Microgaming casinos

In a world where new Internet casinos become available for business every day, it’s hard to know which websites are trustworthy, where you can gamble safely and be certain that the games aren’t rigged to insure you lose money. Fortunately, some software providers for Internet casino gaming have been around for a while and established tested and trustworthy software, mitigating even the least of these concerns. One of the most well respected and established software providers for casino gaming is Microgaming.

The Innovators

In 1994, Microgaming Software Systems Limited foresaw the degree to which the Internet would blow up and become popular and opened up the first online casino in the world. Part of the beauty of their vision is that they recognized the limitations of offshore, riverboat and cruise liner gambling and the lack of regulation over these types of casinos. Microgaming made safe and fair gambling a priority by creating eCOGRA, which stands for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, a company that tests casino software and accredits it as safe to use.

The importance of taking this step cannot be overstated. In the 1990’s in particular, many felt the Internet was a fad and never foresaw the degree to which it would envelop our lives. An online casino was perceived as gimmicky, and people were afraid to make financial transactions over the Internet.

The latter concern is somewhat foolish and misinformed since all credit card transactions require data being sent from a credit reader to a centralized server. In essence all credit card transactions go over the Internet, but in the mid 90’s most people did not realize this fact. By focusing on creating games and casinos that were regulated and accredited as safe to play, Microgaming took the first major steps in developing the online casino industry.

In addition to being the first to develop software for online casino play, Microgaming developed the Mega Moolah pokie, which in 2009 awarded the largest progressive jackpot win online to date at $6.37 million. Winning a progressive jackpot is a rare accomplishment, but the fact that such a large sum could be won serves as the best form of assurance that Microgaming does indeed provide safe and fair games where winning real money on the Internet is not an impossible dream.

The Fortune Lounge Group

One group of casinos to keep in mind is the Fortune Lounge Group of online casino operators. This group uses Microgaming software exclusively, so you know that any time you play at any one of these online casinos, you’re in well-regulated site that exists to provide safe fun for all casino game aficionados. The Fortune Lounge Group is one of the oldest and most well respected online casino operators in the world.

The Fortune Lounge Group includes casinos like 7 Sultans, Platinum Play, Vegas Palms, and Royal Vegas online casinos. These casinos deal in many currencies so you do not have to worry about having to keep up with currency exchange rates in order to make the most of your deposits. All of the casinos in the Fortune Lounge Group also operate within the island of Malta’s jurisdiction, so that, along with the accreditation of eCOGRA and the secure reputation of Microgaming casinos, means there is no mystery as to whether these casinos are well regulated.

You may wonder why regulation is important. Certain casino games have built-in odds. For example, to hit a specific number when playing European roulette (the only kind of roulette you should ever play, incidentally) is a 1 in 36 shot. Casinos pay a win typically at 35 to 1, which means if you put $1 on the number 9, and it hits (a 1 in 36 chance), it pays you $35.

At land-based casinos, the physical action of the roulette wheel provides assurance that the game is legit. With few exceptions, you can count on the fact that hitting a number in roulette involves a 1 in 36 probability. Software, however, can look like anything and yet still give you controlled results. Without regulation, there’s nothing to stop shady casino operators to reduce your chances of hitting that roulette number from 1 in 36 to 1 in 3600, and since software only simulates the behavior of a roulette wheel, without the accreditation rating that eCOGRA provides, online casino gamers will never know.

Popular Microgaming Software

Many games that Microgaming has produced over the years have become massively popular. Games such as the Playboy video pokie draw in newer customers, while classics such as Age of Discovery and Bomber Girls appeal to those who lean more old school.

One of the best aspects of Microgaming software is that you do not have to worry about software compatibility. Although Microgaming provides software that’s compatible with most Windows-based PC’s, tablets, and smart phones, it also provides software for iPhones, iPads, Mac-operated computers, and Android devices. In case you use a less common operating system like Linux, you can still enjoy gaming in a Microgaming casino because this company also devises browser based versions of their games that don’t require downloading or installation and operate on Flash and Java platforms, the types of software that are available for most Internet browsers.

One advantage Microgaming has over some of the newer gaming software providers is its sterling reputation. This gives the company a certain amount of clout that allows them to partner with movie and television studios to provide casinos with specially themed games, such as the Battlestar Galactica pokie it released last year.

Regardless of which online casinos you choose, be certain to look for what type of software they use. If it’s Microgaming, you know you’re in for a safe, fun experience with some of the most sophisticated software on the Web.