Pragmatic Play Review

Pragmatic Play at a Glance

Formed

2015 (built from the earlier TopGame Technology)

Headquarters

Gibraltar

Key licences

Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission and other regulated markets

Products

Online slots, live casino and other casino games

Signature mechanics

Pay-anywhere wins, tumbling reels, multiplier symbols, ante bet

RTP versions

Several versions offered for many games

Games we review

Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, Sugar Rush, Starlight Princess, Wolf Gold, Big Bass Bonanza

Company Background

Pragmatic Play was formed in 2015, when a group of investors acquired an earlier slot developer, TopGame Technology, and relaunched it under a new name with new leadership and a rebuilt game library. The company moved its games to HTML5, which made them suitable for mobile devices, and gained a Malta Gaming Authority licence in 2016 and UK Gambling Commission approval in 2017.

Since then, it has become known for an unusually fast release schedule, often launching several new games each month. Alongside slots, it has expanded into live casino and other casino products. The company is privately owned.

What Pragmatic Play Is Known For

Pay-Anywhere Tumbles

Many of Pragmatic Play's most popular games use a six-by-five grid where eight or more matching symbols anywhere on the screen form a win. Winning symbols tumble away and new ones fall in. See Scatter Symbols Explained and Cascading Reels Explained.

Multiplier Symbols

Games such as Gates of Olympus and Starlight Princess add multiplier symbols worth up to 500x, which build into a running total during free spins. See Slot Multipliers Explained.

Cluster Pays and Multiplier Spots

Sugar Rush uses a seven-by-seven cluster pays grid with multiplier spots that double each time a win lands on them. See Cluster Pays Explained.

Money Collect and Respin Features

Wolf Gold's Money Respin and Big Bass Bonanza's fisherman collect feature show the studio's other style: classic payline games with cash-collecting bonus features. See Slot Bonus Features Explained.

Ante Bets and Bonus Buys

Many Pragmatic Play games offer an ante bet, which raises the stake per spin in exchange for a higher chance of triggering free spins, and a bonus buy in markets where it is permitted. Both increase the amount at risk. See Slot Buy Features Explained.

Sequels and "1000" Versions

Successful games are often followed by sequels, spin-offs and higher-maximum-win versions, such as games with "1000" in the title. Each version has its own figures, so check the details of the exact game you are looking at.

Pragmatic Play Games We Review

RTP and Volatility

Pragmatic Play publishes RTP and volatility information for its games, and many of its popular titles have a standard RTP of around 96% to 96.5%. However, many games are also offered in lower RTP versions, and each casino chooses which one to use. Gates of Olympus, for example, is available at 96.50%, 95.51% and 94.50%. Always check the RTP shown in the game's information screen. See Pokies RTP Explained.

Many of the studio's best-known games are rated high or very high volatility, with most of their value concentrated in free spins and multipliers. See Slot Volatility Explained.

Licensing and Testing

Pragmatic Play holds licences or certifications in many regulated markets, including Malta and the United Kingdom. Its games are tested by independent laboratories before release in regulated markets. See Slot RNG Explained for how games are tested.

In Australia, it is illegal for companies to offer online casino games, including online pokies, to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Playing Responsibly

No studio makes games that are more likely to pay on any given spin. If you choose to play, set a budget and time limit before you start. Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.