Playtech
- Name
- Playtech plc
- Country
- Estonia, United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1999
- Games
- 51
- Mobile Games
- Yes
- Browser Games
- Yes
- Desktop Software
- Yes
- Average Payout
- 95,63
Review
Industry pioneer Playtech plc was founded in 1999, evolving into currently largest supplier for online gaming software and content in the world and is traded on the FTSE250 index at the London Stock Exchange. Over 5,000 employees, 17 office locations across the planet, 120 global licenses and operating in 20 regulated jurisdictions – these are just a few of the mammoth numbers that are responsible for the success of the company. Not to forget, a games catalogue exceeding 500 titles, ranging from online video slots, classic slots and table games to instant win and fixed-odds arcade games. They have also a strong foothold in online poker rooms, sports betting, online bingo games and operate their own live casino rooms.
It was entrepreneur Teddy Sagi who established the company in Tartu, Estonia with partners from the casino, software engineering and multimedia industries. They launched a download-based client in 2001 that offered a complete casino structure from front-end and games to the entire back-end with payment processing and accounting. Their first games were also launched with their platform and became huge hits with players. Playtech grew immensely quick over the years, mainly through vertical acquisitions such as PokerStrategy.com, Aristocrat Lotteries, YoYo Games and Quickspin but also through organic growth powered by their casino client as well as their addition of browser-based and mobile gaming solutions. As early as 2005, the developer introduced its first range of mobile games to the worldwide casino community.
Today, the company is valued at over $3 billion with a yearly revenue approaching the $1 billion mark. The company portfolio has become so broad that is difficult to find an area in the online gaming and betting market where Playtech is not involved. They even extended their activities to arcades and betting shops in the UK where they supply the software that powers over 25,000 gaming terminals for bookmakers such as Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.
To date, more than 300 of their games are available online outside their own platform. The most popular were the DC Comics series of progressive slots with titles such as Green Lantern, Man of Steel, Batman, and Superman, which have since been pulled of the market as Playtech did not extend the licensing deal with the rights owners. Instead, they rebranded the series into Age of Gods with titles now being King of Olympus, Ruler of the Sky or God of Storms. Popular non-progressive slots are Buffalo Blitz, White King and Gladiator: Road to Rome.