Microgaming (Apricot) Review & Free to Play Slots

Microgaming is considered to be the grandfather of online casino gaming. The company was founded in 1994. Soon after that, Microgaming developed the first online casino in the world. Since then, Microgaming has become an iGaming giant thanks to partnerships with over 30 gaming operators and over 135 gaming studios. Besides that, the developer has expanded its products to sportsbooks, poker networks, and bingo networks. Currently, Microgaming has over 1,500 games in its portfolio. The software provider’s slots are known for the Megaways features, huge progressive jackpots, and partnerships with famous brands.

The company is based in the Isle of Man. As a guarantee of Microgaming’s reliability and trustworthiness, the developer is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/B2B/139/2007 and MGA/B2B/124/2006). Moreover, the developer is one of the founding members of eCOGRA, a reputable iGaming assurance and regulation company.

The following review will go in-depth about Microgaming’s portfolio and main features. We will also go through the RTP and volatility levels in the most popular Microgaming slots. Read on to find out how you can play Microgaming slots for free today.

Microgaming has been at the forefront of iGaming innovation ever since its early days. For example, in 1994 Microgaming founded the first online casino in the world. The new development quickly revolutionized the gaming market and pushed competition to follow with their own software. Throughout the years, Microgaming has expanded its reach to sportsbooks, poker networks, and bingo networks. The developers' advanced sports betting software, licensed to Betway, allows players to bet on millions of events in almost 50 categories.

Currently, Microgaming has over 1,500 different titles in its portfolio. Besides that, it has 5300 games integrated into the platform from partner software developers. However, this number is constantly growing due to regular releases of new games. Microgaming’s games can be found in most online casinos, due to the developer’s extensive partnerships. The innovative platform allows quick and easy integration with customer casinos, supporting thousands of promotions and casino titles for over 80 million players.

1. 9 Masks of Fire — This medium-volatility slot released in October 2019 features an African theme with vibrant visuals. Players can enjoy a Mask Scatter pays system together with free spins and a jackpot. The RTP is set at 96.24% and the maximum win is 2,000x player’s bet. Bets range from €0.20 to €60.
2. A Dark Matter — Released in October 2019, A Dark Matter features a Victorian theme with a mysterious undertone. The slot has special features such as Invading Wilds, Stacked Wilds, and free spins with some additional wilds. In this medium volatility slot, the RTP is 96.18% with maximum wins up to 1,200x the bet. Bets range from €0.05 to €50.
   
3. Arena of Gold — Released in April 2020, Arena of Gold takes players on a journey to the arenas of ancient Rome. Join the legendary gladiators and enjoy free spins with merged reels and a Golden Re-Spins bonus. The slot’s RTP is 96.20% with maximum wins up to 2,500x the player’s bet. Arena of Gold has a medium-volatility with a bet range from €0.10 to €50.
   
4. Aurora Beast Hunter — This slot features a unique 80s action-adventure theme. Released in June 2020, Aurora Beast Hunder offers wild reels, sticky wilds, expanding wilds, and three kinds of possible free spins. Players can win up to 5,000x of their bet. The RTP is 96.27% and bets range from €0.10 to €50, making it a high-volatility slot.
   
5. Cash of Kingdoms — This medieval-themed slot, released in October 2018, features unique cartoonish graphics. Cash of Kingdoms has special features such as Invading Wilds, and free spins with enhanced wilds. The RTP is set at 96.28% with maximum wins up to 1,000x the bet. Bets range from €0.15 to €480 per spin.
   
6. Cool Wolf — Released in May 2014, this game features a mythical werewolf theme. Players can enjoy Rolling Reels with up to 10x multipliers and a Howling Wilds bonus. The RTP is set at 96.47% and the maximum win is 1,050x the player’s bet. The slot has a medium volatility, with bets ranging from €0.01 to €50 per spin.
   
7. Dolphins Coast — This slot released in October 2014 takes casino enthusiasts on an underwater adventure with dolphins. Besides the Dolphin Wild feature, the slot includes free spins with multipliers. The RTP is around 96%, with maximum wins up to 7,500x the player’s bet. Dolphins Coast has medium volatility and bets range from €0.50 to €25 per spin.
   
8. Jurassic Park — Released in August 2014, Jurassic Park is based on the famous film franchise. The slot features several unique gameplay mechanics. For example, it has five different free spins modes with special wilds and multipliers. The RTP is 96.67% and the maximum win is 6,333x the bet. This medium volatility slot offers bets from €0.30 to €15 per spin.
   

Understanding RTP is important when playing any kind of slot game. This will give you an idea of the theoretical returns you can expect from the game. After analyzing the most popular Microgaming slots, we can conclude that the RTP ranges from 96.20% to 96.60%. However, the developer has a huge portfolio of games, therefore, the RTP can vary greatly between different titles. For example, the legendary Mega Moolah slot has RTP of 88.12%. 

Microgaming's most popular games and their RTPs

Microgaming was the first company to develop a fully optimized online casino back in 2004. Since that time, the developer focused on providing players with a multi-platform experience. Like many other software providers, Microgaming takes advantage of HTML5 technology. This ensures that all Microgaming titles can be launched on smartphones and tablets without any extra downloads. Players can access their favorite slots by simply opening them in the web browser. Besides that, some Microgaming titles include a standalone mobile app. However, this is not required to enjoy mobile compatibility. 

If you are looking for an interactive and social experience, then the Book of Slots platform is for you. Here, players can find the most popular Microgaming slots absolutely for free. Besides that, casino enthusiasts can experience slots of other well-known providers. Moreover, players can share and discuss highlights with other players on the platform. There is also an option to livestream and connect with your favorite content creators. 

Microgaming is dedicated to providing players with a fair and safe gaming environment. After all, the developer has a reputation of being a trustworthy provider, thanks to its many years in the industry. Microgaming has developed a wide variety of responsible gambling tools for operators to ensure a safe environment. These tools include deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion facilities. Besides that, the staff-led PlayItForward program supports local communities in health, charity, education, and sport. To have a better idea of Microgaming’s contribution, the award-winning program has supported over 278 community causes with €2.57 million invested. Over 420 staff members are dedicated to the PlayItForward causes. 

Throughout its many years of operations, Microgaming has been awarded over sixty industry and non-industry awards. The iGaming community recognizes Microgaming’s efforts in developing cutting-edge software and technology. Here are some of the developer’s most prestigious awards. 

1. 2020 —EGR B2B Platform of the Year Award
2. 2020 — EGR Italy Awards for Casino Platform Supplier and Software Supplier of the Year
   
3. 2018 — IGA iGaming Software Supplier of the Year and the Malta Gaming Awards Slots Platform of the Year
   
4. 2019 — CasinoBeats Pride of Gaming CSR Award
   
5. 2021 — WIGDA CharitableCommunity Award