Elk Studios

About ELK Studios

This Swedish-based company takes a multifaceted approach to the development of casino games. This ‘mobile-first’ provider, like many of its rivals, makes the visual design of its games a top priority. However, something that is done a little differently over at ELK Studios is the mathematical approach they also take when creating their video slots.

Essentially, what this means is that they use techniques such as: statistical modelling, cloud-based computing and big databases to develop games that should appeal to all players. Whilst this might seem like a relatively cold and calculated method, the talented teaming working behind the scenes always make sure their games are delivered with a human touch.

The right combination of these elements is key to this provider’s success. By balancing statistical information with a dose of pure imagination, ELK Studios have found the perfect recipe to satisfy the desires of all iGaming enthusiasts.

Whenever you play any of the titles in their portfolio you can be sure that not only will you experience a veritable feast of the senses, but also a technically sound and immersive game!

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Elk Studios Casinos

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Elk Studios History

From humble beginnings, ELK Studios embarked upon their journey to become a rising contender in the highly competitive gambling arena.

Their history is one that dates back to 2012 when the Swedish development studio was initially founded. A year later, the doors of their first office in Engelbrektsgatan, Stockholm opened and the small team that was working for ELK Studios began plying their trade.

It took a full year until their debut video slot hit the market, in 2014 – The Lab. The plaudits that were received for this release spurred this provider on and soon enough their second title was unveiled. Electric Sam launched in December 2014, with inspiration for its design taken from Disney’s Frozen and, surprisingly, a Coca Cola commercial.

Two releases in quick succession was a good start, but ELK Studios realised that they needed to expand if they were to compete in the gambling sector, which they did. A year later, in 2015, the small team welcomed its tenth member as they moved into their new office at Vasagatan 40, Stockholm.

As the next few years went by, many more video slots were developed and launched as their talented team continued to grow in experience, and also number. Although ELK Studios continued to flourish, this modest casino game developer realised that in order to raise the bar even higher it must keep up to date with what its rivals were working on.

So, in 2017, the entire team travelled to ICE Totally Gaming in London to find out what new and exciting concepts and products were taking shape. Ultimately, they must have found what they were looking for because the very same year Wild Toro was launched and won the prestigious EGR Operators Awards Game of the Year.

Since then, their portfolio of casino games has grown significantly. With new releases coming thick and fast we don’t imagine it will be long until ELK Studios’ library is at a level where it can compete with other more well-established developers and the company itself can be considered a leading provider in the industry.

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A Timeline Of ELK Studios

Elk Studios Facts And Figures

ELK Studios take a three-pronged approach to the development of their products.

As opposed to simply focusing on one main aspect, ELK Studios’ products are formed out of three primary disciplines. These are the ingredients that eventually combine exquisitely to result in the ideal offering for all casino gaming fans to enjoy.

Art: Beautiful and entertaining design, illustration, digital art and animation.

Technology: Efficient, stable and robust software that never fails to provide maximum entertainment.

Math: Clever statistical models that deliver fair and exciting game experiences

 

Over 30 talented employees now work together at ELK Studios to ensure each product launched is of the highest quality.

Since its initial founding, with less than ten employees, ELK Studios’ stature within the industry has grown in recent years and their workforce has had to expand alongside.

The challenges associated with creating some of the most imaginative casino games to grace the market are ones that this relatively small team faces, and ultimately conquer, each day. Regardless of how many people joined the ELK Studios family over the years, the same ideals and ambitions were, and continue to be, upheld – to build the most entertaining games in the industry.

This is due to the fact that this company strives to hire those who have a “burning passion for art, design, math or programming” and ultimately, when people find somewhere to pursue their passion, they tend to excel in their chosen field.

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In Which Countries Do Elk Studios Operate?

To provide their range of products to as wide an audience as possible, ELK Studios have worked side by side with regulators around the world to ensure a safe gambling environment for all.

However, as each jurisdiction has different attitudes towards online gambling, ELK Studios’ portfolio may only be accessible to residents of certain countries.

Below you will find a list detailing the countries in which this provider currently operates. Presumably, as the company expands, the list will also grow alongside. So, if you live somewhere not yet listed, don’t worry, as it may not be long before you can access the full catalogue of games.

• Gibraltar
• Malta
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

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Elk Studios Games

ELK Studios’ iGaming portfolio is rather diminutive in comparison to some of the libraries built by the more well-established providers. However, ELK Studios’ ethos is one that focuses upon the release of fewer, high-quality casino games, rather than an abundance of mediocrity. As a result of this approach, over 30 visually stunning and engaging games have entered the market since the company’s inception.

Something that is true of all of these releases is that they embody all of the necessary elements to attract and retain your interest. If you’re looking for highly detailed visuals, unique gameplay and some of the most interesting and rewarding features, then you needn’t look any further.

Also, many providers tend to diversify their catalogue by offering various types of casino games. Instead of doing this, ELK Studios decided to solely focus upon a single area, video slots.

Normally this could hinder the growth of a casino game provider, but by sticking to what they do best they are proving that success in the industry can be achieved in different ways. However, this does mean that as of yet, table games such as blackjack and roulette are not offered by this provider. Therefore, if you’re looking for games of this type, you will currently have to look elsewhere. Perhaps in the future ELK studios will expand their library to include these, but only time will tell.

Although currently there are a limited number of iGaming options to choose from, ELK Studios understands that in order to be considered amongst the leading providers they must continue to expand their range of games. In recent times, their releases have included an impressive variety, including:

• Ice Wolf
• Voodoo Gold
• Win Win
• Respin Circus
• Tahiti Gold
• Crusader
• Chi
• Hit It Big
• Ecuador Gold

Not only do these releases vary in theme and style, but also in a way that sees a number of interesting mechanics keep you on the edge of your seat whenever you spin the reels. Take the ‘Gold’ series for example, instead of implementing the more common 5×3 reel set, ELK Studios opted to include a drop mechanic, which increases the number of rows for each subsequent win – more wins, more symbols, even greater payout potential!

Crusader is a 2020 release from ELK that is focussed on historical events. On top of being well researched, the game uses Wilds to excellent effect and has decent winning potential. Features include respins and nudges.

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ELK Studios Video Slots

Due to their popularity, the development and release of video slots remains a high priority for the majority of casino game providers. The role of these particular offerings is one that typically sees them take centre stage at a number of online casinos and those created by ELK Studios are no different.

Whilst a number of other providers have chosen to expand their portfolio to include alternative iGaming options, such as: table games, live casino titles and bingo, ELK Studios have made the decision to wholly focus on developing the best video slots possible.

Of the 32 slots this provider currently has in its arsenal, you can usually expect to see many of these titles featured at most gambling sites. This is because they offer some of the most intriguing gameplay, along with an abundance of exciting and unique features to trigger.

Although the most well known of these is arguably the 2017 Game of the Year winner, Wild Toro, it is perhaps the recent ‘Gold’ series of games that is truly putting ELK Studios on everybody’s radar.

Ecuador Gold, Tahiti Gold and Voodoo Gold follow the adventures of Kane, whilst he goes in search of mysterious and lost treasures. These games incorporate new mechanics, which not only includes cascading symbols, but also expanding rows that offer up to 262,144 possible ways to win.

In addition, there are also more thrilling inclusions, such as: Ghosting Wilds, Super, Mega and Epic symbols and of course Scatters, which trigger the free drop bonus games. With so much on offer in this series of slots, we strongly suggest that you try them out for yourself!

Something else that makes this developer’s games stand out is the inclusion of the ‘Betting Strategies’ mechanic. Many players change their bet size based on the outcome of previous gameplay, but ELK Studios have introduced a new way to play that falls in line with their mathematical approach to iGaming.

There are 4 predefined betting patterns that you can choose to activate whenever you play a slot made by this developer:

 

Jumper – Raise on win

Bet level will increase after every winning round, until 4 levels above base level (e.g 10 times base level). Bet level will be reset to base level after a losing round.

 

Leveller – Raise on 5 concurrent losses

Bet level will increase 2 steps after 5 concurrent losing rounds. After another 5 losing rounds the bet level will increase 2 more steps. Bet level will be reset to base level after a winning round.

 

Booster – Raise on loss

Bet level will increase one step after every losing round until reaching 4 levels above base level (e.g 10 times base level). Bet level will be reset to base level after a winning round.

 

Optimizer – Bet % of balance

The bet level changes automatically, adapting to the selected percentage of your balance. Optimizer is adjusting the bet up and down to the closest bet level below the selected %. Remains active on the lowest bet level.

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Elk Studios Live Casino

With interest in live casino gaming growing rapidly in recent years, a number of providers have seized the opportunity to incorporate games of this type into their portfolios. The overall attraction of going head to head against the live dealer is also one that has given rise to certain developers specialising in this area of iGaming. Evolution Gaming, for example.

However, that being said, ELK studios have not yet decided to enter this particular arena and currently do not offer any live casino games. This is not to say that they have ruled the idea out entirely, but with the expansion of their video slot catalogue being a top priority we don’t expect to see games of this type any time soon.

For now though, if you want to experience the unmistakable and truly unique atmosphere that live casino gaming offers, you may want to turn your attention to other providers, such as: NetEnt, Evolution Gaming or Playtech.

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ELK Studios Mobile Casino

Mobile casino gaming has become much more prevalent in recent years and as such game providers must meet the latest demands by ensuring their releases are optimised for the smaller screen.

Whilst many do so, “ELK Studios take pride in developing mobile-first content that maximises the experience for players around the world”.

Their choice to primarily build casino games for mobile devices was one that we believe has paid dividends. The tightly-knit team of developers and artists are perfectly suited to bring an initial concept to life and do it justice in terms of graphical design and engaging gameplay.

What this ultimately means is that whenever you fire up an ELK Studios video slot on a handheld device, you’re going to enjoy some of the highest quality mobile iGaming that the industry has to offer.

So charge up your iPhones, grab your Android tablets or load up a Windows device and experience a world of casino gaming that has been expertly designed with the mobile player in mind!

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ELK Studios Campaigns And Tournaments

On occasion, you can take part in various promotional tournaments and campaigns at an online casino to potentially win a selection of prizes. These can be anything from slot tournaments, which award the highest-ranking players with free spins or cash prizes, to exclusive VIP invitational events dotted around the world.

ELK Studios have created ELK Compete to provide operators with a highly customisable way to engage players in slot tournaments, whilst playing their favourite games.

Whether the fun starts by chasing down Matadors in Wild Toro, or trying to get the highest coin win in Vegas Diamonds, you can get involved in the action whenever an online casino utilises this product to its full potential.

It’s not just us at GambleXpert that see the benefit of this, Head of games at Mr Green – Jacqui Gatt also has high praise for ELK Compete as a result of their team up for the casino’s 10 year anniversary:

 

“ELK Compete allows us to easily add an additional layer of fun on top of traditional campaign mechanics. The in-game milestones and real-time leaderboard updates add excitement to the customer experience and offer our players more entertainment for their time spent with Mr Green”.

 

So make sure to keep an eye out at your gambling site of choice in case an ELK Studios slot tournament is set to start spinning!

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ELK Studios Awards

ELK Studios’ dedication to creating some of the most visually-impressive and intriguing casino games has resulted in a number of high-profile nominations throughout the years. Whilst this provider’s trophy cabinet may not yet be bursting at the seams, there is one award that will undoubtedly be being carefully polished and that is the Game of the Year Award received for Wild Toro in 2017.

We’re confident that as long as ELK Studios continue to meet their own high standards there will be many more opportunities to win additional awards in the future.

Date	Ceremony	Award
2017	EGR Operator Awards	Game of the Year (Wild Toro) – Winner
2018	Technology Fast 50	Top 5 fastest growing technology companies in Sweden

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Elk Studios Licenses

The acquisition of one or more operating licences is an integral component of a game developers success. These allow providers to enter regulated markets and supply their products to a wide range of potential players.

However, obtaining these licences isn’t a guarantee. Certain countries have different legislation in place, along with various attitudes towards online gambling, therefore these are potential obstacles that must be navigated.

Ultimately, all of these regulations and stipulations are set in place to ensure both a safe and fair environment for all those involved in the world of online gambling.

In order to provide their suite of games to as wide an audience as possible, ELK Studios have obtained a number of licenses, allowing them to operate in multiple jurisdictions around the world. We’ve listed these in the table below.

Also, it would be fair to suggest that in order to further their market presence, this company will look to secure additional licenses in the near future.

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List Of Elk Studios Licenses

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Xpert Verdict

After taking the time to carefully review ELK Studios and its range of casino products, we were glad to confirm our initial thoughts about this provider.

The hard-working team that consistently delivers games of the highest order is one that has been carefully put together and given the ideal environment in which to thrive. The importance of this can’t be understated, as ingenuity and innovation spring eternal whenever talent is nurtured in an ambient climate.

These traits are also ones that shine through with each game release. Although the ELK Studios video slot portfolio is comparably smaller to those built by other providers, it is one that showcases everything that the discerning fan looks for in an iGaming experience – crisp visuals, entertaining gameplay and innovative features!

We truly believe that this company has made the correct choice in terms of focussing on quality, as opposed to quantity.

It must be said that it’s unfortunate the same creativity has yet to be applied to casino games other than video slots. However, we shouldn’t judge ELK Studios too harshly as they’re yet to enter the table game or live casino market. We do hope that they choose to do so eventually, as we’re curious to see what exciting elements they can bring to the table.

Something that they should also be applauded for is their mobile-first approach. Even though this company has only been around for a few years, they instantly identified what was going to become the latest trend, and perhaps in time the new norm. By developing their games primarily for mobile devices from the start, they managed to get ahead of the curve and become a name synonymous with mobile casino gaming.

Ultimately, we don’t really have a negative word to say about ELK Studios. Of course, there’s room for improvement, but that can be said about any relatively new company. They are also starting to make appearances at major industry events, such as ICE in London – another sign that the developers are showing impressive growth. We’re looking forward to what the future holds for this Sweden-based company.