One of the best

Microgaming popped up in 1994 and was one of the trend setters of the online casino era. I wasn't a big gambler when they first started and so only came across them when they were already an established leader in the casino industry, with over 120 casinos under their belt and 40-odd poker rooms. They really came into their own when they launched the Microgaming Viper software in 2002 and are now seen as the best in the business by many, including myself. Their casinos are super trustworthy and their library of games speaks for itself.

Crazy selection of games

Well, where do I begin? Microgaming has a massive, massive catalogue of games and it's impossible to sum it all up in a few sentences. There are well over 600 games including everything from progressive jackpots and branded slots to industry-leading table games.

More recently, Microgaming has started to add a bunch of slots based on Hollywood themes like Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword, Hitman and Hellboy. It depends on which shows and games you're into as to whether this appeals to you. Personally I am not big on these particular slot themes, as I have not even seen the films, but even so I know that when I click on one of these more commercial Microgaming slots they are likely to have very high production values. HD graphics, flawless logos and in-depth backgrounds are all pretty much guaranteed. Plus, if you're actually into the shows, you'll get an added kick from all of the official branding.

All about the moolah

Of course, one of the games Microgaming is best known for is none other than the progressive junkie's Mecca, Mega Moolah. This is probably the most famous progressive jackpot slot out there and has been churning out millionaires since 2008. I remember the hype when progressive jackpots were first released and both myself and a number of my casino-loving buddies went crazy for them, before quickly realising just how unlikely it is to win! That being said, to date there have been 26 winners of Mega Moolah and Mega Moolah mobile bringing home anything from $1.2 million to the largest Mega Mollah jackpot on record of �13.2 million, captured by the UK's Jonathon Heywood in 2015. Not only that, but Microgaming casinos pay their winners in full. There's nothing that annoys me more than reading about a fellow gamer hitting a big jackpot only for the casino to pull out every trick in the book to try to slow down or even avoid the payment, so at least that's one thing you don't have to worry about with Microgaming.

As any gambler worth his salt knows, these jackpots are few and far between. If I recommended you play Microgaming games purely for the minute possibility of changing your life with a multi-million win, I would be doing you a disservice. But what many seasoned gamers don't consider when dismissing the progressive jackpots are the many smaller wins you can pick up in the process; you shouldn't aim for the top prize alone, but when you factor in the smaller cashes you can see why I and many other enjoy playing a slot game that has that carrot dangling in the background. After all it's not just about the cash return, it's about having fun along the way, right?

For anybody who hasn't had a chance to play Mega Moolah yet (though I'm struggling to think how you could miss it) it's pretty similar to Geisha or Thunderstruck, but way more popular. In essence it's nothing too complicated; a basic Safari theme, five reels and 25 paylines, plus a wheel of fortune feature that dishes out extra bonuses. But this simplicity is what makes Mega Moolah so easy to pick up and play, and fits in well with Microgaming's general propensity for instant play and Flash games.

What's so special about Microgaming? Slots, slots and more slots! I think I speak for many of us when I say that slots games are one of the most important factors when looking at new online casinos. There is only so much change possible with roulette, blackjack and the like, but with slots the possibilities are seemingly endless. Microgaming offers more slots than any other provider, and not only that but they are of the highest quality imaginable. If you're a fan of the reels like I am, you need Microgaming in your life.

Summary

There's not much to say about Microgaming that hasn't already been said - they are, in my opinion, the best software provider on the market. I love the look and feel of the games and there seems to be no end to the magic they can conjure up, with all of their newer games matching the extremely high standard they've set without fail. Over the years, Microgaming has continued to rack up awards and even recently picked up the Innovator of the Year 2016 award at the International Gaming Awards, which proves in no uncertain terms that they are still striving to create new and exciting online casino games.

If your chosen online casino is led by Microgaming, you're in safe hands.