Realtime Gaming Slots

The online casino software design industry is dominated by a handful of names. A few companies compete for dominance, Realtime Gaming (called RTG for short) chief among them. Though RTG doesn't produce land-based games, they are one of the main providers of online slot games. Really, they're one of three truly major players in the global Web-based slot design game.

RTG was founded in 1998 in Atlanta, Georgia. We'll go into more detail about the company's history in the next section, but suffice to say that the UIGEA bill forced the founders to sell to foreign interests. The company now operates from the Netherlands Antilles. They're one of the three biggest providers of download, instant-play, and mobile casino games in the world, a household name for online gamblers.

If you've spent any time playing slots on the Internet, you've probably seen or played at least one Realtime slot. They are among one of the most popular libraries in the industry, in part because of their low cost, in part because of the size of their market share. RTG-powered casinos are big on slots, so naturally the company produces a ton of slot games. This page is all about those games and the company that produces them.

The History of Realtime Gaming

Realtime Gaming was founded in Atlanta in 1998 as a gaming software company with an eye toward the burgeoning online gambling industry. It's hard for us to remember, but at that time, the legality of playing slots, table games, and poker over an Internet connection wasn't really in question. Few localities had any sort of restrictions on placing online wagers. At the time, opening a software design firm focusing on games of chance and skill was a common-sense business decision.

RTG had a lot of early success, mostly in their ability to market and sell their low-cost suite of games. After they were one of the first software companies to offer back-end solutions (creating the first turn-key casino websites), their games became ubiquitous. Unfortunately, RTG's luck changed along with the rest of the industry in 2006.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was an attempt on the part of a few casino-sponsored extremists in the US Congress to end all online gambling in the US. Unfortunately for RTG and the online casinos themselves, all it did was hurt the financial products that support the industry. Americans continue to gamble online to this day, in many cases legally. Meanwhile, legitimate businesses like Realtime Gaming are forced out.

Over the course of the years 2007 and 2008, RTG moved all of their game development and gambling-related activities to a new headquarters in Heredia, Costa Rica. These days, they maintain a few offices in America, but the vast majority of their business has been moved once again to the Netherlands Antilles, after a corporate acquisition by the HBM Group. RTG still offers the same complete gaming platform and back-end solution product, they just do it under the supervision of a large parent company.

Realtime Gaming Management

Curiously, Realtime Gaming has a nearly-barren website (it's really just a landing page containing a few pieces of contact info) and posts no public information about its management. We say this is curious because the other software design companies we've reviewed have been all too happy to share this information with the public on websites that are informative and on the whole attractive and functional.

Here's what we found out about just two of the company's top executives, mostly through social media searches and press releases:

Herman Behr

Herman Behr has led a distinguished career in financial services management, including having founded and fully managed the HBM Group itself. Herman has worked in financial services for three decades, after securing an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management of the Erasmus University. Mr. Behr performs many functions outside of his active role as CEO of RTG's parent company, including:

Serving as Chairman of the Board of the Curaçao International Financial Services Association
Serving as Chairman of the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Supervising the Board of OBNA Bank, Netherlands Antilles
Supervising the Board of the University of the Netherlands Antilles

Michael Staw

After the founder of RTG and RTG Asia left the role of CEO to run Leander Games, Michael Staw stepped in. A graduate of Princeton, Mr. Staw made his name as founder of Pixel Technologies. That company produced high-end puzzle games and educational software products. Mr. Staw's worked as a top-level Software Engineer for Microsoft and managed the User Interface division at Lotus Development. He has two decades' experience in hands-on software development, and is known as a successful startup engineer, making a name for himself by founding, developing, and profiting from large scale ideas. His products range from the entertainment to the financial markets. He's currently working on an idea for an auction site to undercut eBay's market share.

RTG Slot Games

Variety is a big deal for slot players, whether they're in a casino in Atlantic City or playing online. The ability to hop from game to game and style to style makes playing slots more fun.

Realtime Gaming produces slot titles in a few different categories, though the majority of their titles follow a somewhat standardized design. Criticism from slot players about the overwhelming "sameness" of many of RTG's slots is warranted, though in recent years their design team has taken steps to add some variety to the company's offerings.

The most popular (and best-known) of all RTG slots are in a category called Real Series Slots. Also popular are the designer's special All Pays games, notable for their lack of pay lines. Here is more specific information about the various types of slots produced by Realtime Gaming.

Real Series Slots

It's safe to say that Real Series games make up the biggest single piece of RTG's slot lineup. These are popular games among some slots fans, but are also criticized by some for their common design and features. All Real Series slots are five reel games with anywhere from 20 to 30 available pay lines.

Real Series slots, like all of RTG's online casino games, can be set to different denominations by the site leasing the software, so there's no standard in terms of wager size. Real Series games depend on customized features like symbols and mini-games to make each game a little different.

The biggest knock on Real Series games is that they are just different takes on the same game play. The Real Series title Caesar's Empire uses Roman Empire-based symbols alongside wild symbols and a random progressive prize. The T-Rex game is essentially the same but with dinosaur icons and different symbols and progressive rewards.

All Pays Slots

RTG's new focus on the so-called All Pays line should give online slot fans some hope. They look and behave differently from Real Series games, adding a much-needed injection of excitement. These titles are designed so that the bettor doesn't pick pay lines, instead placing a wager based on how much money they want to be eligible to win. It's unique and it's a lot of fun.

Other RTG Slot Styles

It is difficult to classify some of RTG's games without using clichés. Look at Realtime's Sevens & Stripes slot. This is almost a stereotype of what a "classic" slot should be. Three reels, one pay line, and symbols like bars and sevens that wouldn't be out of place in a frontier saloon. But RTG's addition of a progressive top prize to this otherwise traditional slot makes it something that defies categorization.

The unusual games available at RTG are not just the company's saving grace, they are a perfect companion for the "same-old, same-old" feel of the Real Series titles. Take the popular I.R.I.S. 3000 title. This is barely even identifiable as a slot game, asking the bettor to pick doors instead of spin symbols on a pay line. Oh, and by the way, I.R.I.S. 3000 has a progressive side bet that costs just $0.50 per spin.

RTG Slot Reviews

Reviewing every Realtime Gaming slot title would require hundreds of thousands of words. Rather than bore you to death with description after descriptions, we're offering reviews of ten of RTG's most popular titles. We've taken care to choose a variety of game styles to showcase the full range of games produced by one of the world's top online casino design companies.

Cash Bandits

Cash Bandits is a progressive video slot launched in 2015, making it one of RTG's newest progressive titles in its Real Series. It's a 5 reel and 25 pay line game offers a two-tiered progressive jackpot system, a bonus round, and a shot at winning 90 free spins and up to a 12x multiplier.

The theme of the game is a bank vault break-in. The goal is to trigger the game's Vault Feature, which is the bonus game that rewards free spins and multipliers. The symbols all mirror the theme – there's a vault, a pile of money, a cop's badge, a robber in a traditional mask, and bright police lights and sirens.

You can choose to bet on up to 25 lines, in denominations ranging from $0.01 to $1. That gives you a max wager size of between $0.25 and $25. In order to be eligible for the top progressive prize, you have to wager $1 per credit, or $25 per spin.

Cash Bandits' two jackpots (called Minor and Major Progressive Jackpots) reset to a different amount, either $1,000 for the Minor or $100,000 for the major. The average payout for the Major Progressive is above $300,000. Both progressive prizes are totally random, though the Major is only available to $1-per-credit max bettors.

Cleopatra's Gold

Cleopatra's Gold is a 5 reel progressive video slot with 25 pay lines. The theme is all things Cleopatra, the famously beautiful final ruler of the kingdom of Egypt. This title has both Wild and Scatter symbols, a free spins round, and a progressive jackpot that resets to a large prize of $100,000. According to RTG, the average progressive payout for Cleopatra is $300,000.

The game icons include the standard RTG playing cards, but also Bastet (the Goddess of Cats), the ankh, a scarab beetle, and the famous (and for some reason blinking) eye of Horus. The game's two special symbols are Cleopatra herself and the Giza Pyramid. They are the scatter and the bonus symbol – one pays a random multiplier, the other triggers a free spins round.

You don't get to pick much about your wager – coins are worth $0.04 each, and the machine requires that you wager on all 25 pay lines on each spin, for a total of $1 per spin. That's a low per-spin cost for a progressive that often drifts up into the high six figures. To win that progressive, you have to land five consecutive Cleopatra symbols on a line all at the same time.

Double Ya Luck

Double Ya Luck uses the common Lady Luck trope and a simple three reel arrangement, plus a ton of extra features not common in classic slots, to create a unique game. The fact that Double Ya Luck has three pay lines on a three reel arrangement sets it apart from other RTG releases. This is the only three reel progressive jackpot game in all of RTG's library. Besides the progressive jackpot that resets to $10,000, this game includes a wild symbols, three different scatters, and three bonus games that award free spins, multipliers, and instant credit prizes.

The symbols you're really looking for in Double Ya Luck are the game's three title symbols, which look like casino chips with one of the words from the title written on them. Each of these, plus a special pair of red dice symbol, trigger special features. If you manage to land three red dice symbols on an active line (while betting max), you win the game's progressive jackpot. The other three symbols each trigger a different pick'em bonus game.

You can wager on one, two, or three pay lines with coins worth a typical range of values between $0.10 to $1. You have to bet the maximum ($3 per spin) in order to be eligible for the full progressive payout.

Ghost Ship

Another new release, Ghost Ship's theme is the legend of the Flying Dutchman. You watch as a ghost ship sails the open seas. Realtime Gaming launched this 5 reel and 25 pay line Real Series game in 2015, adding it as one of the newer additions to their Major and Minor progressive jackpot series. Besides a two-tiered progressive payout system, this game offers expanding wilds, a scatter symbol, and a free spins bonus round that includes multipliers of up to 10x.

The game accepts wagers on any of up to 25 pay lines, with credit size available between $0.10 and $1 per credit. The only way to make yourself eligible for the progressive top prize is to place a max bet of between $2.50 and $25 per spin.

RTG's designers have done a particularly good job of translating this legend into a slot game. The ghostly ship passing in the moonlight is genuinely creepy the first few times you see it. Even the traditional playing card symbols are themed, wrapped in seaweed and little bits of abandoned treasure. The game's two special symbols are the Ghost Captain and the Ghost Ship themselves, which these being the only two animated symbols in the game.

The Ghost Captain is an expanding wild, and it substitutes for all game icons besides the Ghost Ship to complete winning combos. It expands to fill the remaining two positions on the reel and awards even bigger wins than a traditional slot wild. The Ghost Shop logo pays out either the Minor or Major progressive jackpots, which reset to $1,000 and $10,000 respectively.

High Fashion

RTG, like many other slot designers, is looking to increase the variety of their games to pull in new audiences. High Fashion is one such game, designed to be really attractive to female gamblers. The theme is, well, high fashion and fashion modelling. This is a 5 reel and 25 pay line game featuring two different two bonus rounds and a lucrative scatter multiplier system.

Flashing cameras, spotlights, glamorous clothing, and accessories populate the game's symbols. This game is designed to produce more frequent wins than standard RTG games. To that end, any combo of two or more symbols leads to a payout. For example, spinning two or more of the Male or Female Model Wild symbols on reels one or five, and they'll substitute for all non-scatter symbols and multiply your eventual payout by a hefty 10x. Or, land any number of Runway Scatters (including two) anywhere on the active lines, and you'll win an instant credit reward of 1x, 2x, 25x or even 1000x your wager.

About those wagers – High Fashion follows the standard RTG layout, allowing credits of between $0.10 and $1 each, on any number of lines between 1 and 25.

Lucha Libre

Lucha Libre draws on the world of Mexican professional wrestling to create an addictive video slot with some cool side wager and bonus opportunities. The game stars a couple of "luchadores mexicanos" (Mexican wrestlers) named Taco Malo and Guacamolio who are attempting to entertain a big crowd of wrestling fans. Special prizes are handed out between "rounds," which gives you the chance to win extra cash or free spins.

This is a typical Real Series game, launched in 2015, so the fact that it has 5 reels and allows wagers on up to 25 pay lines should be no surprise. Players can set the credits at any value between $0.10 and $1 each, and a max bet is 25 lines, for a max bet range between $2.50 and $25 per spin.

The visuals are among the best produced by Realtime, and the sound effects didn't even really annoy us all that much. The hilarious Taco Malo and Guacamolio characters also have corresponding reel symbols that act as wilds, stacking on the third reel, substituting for all game icons with the exception of the two bonus-trigger scatter symbols.

The three bonus games are all just variations of the standard RTG pick'em bonus, but at least the animations are unique to each, so these features actually increase the replay value, something we're not used to seeing with RTG effects.

The Naughty List

RTG, like many other slot designers, is looking to increase the variety of their games to pull in new audiences. The Naughty List is one such game, designed to be really attractive to female gamblers. The theme is, well, The Naughty List and fashion modelling. This is a 5 reel and 25 pay line game featuring two different two bonus rounds and a lucrative scatter multiplier system.

The symbols you're really looking for in Naughty List are the game's three title symbols, which look like casino chips with one of the words from the title written on them. Each of these, plus a special pair of red dice symbol, trigger special features. If you manage to land three red dice symbols on an active line (while betting max), you win the game's progressive jackpot. The other three symbols each trigger a different pick'em bonus game.

About those wagers – The Naughty List follows the standard RTG layout, allowing credits of between $0.10 and $1 each, on any number of lines between 1 and 25.

Pirate Aisle

This is one of RTG's few fully-themed games, slots that attempt to tell a video game-like story. In Pirate Aisle, a pirate ship has set sail towards an island loaded with hidden treasures. Except the pirate and his crew aren't alone in their quest. In this game, you take actions to defeat the Spanish treasure ships attempting to squeeze in on your loot, and try to get to the island before the treasure runs out. The quicker you get to the treasure, the larger your payout.

This is a 5 reel and 25 pay line video slot based on a popular series of Captain Redbeard cartoon strips. Pirate Aisle was the first 3D slot ever developed by Realtime Gaming, and the animations, cut scenes, and other effects are the best the company has yet produced. The fact that Pirate Aisle has a progressive top prize and a skill-based bonus game adds to its appeal.

The game's symbols include the infamous Captain Redbeard, a few other pirates, a scantily-clad bar maid, the traditional pirate flag, and various forms of treasure. The four special icons to watch out for are a Skeleton Key, a Galleon, a Treasure Chest, and a really creepy Ghost that jump-scared us really bad when we test-played the game just now. Each symbol leads to a different bonus game, one of which pays out different amounts based on your skill at shooting a video game-like cannon.

This is a fixed-bet game that requires a twenty-five credit wager per spin, that's one credit on each of 25 pay lines. You can select your credit value, from $0.01 to $0.25 each. You can also choose to wager an extra thirty credit for a special Extra Bet on each spin. Land three or more Galleon symbols anywhere on the screen while Extra Bet is triggered, and the special Broadside Feature is activated paying out cash prizes for each enemy ship you destroy.

Reel Blood

Reel Blood is an attempt on RTG's part to cash in on the vampire craze. This game features plenty of bloodsuckers, bottles of blood, and a Cajun motif, suggesting a strong True Blood influence. The line award system is unique to RTG, looking like a traditional 5 reel slot with 3 lines of symbols appearing on the screen. And if you look, you'll see that the total wagering range is a massive one, between $0.25 and $125 per spin. You don't have to choose lines or credit size – just your total max bet.

Why? Because Reel Blood uses the All Pays system that RTG is starting to incorporate in order to mix up their library. It doesn't matter what "line" a symbol lands on – there are no lines. Instead, every possible combination of symbols is wagered on for each spin. Technically, you're wagering on 243 different "lines" on each spin, since all combos are eligible on each turn. So long as you match three or more symbols in any direction, you'll win.

The vampire symbols lead to the biggest static payouts, which lead to credit payouts in the thousands. A giant blood bottle symbol is an expanding wild, substituting for non-special symbols to create winning combos, and expanding to lead to larger payouts.

Santastic

Online slot players love holiday-themed games. Maybe it's because they take us back to a simpler and happier time. Maybe it's because we're drawn to them at holidays. Either way, RTG created Santastic to cash in on people's obsessions with slots based on Christmas.

Santastic is a simple-looking 3 reel slot with 5 pay lines. But the addition of some extra in-game features make it a hybrid of classic slots and contemporary video games. This title includes the use of expanding wilds, multipliers, a bonus round, a two-tiered progressive jackpot, and a low maximum wager of just five coins per spin.

Santastic is a colorful slot full of reds and greens and holiday-themed symbols. The music may get a bit old, especially if you play outside of traditional Christmas season. But for lots of players, the appearance of Santa and his reindeer is enough to bring a lump to our throats. We're not exaggerating – this is a nostalgic little slot. The game's symbols include the North Pole sign, multiple snowmen, a teddy bear, lollipops, cakes, and stuffed Christmas stocking. A simple Jackpot icon leads to a few of the game's best features.

The coin value ranges between $0.10 and $1, and a max bet is five pay lines, for a total max bet range of $0.50 and $5 per spin. The game's special Double Wild and Triple Wild symbols multiply all winning combos by 2x or 3x respectively, and also substitute for all non-special symbols to form winning combos.

The game's Festive Feast Feature is triggered randomly during winning combos and leads to the game's biggest payouts. Not only can you win 3, 10 or 25 free games, you could also win a special 2500x your total bet payout. Additionally, during this round, spinning three Santa symbols on an active pay line will see you win a special 100 coin bonus. Other bonuses during this round are explained during gameplay.

Realtime Gaming Slots: A Summary

It's hard for us to say anything concrete about RTG one way or the other. More than other slot design companies, RTG games offer a lot of pros and cons. We like some things about them, and other things we're not so happy about.

On the one hand, they produce an awful lot of them. The size of RTG's slot library is the biggest feather in the company's cap. That long list of titles is divided up into a number of categories that make finding a game you want to play really simple. RTG titles range from classic single pay line titles to the most intricate modern progressive slots. Their games are all available in mobile format. That's good news for RTG-powered casino sites, since mobile gambling really is the next big thing.

On the other hand, Realtime's slots are just not as good-looking or as fun to play as the competition. RTG has yet to release any licensed games. These are really popular among a certain portion of the slot-play public, so for some people this is a big problem. Another knock on RTG slots is that a lot of them (okay, let's be honest, most of them) look the same. The designs are simplistic and often the only difference between two games is the theme.

Though the games produced by rivals Playtech and Microgaming look better (and offer licensed titles), RTG is a popular platform choice for online gaming sites, so their games are pretty common. What they lack in imagination they kind of make up for with consistency. Not the best in the industry, but above-average in terms of variety, design, and entertainment.