NetEnt is a Swedish online casino software developer that specializes in creating visually impressive and revolutionary slots, as well as live table games in HD. With numerous awards over the years, it has been recognized by the industry as a leader in developing cutting-edge digital entertainment and mobile gaming solutions.
Today, NetEnt maintains a global presence, with offices around the world and more than 1,000 employees. The company’s gaming content, available in more than 200 online casinos, is loved by players for its premium-quality graphics, exciting bonus features, and engaging stories. Its slots, in particular, captivate audiences with visually appealing interfaces, excellent 3D effects, and jackpots worth millions.
NetEnt History and Overview
1Founded in 1996
Net Entertainment, as the company was originally named, was founded in Sweden in 1996, when online gaming was still uncharted territory. It was part of Cherry AB, a large gaming and entertainment group that has been active in Sweden’s land-based casino sector since the 1960s. NetEnt created gaming content, but it did not launch its first online casino until 2000. Soon afterward, it began delivering its software to various casino operators.
In 2007, the small Scandinavian development firm became independent from Cherry and was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Since then, it has grown, adding new games to its portfolio and improving its software platform. NetEnt released its first mobile games in 2011, introduced its first Live Casino offering in 2013, and followed with the studio’s first game developed entirely in HTML5. In 2015, the company was renamed NetEnt, and its growth continued. In 2019, it acquired Red Tiger Gaming in a £200 million deal.
2NetEnt’s Licenses and Regulated Markets
When NetEnt first emerged, most countries in Europe and across the world did not regulate online gambling. This changed in the 21st century, and companies in this industry, including the Swedish gaming studio, had to acquire special licenses to operate. In 2005, NetEnt received a gaming license from Malta, while in 2010 it was granted a Category 2 license from Alderney.
The company was one of the first casino software providers to enter the regulated Italian market in 2011 and Denmark in 2012. It also launched operations in Spain on the very day that the local regulator granted licenses in 2015. NetEnt then expanded its operations, receiving licenses from the United Kingdom, New Jersey in the United States, Romania, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Today, it is also present in Bulgaria, Serbia, Mexico, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Colombia, Croatia, and many more jurisdictions.
3Gaming Collection
NetEnt’s collection of games includes hundreds of titles, most of which are slots. Over the years, the studio has developed some of the most entertaining and innovative slots on the Internet, adding 3D graphics, engaging soundtracks, and a host of special features. Today, its video slots can be played on all desktop computers and mobile devices. They are available in multiple languages and can be accessed for free or for real money on the websites of more than 150 online casinos.
Watch NetEnt Slots Gameplay
Along with slot games, the developer also offers operators a full suite of virtual table games, including roulette, blackjack, craps, and poker, plus various versions of video poker. Players can also enjoy a solid selection of live dealer games through NetEnt Live. These games follow standard rules and are hosted by professional, friendly dealers. Compared with the live options from other gaming studios, NetEnt’s live games feature fantastic graphics, no lag, and a clear overview of all tables and their betting limits.
NetEnt’s Software and Features
Transition to HTML5 Games
NetEnt CasinoModule
NetEnt Connect
NetEnt TouchTransition to HTML5 Games
NetEnt was one of the first software developers to create browser-based games in Java and Flash, but it eventually transitioned to newer technologies such as HTML5. This shift allowed the studio to create games with enhanced graphics and sound and seamless integration across desktop and mobile platforms. Browser compatibility is no longer an issue. In 2017, the company announced that it had converted most of its pre-2014 games to HTML5.
NetEnt CasinoModule
CasinoModule has been NetEnt’s core product since the early 2000s, and through it the studio offers not only a large portfolio of browser-based games but also useful administration tools for operators. It is a complete gaming platform that can be easily integrated with casino websites and provides an extensive back-office solution for operators. They can quickly track player activity, review statistics, and monitor casino performance over time.
The company also added a marketing and gamification tool called NetEnt Engage, which includes a wide range of in-game features such as Autoplay, dynamic coin settings, and quick deposits on mobile. The tool additionally offers NetEnt’s Free Round Widget, which is fully customizable and enables various special features and player-triggered free spins.
NetEnt Connect
In 2019, the Swedish casino software provider launched its new aggregation platform, NetEnt Connect. The platform allows content from other studios to be integrated, starting with Red Tiger. In 2020, the company added games from suppliers outside the NetEnt Group, including Games Inc., Gluck Gamevy, and Scout Gaming Group.
NetEnt Touch
NetEnt is considered one of the pioneers of mobile game development. Its mobile offering, known as NetEnt Touch, debuted in 2011 with several iOS games, including Gonzo’s Quest, Jack Hammer, and Blackjack. The company later expanded the collection by adding more titles and making them available on Android devices as well.
Today, many of NetEnt’s most popular slots and table games are mobile-friendly, maintaining the quality and speed of their desktop counterparts while being fully responsive and perfectly optimized for handheld devices. In 2013, the studio released Mega Fortune Touch, giving mobile players a chance to win one of three progressive Mega Fortune jackpots.
Types of Slots by NetEnt
Video Slots
Branded Slots
Record-Breaking JackpotsVideo Slots
NetEnt’s largest category is its slot portfolio, which includes both classic and video titles. The studio focuses heavily on creating visually stunning and feature-rich video slots. These games boast impressive sound quality, crystal-clear graphics, and vibrant 3D animations that bring their characters to life. Nearly all of them combine free spins and wild symbols, enhancing the big-win potential of NetEnt’s video slots.
Branded Slots
Over the years, NetEnt has partnered with various entertainment companies to bring casino players exciting titles from film and TV. The provider’s first branded video slot was Scarface, created in partnership with Universal Studios. It was followed by Frankenstein and Creature from the Black Lagoon, but one of the most noteworthy additions to the branded lineup is the Rock Tour Series. This series includes popular slots such as Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix, and Motorhead. Other hit titles include Jumanji, Planet of the Apes, and Emoji Planet.
Record-Breaking Jackpots
Players love NetEnt not only for its engaging games but also for its record-breaking progressive jackpots. More than 150 online casinos participate in the studio’s pooled jackpot network, which features four flagship titles: Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, and Mega Fortune Dreams.
Mega Fortune has set multiple world records, the most notable being a €17.86 million win in January 2013. That payout earned the game a place in Guinness World Records for the largest online progressive jackpot at the time. Other progressive slots by NetEnt include Cosmic Fortune, Icy Wonders, Geisha Wonders, Tiki Wonders, and Mega Joker.
Popular Slots by NetEnt
Hall of Gods
Aloha! Cluster Pays
Jumanji
Narcos
Planet of the Apes
Gonzo’s Quest
Twin Spin
Dead or Alive 2Hall of Gods
Inspired by Viking mythology, Hall of Gods is one of NetEnt’s most popular progressive slots. Released in 2010, it remains among the studio’s most entertaining games. It features 5 reels and 20 always-active paylines; players can choose from five bet levels and several coin denominations. The Midgard Serpent acts as an expanding wild, while Odin’s ravens serve as scatters, and landing three or more of them anywhere triggers 10 to 20 free spins.
The most intriguing special feature is the Bonus Game, which unlocks the progressive jackpots. To activate it, players must land three Thor’s hammers; when this happens, the reels are replaced with 15 shields. Players then break the shields until three matching rewards appear, which can award a coin prize or one of three jackpots: Mini, Midi, or Mega. Hall of Gods is a low to medium volatility slot with an RTP of 95.3%, which can soar well above 100% when the Mega Jackpot is high.
Aloha! Cluster Pays
This brightly designed video slot features a playful Hawaiian theme and an unconventional layout with 6 reels and 5 rows. Its vibrant graphics are paired with a unique payout mechanic called Cluster Pays. Unlike standard slots, symbols do not need to appear on fixed paylines; instead, a cluster of 9 or more identical symbols connected horizontally or vertically creates a win.
The game also includes a Substitute Symbol, which acts as a wild, and a Free Spins symbol represented by a postage stamp. When 3 or more stamps land, they award 9 or more free spins, which can be retriggered. Stacked symbols may appear during the Sticky Win Re-Spins, a feature that can be randomly activated after a cluster win. As a low-volatility slot, Aloha! Cluster Pays offers frequent payouts and carries an RTP of 96.42%.
Jumanji
Launched in 2018, Jumanji is a stunning, action-packed video slot based on the original 1995 movie starring Robin Williams. The slot was designed to resemble the perilous board game from the story, featuring a distinctive diamond-shaped reel grid. It is played with 36 fixed bet lines, up to 10 bet levels, and multiple coin sizes. The game includes wild and scatter symbols as well as numerous special features.
Some of these features trigger randomly during the base game, including Sticky Vines re-spins, Monsoon Wilds, in which 1 or 2 reels become fully covered by wilds, and Monkey Mayhem, which rearranges the symbols. Wild Stampede adds 4 to 9 additional wilds to the reels. Landing 3 or more scatters activates the Board Game bonus, where players roll a six-sided die up to eight times. Each roll can award one of the special features, namely four types of free spins or the Mystery Feature.
Narcos
Based on the hugely popular Netflix series, Narcos became an instant hit with casino players when it launched in 2019. It employs a standard 5×3 reel layout but, instead of fixed paylines, it uses an exciting 243 ways to win system. To secure a payout, players must land 3 or more identical symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost one.
The theme and 243 ways to win mechanic are not the slot’s only attractions. NetEnt’s Narcos also entices players with its Walking Wilds – wilds that stay on the reels after contributing to a win. With each subsequent spin, they move one position to the left until they disappear. The Drive-by Feature can trigger randomly in the base game, turning some high-value symbols into wilds. The game also offers a Free Spins feature and a Locked Up feature.
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes is one of NetEnt’s most popular branded slots. Based on both Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, it was released in 2017 in partnership with 20th Century Fox. The game is played with 5 reels and 20 paylines but has a unique design: two separate reel sets, the Rise reels and the Dawn reels. Each set has its own wild and scatter symbols and showcases characters from its respective film.
The slot is particularly engaging thanks to its Dual Feature and the Stacked Wild feature. If a full stack of wilds lands on a Rise reel, it is duplicated on the corresponding Dawn reel. In both sets, landing 3 or more scatters activates a Free Spins feature. During Rise Free Spins, players receive 10 spins, and all wilds collected during the feature are randomly placed on the reels for the final spin. Dawn Free Spins start with 15 spins during which players collect symbols to fill three meters: Multiplier, Extra Wild, and Extra Free Spins. Additionally, there are Rise and Dawn Bonus Features.
Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest is arguably NetEnt’s most popular video slot, though its theme was considered controversial by some when it launched in 2011. It follows a cheerful Spanish explorer who reaches the Peruvian coast, steals a treasure map, and searches for the lost city of gold, Eldorado. The character was based on a historic figure, Gonzalo Pizarro, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador and the brother of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire.
The slot itself is lighthearted and features vivid graphics and animations along with the Avalanche feature. Also known as cascading reels, this mechanic makes gameplay more dynamic: when a winning combination appears, the symbols explode and are replaced by new ones, potentially creating additional wins and another Avalanche. The slot also includes a wild and a Free Spins feature called Free Fall, which can apply multipliers of up to 15x.
Twin Spin
Another unique and extremely popular video slot from NetEnt is Twin Spin, which offers 5 standard reels and 243 ways to win. The game blends a classic Vegas theme with modern video slot technology to deliver an engaging experience. Players can adjust their stake by selecting a bet level (1–10) and coin denomination; each bet level costs 25 coins.
There are no scatters or bonus games. The slot does feature a wild symbol that substitutes for all other symbols, except it does not appear on reel 1. The standout mechanic is the Twin Reel Feature, where two or more reels can become identical on any spin, potentially boosting the winning chances. This happens randomly and may not always yield rewards. The slot has medium to high volatility and an RTP of 96.55%.
Dead or Alive 2
This sequel to one of NetEnt’s most popular games, Dead or Alive, maintains the Western theme. Although it is a relatively simple game with 5 reels and only 9 paylines, it features impressive graphics and animations. Additionally, Dead or Alive 2 includes five different wilds, a scatter symbol, and three varieties of free spins.
Landing 3 or more scatters anywhere on the reels awards 12 initial free spins and lets players choose from 3 modes: Old Saloon Free Spins, where all wins are doubled; High Noon Free Spins, where any 2 wilds landing on the reels transform into Double Multiplier Wilds; and Train Heist Free Spins, where multipliers can reach up to 16x. Each mode can retrigger more free spins. The slot is highly volatile, so it can deliver huge payouts, and its RTP is a solid 96.82%.