recognizable brands, confirming its status as an industry leader with a global reputation.