Pragmatic Play Casino Games Review
Pragmatic Play is an online casino software provider that does not accept US players. They do accept players from 78 other countries from around the world. The Malta-based company uses HTML5 to design advanced video slots, along with a full list of table games. The company’s 80+ video slots have advanced graphics. This article reviews Pragmatic Play’s history, game selection, and customer service information. OUSC also provides contact information and a short list of casinos where you can play Pragmatic Play games.
The Malta Gaming Authority, as well as the UK, Malta, Italy, Romania, The Bahamas, Curacao, and Pagcor license Pragmatic Play software. They also have certification in Denmark, Span, and Portugal. The software is PCI compliant with GLI certifying the games. Pragmatic Play’s slots have creative themes and a lot of bonus features. Even better, the games are not cookie-cutter; they use a variety of 3-line and 5-line formats to keep their inventory fresh. International players should try top sites like LeoVegas, Vera&John, and Interwetten Casino.
Is there a Connection Between TopGame and Pragmatic Play?
There is a lot of speculation that Pragmatic Play is the new face of the old casino game software company, TopGame. TopGame had many issues in the past, and with the sudden appearance of Pragmatic Play, it left a lot of people wondering. Add that to the list of casino games they started offering, old TopGame titles. Many speculated they simply rebranded themselves. There is no evidence that supports or contradicts these speculations, with other sites making a splash. The company states that they have simply purchased a copy of a number of games that were provided by TopGame in 2015.
CasinoListings joined other sites discussing this possibility,
Seemingly overnight, all games and casino licensees of TopGame, a company with an awful industry reputation, were rebranded under the new moniker of Pragmatic Play. There is dispute as to whether this truly is a new company that has merely purchased the TopGame’s software (as they claim), or whether it is simply the existing TopGame owners attempting to mask their poor reputation and legitimise themselves in regulated markets.
It does not seem there will ever be a clear answer, and we leave any opinions to be made about this company up to the players that enjoy their games.
TopGame Technology History
The online casino software developer released its first games in 2008. The timing of the company’s creation coincides exactly with the passage of the UIGEA in the United States. In the fall of 2006, the U.S. Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA made it illegal for online companies to provide payments to sites violating the 1961 Wire Act. Because the US Justice Department viewed online casinos and poker sites as breaking the Wire Act, online casinos were made illegal under the UIGEA.
The UIGEA went into effect on December 31, 2006. On or before that day, all the major online casino software designers left the United States gaming market. This included Microgaming, Playtech, IGT, and Cryptologic. Net Entertainment had chosen years before to avoid the US market. The absence of these companies left a huge void. Software developers like RealTime Gaming (RTG), Betsoft, Rival Gaming, and TopGame Technology filled the void left by the departing companies.
TopGame Technology Rise & Fall
In the next several years, TopGame Technology developed an online casino network of several dozen sites. About half of these sites used TopGame video slots but not the casino platform itself. Others used the full casino software package. By 2011 or 2012, TopGame was one of the chief rivals of RTG, but it was having a public relations problem. Several of TopGame Technology’s most famous online casinos had their own PR problems.
For instance, Rome Casino got into a public flame war with Affactive Group, an affiliate program for US websites, involving mutual accusations about cyber-attacks. Meanwhile, TopGame Technology’s terms and conditions allowed slow-paying of jackpots, including progressive jackpots. Review sites like Casinomeister and Casino Listings declared TopGame a rogue provider, though Ask Gamblers continued to rate the company highly. TopGame Technology needed a new identity. These days, the design house is under new ownership and has a new name: Pragmatic Play.
Pragmatic Play History
In 2015, Pragmatic Play Software suddenly appeared on the scene, with a lot of rumors surrounding its creation. The next year, Pragmatic received a gaming license from Curacao.
Since its inception, Pragmatic Play has produced a number of high-end video slots. These games use HTML5 as the programming language, a form of video-playing technology that is more advanced than the games designed using Flash. Games like The Catfather, Dwarven Gold, Hockey League, 7 Monkeys, Hot Safari, Lady Godiva, Magic Crystals, Romeo and Juliet, and KTV look stellar. The release of these games between 2015 and 2016 led to a new era of Pragmatic Play. Its sale to IBID Group in June 2016 means it is under new ownership, which seeks to take the company in a whole new direction. Where it licensed software to online casinos before, it is now a B2B designer now. The company is now a developer with a global reach.
TopGame Technology Timeline
Seeing as there is a lot of debate about the connection between TopGame and Pragmatic Play, we will cover both histories and timelines.
| 2007 | TopGame Technology launched operations. At the time, Costa Rica licensed the software. |
| 2009 | The online casino software developer opened offices in the United Kingdom & releases “Reel Gangsters Online Slot.” |
| 2011 | Casinomeister lists TopGame among its rogue operators because it used complicated terms and conditions in refusing to pay a player. |
| 2011 | TopGame opens offices in Malta & releases “Cool Stone Age Slots.” |
| 2012 | TopGame releases its first Mac-friendly online slot. Since then, all TopGame slots have been compatible with Apple Mac desktop computers and laptops. |
| 2013 | The company opened offices in Hong Kong, stopped accepting new players, & releases online slots “Dice and Fire” & “Sugar Rush.” |
| 2014 | Earns a license from Curacao; license number is 1668/JAZ. Opens an office in Manila in the Philippines. |
| 2014 | Partner with IGS Online, VIG, and Global Gaming Labs to design slots and create live dealer games, becoming one of the first providers of Live Casino Games in the US. |
| 2015 | Topgame is no more. There is speculation that they renamed themselves to Pragmatic Play, although the company states they have no ties. |
Pragmatic Play Timeline
Even though there is speculation that Pragmatic Play is the rebranded TopGame, they still have a productive timeline.
| 2015 | Pragmatic Play enters the market as a casino games provider. |
| 2016 | They expand their reach in Europe and other regulated markets. Opens offices in Malta, the United Kingdom, Romania, Ukraine, India, and the Philippines |
| 2017 | Wins 2x Rising Star awards and 3 iGaming excellence awards. |
| 2017 | They get licensed in the United Kingdom, Malta, Romania, Italy, the Bahamas, Pagcor, and Curacao, with games certified in Denmark, Portugal, and Spain. |
Advantages & Disadvantages of Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play Pros
- 3D Slot Machines
- Supports multiple languages and currencies
- Audited by Technical Systems Testing (TST)
Pragmatic Play Cons
- Does not accept players from the United States
- Spotty history of following through on promises
- No table poker games
- Fewer games than RTG or Betsoft
Pragmatic Play Video Slots
All of the Pragmatic Play Video Slots games can be played online and mobile. Pragmatic Play is available in 78 countries worldwide and available in 23 different languages. Wolf Gold is Pragmatic Play’s “trademark” game, according to the company, but it markets many other popular titles at the online casinos that use their software. Some of the more popular titles include Mighty Kong, Sugar Rush, Dragon Kingdom, Queen of Gold, and Hot Safari.
7 Monkeys
Aladdin’s Treasure
The Catfather
Vegas Nights
More Pragmatic Video Slot Games
- 3 Genie Wishes
- 3 Kingdoms – Battle of Red Cliffs
- 7 Piggies
- 8 Dragons
- Beowulf
- Caishen’s Gold
- Diamond Strike
- Dragon Kingdom
- Dwarven Gold
- Dwarven Gold Deluxe
- Glorious Rome
- Gold Train
- Great Reef
- Hercules Son of Zeus
- Hockey League
- Hockey League Wild Match
- Hot Safari
- Journey to the West
- Jurassic Giants
- KTV
- Lady Godiva
- Lady of the Moon
- Lucky Dragons
- Magic Crystals
- Mighty Kong
- Panda’s Fortune
- Panther Queen
- Pixie Wings
- Queen of Atlantis
- Queen of Gold
- Romeo and Juliet
- Santa
- Sugar Rush
- Sugar Rush Summer Time
- Sugar Rush Valentine’s Day
- Sugar Rush Winter
- Tales of Egypt
- The Catfather Part II
- Wild Spells
- Wolf Gold
Classic Slots from Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic offers four different “Classic Slots” on the company website. These 3-reel classic slots have more basic artwork and simpler gameplay. They offer multiple paylines, so gamblers can max out the paylines and still play at the level they want. These include:
888 Dragons
888 Gold
Diamonds are Forever 3 Lines
Irish Charms
Pragmatic Play Table Games
Pragmatic Play has a limited number of casino table games; offering only three. Casinos that use Pragmatic Play software can support all three of these types of games. These games include:
Pragmatic Play Video Poker
Video poker is the one area in that Pragmatic Play doesn’t have many games. In fact, they only offer one video poker game, Jacks or Better. It is completely interactive and can be played through an online casino or the mobile version. It doesn’t offer different graphics or gameplay than other Jacks or Better video poker games that other software companies create. The one positive aspect is that the default RTP is 97.63%.
Specialty Games
Pragmatic Play Casinos offer two specialty games. The first one is the popular Keno, which is the Chinese lottery game that is found at most online casinos. Like other lotto games, real money keno has a high house edge but pays out big prizes; if a player gets really lucky. The other specialty game they offer is Go! Monkey is an interesting game similar to the virtual horse races, but with monkeys. Players place their bets on the monkey they believe will win the race. They can watch as the six monkeys climb the vine, with the fastest two awarding payouts.
Go! Monkey
Online Casinos Using Pragmatic Play Software
Most Casinos that use Pragmatic Play software do not accept play from Americans. Most software developers do not accept play from the United States, but companies like Pragmatic Play and RealTime Gaming allow their license holders to make the decision. As always, research each casino when it is time to play.
- Bethard
- Gameiom
- Vera & John
- Leo Vegas
- Betsson
- Interwetten
- Video Slots
- NetBet
- iSoftBet
- Europe-Bet
- 777.be
- Betsafe
- Slots Million
- 1xBet
- Mr Smith
- PariPlay
- Bet Construct
- StarCasino.be
- ZigZag777
- CasinoEuro
- Kroon Casino
- Oranje Casino
- BetDSI
- Island Luck
- Casino 440
- Baum Bet
- Ezugi
- Joker Bros
You can see all of their partners on their the Pragmatic Play website.
Contact Information
- + 356 (20) 341539
- [email protected]
- Contact Pragmatic Play
The official company website list a team of notable developers at Pragmatic Play. Those people are:
- Sales & Development – Yossi Barzely
- Product Owner – Anna Yakovlieva
- Game Developer – Georga Pauna
- Graphic Artist – Alina Popovici
- System Architect – Iryna Shamarina
- Game Producer – Catalin Bratosin
- Operations Coordinator – Adina Chitu
Conclusion – Pragmatic Play Casino Games & Software: B+
Pragmatic Play’s casino games are available on many websites, some of which we have reviewed. The game design on Pragmatic’s slots and table games is excellent. Under their current leadership, Pragmatic Play focuses on B2B design.
In June 2016, Internet Business and Development (IBID) Group purchased Pragmatic Play. IBID Group’s CEO, David Barzilay, said he wants to turn Pragmatic Play into a leading B2B game provider. At the time of the Pragmatic purchase, Mr. Barzilay said, “The acquisition of Pragmatic Play is in line with IBID’s strategy of acquiring companies that enable us to control the whole gaming supply chain from payments and content providers to operations and B2C marketing. We believe that we have the right team and expertise to help Pragmatic Play unlock its growth potential and realize value.” Thus, Pragmatic Play enters a new era of marketing and development which promises to be a welcome change.
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