In casino apps, a studio means one of two things. Usually it’s the creative team that designs a slot, such as Reel Kingdom or Nolimit City, often working inside or alongside a bigger provider. In live casino, a studio is the physical room where dealers and hosts are filmed and streamed to your phone.
A slot studio designs games; a provider or distributor often takes them to operators.
Many studios belong to groups: Nolimit City and Big Time Gaming to Evolution, Quickspin to Playtech.
A live casino studio is a filmed set, often running 24 hours a day.
Studio games in UK apps follow the same RTS rules on speed and design.
Meaning 1
The creative team that designs a game
Meaning 2
The filmed set a live casino game streams from
Example studio
Reel Kingdom, distributed by Pragmatic Play
Live studio rules
RTS 17 covers live dealer studios
UK slot speed
At least 2.5 seconds per spin
Studio meaning in online gambling
Most of the time, ‘studio’ describes who made a slot. A studio is the team of designers, mathematicians and artists behind a game’s theme, features and maths. Some studios sell directly to casinos, while others rely on a larger company to distribute and support their games.
The second meaning comes from live casino, where a studio is a real set with tables, cameras and lighting. The two meanings share a word but not much else, so this entry takes them in turn. For the business that supplies games to operators, see our game provider entry; for every other term, the casino app glossary.
Slot studio vs provider vs distributor
The lines blur, but a useful rule is this: the studio makes the game, and the provider or distributor gets it into casino lobbies. Several arrangements are common.
Owned studio: a group buys a studio and keeps its brand. Playtech has owned Quickspin since 2016; Evolution announced its deal for Nolimit City in June 2022.
Distribution deal: a studio keeps its identity while a partner handles distribution. Reel Kingdom’s Big Bass series goes out through Pragmatic Play.
Partner programme: an aggregator-style network carries independent studios. Thunderkick is a Powered By partner of Relax Gaming, and Yggdrasil runs a programme called YGG Masters.
Studio collective: Games Global lists 1,300+ titles from 40+ in-house and partner studios.
None of this changes your odds, but it explains why one lobby filter can include games that look very different. Our slot providers hub sorts the names we cover.
Slot studios you’ll meet in UK apps
Studios, who they sit with, and a game to try on our site
A live casino studio is where live dealer games are filmed. Games stream in real time either from a land-based casino or from a studio built to look like one. A set-up needs at least three rooms: the live studio itself, a server and software room, and an analyst’s room. On the floor you’d typically find camera operators, croupiers, an IT manager and a pit boss who settles disputes.
The big live providers describe their sets in their own terms. Evolution says its games are broadcast in real time, often 24 hours a day, from studios designed like TV or film studios. It lists studio and office locations in countries including Latvia, Malta, Spain, Georgia and Romania on its locations page (opens in a new tab). Pragmatic Play says its live studios use multiple 4K cameras, that its roulette is broadcast from Bucharest, and that its in-house streaming has latency as low as 1.5 to 2 seconds, conditions applying, on its live casino page (opens in a new tab).
A slot loads its graphics and then sends small amounts of data per spin. A live studio game is a continuous video stream, so it uses far more mobile data and is more sensitive to a weak signal. Exact figures depend on the stream quality, so we don’t quote one; our guide to playing live casino on mobile data explains how to keep usage down.
Join Wi-Fi before opening a live table if you can.
Lower the stream quality in the game’s settings if that option is offered.
Keep the app in the foreground, as switching away can interrupt the stream.
Check the round history if the connection drops, before placing another bet.
Use the app’s reality check and net position display to keep track of time and spend.
UK rules every studio’s games must follow
Wherever a studio is based, its games in British apps must follow the Commission’s Remote gambling and software technical standards (opens in a new tab), which include a section, RTS 17, on live dealer studios. For slots, that means at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay, no turbo or slam stop, and no celebrating a return equal to or below your stake. Since 17 January 2025, other online casino games need at least 5 seconds per game cycle and can’t be played several at once.
Stake limits apply to slots whoever made them: £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over, £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. And since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so a studio’s ‘bonus buy’ version seen elsewhere won’t appear in a UK app. Our RTS entry and the slot stake limits page go into detail.
Related terms to studio
Live dealer: the host or croupier on a studio set.
Game show: studio-produced live games such as Crazy Time.
Megaways: the mechanic from the Big Time Gaming studio.
Studio games in our partner apps
PlayOJO’s offer is tied to a single studio’s game: Big Bass Bonanza, Reel Kingdom’s breakthrough slot from December 2020. Coral and Ladbrokes use selected slots, so check the app for which studios’ games qualify. Each offer is for new customers aged 18+, terms apply, and none covers live studio games.
PlayOJO: after a first deposit of £10 or more, new UK customers (Northern Ireland excluded) receive 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p. Winnings are paid in cash with no wagering. Available only through the designated offer link and not alongside other offers.
Coral: between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027, new players who deposit (some types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. Accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; no wagering on spin winnings. Excluded: Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards.
Ladbrokes: new customers who deposit and spend £10+ on slots get 50 free spins each day for 10 days, up to 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim by 23:59 daily, use within 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits are excluded.
Coral and Ladbrokes are run by the same operator, so you may be able to open only one new account between them. Every studio’s games carry a house edge, so losses are likely over time.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a studio in online slots?
A studio is the team that designs a slot: its theme, features, artwork and maths. Some studios distribute their own games, while others work through a bigger provider. Reel Kingdom, for example, makes the Big Bass series and Pragmatic Play distributes it. Our Reel Kingdom slots page covers that studio’s games on mobile.
What is the difference between a studio and a game provider?
A studio makes games, while a provider supplies them to casino operators and handles licensing and distribution. One company can be both, and many providers own several studios: Evolution owns Nolimit City and Big Time Gaming, and Playtech owns Quickspin. For your odds, the difference doesn’t matter, since RTP and rules are set per game. Our game provider entry has more.
What is a live casino studio?
A live casino studio is the set where live dealer games are filmed and streamed in real time. A set-up typically has a live studio room, a server and software room and an analyst’s room, staffed by croupiers, camera operators, an IT manager and a pit boss. Evolution says its studios are designed like TV or film studios. Our live casino apps hub explains how these games run on a phone.
Where are live casino studios based?
It depends on the provider. Evolution lists studio and office locations in countries including Latvia, Malta, Spain, Georgia, Romania, Armenia and Lithuania, and Pragmatic Play says its roulette is broadcast from Bucharest. Location doesn’t change UK rules: games offered to British players must still meet the Commission’s standards. Our Evolution live games on mobile page covers its shows.
Do live studio games use a lot of mobile data?
Yes, live studio games stream continuous video, so they use far more data than slots. The exact amount depends on stream quality and session length, so check your usage in your phone’s settings after a session. Using Wi-Fi and lowering the stream quality where offered both help. Our live casino data usage page explains what affects the total.
Do bonus spins work on games from any studio?
No, spin offers apply only to the games named in the terms. PlayOJO’s welcome spins are for Big Bass Bonanza, from Reel Kingdom, while Coral and Ladbrokes list selected games in their apps. Spin offers are for slots, and live studio games are not included. Our guide to free spins in casino apps explains how eligible games work.
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