Microgaming Microgaming
Launched on the Isle of Man in 1994, it is the pioneer of online casino software. It's best known for the Guinness World Record-setting Mega Moolah jackpot, and in 2022 it transferred its games business to "Games Global".
| English | Microgaming |
|---|---|
| Classification | Providers |
| Launched | 1994 |
| Founder | Martin Moshal |
| Headquarters | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Games business | Sold to Games Global in May 2022 |
| Original entity | Renamed "Apricot Investments" in 2024 |
| Number of games | 3,000+ (distributed by Games Global) |
| Studio network | 25+ independent studios |
| Operator clients | 800+ |
| Progressive jackpots | Mega Moolah, WowPot |
| Guinness record | Mega Moolah, about €18.9 million (2018) |
| Flagship titles | Mega Moolah, Thunderstruck 2, Immortal Romance |
Overview
Microgaming is an online casino software company founded by Martin Moshal in 1994. It is headquartered in Douglas on the Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency. The company says it has been developing online casino software since 1994, which makes it one of the oldest companies in the online casino industry.
For a long time it has built its own games and distributed games from many partner studios through the “Quickfire” platform. In 2022 it handed its game portfolio and distribution business to “Games Global,” and the Microgaming games we see today are distributed by Games Global.
History
Transfer to Games Global
In November 2021, Microgaming announced the sale of its games business, and the transfer to Games Global Limited was completed in May 2022. What changed hands was over 3,000 games, the Mega Moolah and WowPot progressive jackpot networks, the Quickfire distribution business, and more than 800 operator clients.
The original Microgaming entity shifted its business toward game platforms, licensing services, and regulatory compliance solutions, and was renamed “Apricot Investments” in 2024. Games Global acts as a publisher and aggregator, collecting games from more than 25 independent studios under the “Microgaming” name rather than developing them in-house.
Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah is an African safari-themed progressive jackpot slot released in 2006. Bets from many casinos flow into a single jackpot pool, so the amount keeps growing, and there are four jackpot tiers: Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega. It has set online slot jackpot records several times.
| Date | Winnings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009.05 | About $6.37 million | Largest online casino win at the time |
| 2015.10.06 | £13.2 million (about €17.88 million) | British soldier wins, Guinness World Record |
| 2018.09.28 | About €18.9 million | €0.75 bet on mobile, breaking the Guinness record |
As of 2018, Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network had paid out more than €948 million in prizes.
Top slots
| Games | Release | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Moolah | 2006 | 4-tier progressive jackpot, Guinness record |
| Thunderstruck II | 2010 | Norse mythology theme |
| Immortal Romance | 2011 | Vampire romance theme |
Mega Moolah records
The game that best represents Microgaming is the progressive jackpot slot Mega Moolah, released in 2006. It’s a wide-area progressive jackpot where bets from many casinos feed into a single jackpot, and some of the biggest wins in online slot history have come from it.
| Period | Record |
|---|---|
| 2009.05 | $6.37 million win |
| 2015.10 | A British soldier won £13,209,300 (about €17.88 million at the time), a Guinness World Record |
| 2018 | Record broken with a win of about €18.9 million |
These records earned Mega Moolah the nickname “Millionaire Maker.” However, such jackpots hit very rarely, and because of the jackpot contribution, the base game RTP tends to be lower than a typical slot.
Technology innovation
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Online casino software | One of the first companies to develop online casino software, in 1994 |
| Poker network | Operated an online poker network where multiple sites share the same tables |
| Virtual reality | May 2016: VR roulette for Oculus Rift unveiled |
| Platform | After 2022, shifted its focus to platform, licensing, and regulatory compliance solutions |
After Games Global
In 2022, Microgaming handed its game distribution business and entire game catalog over to Games Global. Games like Mega Moolah, Thunderstruck II, and Immortal Romance are now distributed by Games Global. The original Microgaming entity changed its name and remains as a platform and licensing services company. That’s why older casino sites show the same games under the name “Microgaming,” while newer sites show “Games Global.”
Microgaming is also credited with playing a big role in making the Isle of Man a hub of the online gaming industry.
Headquarters
Headquartered in Douglas on the Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency.