Microgaming is ringing in the New Year with several new great games.

Celebrate the New Year’s good fortune with Lucky Twins. Boasting charming imagery, Lucky Twins is the latest release from Microgaming following the Asian theme. The rhythmic sound of the gong sets the mood for this relaxed and easy-to-play 5×3 reel slot, with 9 selectable pay lines. Representing protection, the Fortune Children symbol acts as the Wild, and players are wished good luck throughout the game by the iconic Meneki Neko waving cat. Lucky Twins launches on download and flash.

Joining Lucky Twins for January release is Peek-a-Boo, a comical and colourful 5×4 reel, 40 payline ghost-themed game. Amongst other features, Peek-a-Boo’s special symbol – the quirky kid – zaps ghosts on the reels to award cash prizes and free spins. Using his ray gun on reel three, when quirky kid captures 10 ghosts in the ghost meter, the free spins feature is triggered – up to 13 free spins! During which, the slot expands to 1,024 ways to win. Peek-a-Boo launches on download and flash.

Peek-a-Boo slot game:

Launching on mobile in January is Untamed Giant Panda, a highly popular instalment in Microgaming’s Untamed slot series. The five reel, 243 ways to win game features three bumper features: Collect a Wild™, Lucky Nudge™ and Your Gamble™.

Last, but certainly not least, Multi-player Mermaids Millions is set to make a splash with players in January. The well-known 5×3 reel, 25 payline slot has been converted for multi-player (in download and Flash), injecting social elements to game play. Up to six players can enter a virtual room where they can view each other’s play, chat and share the action of the bonus rounds.

Neill Whyte, Head of Product Channels at Microgaming, comments: "2015 was a busy year for our Casino Games

team, launching nearly 40 games to market, including blockbuster hit Bridesmaids™ and the stunning Hot as Hades. And for mobile we launched over 30 HTML5 games including popular multi-platform releases Basketball Star and Happy Holidays. As we enter 2016, this January we are bringing diversity to our portfolio with an Asian-inspired game and a spooky classic."

All games go live to Microgaming and Quickfire operators today, 6th January 2016.

Microgaming is celebrating 10 years of its Lara Croft: Tomb Raider™ online slot.

Having signed an exclusive deal with Eidos for the Tomb Raider brand in 2004, Microgaming has the longest-running brand partnership in the industry. Through this agreement, Microgaming launched the world’s first branded online slot, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider™.

Upon its release the slot was an instant hit. But more importantly, it has remained a highly popular game for an entire decade.

High in demand and in anticipation of the explosion of mobile gaming, in 2006, Microgaming developed the branded game in J2ME for use on mobile. Web App, Android and HTML5 versions followed, extending the game’s reach across mobile and tablet devices. The game was also configured for use in a tournament environment, when Microgaming launched its multi-player software in 2007.

Following the success of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider™ online slot, in 2008 a hotly-anticipated sequel was released, Lara Croft: Secret of the Sword™, sending players on a brand-new mission to track down fragments of a lost sword.

Roger Raatgever, CEO of Microgaming, comments: "The Tomb Raider brand is instantly recognisable, so when we signed the licensing agreement back in 2004, we were incredibly excited. As the industry’s first branded slot, we knew the game would be popular; it has now become a Microgaming classic!"

Virtually every industry operating today has an online presence. If they did not, they would not be able to tap into the online shopping phenomenon. Online shopping is a trending phenomenon that has experienced exponential growth. Of every online business known to man, one of the industry’s that has been the most successful, has been the online gambling space.

We are able to gamble on anything online. Take a punt on a favourite team or horse, or even on virtual horses; play bingo, slots, casino table games, poker, buy lottery tickets. The lot! The online casino business has made the gamblers world so simple it is not even funny – the world quite literally has become their oyster.

People in all walks of like, from every race and culture imaginable, have throughout history, loved to take a gamble. It is inherent in human nature, and one of the ways adults play. Essentially gambling is done for fun, and although some people do get addicted, it pays to note that people are the problem, not online casinos, nor the games that are on offer. A mature, stable person knows when to stop, and understands the concept that winners know when to stop.

Gambling is fun. It is a form of entertainment that taps into both our winning, as well as gaming fantasies. Games – especially slots have been themed on just about every pop-culture archetype, and therefore offer something for everyone. There are Avenger, Thor, Hulk, Batman, and Lord of the Rings slots. We have yet to see Twighlight slots, but don’t believe that this theme is off the drawing board. Tons of vampire themed slots are on offer daily at hundreds of casinos.

Whatever theme titillates the player can be found online, with major software developers paying in the millions for licence agreements with movie studios. Universal for example, has recently agreed to a licensing deal for the Jurassic Park Trilogy. Microgaming managed to land that. They cash in on the most exciting ideas, so, that we can cash in on them too. Star Wars has made its appearance in the form of a slot form, and we have already mentioned Lord of The Rings, you don’t have to take my word for it. Simply get to your nearest online casino, and see for yourself.

Do, do yourself a favour however and make sure your chosen casino is powered by Microgaming, Playtech, or the wonderful Net Entertainment. The world is your oyster in terms of game choices, and who knows what you might win.

In December 2013, Net Entertainment signed an agreement with one of the world’s leading online gambling groups, bet365. Net Entertainment is today pleased to announce that a comprehensive selection of the company’s best titles is now offered via desktop and mobile channels to bet365’s player base.

Björn Krantz, Chief of GMO and MD at Net Entertainment Malta Ltd, said: "We are very excited and proud to realize a successful launch of our games on Vegas at bet365. I am positive that our innovative and exciting portfolio of best of breed games will be well received by bet365 and its players."

It has only been a couple of years since casino type games went live on Facebook. At one stage this social networking site would not even allow casino game ads at their site. It appears that they have seen the error of their ways, and the effect of supply and demand now dictates what is popular or not.

In a recent list of the top twenty-three games played at this site, it seems that five of these are casino type games. Gaming in a social media type environment has grown in popularity, and grown exponentially for users at many of these sites. So, the 2013 top “Games of the Year” list was put together based on a selection of criteria. Facebook complied data from "user ratings, implementation, growth and overall quality."

The increase in mobile social media activity has also seen an increase in gaming, and gambling over this channel. This led to the fact that many in the top twenty-three can be enjoyed on both Internet and mobile platforms. Pundits are saying that approximately $12 million will be spent on mobile gambling this year (2014), so, the possibility exists that 2013 mobile growth may have contributed to the Facebook growth in gaming popularity. Hence the reason why five gambling games also made it into their favourites list.

Most online gambling operators are not surprised by the fact that despite the diversity of games available in this space – Hit it Rich Casino Slots, Double Down Casino, Slotmania, DoubleUCasino, and Heart of Vegas, made it to the top. Hit it Rich Casino was also dubbed the Best New Game of the Year. Consumer behaviour seems to be dictating that the Facebook space will soon be inundated with popular online gambling games.

We are not in the least bit surprised by this latest list. The online gambling industry has turned into a mainstream industry Globally, and looks set to grow even more with doors opening in the USA. There are still quite a few global market places that still remain untapped, and with the spread of high speed broadband into Southern American Countries, Africa and Asia, even more growth is bound to be the order of the day. Add to this the fact that mobile, and smartphone use is spreading across the world, and it appears as though the industry might be in for a nice growth surprise. In fact this growth has been speculated on, but could even turn out to be better than the industry is betting on.