NetEnt is a Swedish online casino software developer that specializes in the creation of visually impressive, revolutionary slots, and live table games in HD. With numerous awards over the years, it has been recognized by the industry as a leader in the development of cutting-edge digital entertainment and mobile gaming solutions.
Today, NetEnt has a global presence with multiple offices around the world where it employs more than 1,000 people. The company’s gaming content, available in more than 200 online casinos, is well-loved by players for delivering premium quality graphics, exciting bonus features, and fantastic stories. Its slots, in particular, are captivating the audiences with their visually attractive interface, excellent 3D effects, and huge jackpots worth millions.
NetEnt History and Overview
1Founded in 1996
Net Entertainment, as the company was originally named, was founded in Sweden back in 1996 when online gaming was still unchartered territory. It was part of Cherry AB, a large gaming and entertainment group that has been in Sweden’s land-based casino business since the 1960s. NetEnt created gaming content but it did not launch its first online casino until 2000. Soon, it started delivering its software to various casino operators.
In 2007, the small development firm from Scandinavia became independent from Cherry and was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Since then, it grew, adding new games to its portfolio and improving its software platform. The first mobile games by Net Entertainment were released in 2011, while the first Live Casino offering was launched in 2013, followed by the studio’s first game developed entirely in HTML5. In 2015, the company was renamed to NetEnt, continuing its growth – 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 in Denmark in 2012. It also launched operations in Spain on the very day the local regulator granted licenses in 2015. NetEnt then expanded its operations, receiving licenses from the UK, New Jersey in the US, Romania, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Today, it is also present in Bulgaria, Serbia, Mexico, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Columbia, Croatia, and more.
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, amazing soundtracks, and tons 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 real money on the websites of over 150 online casinos.
Watch NetEnt Slots Gameplay
Along with the slot games, however, the developer also offers operators a full suite of virtual table games, including roulette, blackjack, craps, and poker plus different variations of video poker. Players can also enjoy a nice selection of live dealer games through NetEnt Live. The games follow the standard rules and are hosted by professional, friendly dealers. Compared to the live options from other gaming studios, NetEnt’s live games come with fantastic graphics, no lagging, and a good 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 among the first software developers to create browser-based games in Java and Flash but gradually, it transitioned to more modern technologies such as HTML5. This way it could develop games with much better graphics and sounds, easier integration with different desktop and mobile platforms. The compatibility with web browsers is also no longer an issue. In 2017, the company announced that it had converted most games released before 2014 to HTML5.
NetEnt CasinoModule
CasinoModule is NetEnt’s core product since the early 2000s and through it, the studio offers not only a huge number of browser-based games but also useful administration tools for operators. This is a complete gaming platform that can be easily integrated with casino websites, offering an extensive back-office solution to operators. They can easily track player activity, access statistics, and see their casino performance over time.
The company has also added a marketing and gamification tool called NetEnt Engage, which includes a large collection of in-game features such as Autoplay, dynamic coin settings, and quick deposit on mobile. The tool also offers NetEnt’s Free Round Widget, which is fully customizable and allows various special features and free spins that are triggered by the player.
NetEnt Connect
In 2019, the Swedish casino software provider launched its new aggregation platform NetEnt Connect. It allows the integration of content from other studios, starting with Red Tiger. In 2020, the company added games from game suppliers outside of NetEnt Group, including Games Inc., Gluck Gamevy, and Scout Gaming Group.
NetEnt Touch
NetEnt is considered as one of the pioneers in the development of mobile games. Its mobile offering known as NetEnt Touch was initially released in 2011 and included several games for iOS – Gonzo’s Quest, Jack Hammer, and Blackjack. The company then expanded the collection of mobile games by adding more titles and making them available to Android devices, as well.
Today, many of NetEnt’s most popular slots and table games are mobile-friendly, maintaining the quality and speed of the original desktop games while being fully responsive and perfectly designed for hand-held devices. In 2013, the studio introduced the Mega Fortune Touch game, where mobile players could win one of the three progressive Mega Fortune Jackpots.
Types of Slots by NetEnt
Video Slots
Branded Slots
Record-Breaking JackpotsVideo Slots
NetEnt’s largest category of games is, of course, its slots, both classic and video slots. Of course, the studio focuses heavily on the creation of visually stunning and feature-rich video slots. They boast amazing sound quality, crystal clear graphics, and beautiful 3D animations that make the characters of the games even more entertaining. Nearly all games also include a great combination of free spins and wild symbols that contribute to the big win potential of NetEnt’s video slots.
Branded Slots
Over the years, NetEnt has cooperated with various entertainment production companies to bring casino players exciting titles from film and TV. The provider’s first branded video slot was Scarface, which was created in partnership with Universal Studios. It was followed by Frankenstein, Creatures of the Black Lagoon, and one of the most interesting additions to the collection of branded slots is the Rock Tour Series. It includes popular slots such as Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix, and Motorhead. Other hit titles are Jumanji, Planet of the Apes, and Emoji Planet.
Record-Breaking Jackpots
NetEnt is loved by players not only for its amazing games but also for its record-breaking progressive jackpots. More than 150 online casinos are part of the studio’s network of pooled jackpots and offer the four main jackpot slots, namely Mega Fortune, Hall of Gods, Arabian Nights, and Mega Fortune Dreams.
Mega Fortune has set several world records, the most notable of which was probably the €17.86 million win in January 2013. The game entered the Guinness World Records with an all-time world record online progressive jackpot. 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 the Viking mythology, Hall of Gods is one of NetEnt’s most popular progressive slots. It was released in 2010 and remains among the most entertaining games from the studio. It features 5 reels and 20 paylines, which are always active, while players can choose from 5 bet levels and various coin denominations. The Midgard Serpent is an Expanding Wild, while the image of Odin’s ravens is a scatter – 3 or more raven symbols anywhere on the reels trigger 10 to 20 Free Spins.
The most intriguing special feature, however, is the Bonus Game, which unlocks the progressive jackpots. To trigger it, players need to get 3 Thor’s hammers on the reels – when this happens, the reels are replaced with 15 shields, and players need to break them until 3 matching rewards are revealed. This could bring them a coin prize or one of the jackpots – Mini Jackpot, Midi Jackpot, or Mega Jackpot. Hall of Gods is a low to medium volatility slot with an RTP of 95.3%, which may jump to way over 100% when the Mega Jackpot is hit.
Aloha! Cluster Pays
This is a wonderfully designed video slot with a fun Hawaiian theme and unconventional reel structure – it comes with 6 reels and 5 rows of symbols on them. The beautiful graphics of this game are combined with a unique payout system called Cluster Pays. Unlike standard video slots where symbols need to appear on fixed paylines, the symbols here form a cluster of 9 or more. If a symbol lands horizontally or vertically adjacent to a symbol of the same kind, then this is a winning cluster.
The game also features a Substitute Symbol, which is practically a wild, as well as a Free Spins symbol, which comes in the form of a postage stamp. Whenever 3 or more stamps appear on the reels they activate 9 or more free spins, which can be re-triggered. In addition, there are stacked symbols, which appear during the Sticky Win Re-Spins – these can be activated randomly by cluster wins. As a low-volatility slot, Aloha! Cluster Pays pays out quite frequently and has a return of 96.42%.
Jumanji
Launched in 2018, Jumanji is a stunning, action-packed video slot based on the original 1995 Jumanji movie with Robin Williams. The slot was designed to resemble the dangerous board game from the story and it comes with an interesting, diamond shape of the reel grid. It is played with 36 fixed bet lines, up to 10 bet levels, and various coin sizes. The game has wild and scatter symbols, as well as tons of special features.
Some of them are triggered randomly during the base game such as the Sticky Vines re-spins, the Monsoon Wilds when 1 or 2 reels are completely covered by wilds, and the Monkey Mayhem, which changes the places of symbols. The Wild Stampede adds another 4 to 9 wilds to the reels. When players get 3 or more scatters, they trigger the Board Game – this bonus game, players roll a 6-sided dice up to 8 times. Each roll can bring them one of the special features, namely four types of free spins or the Mystery Feature.
Narcos
Based on the hugely popular Netflix series Narcos, this slot became an instant hit with casino players when it came out in 2019. It has a regular 5×3 reel structure but rather than paying out in the standard way, it uses the exciting 234 ways to win system. To get a payout, players need to land 3 or more identical symbols on adjacent lines, starting from the leftmost reel. Unlike in most slot games, combinations do not need to appear on any fixed paylines.
But the theme and the 243 ways to win system are not the only interesting things about this slot. NetEnt’s Narcos also attract players with its Walking Wilds – wilds that remain on the reels if they are part of a winning combination. With each following spin, they move one position to the left until they exit the reels. The Drive-by Feature appears randomly during the base game, transforming some of the high-value symbols into wilds. The game also features a Free Spins Feature and a Locked Up Feature.
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes is among NetEnt’s most popular branded slots. Based on the 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. It is played with 5 reels and 20 paylines but it was designed in a really unique way – unlike most slots, it comes with 2 sets of reels, the Rise reels and the Dawn reels. Each set has its own wild and scatter symbols and it features the characters from the respected movie.
The game is quite interesting with its Dual Feature and the Stacked Wild feature – if a reel on the Rise play area covers an entire reel, it duplicates in the Dawn area. In both sets, 3 or more scatters trigger a Free Spins feature. During the Rise Free Spins, players get 10 spins and all wilds appearing through the feature are collected and randomly positioned on the reels during the last spin. There are also 15 Dawn Free Spins where players collect symbols and fill 3 different meters, namely the Multiplier meter, Extra Wild, and Extra Free Spins. Additionally, there are Rise and Dawn Bonus Features.
Gonzo’s Quest
Gonzo’s Quest is probably NetEnt’s most popular video slot, although its theme was seen as quite controversial by some when it was released back in 2011. It tells the story of a friendly Spanish explorer who arrives at 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 developed by NetEnt, however, is much friendlier and lighthearted, it comes with beautiful graphics and animations, as well as the Avalanche feature. It is also known as cascading reels and makes the gameplay much more interesting – once a winning combination appears, the symbols in it explode and are replaced with new symbols. This could lead to new wins and another Avalanche feature. The slot also comes with a wild and free spins feature called the Free Fall, which has a multiplier of up to 15x.
Twin Spin
Another unique and extremely popular video slot by NetEnt is Twin Spin, which has 5 standard reels and 243 ways to win. The game mixes the classic Vegas theme with a modern video slot technology to create a really exciting experience for players. They can adjust their stake by choosing a bet level (1-10) and coin denomination, while each bet level costs 25 coins.
There are no scatters, though. The game comes with no special features, no free spins or bonus games. There is a wild symbol, which substitutes for all the other symbols in the game. It does not appear on reel 1, however. The only unique feature here is the Twin Reel Feature – two or more of the reels in the game could become identical during any spin, increasing the winning potential of the game. This feature is completely random and may not bring any rewards. The slot has a medium to high volatility and an RTP of 96.55%.
Dead or Alive 2
This is the sequel to one of NetEnt’s most popular games, Dead or Alive. The new slot continues the Western theme and although it is a quite basic game with 5 reels and only 9 paylines, it boasts really impressive graphics and animations. Moreover, Dead or Alive 2 comes with 5 different wilds, a scatter symbol, as well as three types of free spins.
Once players get 3 or more scatters anywhere on the reels, they activate 12 initial free spins and can choose from 3 features – Old Saloon Free Spins, where all wins are doubled, High Noon Free Spins, where 2 wilds landing on the reels transform into Double Multiplier Wilds, and Train Heist Free Spins, where multipliers can reach up to 16x. Each feature can trigger another set of free spins. This game is highly volatile, which means it brings huge payouts. The RTP is also very high at 96.82%.