Microgaming
Microgaming claims to have launched the first true online casino software, making it the oldest continuously operating studio in the industry. Its games built the first wave of online slots as a category. The studio's commercial identity today rests primarily on the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot network, which has paid out jackpots exceeding ten million euros multiple times and holds multiple Guinness World Records for largest online slot payouts. Microgaming transitioned its games content business to a new entity called Games Global, which now manages and distributes the catalogue under that brand.
Key takeaways
- What it makes: a large library of classic video slots plus the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot network, under the Games Global brand.
- Flagship games: Mega Moolah is the studio's most recognised title; Immortal Romance and Thunderstruck II are the most-played non-progressive titles.
- Progressive jackpot note: Mega Moolah's jackpot is genuine and has paid record sums, but each bet contributes to the pool, reducing the effective base-game RTP.
- Games Global rebrand: Microgaming sold its content portfolio to Games Global; the games still appear under the Microgaming name in many casino lobbies.
- Catalogue age: much of the catalogue predates current design standards; newer players may find the visual style dated compared with recent studios.
Microgaming games we've reviewed
- Immortal Romance 96.86% RTP Read review
- Thunderstruck II 96.65% RTP Read review
- Mega Moolah 88.12% RTP Read review
The oldest name in online casino software
Microgaming’s claim to have powered the first real-money online casino is widely repeated and widely accepted in the industry, though the competitive landscape of the mid-1990s was small enough that the claim is difficult to verify independently. What is verifiable is that the studio has been continuously operating and regulated longer than any other name in online slots.
That longevity has a cost in design currency. Much of the Microgaming back catalogue looks dated against studios founded in the 2010s. Animations, audio, and interface design standards changed significantly over three decades. Players who grew up playing Thunderstruck II or Immortal Romance feel familiar with the style; players coming to the catalogue fresh may find it visually behind current releases.
Mega Moolah: the record jackpot network
Mega Moolah is one of the few genuinely famous online slot names outside gambling-specialist circles. The jackpot has been reported in mainstream media multiple times after record payouts. The verified record is a single win over twenty million euros, paid to a player.
The mechanic is straightforward: a bonus wheel triggers at random, not based on any base-game achievement, and the four-tier prize structure means every player who reaches the wheel wins something, with the Mega tier the rare outcome. The network links many qualifying titles, so the pool grows from bets placed across all of them simultaneously.
The honest trade-off is this: the base-game RTP on Mega Moolah is around 88%, meaning for every 100 wagered in the base game, 88 returns on average before jackpot prizes are factored in. The missing percentage is the jackpot contribution. A player who hits the Mega jackpot recovers that contribution and far more; most players fund the pool without receiving it.
Immortal Romance and the narrative-slot format
Immortal Romance was a genuine innovation in its time. It is a vampire-themed slot with a storyline across four characters, each activating a distinct free-spins mode when their version of the bonus triggers. The progression system was unusual for its era: the more you triggered the bonus, the more of the storyline opened up, which gave repeat players a reason to return beyond the base-game return.
The game holds up better than much of the contemporary Microgaming catalogue because the narrative hook still functions as designed. The free-spins modes vary in volatility, with the higher-tier versions producing larger swings, which gives the game a natural progression in intensity.
Thunderstruck II and the Thor mechanic
Thunderstruck II uses a Norse mythology theme and an earlier version of the same multi-mode free-spins structure as Immortal Romance. Four free-spins rooms open progressively, with the Stormchaser mode becoming available after fifteen triggers. The Great Hall of Spins, as the feature is called, gives long-term players a visible upgrade path.
Both Immortal Romance and Thunderstruck II represent a design philosophy that has largely been replaced by instant-buy mechanics. The progression system requires extended play to reach the top tiers; the modern equivalent is a buy feature that skips that investment. Neither approach beats the house edge; they are different experiences.
Games Global and where the catalogue lives now
Since, Games Global manages the distribution and development pipeline previously run by Microgaming. Casino operators contracted through Games Global access the catalogue under that agreement, and new titles from the pipeline carry both the Microgaming game brand and Games Global’s distribution infrastructure.
For players, this is largely invisible. The games appear in casino lobbies under the Microgaming name. The crypto casinos and fast-payout casinos lists here include casinos that carry the Microgaming catalogue alongside other studios.
Set a session budget before playing any progressive slot, and remember that the jackpot contribution means base-game returns are lower than on standard titles. Free, confidential support is available from GamCare and Gambling Therapy.
Frequently asked questions
Does Microgaming still exist?
Microgaming as a game-development and distribution business was wound down and its content portfolio transferred to Games Global. The Microgaming name still appears in most casino lobbies because that is the brand players recognise. The underlying studio that created Mega Moolah, Immortal Romance, and Thunderstruck II now operates under the Games Global entity, which manages distribution and owns the catalogue.
What is the new name for Microgaming?
Microgaming rebranded its content and distribution arm as Apricot Investments, and the game catalogue transferred to Games Global. In practice, casino lobbies continue displaying the Microgaming label on existing titles because the brand has decades of player recognition. New releases from the pipeline carry both identities in different contexts, but Games Global is the operating entity behind the catalogue.
Who bought Microgaming?
Games Global acquired the Microgaming content and distribution business. Games Global now operates the game library, including the Mega Moolah progressive network, and licenses titles to casino operators. The Microgaming entity retained its Isle of Man corporate structure but stepped back from direct game publishing, which is why new development sits with Games Global while the familiar brand still appears on legacy titles.
Are Microgaming slots rigged?
No. Microgaming has been independently certified and regulated since the 1990s, operating under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. The Mega Moolah jackpot has paid documented, publicly verifiable wins to real players across multiple record-setting payouts, which is strong evidence the system functions as declared. Base-game RTP on progressives is lower than on non-progressive titles because jackpot contributions reduce what the base game returns.
What RTP do Microgaming slots have?
Most Microgaming legacy titles publish RTPs in the 95% to 96.5% range. Immortal Romance lists 96.86%, Thunderstruck II 96.65%. Mega Moolah's base-game RTP is around 88% before any jackpot contribution returns are factored in. On a progressive, the relevant question is what the non-jackpot return looks like; for Mega Moolah that is substantially below standard slots. That trade-off is the price of access to the jackpot pool.
What is Microgaming's most popular slot?
Mega Moolah is Microgaming's most recognised slot, played primarily for the progressive jackpot rather than base-game mechanics. It holds Guinness World Records for the largest verified online slot payouts. Immortal Romance is the most-played title for players not chasing a jackpot, with a narrative free-spins structure across four characters that still plays distinctly from most modern releases.