Evolution Software Review

A Bit of History

The story of Evolution started in 2006, when Fredrik Osterberg, Jens von Bahr, and Richard Hadida founded the company. The Stockholm-based game maker had a bold and visionary idea of making the most of RNG games and land-based casino entertainment. Drawing inspiration from the luxurious gambling establishments of Monte Carlo, Evolution relied on emerging technology to enable players to enjoy a genuine casino experience without leaving their homes.

It was the appointment of Todd Haushalter in 2015 that played a pivotal role in the company’s meteoric rise as the now Chief Product Officer is believed to be have been the brain behind many of Evolution’s most popular titles.

Evolution opened its first studio in Riga, the capital of Latvia. Since the entire concept was new to players, the studio had to run the BBC newscast in the background to show the games were taking place in real-time. As the studio started to grow, so did Evolution’s market presence.

Evolution is today licensed by some of the most reputable regulatory authorities in the world, operating in the UK, the US (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia), Canada (Alberta, Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec), Sweden, Gibraltar, Malta, and many other jurisdictions across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.

The late 2010s were a busy and eventful period for the Swedish company. In 2018, Evolution acquired Ezugi, while only a year later, they bought Red Tiger. 2020 saw the developer change its name from Evolution Gaming to Evolution. According to the official statement, the rebranding was carried out to better represent the company’s activities and operations.

In 2021, Evolution purchased Big Time Gaming, the slot maker behind the popular Megaways mechanics, while in 2022, it completed the acquisition of Nolimit City, adding the developer’s ground-breaking, highly volatile slots to its portfolio.

Frequent Themes and Bonus Features

Live casino games, game shows, and particularly live pokies crafted by Evolution offer a captivating and engaging combination of themes and bonus features.

When it comes to live slots, titles like Crazy Coin Flip, Crazy Pachinko, Extra Chilli Epic Spins, and Balloon Race have so far seen the light of day. The first two are spin-offs of the popular Crazy Time game show, meaning they both feature stylish game show surroundings. The visuals are vibrant, colourful and inviting, setting up an atmosphere worthy of the Las Vegas Strip, with the slot part of the game matching the main theme.

On the other hand, Extra Chilli Epic Spins is a Mexican-themed release, so expect to see the corresponding imagery. Balloon Race is another online slot with a live bonus round that went live in 2024. It starts with a Qualification phase, before Top-Up phase and Balloon Race Bonus are activated through the use of Scatters and Expanding Wilds.

The slot part of the game differs from one title to another, often experimenting with grid layouts, featuring traditional paylines or, like Extra Chilli Epic Spins, the Megaways game engine.

Multipliers are a widely used feature in the part of the game run by the live dealer. The host is often the one generating the multiplier, or they can be generated randomly. Of course, the list of extras can include other features like Free Spins, or a Gamble Wheel spun by the host.

Our Thoughts on Evolution

With an extensive selection of games that cater to a broad audience of players, including the ones from New Zealand, Evolution has firmly established itself as the leading name in the popular live casino segment.

The outstanding quality of its studio and the overall video quality will attract new players, while the high definition of video streams ensures a premium casino experience. At the same time, professional and friendly dealers add to the immersive environment, further enhancing every gaming session.

So far, strategic acquisitions have enabled Evolution to expand its reach, so it’s reasonable to expect its portfolio to further diversify, incorporating cutting-edge technology and innovative game concepts.

The fusion of RNG elements with live casino action has proven successful, and we believe this could open new possibilities for gaming in general. Evolution has been at the top of the industry for quite some time, and there’s no doubt they’ll stay there.