# Pokies providers: the studios behind Australian pokies URL: https://onlinepokiess.org/providers Author: Alexander. Updated: 2026-10-29 Facts last checked: 2026-10-13 **Key facts:** - A pokies provider is the studio that designs a game's maths, features and graphics and supplies it to venues or online casinos. - Aristocrat, founded in Sydney, makes many of Australia's best known venue pokies, including Lightning Link, Dragon Link and Queen of the Nile. - Online casinos mainly carry games from online studios such as Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO and Games Global. - Many providers offer each game in several RTP versions, so the same game can return differently at different casinos. - The provider's name is shown in the casino lobby and in the game itself; use it to check that a game is what it claims to be. ## What is a pokies provider? A pokies provider is the studio that designs a pokie and supplies it to venues or online casinos. The provider decides the game's maths (its RTP versions, volatility and hit frequency), its features and its look. The casino or venue then chooses which games, and which versions of them, to offer. Knowing the provider helps you in two ways: it tells you what kind of game to expect, and it lets you check that a game is genuine. A pokie that uses a famous name but shows a different provider in the lobby is a different game. ## Who are the main providers Australians know? | Provider | Best known for | Where you find the games | | [Aristocrat](https://onlinepokiess.org/providers/aristocrat) | Lightning Link, Dragon Link, Queen of the Nile, 5 Dragons | Venues; social casino apps; licensed online casinos in some overseas markets | | [Pragmatic Play](https://onlinepokiess.org/providers/pragmatic-play) | Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, Big Bass Bonanza, Wolf Gold | Online casinos | | Play'n GO | Book of Dead and the Rich Wilde series | Online casinos | | Games Global (formerly Microgaming) | Mega Moolah and its jackpot network | Online casinos | Many other studios supply online casinos, each with a style: some focus on Megaways, others on hold and spin, others on high volatility games with large maximum wins. ## How do venue makers and online studios differ? Venue makers such as Aristocrat build games for machines in clubs, pubs and casinos, approved under each state's rules. Their best known games reach the internet mainly through social casino apps, and as real money games only in some regulated markets overseas, so they are rarely found at the sites that accept Australians. Online studios build games for online casinos first. They release new titles often, offer demo versions and typically provide several RTP versions of each game. Our guide to [new online pokies](https://onlinepokiess.org/new-pokies) explains how to judge their latest releases. ## What do providers publish about their games? Providers publish their games' descriptions, features and, for many online studios, an RTP figure on their own websites, often with a demo. Pragmatic Play, for example, lists an RTP on each game page, such as 96.48% for Sweet Bonanza. Play'n GO describes each game's features and release date. These pages are the most reliable source for how a game works, and they are the sources we use on our game pages. RTP versions matter because the same game can return different amounts at different casinos. A provider may offer, for example, a higher and a lower RTP setting, and the casino picks one. The game looks and plays the same; only the long-run return changes. Always check the RTP in the game rules of the version you play. Our guide to [best payout pokies](https://onlinepokiess.org/pokies/high-rtp) explains how. ## How do you check a provider's games before you play? - **Find the provider** in the casino lobby or on the game's loading screen. - **Open the game rules** and note the RTP, volatility and max win. - **Try the demo** where available; see our [free online pokies](https://onlinepokiess.org/free-pokies) guide. - **Compare with similar games** from the same provider; our [pokies games](https://onlinepokiess.org/pokies) guide explains the main types. ## How do you keep play under control, whoever made the game? No provider makes a game you can beat over time: every pokie has a house edge. Set your budget and time before you start, and stop when you reach either. Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858. Gambling is for adults only (18+). ## Frequently asked questions **What is a pokies provider?** A pokies provider is the studio that designs and supplies a game: its maths, features, graphics and sound. Casinos and venues license games from providers and choose which versions to offer. **Who makes the most popular pokies in Australia?** In venues, Aristocrat is the best known maker, with series such as Lightning Link, Dragon Link and Queen of the Nile. Online, studios such as Pragmatic Play and Play'n GO make many of the most played games. **Does the provider affect my chances of winning?** Indirectly. The provider sets the maths of each game, including RTP versions and volatility, and the casino chooses which version to run. Check the game rules for the RTP of the version you play. **How do I know who made a pokie?** The provider's name is usually shown in the casino lobby, on the game's loading screen and in its rules. If a game claims to be a famous title but shows a different provider, it is a different game. ## Sources - [Aristocrat Leisure - Official website](https://www.aristocrat.com/) - [Pragmatic Play - Slots](https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/games/) - [Play'n GO - Book of Dead](https://www.playngo.com/games/book-of-dead) - [Games Global - Official website](https://www.gamesglobal.com/) - [Gambling Help Online](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/) --- # Online Pokies > Online Pokies (onlinepokiess.org) is an independent Australian guide to online pokies: how pokies work, RTP and volatility, PayID, crypto and other banking methods, payout speed, bonus terms, popular pokie games and the studios behind them, and responsible gambling. Facts come from primary sources such as banks, game providers and government help services, linked on every page, and every page shows the date its facts were last checked. Gambling is for adults only (18+). Language: Australian English. 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