Best Microgaming Online Casinos in South Africa 2024
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With a back catalogue of over 800 games created for more than twenty years in the industry, Microgaming is allegedly the most prominent online gambling brand. The best Microgaming casinos in South Africa remain attractive to thousands of gamblers thanks to the great scope of video slots and table games developed by the company. Its progressive jackpots, known to have reached $1.5 billion in total payouts in 2021, deserve respect and admiration for being the world’s largest ones.
Today, there are no live games in the company’s library, but this can hardly be regarded as a setback, as there are so many entertaining options of other kinds. One of the benefits of the collection is an enormous number of game products, some of which are supplied by affiliated entities (e.g. Gameburger Studios) and are distributed under the Microgaming brand name. However, the tide turned in 2022. Read below to find out more.
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Written & published:
28.02.2023 By author
Nonso N.
Reviewed & updated:
20.07.2024 By gambling expert
Brad I.
Overview of Microgaming
They were pioneers, trendsetters, and so—leaders. Their brand is still Number One regarding the number of titles released for years in operation. But everything ends one day or another, and Microgaming executives decided to sell their assets to Games Global, an unknown corporation that now distributes MG’s collection to online casinos. A few years ago, visiting the Microgaming site, one could see all of their video slots and other games, but today, the company only focuses on platform systems and sports betting.
The studio will remain in the history of gambling for good as they were the first in many areas: in 2004, they created the world’s first mobile casino software. In 2006, one of the best Microgaming slots, Mega Moolah, was launched. In 2020, the company introduced their second-largest progressive network known as WowPot.
Microgaming quick facts
| ✅ Name | Apricot Investments Limited |
| 👨💻 Website | https://microgaming.co.uk/ |
| ⚖️ Incorporated | Isle of Man |
| 📅 Founded | 1994 |
| 🎰 Games | 800+ |
| 🤵 Live dealer games | No |
Online casinos with Microgaming game collection
Microgaming’s acquisition by Games Global was finalised in May 2022. After that, nothing changed for a normal player: casinos carried on publishing slots under the Microgaming name, not Global Games (only at the beginning of 2023 our experts noticed the new owner’s name on a couple of gambling sites). When one starts loading any game, most of them still show the well-known MG (or Quickfire) logo in the intro.
The studio released its last game in the mid-22s, and today the whole collection numbers around 600 games, including 550+ video slots and 30+ table games. Notably, the live studio that used to be operational for a few years shut down long before the acquisition was inked. The best Microgaming casino sites also have a collection of Real Studio games that use pre-recorded videos of croupiers and celebrities like Vinnie Jones.
The studio used to cooperate with Microgaming, distributing their superb but lesser-known “Real” games employing the mega-hit Quickfire platform. Due to partnerships with more than ten third-party developers (Triple Edge Studios, Snowborn Studios, etc.), Microgaming managed to stack up a perfect, versatile range of video slots, now owned and promoted by Games Global.
Microgaming slots interface
Microgaming slot games
Video slots are what makes Microgaming stand out from the competition. Their first releases (before 2010) were plain and unimposing; however, some gained momentum and became famous. Avalon (rel. in 2006, 20 paylines, 96.01% RTP), Break Da Bank Again (2008, 9 paylines, 95.43% RTP), and Adventure Palace (2008, 9 paylines, 96.1%) are pretty old. However, stats reveal they are still overwhelmingly popular with gamblers in South Africa.
One of the things that some players dislike in the collection is that an average RTP in regular non-progressive Microgaming slots tends to be lower than is considered standard or typical. There are many games with a return of around 96%, which cannot but underwhelm.
A typical Microgaming video slot released before 2010 would feature one wild symbol, one scatter, and a free spin round. Notably, there are many 243-ways-to-win slots that come without paylines and give lots of winning opportunities on every spin. This slot engine, ubiquitous today, owes its origin to Microgaming. Modern slots have many bonus features, both unique and widely used. Below you can explore some of the headline slots found in real money casinos with Microgaming:
Immortal Romance
Combining a vampire theme and a love story, the 243-Ways video slot is packed with features that get unleashed gradually as soon as the player reaches a new level in the Chamber of Spins. It has a fluctuating RTP of over 96%, implying that you should check this value before playing. The largest prize is $364,000 at max.
Thunderstruck II
Though released more than ten years ago, the game got a cult following that only seems to get bigger. Its min bet is 30 cents, a bit higher than usual unless you consider its 243-Ways model. The four gods in the slot represent four free spin modes that get unlocked as you progress in the gameplay. The highest real money prize is $480k, should you bet max.
Jungle Jim El Dorado
Apparently inspired by the best-selling Gonzo’s Quest, Microgaming released its own adventure-themes video slot with Rolling Reels, a cumulative multiplier increased with each consecutive win and a bonus feature with ten free spins. The resulting slot gained traction due to its max prize of $180,000 and a decent RTP of 96.31% (a fluctuating one!).
Gold Factory
This medium-volatility slot game is often found in high-roller Microgaming casinos in South Africa due to the high max bet at $250 per spin, $5 per line. It features a multilevel bonus culminating in a free spin round with 35 FS, with all prizes doubled. The best possible win is almost $130k if betting max.
Agent Jane Blonde
An espionage-themed game with 5 reels and 9 paylines can bolster your bankroll by $100,000 if you hit five wilds on a payline. The video slot has a free spin feature with all wins multiplied by x3. Bet sizes are $0.09 to $90 per spin. Rolled out in 2008, the game is still well-liked in South Africa.
Microgaming slots highest RTP
| ✅ Couch Potato | 97.43% |
| ✅ Frozen Diamonds | 97.00% |
| ✅ Classic 243 | 97.00% |
| ✅ Reel Thunder | 96.95% |
| ✅ Big Top | 96.94% |
| ✅ Lucky Twins | 96.94% |
| ✅ Football Star Deluxe | 96.88% |
| ✅ Bubble Bonanza | 96.87% |
| ✅ Immortal Romance | 96.86% |
Branded video slots
Successful TV series, shows, films, and animated cartoons go beyond the cinematographic dimension, finding the way into merchandise, music, drawings, and other artistic genres. So it is unsurprising that casino game studios, like Microgaming, sign contracts with big film studios, acquiring rights to use characters and plots from artistic pieces of work: films, series, etc. Video slots of this kind depict celebrities on game symbols, have thematic bonus rounds, use signature graphics, and insert original soundtracks. Some branded video slots found in the best Microgaming casino sites are explored below.
Jurassic World
Inspired by the smash hit, this 2017 release takes you to prehistoric times and offers a pack of cool bonus features, such as three free spin modes (with wild scatters, Rolling Reels, and an increasing multiplier trail) and Indominus Rex who can enhance the win by x1000. The slot has medium volatility and the max win of x14,000 bet.
Game of Thrones
After a couple of GoT seasons ended, Microgaming purchased the rights to develop a video slot loosely inspired by the epic saga. There are two slot versions: based on paylines and 243 winways. Low rollers will find the game ideal as it has a bet range of $0.15 to $3 (or $6, version-dependent). The game has a couple of exciting bonus features, but many players consider the slot boring.
Hellboy
Released back in 2010, the video slot has a quite fresh look and a featured bonus game, The Underworld, where a player has to battle evil creatures to reach the Chamber of Relic and get a big prize. Another bonus, ten free spins, is awarded at random.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider
The slot takes one to mind-blowing adventures where you can find your way to the tomb bonus and win up to x100 bet per item you pick. High roller casino visitors will find the $150 maximum bet quite cheering, while the $75k award for five wild symbols will keep one at the edge of their seats. A free spin feature multiplies payouts by x3.
Microgaming classic slots
Slots with three reels are straightforward. They lack gorgeous graphics or bonus features that add diversity to the gameplay. However, many casino goers still love this simplicity and want to play three-reel games with fruit symbols and no bonuses at all. The studio has more than ten classic slots that players are encouraged to play in SA casinos with Microgaming.
Wacky Panda
The symbols in this one-line slot are represented by fruits and lovely pandas. All combinations pay out only for three of a kind (60—900 coins), except for the Red Panda that awards when one (30 coins) or two (40 coins) of them land. A bet ranges between $0.03 and $15 per spin.
Cash Crazy
A genuine classic slot with one payline, BARs, sevens, and the high-valued joker. One or two coins are accepted per spin, and you can pick a coin denomination of $0.05 to $5. The max payout is $8000, which is relatively low compared to other Microgaming slots. Cash Crazy’s RTP is above average, at 95.58%.
Double Wammy
Vintage BARs, cherries, sevens, and the game logo are the only symbols in this classic slot. It has a wild multiplier that awards x2 or x4 when substituting. Besides, a third-coin bonus makes the top combo award 2500 coins, compared to 800 and 1600 coins for one and two coins, respectively. Thus, you can win $12,500 if betting max.
Break Da Bank
This is a classic slot (95.43% RTP) with 5 fixed paylines, BARs, dollar signs, and the game logo as the highest-paying icon. Betting max ($25), you can win $2400. The logo acts as a substitute and win multiplier (x2, x4). Break Da Bank features a high variance, so do not expect combos to land infrequently.
Microgaming table games
The studio has developed dozens of table games, but around half are no longer supported. Today, one can access around 20 online roulette, blackjack, and other types of table & card games. Their roulette and blackjack look outdated in terms of design and graphics, but they are pretty good in other respects (RTP, bet sizes). Below we explore the Microgaming table games you can find in the top South African casinos:
- Classic Blackjack Gold Series (bet sizes $1—$200): Played with one deck, which is offset by the dealer’s standing on all 17s. Multiple cards to split aces are allowed.
- Atlantic City Blackjack ($1—$200): The shoe has eight decks. The player may double down on any two cards and split three times to make four hands. A surrender option is allowed.
- Vegas Single Deck Blackjack ($1—$200): Though only one deck is used, the dealer peeks for the face-down card, which benefits the player. Double down is possible on hard 9, 10, and 11.
- 9 Pots of Gold Roulette (in cooperation with Switch Studios): A European Roulette with 2 to 5 bonus multipliers of x45 to x500, assigned randomly to a number on each spin. Regular Straight-Ups have a decreased payout of 30:1. The table max bet is $54,500.
- Sapphire Roulette: A normal single-zero roulette featuring a racetrack and Hot/Cold area with eight numbers on each parameter. Min/max for even-money bets is $1/$80. The game has nice graphics but nothing to it.
Alongside the listed blackjack and roulette games, the best Microgaming casino sites also feature Flip Card, dice games, 20+ scratch tickets, keno, Spingo, and Mahjong Exchange, among others.
Microgaming progressive jackpots
Every jackpot has a unique hitting frequency, an average win, the minimum qualifying bet, and a seed value. Knowing these attributes, players can pick a progressive slot that suits them best. The Microgaming collection comprises over 15 titles, some of which are known worldwide, for example, their flagship Mega Moolah which is linked to 5+ slots. Its biggest win is 19.4m euros, hit in April 2021. Winning that behemoth prize is almost improbable, so players are encouraged to try a looser jackpot game, some of which are listed below.
Cash Splash
Stats reveal over 3000 jackpot wins have been in Cash Splash since release. Players who do not want to wait for months are recommended to try this slot that lets the jackpot out every 1.5 days, and its average value is $22,000. The game has two formats: a 5-reel game with 15 lines and a classic slot, both having the same jackpot.
Treasure Nile
This jackpot is tighter than the previous one, as it is won about every eight days. Also, it is demanding to a player’s budget: The nine-line slot has a fixed 50-cent coin value, and the qualifying bet is worth $4.5, implying that casual players will hardly afford this. The max recorded win is $360,000, but on average, a lucky one wins around $90k. The game has an Egyptian style with pyramids as a wild symbol.
LotsaLoot (3 and 5 reels)
Its starting value is $2500, but active players stack it up to an average of $25,000 within about two weeks. Either slot version requires a $2.5 bet to get the chance to hit the jackpot. The graphics are themed around the concept of luck as seen in Ireland, with clovers, rainbows, and pots of gold acting as game symbols.
Triple Sevens Blackjack
The jackpot is hard to hit, as a player needs to get dealt three diamond sevens consecutively. Alongside jackpot payouts, the game has five bonus positions, such as 25 (250) coins for two (three) 7s of any suit. Gambling trackers show that it takes about a year and a half to get the progressive jackpot hit, and its average value is $80k.
Play Microgaming game for free
Microgaming live games
The studio is now part of Games Global and has no live dealer games. We recommend that players check the portfolio regularly as the executives can announce their plans to open a live studio.
Pros and cons of Microgaming software
| Positives: |
|---|
| An enormous amount of video slots, making the Microgaming library the world’s first in size |
| A few record-breaking progressive slots, seeding at $1m and greater |
| Many offbeat versions of roulette and blackjack (Multi-Wheel Roulette, Multi-Player Roulette, etc.) |
| Some roulette games are ideal for high rollers |
| Negatives: |
|---|
| Some slots, especially in the early years of MG’s foundation, look almost identical in many aspects |
| Some slots have variable RTPs, which can lead to confusion unless checked before playing |
| No new games under the Microgaming brand |
Conclusion
Microgaming is still a heavy-hitting brand name, though owned by another company, Games Global, since mid-2022. The collection comprises over 600 video slots, more than ten progressive jackpots (some of them go over $10m), and an imposing set of RNG table & card games (Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat). As for live tables or live shows, there are none. Most video slots are tailored to casual players (max bet is about $50 per spin); however, some Microgaming games (with bets of over $200 a spin) are ideal for high rollers. The best Microgaming casinos in South Africa are numerous, offering great bonuses and stellar games in addition to the ones from Microgaming.
