Barcrest

Who are Barcrest?

Barcrest may not be as well-known online as they are in the land-based segment of the casino market, at least not to players outside of the UK. The company was established back in 1968 and began providing land-based machines to casinos and gaming halls across the UK, producing a wide range of iconic titles, many of which still stand the test of time. Arcade games were also a part of the company’s products at first, although it didn’t take long for Barcrest to fully turn its focus to casino gambling games.

Even though Barcrest may have seen its popularity overtaken by companies like Netent and Microgaming, it holds the claim to fame of being the first software developer to introduce 5-reel slots to the gambling world. Despite Barcrest's long and successful run with providing land-based machines to gaming establishments, the company has struggled somewhat to keep up with the changes that online gaming brought with it.

In 2011, Barcrest was acquired by Scientific Games. For whatever reason, it seemed as though the new parent company didn’t want Barcrest to continue creating slots and other casino games, and since that time, Barcrest has more or less ceased to exist as a company. Instead, all its operations and previous game creations have been assimilated into the Scientific Games range. That being said, the games are still available online under the Scientific Games moniker, meaning that players can still experience the titles that the brand has created over the years.

What’s Special About Barcrest Software?

Perhaps the most popular feature of Barcrest, is that its slot machines can be found in pubs and clubs up and down the United Kingdom. Land-based establishments have been featuring titles from the company for many decades already, and they remain in operation across the country. This is the industry that Barcrest first made its name and wealth – land-based establishments with room for exciting and new slot games.

Additionally, due to the fact that Barcrest has been operating as a brand since 1968, it brings a whole lot of experience with it. Even though it has been assimilated into the Scientific Games brand, Barcrest games are still available and the know-how from all those years of operation have been taken by Scientific, too. Therefore, it’s quite possible that the more recent releases from Scientific Games have been worked on by former employees of the Barcrest company.

One final thing to remember about the Barcrest brand, is that its games have often been available in multiple different languages. This refers to both land-based products and online games. Therefore, the company set itself up for international success almost from the beginning. Because of this, players from around the world have been able to access titles from the company and play them in their native language. It’s not a route that all software developers have taken, making Barcrest one of the companies that has focused on a much more international market.

Barcrest: RTP

Barcrest slots all comes shipped with a fixed RTP setting, which means you're playing the exact same game, mathematically speaking, no matter which online casino you're playing at. Don't expect the highest of RTP ranges, however. Most titles are below the 96% standard (although the standard has been decreasing), but there are a few titles which offer RTP ratings as high as 99% with certain features engaged. One such example is the 'Big Bet' option in Monopoly Big Event.

Barcrest: Noteworthy titles

Rainbow Riches: Ask any avid slot gamer about the most well known Barcrest slot and the likelihood is that they’ll make mention of Rainbow Riches. It’s a five-reel game that features a set of 10 pay lines for you to bet on. Featuring an Irish theme, with symbols such as the leprechaun and his green hat taking up space on the reels, it’s quite the entertaining option to access. Not only that, but Rainbow Riches has some intriguing special bonus features, including a pick me round and the Pots of Luck function. This title also spawned a series of spinoffs, including Rainbow Riches: Reels of Gold, Rainbow Riches: Pick and Mix and Rainbow Riches: Leprechaun’s Gold.

Excalibur’s Choice :You’ve heard of the famous sword in the stone, right? Well, the mighty sword of King Arthur takes centre stage in this Excalibur’s Choice slot from Barcrest. Featuring some decent graphics throughout, this game was first released to land-based establishments before becoming one of the company’s online entities. Featuring 10 pay lines and the standard five-reel, three-row layout, Excalibur’s Choice has an RTP rate of 94%. Additionally, you may see the free spins round come into play, as well as a bonus round featuring an expanding symbol.

Wild Knights: For those of you who have a preference for playing medieval-themed slots, Wild Knights from Barcrest is the one for you, we’re sure. As with many slots from this company, it contains 10 pay lines for you to bet on and has the standard video slot interface. You’re able to place bets of up to €400 per spin and the king symbol operates as its highest paying symbol. Watch out for the appearance of shield symbols, because these can trigger the slot’s free spins round. Of course, the game’s multiple inbuilt additional features are what make it so popular, including the Jousting Reels, Expanding Wild symbols, the Knight Times bonus round and various others.

Monty’s Millions: Featuring impressive graphics and a variety of special perks, Monty’s Millions is another one from Barcrest that has become quite the popular offering. As with others, it started out its life as a land-based slot game, and it transitioned to the online world with the IGT takeover. Monty is the slot’s rich man, and it’s clear that the luxury car, gold bars and other symbols are all his. The game also has a wild symbol, a free spins round, scatters and more for you to enjoy as you spin the reels. Monty’s Millions is sure to capture both your imagination and your gaming heart.