Jump To List Of Casinos

NetEnt Online Casinos For Ireland

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 accept a €5 deposit here that are all fully licenced. These 5 euro casinos still allow you to claim the welcome bonus.

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.

Top NetEnt Casino Sites In Ireland

Barz Casino
Barz Casino

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €500 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: €1500 Welcome Offer on 1st 3 deposits, plus 120 spins. 1st deposit offer 200% match bonus up to €500 plus 50 bonus spins on Book of Dead. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. Winnings from free spins are credited as bonus funds. Winnings from deposit-based free spins are capped at €20. Bonus funds are subject to wagering requirements 40x the total of bonus money, deposit and free spins before they are converted to cash and can be withdrawn. Deposits made by Skrill and Neteller are not eligible for this offer. Unused bonus fund expire after 30 days. Unused free spins expire after 10 days. Full terms apply.
Blood Moon

Blood Moon

Welcome Bonus

400% Bonus Up To €800

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 400% up to €800 on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit €25. This Bonus is subject to a wagering requirement of 45x before cashout and can only be wagered on Slots. Full terms apply.
SpinYoo

SpinYoo

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €350 + 100 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Up to €1000 Welcome Bonus and 100 Spins on first 3 deposits, starting with 100% Deposit Bonus up to €350 Slots Bonus + 100 Spins on 1st deposit. 18+. New players only. Minimum Deposit €20. Maximum Bonus Bet €5. Bonus offer is 100% of first deposit up to €350 on Slots only and 100 Yoo Spins valid on Starburst, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Fire Joker, Gonzo's Quest and Super Flip respectively (first 20 credited immediately upon first deposit; rest credited at 07:00 CET at 20/day). Spins must be used by 23:59 CET of the day on which they are credited, any unused shall be removed. Winnings from each 20 spins set capped at €50 and credited as bonus funds. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering of bonus funds and deposit amount. Full Terms Apply. Play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
Falcon Vegas

Falcon Vegas

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €1,000 + 25 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions:

Welcome package up to 2,250€ and 150 Free Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% match bonus up to 1,000€ and 25 free spins on Book of Dead plus 500 Falcon Wings on your first deposit. New players only, aged 18 or over, and for the first 3 deposits. Minimum deposit 20€. Winnings from free spins are credited as bonus funds. Winnings from deposit-based free spins are capped at 20€. Spins will be activated when the player launches the slot games and are valid for 10 days. This bonus can be used to play on Slots and Table Games only. Bonus funds carry a wagering requirement of 40x bonus amount. Full terms apply.

Stakes

Stakes

Welcome Bonus

150% Bonus Up To €1,000 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Exclusive welcome offer valid only for players in Ireland, Germany and Austria via this link, 150% up to €1000 plus 50 free spins on Book of Dead. Minimum deposit €10. Maximum bet on game: €5. Wagering requirements: 40x. Maximum withdrawal of players: €2,000 per day, €5,000 per week, €20,000 per month. Full terms apply.
X1 Casino

X1 Casino

Welcome Bonus

150% Bonus Up To €1,000 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Exclusive Welcome offer 150% up to €1000 and 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead. Minimum deposit €10. WR 40x. Full terms apply.
Ultima Casino

Ultima Casino

Welcome Bonus

300% Bonus Up To €3,000 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: NEW Improved Welcome Bonus 300% up to €3000 and 50 Free Spins on Starburst. New players, 1st deposit only. Opt in required for bonus. To claim the Freespins players must contact the support team within 24 hours after receiving the Welcome Casino Bonus with the following code: WELCOME50FS. Minimum deposit €25. Maximum bonus €3000. Welcome Casino Bonus can be used on slots and only on the following Provider: Egt, Netent, Amatic. Free spins are awarded on the slot "Starburst" (value per spin €0.10). Both bonuses are subject to wagering requirement of 20x within 45 days. Minimum bet amount to count toward the wagering requirement is €0.50 and maximum is €5.00. General Terms and Conditions apply.
Jinx Casino

Jinx Casino

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €1,000

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome package gives 300% on deposits, offering a maximum bonus of 3000EUR over 2 deposits, starting with 200% up to 1000EUR on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit €50. Wagering Requirement: 25x. Terms apply.
Jackpot Village
Jackpot Village

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €500 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Claim your €1800 welcome bonus and 95 spins over first 3 deposits. 1st deposit offer 200% bonus match up to €500 and 50 Bonus spins on Book of Dead on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. Wagering is 40x the total of bonus money, deposit and free spins. Wagering must be completed before any funds can be withdrawn. Not all games contribute to this wagering requirement. The maximum bet allowed whilst the welcome bonus is in play is €5. Deposits made by Skrills and Neteller are not eligible. Unused bonus funds expire after 30 days. Unused free spins expire after 10 days. Any winnings from these free spins are capped at €20 and credited as bonus funds to your account. Full terms apply.
Spin Rider

Spin Rider

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €3,000 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: €4,500 Welcome Bonus available plus 110 Bonus Spins with 3 deposits. 1st deposit offer 200% Match Bonus up to €3,000 plus 50 Bonus Spins on eligible NetEnt games. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. Wagering is 35x the total of bonus money, deposit and bonus/free spins. Wagering must be completed before any funds can be withdrawn. Not all games contribute to this wagering requirement. Maximum bet allowed whilst the welcome bonus is in play is €5. Deposits made by Skrills and Neteller not eligible. Unused bonus fund expire after 30 days. Unused bonus spins expire after 10 days. Winnings from extra spins are capped at €100. Full terms apply.
Miami Dice

Miami Dice

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €2,500 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Earn up to €3,500 match bonus and 200 spins on your 1st 3 deposits. 1st deposit offer 200% match bonus up to €2,500 plus 50 Bonus spins on Starburst. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. Maximum bonus bet is €5. Wagering is 35x the total of bonus money, deposit and extra spins. Wagering must be completed before any funds can be withdrawn. Deposits made by Skrills and Neteller are not eligible. Unused bonus funds/ spins expire after 30 days. Winnings from extra spins are capped at €100. Standard promotion terms and general terms and conditions apply.
Luckland

Luckland

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €400 + 200 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% Bonus up to €400 and 200 Free Spins on 1st deposit. New depositing players only. Minimum deposit €20. Free spins given as 40 per day for 5 days and can be used on games such as Book of Dead, Starburst, Fire Joker and Gonzo’s Quest. Unused Free spins expires 24hrs after being issued. All bonus money will expire 21 days after being awarded to you. Winnings won with spins that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. Bonuses that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. General bonus terms and conditions apply.
Queenplay
Queenplay

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €250 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: 100% Bonus up to €250 + 50 spins on Starburst on 1st deposit. New depositing players only. Minimum deposit €10. 18+ Unused free spins expires 24hrs after being issued. Spins are on several of our best paying games. Winnings won with spins have to be wagered 35x. Bonus has to be wagered 35x. Maximum conversion from free spins €100. Full terms apply.
Zetbet Casino

Zetbet Casino

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €300 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% up to €300 plus 50 spins on 9 Masks of Fire on 1st deposit. This is part of a welcome package worth up to €2000 and 250 spins over 1st 5 deposits. New players only. Minimum deposit €10. 35x wagering requirement applies to match bonus. 50x wagering requirement applies to free spins. Full terms apply.
Vegasland

Vegasland

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €200 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome package 200 Spins + up to €1200 Bonus. Offer valid on four deposits. 1st deposit: 100% Bonus up to €200 + 50 spins on Starburst. Minimum deposit: €10. Offer only applies to new players, aged 18+. Unused free spins expires 24hrs after being issued. Winnings won with spins that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. Bonuses that require a deposit, have to be wagered x35. Bonus Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Bzeebet

Bzeebet

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €350 + 100 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome package offering €1,000 + 100 Spins over 3 deposits, starting with 100% up to €350 deposit match bonus + 100 Spins on 1st deposit. Free Spins given as 5 batches of 20 Spins on Starburst, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Fire Joker, Gonzo's Quest and Big Bass Bonanza. 18+. New players only. Minimum deposit: ‎€20 for 1st, 2nd & 3rd deposit. 100 spins on 1st deposit divided over 5 days. Spins and bonus wagering requirement: 35x, spins expire after 24 hours. BeGambleAware.org Terms apply
Mr Play Casino

Mr Play Casino

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €200 + 20 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% bonus up to €200 and 20 Spins on 1st deposit. Offer valid on first deposit. Minimum deposit €10. Max. bonus €200. Unused free spins expires 24hrs after being issued. Spins are on several of the best paying games. Winnings won with spins that require deposit, have to be wagered 35x. Bonus WR 35x. Full terms apply.
Fruity King

Fruity King

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €50 + 10 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome bonus 200% up to €50 plus 10 Free No Wager Spins on Reactoonz on 1st deposit. New Players Only. Minimum deposit €10. Deposit code FREEDEPOSIT required. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Maximum conversion: 3 times the bonus amount. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply. 18+ only. Please play responsibly. Begambleaware.Org. #AD
Millionaire

Millionaire

Welcome Bonus

Deposit €20 and get 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. Wager from real balance first. 50x wagering the bonus. Contribution varies per game, selected games only. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus is valid for 30 Days from receipt and free spins for 7 days from issue. Maximum conversion 3x bonus amount or from free spins €20. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests void all active pending bonuses. Full Terms apply.
Winners Magic

Winners Magic

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €200 + 20 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Get €200 Bonus and 100 Spins on your 1st 3 deposits, starting with 20 Spins and 100% bonus up to 200€ bonus upon first deposit. New players only. 18+. Minimum deposit 10€. 35x Wagering applies. Spins expire after 24 hours. Bonus Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Trada Casino

Trada Casino

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €100 + 50 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% Bonus up to €100 and 50 Starburst Spins. New players only. Minimum deposit €10. 35x wagering on Bonus and Spins. Spins expire after 24 hours. Full terms apply.
OlympusBet

OlympusBet

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €500 + 25 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer 100% up to €500 on 1st deposit, plus get 100 Free Spins across your 1st four deposits, 25 for each. Bonus code OBWEL100 required. Minimum deposit 20 €. Free spins are for Rags to Witches, Book Of Darkness, Gears of Time. The amount of the deposit and the bonus must be rolled over 40x within 21 days in order to convert the bonus into real money and cash out any winnings. Maximum bonus conversion is 10 x the awarded bonus. Full terms apply.
Gamblii

Gamblii

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €250

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: Welcome offer claim up to 5000€ with a 350% package over 3 deposits, starting with 200% up to 250€ on 1st deposit. Minimum deposit 50€. Wagering Requirement 35x. Full terms apply.
Palm Slots

Palm Slots

Welcome Bonus

100% Bonus Up To €200

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions: €1,000 Welcome Package over 1st 4 deposits, starting with 100% up to €200 on 1st deposit. Code PSWEL200 required. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. The amount of the deposit and the bonus must be rolled over 40x within 21 days in order to convert the bonus into real money and cash out any winnings. General promo terms and conditions apply.
Tiger Riches Casino

Tiger Riches Casino

Welcome Bonus

200% Bonus Up To €1,000 + 100 Bonus Spins

View Terms Here

Claim Offer Terms & Conditions:

Welcome offer 200% match up to 1,000€ + 100 Free Spins on Wolf Gold on your First Deposit. Minimum deposit 20€. Bonus funds carry a wagering requirement of 40x the sum of your deposit and bonus amount. Once credited your bonus remains valid for 7 days. 100 Free Spins on Wolf Gold are worth 0.10€ each and are valid for 7 days. All winnings earned from the spins will be rewarded in bonus funds and carry a wagering requirement of 40x the total bonus amount earned. The maximum conversion amount from bonus funds will be capped at 5X the initial bonus amount awarded. 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 €160 million) with total earnings before tax of around SEK 600 million (just under €55 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 Online 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 Online 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.