NetEnt Casinos For Australia
Contents
Welcome to this fans’ site dedicated to NetEnt casino sites. This is not an ‘official’ site. We are not linked to NetEnt or its current owner, Evolution, in any way.
We are not sponsored or supported by them, nor do we receive any financial payments from them. This is a fans’ site, pure and simple!
NetEnt is responsible for creating hundreds of slots available on NetEnt casinos today. With its superb graphics and innovative designs, Net Ent (also known as Net Entertainment) is the name behind many of the most popular slots and casino games.
If you aren’t sure if a NetEnt casino is trustworthy, we have a list of casinos that offer free spins no deposit that are all fully licenced.
Top NetEnt Casino Sites
List of the best NetEnt online casino sites: most of the casinos below have free spins on NetEnt slots as part of their welcome bonus or have many of the suites of NetEnt slots available.
Rioace Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $830 + 10 Free Spins No DepositPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Exclusive offer get 10 Free Spins on Sweet Bonanza on registration, no deposit required, using Promo code BOD2025. Plus get a Welcome bonus pack 400% bonus up to A$3650 + 350 Free Spins over 5 deposits, starting with 100% bonus up to A$830 and 100 free spins in slot Zeus vs Hades - Gods of War. 10 Free Spins - offer valid until 01/04/2025. Wager 50x. Maximum win and cash out A$45. Welcome bonus - Min deposit A$45. To be able to withdraw the bonus funds, user must wager the bonus amount 40x. To be able to withdraw bonus funds received from Free Spins, user must wager the bonus amount 35x. Withdrawal request cancels the activation of previously unused bonuses. Bonus validity period is 10 days after activation. All winnings received while wagering Bonus are limited to a maximum cashout amount of 5x bonus granted. The maximum bonus amount which can be received from the free spins winnings to your bonus balance is A$165. Full terms apply. |
Rooli |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $500 + 200 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to $4,000 and 475 Free Spins across 4 deposits, starting with 100% up to $500 + 200 Free Spins on Wolf Treasure on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit $30. Free spins will be given as 50 immediately followed by 30 a day for 5 days. Each batch expires in 24 hours. Bonus and Free Spins Wagering 35x. Maximum cashout from Bonus winnings is $7500. Maximum cashout from Free Spins winnings is $3000. Full terms apply |
Casabet |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $830 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome bonus pack 400% bonus up to A$3650 + 350 Free Spins over 5 deposits, starting with 100% bonus up to A$830+ 100 free spins in slot Gates of Casabet 1000 on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit amount to get the bonus A$45. To be able to withdraw the bonus funds, user must be wager the bonus amount 40x. To be able to withdraw bonus funds received from Free Spins, user must be wager the bonus amount 35x. Withdrawal request cancels the activation of previously unused bonuses. Bonus validity period is 10 days after activation. All winnings received while wagering Bonus are limited to a maximum cashout amount of 5x bonus granted. The maximum bonus amount which can be received from the free spins winnings to your bonus balance is A$165. Full terms apply. |
Betflare |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $900 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome bonus pack 250% up to A$3300 and 300 Free Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% bonus up to A$900 and 100 free spins in slot Gates of Olympus. Minimum deposit A$50. Free spins will be credited in parts, by 25 spins every 24 hours. To be able to withdraw the bonus funds, user must wager the bonus amount 40x. To be able to withdraw bonus funds received from Free Spins, user must wager the bonus amount 40x. Withdrawal request cancels the activation of previously unused bonuses. Bonus validity period is 10 days after activation. All winnings received while wagering Bonus are limited to a maximum cashout amount of 5x bonus granted. The maximum bonus amount which can be received from the free spins winnings to your bonus balance is A$165. Full terms apply. |
FatFruit |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,500 + 200 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to $10,500 + 550 Free Spins across 4 deposits, starting with 100% up to $1,500 + 200 Free Spins on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit $30. Spins will be given as 50 instantly and the rest as 30 per day over 5 days. Each batch expires in 24 hours. Free spins will be awarded on Wolf Treasure. Bonus and Free Spins Wagering 35x. Max. cash out from each batch of Free Spins winnings $750. Max. cash out from Bonus winnings $7500. Full terms apply. |
Spinline |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,100 + 200 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to A$6,700 + 1,100 Free Spins, starting with 100% up to A$1,100 + 200 Free Spins on Mighty Wild: Jaguar on 1st deposit. New players only. Promo code NEWIN required on deposit. Minimum deposit A$300 to claim the full bonus. Deposit A$30 and get 100% up to A$250 + 30 FS. Deposit A$80 and get 100% up to A$650 + 80 FS. The bonus and free spins must be activated within 7 days of making the deposit and remain valid for 7 days from activation. Free spins are credited in two batches. The cash bonus must be wagered 40 times before any winnings can be withdrawn. There is no maximum win limit on the cash bonus or free spins. Full terms apply. |
Jackpot Frenzy |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,750 + 50 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to $4,000 and 150 Free Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% up to $1,750 and 50 Free Spins on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit to receive Bonus is $30. Minimum deposit to receive Bonus and Free Spins is $50. WR 35x deposit + bonus within 10 days. WR for winnings from Free Spins is 40x. Full terms apply. |
Hero Spin |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,500 + 200 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package 250% up to $4,500 and 350 Free Spins, starting with 100% up to $1,500 and 200 Free Spins on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit $30. Wagering requirement 35x initial amount of bonus + deposit and 40x winnings from free spins. Full terms apply. |
Spin Fever |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $500 + 50 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package $2,000 + 200 Free Spins on 3 deposits, starting with 100% up to $500 + 50 Free Spins on Wolf Treasure on 1st deposit. New players, 1st deposit only. Minimum deposit $30. Both the Bonus and the Free spins winnings must be wagered a minimum of 40x within 7 days of the bonus being credited. The maximum cashout from the Bonus is $7500 while the maximum cashout from the Free spins winnings is $3,000. Full terms apply. |
Winner Casino |
Welcome Bonus 400% Bonus Up To $4,000 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: $10,000 and 500 Free Spins Welcome Package over 5 deposits, starting with 400% up to $4000 + 100 Free spins on Starburst on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit $20. Coupon code WINN1 required. Wager 50x Bonus. Valid until 31.12.29. Full terms apply. |
Boho Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $750 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome Package up to A$3,000 and 225 Free Spins, starting with 100% up to A$750 + 100 Free Spins on Aztec Magic Bonanza on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit A$30. Free spins are credited in sets of 50 per day over 2 days. Maximum win amount from free spins is A$150. Winnings obtained with the help of the first deposit bonus and free spins have an x40 wagering requirement. Full terms apply. |
Slots Gallery |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $750 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to A$3,000 and 225 Free Spins, starting with 100% up to A$750 and 100 Free Spins on Gold Rush with Johnny Cash on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit A$30. Free spins on the first deposit are credited in sets of 50 per day over 2 days, for a total of 100 free spins. The maximum win amount from free spins is 150 AUD. Winnings obtained with the help of the first deposit bonus and free spins have an x40 wagering requirement. Full terms apply. |
Royal Game |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $750 + 200 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to $4,500 and 200 Free Spins, starting with 100% up to $750 and 200 free spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit $30. Wagering requirement 35x bonus + deposit and 40x free spins winnings within 10 days. Deposits via Neteller & Skrill do not qualify for this offer. Full terms apply. |
Club Riches |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,000 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package worth $3000 Casino Bonus plus 100 Free Spins for Tower of Fortuna over first 3 deposits, starting with 100% up to $1000 plus 100 Free Spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit $15. Bonus and deposit needs to be wagered 25x before a withdrawal can be made. Winnings from bonus spins will have a wagering requirement of 30x. Full terms apply. |
GreenSpin Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,700 + 150 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome Package worth up to AU$3,400 and 400 Free Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% up to AU$1,700 and 150 Free Spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Promo code FIRSTGREEN required. Minimum deposit 30 AUD which gives 60 spins. Minimum deposit 80 AUD required for 90 Free Spins and Min deposit 160 AUD for full 150 free spins. Maximum winnings from free spins AU$80. Free Spins WR 40X. Full terms apply. |
Zoome Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,000 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package offering 2500 AUD and 250 Free Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% bonus up to 1000 AUD + 100 free spins in Zoome in Vegas by BGaming on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit 30 AUD. Promo code FWB. 100 free spins will be added within 4 days, 25 free spins per day. The first 25 free spins will be added together with the 100% bonus. Bonus WR 40x. Free Spins wager 40x. Full terms apply. |
Turbonino |
Welcome Bonus Deposit $10 and get 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100 Free Spins. First Deposit Only. Minimum deposit: A$10, Game: Thor and the Trials of Asgard, Spin Value: A$0.10., Max Free Spins: 100. WR 60x free spin winnings amount (only Slots count) within 30 days. Maximum bet is 10% (min A$0.10) of the free spin winnings amount or A$5 (lowest amount applies). Spins must be used and/or Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds. Deposit/Welcome Bonus can only be claimed once every 72 hours across all Casinos. Bonus Policy applies |
Ocean Breeze |
Welcome Bonus 400% Bonus Up To $2,000 + 50 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Super bright, neon graphics are revealed as you enter the Ocean Breeze casino. A large portion of the screen is taken up with the various welcome packages which scroll along, offering some of the best registration deals you'll see. Look further down and you’ll see a full list of games...More Information for Ocean Breeze Terms & Conditions: Welcome package worth $6000 and 150 Free Spins over 5 deposits, starting with 400% up to $2000 plus 50 Free Spins on Narcos on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit $20. Coupon code WLC1 required. WR 50x Bonus. Valid until 31.12.2027. Full terms apply. |
King Billy |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $500 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome package worth A$2500 and 250 Free Spins over 4 deposits, starting with 100% up to A$500 and 100 free spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit A$30. 100 Free Spins given in 2 packs of 50 Free Spins. The first pack of 50 Free Spins will be given after wager 1x of your deposit. The second pack of 50 Free Spins will be given 24 hours after the first one. WR 30x. Maximum Bet A$7.5 per spin. Full terms apply. |
Level Up Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $2,000 + 25 Free Spins No DepositPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Spin Samurai |
Welcome Bonus 125% Bonus Up To $150Please gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer is 125% Up to AU$150 on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit AU$15. To wager the bonus, you need to make bets for an amount 45x the bonus amount. Full terms apply. |
GunsBet Casino |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,000 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Go To Casino | Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% bonus up to $1000 and 100 Free Spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Bonus code BONUS100 required. Minimum deposit 45 AUD. WR 40x the amount of the bonus received (deposit bonus + winnings from free spins). Free spins will be given as 20 per day over 5 days. Full terms apply. |
Loki Casino |
Welcome Bonus 125% Bonus Up To $10,000 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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Golden Star |
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To $1,500 + 100 Free SpinsPlease gamble responsibly. 18+ Only. GamblingTherapy.org. |
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KatsuBet |
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Go To Casino | Bitcoin is taking off more than ever and now it's at the forefront of payment methods for online casinos. Katsubet, with a Japanese theme, is one of the latest sites around to offer Bitcoin. Since 2020 Katsubet has been offering a large number of game providers with specific bitcoin games...More Information for KatsuBet Terms & Conditions: Welcome package up to 5 BTC or AU$6000 and 200 Free Spins over 4 deposits, starting with 100% up A$400 and 100 Free Spins on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit A$40. WR 35x before the bonus can be withdrawn. Bonuses expire after 14 days if the wager is not completed. Free spins are available in Aloha King Elvis game by BGaming. Maximum cashout from Free Spins A$200. Full terms apply. |
A bit of background info on NetEnt
When this site was launched, NetEnt was by far the leading provider of online slots for the European market and was also beginning to improve its coverage in the broader global market.
No self-respecting online casino could afford to be without a large selection of the company’s games being included in its portfolio.
The company already had several acclaimed classics to its name, such as the ever-popular Gonzo’s Quest and Spinata Grande, plus the stone wall classic Starburst.
These were supplemented by dozens of other innovative titles, such as the colourful cartoon fables Hook’s Heroes, Jack and the Beanstalk and Robin Hood. At the same time, Finn and the Swirly Spin took a more modern approach to the traditional fairy tale.
Meanwhile, fans of the darker side could choose from titles such as Blood Suckers II, the officially licenced Aliens slot, or my personal favourite, the spooky Universal Monsters version of Dracula.
Talking of officially licenced, the company had also carved an impressive selection of music-themed games, with authorised releases of slots by classic rock artists, including Guns ‘n’ Roses, Motorhead and the iconic Jimi Hendrix.
The hits kept coming, too, with further innovative designs like Asgardian Stones, Halloween Jack, Vikings and Wild Bazaar following in 2018.
There was a semi-successful attempt to follow up earlier classics, too, with Berryburst adding a tangy citrus flavour to its super-successful predecessor, Starburst.
The following year saw several further superb releases to keep the company at the forefront of the industry. Finn returned once again with his Golden Tavern, and there were also sequels for previous hit releases Dead or Alive and Reel Rush. It wasn’t all about reboots, though, with some impressive new designs hitting the online virtual reels.
Amongst an impressive total of more than twenty entirely new releases was the particularly successful horse racing themed Scudamore’s Super Stakes, and the zany yuletide caper Santa Vs Rudolf: a heart-warming tale of traditional Christmas spirit, it was not. The reputedly bat-eating Ozzy Osborne was added to the ever-growing roster of officially licenced classic rock-themed games.
This consistent record of market-leading releases led NetEnt to a position firmly at the pinnacle of the online casino software industry. Its position as the foremost gaming software provider was unassailable, and the company produced financial figures to match.
NetEnt’s Corporate Performance
NetEnt’s success in widespread and critical acclaim meant it could boast stunning financial performance figures far exceeding its rivals. Founded in 1998 in Sweden’s capital city, the company had developed from a tiny start-up to an industry-leading international organisation in barely two decades.
While the company headquarters remained in Stockholm, it opened satellite offices throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, Poland, and Ukraine, plus two more in two of the foremost territories of the gaming industry: Gibraltar and Malta.
Further afield, there were additional outposts in New Jersey, the United States, and Hyderabad in India. The company was responsible for the employment of well over a thousand employees located all across the world.
By 2019, the company had already developed over two hundred different games. Most of these were online slots, but there was also a good selection of more traditional table games, plus the company’s impressive live gaming operation.
This creative success meant the company was positioned to post impressive financial performance figures. The financial report for the year ending December 2019 showed total revenues exceeding SEK 1800 million (over £140 million) with total earnings before tax of around SEK 600 million (just under £48 million).
Although revenue growth over the previous year was unspectacular at 0.6%, this was broadly in line with sluggish growth in the gaming industry generally at the time.
Indeed, NetEnt CEO Therese Hillman was very upbeat, pointing to the more buoyant 10% revenue increase over the year’s final three months. She was particularly confident about the company’s new live gaming operation, which showed firm growth signs, having broken records for player numbers that year.
2020 – The Turning Point For NetEnt
2020 was a turning point for all of us. The unprecedented pandemic completely transformed the world and was utterly unexpected, taking the whole planet by surprise.
For NetEnt, the New Year brought a different kind of upheaval – one that, perhaps with the benefit of hindsight, was more predictable.
Growth was impressive during the first three quarters of 2020, aided by the gaming industry’s general solid performance while much of the European population was under lockdown.
Being primarily confined to the home and with real-world casinos and other venues temporarily closed, the only natural alternative for gamblers was to move online.
As a result, NetEnt revenues were up more than 25% in the corresponding nine months of 2019, with earnings before tax up more than 40%. Income derived from the previous year’s acquisition of up-and-coming gaming software rival Red Tiger was now also coming on stream.
Live casinos were also doing exceptionally well, perhaps buoyed by customers sitting at home craving the excitement of a real casino experience.
Arguably, this aspect of the company’s performance drew it to the attention of its previously unchallenged live-streaming rival, Evolution Gaming.
Evolution was the dominant force in the live gaming market – their position in live casinos was even more pre-eminent than that of NetEnt in online slot design.
NetEnt’s live gaming operation’s spectacular performance was on a far smaller scale than Evolution’s, a massive worldwide operation. Nevertheless, its rapid increase in revenue represented a vast increase in market share, albeit from a very low base.
This clear potential for NetEnt to become an emerging competitor to Evolution’s dominant market position was perhaps a primary motivating factor in Evolution’s decision to mount a takeover bid for the Swedish company in June 2020.
Although NetEnt’s board and shareholders swiftly accepted the well-judged offer, the takeover was not straightforward. The size and market share of the two companies within the online gaming industry triggered a merger enquiry by the UK Government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This was launched in September, with a provisional judgement in favour announced two months later.
Only when the final decision to approve the takeover was published on December 8th was the acquisition finally able to be completed.
As a result, NetEnt became a wholly owned subsidiary of its new owners, with Evolution paying an initial SEK 19.6 billion (equivalent to around £1.6 billion, €2 billion or $2.3 billion). By December 12th, Evolution announced that it had acquired almost 97% of the company’s shares and had begun a compulsory buy-out process to purchase the remainder. NetEnt shares were, therefore, removed from the Stockholm stock exchange on December 16th. The company’s shares’ final trading price was SEK 86 (around £7, €8 or $10).
NetEnt under Evolution Ownership
Founded in 2006, Evolution is a far larger organisation than its new acquisition. Although it is headquartered in Sweden and listed on the Stockholm stock exchange, it is even more of an international operation, with around 8,000 employees based around live studios across Europe and North America.
Its main studio is based in Riga in the Baltic state of Latvia. Still, it has many others in locations such as Belgium, Spain, Tbilisi in Georgia and on the Mediterranean island of Malta.
It is also keen to exploit North America’s increasingly liberalised gaming market, with studios in New Jersey in the United States and British Columbia in Canada.
This wide distribution of locations enables the company to provide live-streamed casino games in over twenty languages. It also promises to offer native speakers in whatever language any potential online casino operator requires.
Evolution is a far larger operator in the live-streamed casino gaming market than relative newcomer NetEnt, and it is not difficult to see its takeover move as an attempt to snuff out a possible future competitor.
Indeed, the acquisition quickly became controversial, making even mainstream national news headlines, as it immediately closed down NetEnt’s live gaming operations in Qormi in Malta and began a swingeing round of redundancy announcements.
Job losses were spread far and wide. In addition to Malta, NetEnt locations in Gibraltar and elsewhere were affected, with the entire operation in Krakow in Poland closed down.
Even the company’s headquarters in Stockholm were affected, with hundreds of staff advised to stay at home and subsequently released. CEO Therese Hillman was among them – her departure was pre-announced, taking place at the end of the transition period in the spring of 2021.
Hundreds of NetEnt employees lost their jobs, some within minutes of the takeover becoming official. This resulted in considerable unwelcome media coverage and some firm union retaliation.
The General Workers’ Union (GWU) in Malta took immediate legal action to stop the process on the island. This was partially successful, with around forty threatened jobs being saved when the matter was settled out of court.
It was particularly unfortunate timing for hundreds of employees to lose their jobs, particularly during a pandemic with fewer alternative opportunities. The financial world showed no such sympathy. On the contrary, these massive mergers tend to increase share value, with market sentiment usually supporting such moves.
So it was that Evolution was proud to announce starkly optimistic first-quarter financial results for 2021. Revenues more than doubled from the equivalent period in 2019 to more than €235 million, primarily due to the acquisition of NetEnt. Profits also more than doubled to €132 million.
Evolution CEO Jens von Bahr was particularly impressed by his company’s performance, commenting, “…we can already see good results from this work in the first quarter, and I believe that we are well set to continue to capitalise on the growing interest in online casino worldwide.”
He was also impressed by the increase in Live Gaming revenues, which improved 60% on the same quarter in 2019.
The Future Of NetEnt Online Casinos
The demise of NetEnt’s live gaming operation is terrible news for more than just the hundreds of loyal employees who worked there. It’s not great for the millions of regular players of live-streamed casino games, either.
Although most live casino gamers have always played games streamed from Evolution’s extensive network of studios, losing a quality competitor leaves Evolution with even more of a market monopoly than before. The competitive incentive to improve its service is no longer there. It’s little wonder that the company’s income and profitability are already rising.
The truth is that NetEnt’s reputation is built upon its online slot designs rather than its live gaming. Its millions of fans are more interested in the successive incarnations of Gonzo, Finn and NetEnt’s world-class game design operation than the fate of a redundant studio in Malta.
So the real question is, what effect will the advent of new owners Evolution’s stewardship have on the company’s slot output?
As ever with corporate takeovers, there are advantages and disadvantages for the acquired company, its customers, and players. On the plus side, the new owner’s increased financial power and market muscle offer potentially more extensive and diverse markets to move into.
It can also lead to an injection of investment into the newly acquired company, the additional resources sometimes leading to an expansion and improvement in the quality and quantity of output.
This is good for a company’s customers, players and fans. It can also work in their favour when the acquired company is ‘left to do what it does best’, with little interference from its new owners.
When companies retain autonomy and continue functioning independently, things can work well for customers and owners. The talents of the acquired company are, after all, what attracted the takeover bid from its new owners in the first place.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages too. It is too easy for a previously successful outfit to disappear into the black hole of its new owners’ corporate machine, micro-managed into submission. As a result, the acquired company can frequently become another forgotten brand within the newly merged organisation’s web of bureaucracy.
The skills and originality which led to the success of a start-up brand or company can get lost when it becomes a mere division of a massive conglomerate.
This is a real risk in this particular case. Initial indications are not a good sign when a whole NetEnt division is summarily closed virtually overnight to suit its new Evolution overlords. The evidence could lead a neutral observer to suggest a worrying question – was Evolution’s intention with this takeover merely to close down a competitor threatening its core market?
NetEnt – The Way Forward
Given the events of December 2020, the omens don’t look too promising. Evolution’s controversial closure of NetEnt’s Maltese live-streaming studio and the announcement of further extensive redundancies caused a storm within the online gaming industry. These actions demonstrated an apparent commercial ruthlessness from its new owners.
However, the longer-term prospects for NetEnt’s core business – slots – look better. There are certainly grounds for optimism.
While Evolution’s destruction of NetEnt’s live gaming operation seems based on protecting its business interests and market share, the amount of money involved in the acquisition suggests other motives are also in play.
€2 billion is a massive sum to pay to liquidate a troublesome competitor with a tiny market share. It would undoubtedly be a very expensive takeover if Evolution were to let its new acquisition’s talents wither on the vine.
It is undoubtedly in the company’s interests to nurture NetEnt’s undisputed and unrivalled talent for producing great games.
Instead, it can be seen that the two company’s respective strengths are a good fit. The business-speak term is ‘synergy’: Evolution will continue to concentrate on its live gaming operation, while NetEnt will be able to focus on its core strength – its incomparable slot output.
This way, both companies can appreciate the takeover as a win/win situation. Evolution now has a strong foothold in a related gaming market in which they previously had no influence.
At the same time, NetEnt can continue to do what they do best while enjoying additional financial security under the corporate umbrella of its new owners. Indeed, early indications suggest that NetEnt’s production schedule has been unaffected, with the usual prolific rate of releases continuing through the early months and years of their new corporate partnership.
The spring and summer of 2021 saw a consistent average rate of release of around two to three games per month, with some top titles such as Parthenon: Quest for Immortality and a new MegawaysTM version of the old NetEnt classic “Dazzle Me” hitting Netent casinos worldwide.
The Dazzle Me re-boot is particularly interesting because it is a fine example of the advantages of the merger with Evolution already bearing fruit. April 2021 saw Evolution splash the cash again, this time on the innovative Aussie gaming software outfit Big Time Gaming (BTG). This time, the value of the takeover was an initial €220 million, with the total outlay likely to amount to around €450 million.
The deal leaves Evolution as the ultimate owner of three of the most prestigious brands in slot software design: NetEnt, Red Tiger and now BTG. The specific advantage for NetEnt in this new deal is that BTG’s spectacularly successful Megaways TM mechanic is now effectively ‘in-house’. It is therefore available for all new releases and for upgrading the company’s legacy titles without the need to pay an additional licencing fee.
Another example of the benefits NetEnt’s new owners can bring to the table is the spectacular new version of the Gonzo franchise: Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. This unique and innovative mash-up brings the familiar story of the fictional Spanish conquistador to life in a thrilling live gaming format.
Once again, the game is set in the Inca jungle, but with real live action, live game show hosts, random prize drops, and multipliers added to the action. The game takes place in a kind of ‘augmented reality’, with live presenters mingling with the animated “Gonzo”, much like you may have seen in blockbuster movies like “Avatar” and “Iron Man”.
NetEnt Casinos Summary
The good news is that despite the corporate turbulence of recent times, the future for NetEnt remains bright. Many fans of the company’s unique style will be disappointed if its distinctive Scandinavian flavour is diluted. Still, early indications suggest that the company is set to thrive under the stewardship of its new owners and market muscle.
At netent.net, we will keep a close eye on developments, but NetEnt’s position at the forefront of innovative slot design seems assured for the foreseeable future. Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt does take online gaming into another dimension and seems to signal the way forward for the new commercial partnership.
Along with the acquisition of MegawaysTM inventors BTG, it is a clear demonstration of the ‘synergies’ the new partnership with Evolution is already bringing to the NetEnt locker. Casino operators, fans and online casino players alike: all are surely looking forward to seeing what spectacular new games and formats the future will bring.