Playtech describes itself as a "one-stop shop for gaming operators", and for good reason. As well as creating an ever-expanding library of fantastic games, it also provides casinos with a range of services and solutions to help them promote those games most effectively. Founded in Estonia in 1999, Playtech is one of the most experienced game providers in the industry, and it's become a favourite with players thanks to captivating titles like Age of the Gods and Buffalo Blitz. In this Playtech review, we'll take a look at how it grew from a simple idea to become the gaming giant that it is today plus we'll show you the best Playtech casinos to try.
Top Playtech NZ Casinos in 2023
HOT IN NZ!
Background and History
Playtech was born in Tartu, Estonia, in 1999 when a group of entrepreneurs from the casino, multimedia and software engineering came together to do something different in the world of online gaming. The company managed to secure its first licensee by the close of 2001 and in 2004 it founded the iPoker network, which just happened to be, at that time, the biggest poker network in the world.
The company started trading on the AIM market on the London Stock Exchange in 2006, and in that same year, it founded its Playtech Academy to help it recruit and develop its staff. In 2008 it signed a software licence agreement with William Hill PLC in the United Kingdom, and it then created William Hill Online in return for a 29% stake in it.
In 2012, Playtech was listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market, and in the following year, it sold its stake in William Hill Online back to William Hill PLC for the eye-watering sum of £424 million.
Playtech has continued to go from strength to strength, acquiring multiple businesses along the way, but it has never taken its eye off game development. In 2017 it announced a massive branded games content deal with Warner Bros, and that allowed it to give us such popular DC-branded titles as Superman I, Superman II and Green Lantern.
Today, Playtech is one of the largest game developers in the world. The company is still based in Estonia, but it has offices in no fewer than 24 countries and it employs more than 6,400 people. As for its games, they are available in 30 regulated jurisdictions via 170 licensees.
Playtech Games: There's Something for Everyone
The Playtech library of games is made up of more than 650 titles that include all of the main online gaming genres, from pokies to table games and even live casino games. We clearly don't have space in a single article to do this range justice, so we will simply highlight three of the titles that are currently most popular here in New Zealand, and we'll leave you to explore the rest at your leisure.
Wheels of Flame
This is a five-reel slot with four rows that was released in 2023. The game is inspired by the mythical phoenix, which features on the reels as a symbol, along with ancient items of jewellery and a phoenix egg. At the top of the game, you'll see three Wheels of Flame, and you can trigger a spin of the first, second, or third reels by landing three, four, or five flame symbols, respectively. These wheels will award you some fantastic awards, such as a cash prize of up to x500 or as many as 50 free games. If you want to double your chances of triggering this feature, you can do so by paying a little more per spin.
Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack Live
This is another 2023 title, but this is a live casino game. It's an exciting new presentation of blackjack which uses eight decks and gives you the option of placing a side bet on the Mega Fire Blaze bonus. Exercise that option and you'll have a chance of benefiting from a Fire Blaze event and possibly win yourself a multiplier of up to 1,000x. That's massive winning potential for an online blackjack game, which is probably why Mega Fire Blaze Blackjack Live is currently setting New Zealand casinos alight with excitement.
Adventures Beyond Wonderland Live
This is another live casino game, but this one was released in 2020 and has a "game show" format that focuses on a vertical wheel containing 54 segments. Each segment contains a number or the name of a bonus round, such as Magic Dice, Wonderspins or Mystery. The idea is for you to bet on which segment will be selected as the winner at the end of a spin. Bet on a winning number and you'll win that many times your bet. Bet on a winning bonus round and you'll get to participate in that round to win prizes that way. With a superbly realised Alice in Wonderland theme, this is a live casino game that players love.
Playtech: CasinoGuide Verdict
Playtech is one of the oldest online game providers around, so the fact that it is now one of the biggest and best should come as no surprise to anyone. With over 650 games to its credit and new titles being released month after month, it would take you quite a while just to play your way through its catalogue just once. Especially when you consider that every title put out by this company is of the highest standard and could keep you amused for an entire gaming session or even longer. Whether you're a fan of online pokies, automated table games or live casino games, Playtech has all you need to have a great time.
