Marvel Slots
Slots which tie in with the Marvel movies and comics are among the most popular titles you will find online. Today, these games are created by industry giant PlayTech. This was not the only software company to have been involved, and you will still find some of the early Marvel slots at rival Cryptologic (since bought by Amaya). This page gives you a history of Marvel Slots and the companies which produce them – and outlines many of the features which make these games so popular.
First below, I have gone back in time to look at the early days of Marvel slots – produced by Cryptologic before the movies really got going. PlayTech are the main player when it comes to these games nowadays, and you’ll find the background and development of this company next. After that some notes on the technology which makes Marvel slots so popular, including their linked progressives.
Early Marvel Slots from Cryptologic
This company was started in Toronto at the end of the 1990’s. During the early 2000’s they capitalized on the huge boom in the US online gambling scene, and were one of the biggest providers of slots games as well as a poker network for many years. Cryptologic focused their efforts on the US market, and so were hit hard when the UIGEA legislation of 2006 forced many of the legitimate casino brands out of the US.
During the mid to late 2000’s Cryptologic had a deal with Disney to bring movie and comic book tie in Marvel slots online. While their titles do look a little basic now, at the time they were released these games – complete with simple interactive bonus rounds – were at the cutting edge of the new slots design.
In 2010 things started to go wrong for Cryptologic. Marvel signed a deal with rival software house PlayTech, who effectively took over the franchise. At the same time the movies really started to take off – raising the profile of the characters and increasing the traffic to the slots games. There were court cases concerning this, however PlayTech are still running this hugely popular slots Franchise. Amaya, the Canadian gambling giant, bought up the ailing Cryptologic in 2012.
The New Home of Marvel Slots – PlayTech
PlayTech were started in Estonia in 1999, and were listed on the London Stock Exchange in the year 2006. Despite major setbacks caused by the UIGEA in 2006, this company has grown to become one of the biggest casino software providers globally. In addition to their casino software, PlayTech has a poker network and operate bingo and sports betting platforms too.
Since their first casino licensee in 2001, PlayTech has grown to power many of the biggest brand names in International casino gambling. These include many of the UK-listed ‘high street bookmaker’ type companies, which run the biggest online casinos.
The Marvel slots now produced by PlayTech are among their biggest titles, and have a jackpot which is pooled between the many different casinos operating their software. New titles are being released all the time, with more than 10 different Marvel themed games already available to play.
Technology Powering PlayTech’s Marvel Slots
These games are based on 5 reel video slots, with between 25 and 50 winning lines. The win-lines and coin sizes are selectable, which keeps these games accessible to smaller stakes players. Each successive Marvel slot has introduced new innovations in the behavior of the reels, bonus games and video-clips or animations.
As you would expect from a big budget movie franchise, the graphics on Marvel slots are stunning. These come to life within the reels, especially when the main characters hit a winning combination. You’ll find the music and sound effects are very much tied to the particular movies. Wilds which expand to fill entire reels, or affect the behavior of the symbols next to them can bring you some big wins in normal play in these games – especially when they are associated with free-spins rounds.
It is the break out bonus features which really move the slots genre forward with these titles. These take you out of the reels entirely and often give you interactive mini-games involving the main characters. Some of these bonus rounds include the chance to win some significant sums of money.
The biggest wins undoubtedly come via the linked progressive jackpots. These are shared between the different Marvel titles, and between the different casinos offering them. This means you’ll see high 6-figure and 7-figure sums waiting to be won. With so many games and casinos involved, big wins are happening with a reasonable frequency too.
Marvel slots are definitely worth checking out. You’ll get amazing graphics, including video-sharp animations from the movies, entertaining bonus games – and the chance to top it all with a progressive jackpot win on top. Make sure you check out the Marvel slots for yourself soon.