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Online casino software

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Checked by Lorella F.Paul P.

Looking for the best online casino software in the US to power up your favorite games? Time2play users and experts rate the top casino software providers to help you pick the gambling software that works best for you.

What are the best software providers?

On this page we list a selection of the best casino software options available in the US market. We categorize them below, so we highlight the best depending on your preferred mode of play.

Best casino software all-rounders

Sg Digital logo

SG Digital

A massive gaming corporation centred in Las Vegas and employing nearly 10,000 people worldwide, SG started off making pinball machines back in 1932. They deliver a massive selection of slot and table games, both in the US and abroad, and have even been instrumental in the digitalization of lottery games in Pennsylvania. Its subsidiaries include WMS, one of the US’s most popular slot providers, and SHFL, one of the most popular for table.

Evolution logo

Evolution

Evolution Gaming is one of the biggest associations worldwide, owning NetEnt, Ezugi, and other big names such as Big Time Gaming, the creators of the Megaways mechanic. The original studio, Evolution, is the biggest live casino software provider in the world, and its quality and presence are unmatched in the US, both at real money sites and sweeps cash casinos.

Netent logo

NetEnt

Despite being one of the most widespread casino software providers for table games in the US, NetEnt are more known for their impressive slots library, which includes huge names such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Butterfly Staxx, and Divine Fortune.

IGT logo

IGT

Although most known for their slots, they do table games too. Da Vinci Diamonds is one of the top-performing slots of all time, and IGT’s also known for adapting some top land-based games with online gambling software. Their MegaJackpots series of progressive games is huge with US operators.

Playtech logo

Playtech

With 170 global licenses, it’s no surprise that this titan offers it all. While Playtech’s US presence is primarily slots-focused at writing time, they’re a huge, award-winning studio with tons to offer, both now and going forward.

4ThePlayer

4ThePlayer

A smaller studio who are brand new to the US, they’re an innovative bunch who are racking up awards. Their impressive mechanics, notably DUAL SPIN and PLUS+WAYS, add a whole new set of options for winning on slots.They’ve already got the Outperforming Small Game Studio of the Year from the CasinoBeats Game Dev awards, and they won a Slot Innovation award at EGR’s 2022 ceremony. 

Best casino slot software providers

Netent

NetEnt

We have yet to come across a legal, state-licensed casino that doesn’t run NetEnt slots. They’re everywhere, and for good reason. Divine fortune is one of the most popular progressive jackpot games in the US, but you should also look out for their famously high-RTP% Blood Suckers, and their acclaimed branded slots, such as Guns N’ Roses and Vikings.

igt-logo

IGT

In the slots world, IGT’s made its name bringing popular casino-floor games to the online world. One such example is the Cleopatra online slot, which has proved internationally popular. IGT is also known for its MegaJackpots series; slot games which share progressive jackpots across different games, and sometimes even different casinos, resulting in some impressive jackpot numbers. The Cleopatra slot has a MegaJackpots version which can be played at US casinos.

high-5-games-logo

High 5 Games

H5G are slots specialists, providing slot machine software for both online and land-based games. They grew to be iGaming’s largest independent slot provider, and have 300+ games in 50+ countries. H5G is most famous for creating big-name slots for IGT, including Golden Goddess and the iconic Da Vinci Diamonds. Some of their own popular slots include Thundering Buffalo and Art of the Steal.

playtech-logo

Playtech

Playtech are still keeping a low profile in the US, but you can find their slots at licensed casinos like Borgata, BetMGM and Party casino. Our recommendation: Buffalo Blitz. We fully expect them to keep expanding in the US — they’re too huge not to.

wms-logo

WMS

One of SG Digital’s subsidiaries, WMS also started out making pinball machines in the first half of the 20th century. They’re particularly known for the Zeus title, having adapted that popular land-based game to the online world. They’ve also released titles such as Kronos, Lady of Egypt, and Monopoly Mega Movers.

Top casino software for table games

shfl-entertainment-logo

SHFL

A subsidiary of SG Digital, SHFL make casino software for both slots and table games. Their table library is one of the larger ones being stocked by US casinos, and is primarily focused on poker games. They’ve got titles like 3 Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, and Fortune Pai Go Poker, but they’ve also got titles such as Blackjack Blazing 7’s and a baccarat-style game called Casino War which is popular with US operated casinos.

Netent

NetEnt

It’s no surprise that NetEnt are here again too. Their table games are just as widespread as their slots, and if you spy an operator offering table games from just one source, it’s a safe bet that it’s NetEnt. Their American Roulette title is particularly popular, but they also do classic Blackjack and Baccarat titles, plus Casino Hold ‘em poker.

Evolution

Evolution

Mostly known for their live dealer games. However, most Evolution titles are available as both RNG and live titles, with a ‘Go Live’ button present in the RNG versions, ready to take players to the real time tables. Popular titles: First Person Baccarat, Lightning Auto Roulette.

igt-logo

IGT

It’s common for table game libraries to be smaller than slot libraries, and that holds true here. IGT’s table offering isn’t particularly huge, but it’s almost as widespread as NetEnt’s so you can find these titles almost anywhere. They offer 3 Card Stud poker, alongside other games simply titled Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette. They have other versions of blackjack too, such as Multibet and Poker & Pairs.

Best live casino software options

Evolution

Evolution

Evolution is the live casino provider in the US.  It is the biggest live casino provider in the world, and its quality and presence are unmatched in the US. If you spot a live casino at a state-licensed operator, it’s almost definitely Evolution. They offer all kinds of card and table games, and you’re most likely to see blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker.

Ezugi

Ezugi

A subsidiary of Evolution which can be found at certain US casinos such as Borgata and BetMGM. They’re not as big as Evolution, but through their affiliation with Evolution, you can be assured a certain level of quality. Much like Evolution, they cover variants of blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker.

What makes them the best casino softwares?

There’s a fair number of factors to consider when picking the best. At the very least, they need to be strong offerings that have withstood the test of the iGaming market, and reached a certain size. 

We will never shy away from recommending a small provider that’s doing a great job, but let’s be honest — it’s hard to make the best casino software list if you’re new on the block, and have about 5 games which can only be played in 2 or 3 casinos. 

Every name on this list has been around for years, (with SG slowly closing in on 100), and have consistently released top-quality products for as long as they’ve been in the online casino software game. Admittedly, SG’s been creating that kind of product for significantly less than 100 years, since, well, you know…

Apart from their establishment and product quality, we consider things like their games’ safety and reputation, mobile compatibility, how often they put out new games, etc. A more comprehensive list:

Icon Juegos De Mesa

Games

Games are the quintessential part of what software providers do. If their casino games aren’t great, how can an overall gambling software be? We first look at things like quantity and range. Do they have 20, or 300? Do they stick to slots, or branch out into other departments like table games online too? If they do specialize in one vertical, do they make sure their games are different enough, in theme, volatility etc. Is the house edge any smaller than other providers’, or do they have games with particularly high RTP? These are all questions to ask when picking the best.

New Casino

Audiovisuals

Good graphics and sound effects are less important than creating a good game. Nevertheless, it’s only fair to expect good effort from the best casino software guys out there. Whether it’s BetSoft’s trademark 3D or the simple elegance of NetEnt’s Starburst, there’s a benchmark you have to reach. Live casino providers should be streaming in UHD too.

Load speed

There isn’t much to say about this, but it is important. When you want to start up a game, you don’t want to wait around, and with the best gambling software, you usually don’t. Heavy load speeds are usually a sign that something can be better-optimized. If you download casino software, it’s a longer set-up, but is sometimes faster in the long run.

mobile-device

Mobile interface quality

First question to ask is; how many of their games work in mobile casinos? If that’s satisfactory, consider how well they work on mobile, and whether the specific casino software has anything special about its mobile offering. For example, NetEnt has its NetEnt Touch series, which offers the same great games, but makes everything a little smoother for mobile. The one major change here is that the buttons for selecting your wagers and betting are much bigger, to mitigate fat-fingering on small screens.

Widespread Issue

Availability

As we’ve said, you can offer really good games, but you can’t compete with a whole market if you’re only playable in 2-3 casinos. All these providers are hugely available worldwide, and even though some of them aren’t super-widespread in the US yet, it’s only a matter of time Pragmatic Play casinos are a clear example — they’re widely popular in Europe, but are still growing in the US.

Safety

The more markets you’re licensed in, the more auditors you’ve got testing your games for safety. If a piece of online casino software is running smoothly in lots of different countries, it’s a good sign. Reputation is worth looking out for too, having something to protect is a good incentive. If players rate a software highly and it’s a regular winner at iGaming awards such as EGR, it’s a safe bet that it’s more trustworthy. Playtech, Evolution Group, SG, IGT etc are no strangers to awards. And finally, do they offer a responsible gambling platform? Always make sue to gamble responsibly, by setting limits and using tools provided on the responsible gambling platform.

Information

Transparency

This tends to be more applicable to slot machine software than to live casino, but some points are still generally applicable. Essentially, what to look out for is detail and clearness. How detailed are their online slots library and their game instructions, how specific are the paytables they show, how clear are they about the game’s volatility and return, etc.

Best

New stuff

Some of NetEnt’s biggest titles, such as Dead or Alive and Divine Fortune, were made years ago. Same goes for IGT’s Da Vinci Diamonds, which is over 10 years old at this point. Yet neither of these casino software providers have seen fit to rest on their laurels, and both are constantly churning out new titles. Constant novelty shows ambition and commitment to player experience, which are traits we value highly at Time2play.

bonus-gift-box

Bonuses

We know. Online casino bonuses for software providers — how does that make sense? Well, hear us out. Some games are more bonus-y than others, and they usually tend to come from top studios. Loads of casinos used to offer free spins bonuses for Starburst, and we’re seeing games by NetEnt and SG be used more and more for that in the US. (At the time of writing, BetMGM offers free spins on Gonzo’s Quest, and Borgata on 88 Fortunes. Unibet even runs a live casino games cash booster every week, which indirectly boosts the offering of its chosen live online gaming software, Evolution).

Top picks from top providers

To help you along your way, our Time2play experts have put together their personal pick of the top games from some of these providers. If you want to experience what playing on the best online casino software feels like, this list is a great place to begin.

We tie that together by telling you where you can play them too — such as NetEnt casinos, otherwise, what’s the point?

Software providerTop pickWhere to play
Divine FortuneBetRivers casino
Da Vinci DiamondsPartyCasino
5 TreasuresResorts casino
Triple Da Vinci DiamondsHarrah’s casino
Buffalo BlitzBetMGM Casino
American RouletteBorgata casino
Live blackjackCaesars casino

More software providers

Our full list of software providers is being expanded and updated regularly, and includes all the casino providers we’ve encountered in the US so far.

  • 1x2-gaming-logo
    1X2 Gaming
  • 888 Holdings PLC
    888 Holdings
  • ags-logo
    AGS
  • ainsworth-logo
    Ainsworth
  • amaya-logo
    Amaya
  • aristocrat-logo
    Aristocrat
  • aruze-gaming-logo
    Aruze
  • ash-gaming-logo
    Ash Gaming

The USA’s best software casinos

Okay, so you’ve met the best folks in the casino software game. Where do you go to play their top titles? We’ve drummed up a list of the best US spots for software according to our online casino reviews.

We’ve also labelled them with our highlights, so whether you’re looking for the best software for a slot machine, a live game, or just want the biggest range of choices, you’ve got a clear place to go.

Casino Logo Odds rating Bonus Go to casino Button Show more T&C
1
BetMGM casino review
88/100 Software rating by Ian Z. 91% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
Play now

Good to know

  • 21+ providers
  • Evolution and Ezugi live
  • Exclusive games

14 payment methods

PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express
PayNearMe
Cash at Casino Cage
Bank Transfer
Skrill
TAPPP
GAME ON
Apple Pay
2
SugarHouse review
87/100 Software rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on 100% match bonus up to $250
Play now

Good to know

  • 28 providers
  • Exclusive software
  • Evolution live casino

11 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
VIP Preferred
PayNearMe
VanillaDirect
Discover
Wire Transfer
Cash at Casino Cage
Venmo
3
Borgata review
86/100 Software rating by Ian Z. 92% Playscore based on $20 Bonus Dollars + 100% up to $1,000
Play now

Good to know

  • 20+ providers
  • Dedicated ‘new’ section
  • Brought Playtech to NJ

13 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
Skrill
Apple Pay
PayNearMe
American Express
VIP Preferred
Discover
Bank Transfer
Cash at Casino Cage
e-Check
4
PartyCasino review
84/100 Software rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on 200% up to $100 + 25 free spins
Play now

Good to know

  • Safe and secure payments
  • 500+ slots
  • Unique roulette variants

14 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
Skrill
Apple Pay
VIP Preferred
PayNearMe
American Express
Discover
Wire Transfer
Bank Transfer
Check
Cash at Casino Cage
5
Resorts review
83/100 Software rating by Lorella F. 84% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000
Play now

Good to know

  • 20+ providers
  • 40+ table games
  • Live table games

9 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
VIP Preferred
PayNearMe
ACH Network
Cash at Casino Cage
Bank Transfer
6
PlayStar casino review logo
PlayStar review
82/100 Software rating by Charlie S. 82% Playscore based on 100% Deposit Match up to $500 + 500 Free Spins
Play now

Good to know

  • Two-part welcome deal
  • Five-tier Playstar Club
  • Smooth mobile apps

7 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
Play+
e-Check
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Cash at Casino Cage
7
Mohegan Sun review
81/100 Software rating by Lorella F. 85% Playscore based on 100% up to $1,000
Play now

Good to know

  • Email, live chat, phone support
  • iOS and Android apps
  • Over 790 slot games

9 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
PayNearMe
VIP Preferred
ACH Network
Bank Transfer
Cash at Casino Cage
8
Stardust casino logo
Stardust review
77/100 Software rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on $25 free + up to $500 in deposit bonuses
Play now

Good to know

  • Quick withdrawals
  • Huge game variety
  • Plenty of promos

9 payment methods

Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
Play+
PayNearMe
VIP Preferred
Cash at Casino Cage
Venmo
Bank Transfer

Casino software: the finer points

This section covers some of the important details for those interested in online casino software — its contribution to the online gambling industry, its safety and a breakdown of the different types of gambling software.

Why is software so important? The lowdown

Back in the early days of online gambling, many operators ran on casino software they produced themselves. This made it very difficult to have a set standard of what quality players should expect, and made it difficult to trust casinos. It also meant that many great games would be restricted to one casino.

The rise of third-party casino software providers made it possible to spread player favorites around the internet, and allowed brands to build on their successes, returning to their winning formulas with bigger audiences, and bigger budgets.

Most importantly, makers of gambling software started to build reputations as good, honest studios whose games are tested and recognized as fair. This means when you see a range of the best software for casinos on offer at an operator, you know they’re investing in popular, safe and good-quality games.

People looking at casino games on mobile screen
  • Download software: can be a little faster depending on your computer’s specs, but is often incompatible with Mac OS.
  • Instant play: the default these days. Most casino games run in-browser on HTML5, and all you need to do to play is login and deposit.
  • Mobile: getting more accessible with time. Native apps for Android and iOS are the default now, and Google is slowly letting gambling apps into its Play Store, ending the era of direct downloads.
  • Live : the most complex. It requires training dealers, and acquiring dedicated space and equipment to create the brick-and-mortar feel. Streamed from studios, or in the best cases, from the casino floor.

Types of gambling software

While your gameplay experience should be largely similar across different platforms, gambling software providers have to think about all areas, and optimize their games for each. We list down the key areas for your convenience.

Software and safety: good signs and blacklists

Whether it’s a simple slot software provider or a full casino software solutions company —the type that helps operators build up a full online casino from scratch — we don’t think it’s wise to trust everyone on their word alone. There are casino software developers who cater to the black market of online casino platforms, where they can increase their revenue in less-than-legit ways.

We recommend checking your state’s directory of legally approved casinos and putting your trust in game providers who have been pre-tested and pre-approved for you by legal entities. Stay away from any site that has shady practices, such as allowing underage gambling. The legal age for gambling in most states is 21, though that can change according to state law.

If you’ve got anything to say about particular providers or internet casino software safety in general, sign up to Time2play now and leave a review!

  • Linked to trusted, state-approved casinos
  • Seals of trust from internationally recognized boards
  • Audited by eCOGRA
  • Publicly listed and traded — always a good sign of a legit and safe company
Playing Real Money At New Online Casinos

Casino software in the US: history, future, fun facts

Since being properly legalized in 2013, the casino industry and its associated online gambling software offering have grown steadily in the US. However, we’re still trailing behind other markets, especially in Europe, where many casino offerings are bigger and better, and some of the best and brightest names in casino gaming software are yet to make their way over to our side of the Atlantic.

Play N’ Go, Yggdrasil and Microgaming casinos are three top online gambling software providers that we can’t access at approved casinos yet. Yggdrasil is known as great slot game developers who fill their products with excellent graphics, and Microgaming is one of the oldest and largest casino providers worldwide; in fact, they claim to be the oldest, having launched in 1994. 

We’ve put together a list of some significant dates relating to online casino software in the US:

Realtime Gaming Timeline Logo

1998

RealTime Gaming launches and remains a stalwart in the US market, even after 2006’s decimation of the US online gambling scene.

Uigea Operator Shutdown

2006

US Congress passes UIGEA, limiting the ability of online casinos to operate in the US, and forcing most top computer casino game software providers to focus their efforts on the European market.

Nj Legalizes Online Gambling

2013

New Jersey gambling becomes legal, making NJ the first state to properly legalize online gambling, paving the way for many Europe-based operators to become part of the list of available New Jersey casinos. 888Casino, with its exclusive software, is among the original seven online casinos to launch in NJ.

Netent Launches In Nj

2015

NetEnt launches its first games in New Jersey, following up with PA, then  WV in 2020.

sg-digital-logo

2018

Scientific Games acquires NYX group and rebrands as SG digital, wins Best Casino Platform Supplier at EGR North America awards later that year.

Evolution Live Casino Launches In Us

2018

Evolution launches its first live US live casino, before joining the list of PA online casinos.

Igt Launches Wide Area Progressives

2018

IGT launches the first ‘Wide Area Progressive’ — a progressive jackpot shared across 4 different online casinos (Caesar’s, Hard Rock, Mohegan Sun and Resorts).

playtech-logo

2020

Playtech rolls out its software at three US casinos under the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa license: BetMGM, Borgata and Party casino.

Michigan Legalizes Online Gambling

2021

Michigan legalizes online gambling, and NetEnt launches at multiple casinos on the first day.

Evolution

2021

Evolution expands live casino operations to Michigan, its 3rd US state.

This is hardly a complete record of US casino software history, but it lists down some of the most significant moments, and some of the ones we find most interesting.

Now, Nostradamus doesn’t work for us, and that makes predicting the future hard. Fortunately, we can make educated guesses based on available data, and looking at computer software for casino games, there’s one prominent point of interest that we can’t ignore. Fortunately, it’s an exciting one — virtual casinos.

With companies like XR casino making investment forays into new tech and the continual explosion of AR and VR games outside online gambling sites (think Pokemon Go and Beat Saber), we don’t think it’ll be an eternity before we start seeing them really start to take hold.

FAQs

Who are the best casino software providers in the USA?

It really depends on what you’re looking for, but our best software providers list picks top names for a number of reasons, including their prominence and availability in the US market, the quality of their games and graphics, their safety, and the player-friendliness of their games. Some favorites include NetEnt, SG Digital and IGT.

What kind of software do casinos use?

All regulated casinos use Random Number Generation software (RNG), which ensures fair and random outcomes, not influenced by past results. The specifics vary from game to game, and some minor points, such as visuals, can be different on the same game if it’s optimized for different platforms.

Do you have to download casino software to play online in the US?

No. While this used to be the norm, most gaming softwares now work directly in-browser, and don’t need to be downloaded. Even on mobile, browser play is perfectly viable, though in that case, we do prefer native apps. You can learn more about different types of casino software in our dedicated section.

Are online casino software developers all safe?

If you’re playing at a regulated casino that has seals of trust from state licensors on it, you’re in good hands. However, not all casino gaming companies are equally reputable. There are some clear positive signs to watch out for that can mark an online casino games developer as a good one.

Do casino software developers have their own online casinos?

Some do, but not all. NetEnt is one. It’s more common for casinos to have their own exclusive casino website software, but that’s still something pretty special to see. If you do want to play casino games with the best software, you can jump to our list of best casinos by software.

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