4ThePlayer
4ThePlayer — provider review
4ThePlayer is a British studio from London, founded in 2018 by people from Playtech and Ash Gaming. Its first games came out in 2019, and today they are distributed by Relax Gaming, Yggdrasil and Gaming Realms.
The studio calls itself a "boutique" one: instead of mass-producing games, it focuses on its own mechanics, carefully designed maths and sequels to well-known series. According to Commercial Director Henry McLean, the studio's main markets are the UK, Finland and the US.
💡 4ThePlayer facts
- Founded: 2018
- First games: 2019
- City: London, United Kingdom
- Legal entity: 4 The Company Limited
- Main markets: UK, Finland, US
- Distribution: Relax Gaming, Yggdrasil, Gaming Realms
History
Since 2024, the studio has been noticeably expanding in North America, and with its UK licence for gaming machine software it has also entered the land-based segment. This is our observation, not a claim made by the studio.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | The studio was founded. |
| 2019 | UK Gambling Commission licence and the first games, including 1 Left Alive. |
| 2020 | Release of 2 Gods Zeus vs Thor with the DUAL SPIN mechanic and 6 Wild Sharks with the WILD CHOICE mechanic. |
| 2022 | The EGR Innovation in Slot Provision and CasinoBeats Outperforming Game Studio of the Year (Small) awards. |
| 2024 | Entry into Pennsylvania, a UK licence for gaming machine software and 4 Fantastic Vikings Go Fishing, a joint game with Yggdrasil. |
| July 2026 | Game certification for the Canadian province of Alberta. |
| September 2026 | Release of 7×7 Zeus Max and 9K Wild Yeti Dream Drop. |
Founders
| Name | Experience before 4ThePlayer |
|---|---|
| Andrew Porter | Casino Content Director at Playtech, responsible for the content strategy of eight studios |
| Chris Ash | Founder of Ash Gaming, acquired by Playtech in 2011 |
| Thomas Scalzilli | Design, advertising and visual effects |
| Henry McLean | Head of Product Marketing at Playtech |
Licences
| Market | Document |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | UK Gambling Commission licence, account 53858: software for online games (since April 2019) and gaming machine software (since August 2024) |
| Sweden | Licence, according to the company |
| Michigan (US) | Full licence |
| New Jersey (US) | Transactional Waiver |
| Pennsylvania (US) | Regulator approval, 2024 |
| Alberta (Canada) | Game certification, July 2026 |
The UK licence with account number 53858 is stated on the studio's website. The studio also operates in the Canadian province of Ontario, and through Gaming Realms its games are approved in Connecticut as well.
Signature mechanics
4ThePlayer's defining feature is its own mechanics. BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE rearranges the reels for a vertical smartphone screen: they are stacked on top of each other and spin from right to left. PLUS+WAYS gives a ways slot more ways to win through many wilds, for example 32,768 combinations in 1 Left Alive. In DUAL SPIN, the player has two spin buttons, and if the winning colour matches the colour of the chosen button, the payout is doubled.
Three more mechanics change the bonus format itself. WIN TIME awards time to spin the reels rather than a set number of free spins. MONEY WAYS adds cash values to symbols in a ways slot. And WILD CHOICE lets players trade some free spins for locked wilds. The Gigablox and Dream Drop mechanics used in some of the studio's games belong to its partners, Yggdrasil and Relax Gaming.
4ThePlayer slots
All three games below are built on ways to win rather than paylines, and all have high volatility. Two of them come in several RTP versions, including separate versions for Germany.
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Ways to win | Max win | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 Second Heist | 96%, 94% and versions for Germany | high | 5 reels, 1,024 ways | 60,000x | 24 February 2022 |
| 2 Gods Zeus vs Thor | 96.5% | high | 2,048 ways | 15,360x | 15 September 2020 |
| 6 Wild Sharks | 96.5%, 95% and versions for Germany | high | 4,096 ways | 10,368x | 10 September 2020 |
60 Second Heist is a bank heist slot with the WIN TIME mechanic. Instead of standard free spins, the player gets 60 seconds to keep spinning until the time runs out, and the multiplier grows the longer the round lasts. Along the way, players collect speed boosts and extra seconds. Turbo Lock Respin can trigger on any winning spin, giving 5 seconds of respins with the winning symbols locked in place. The max win is 60,000x.
2 Gods Zeus vs Thor is a battle between Zeus and Thor with the DUAL SPIN mechanic: the player picks one of two spin buttons and doubles the win if they guess the colour. Three scatters of any colour trigger the Win Spins bonus: 10 spins if most scatters match the button's colour, and 7 if not. In the bonus, every spin is a win, and the multiplier grows with each correct prediction. The game supports BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE, and the max win is 15,360x.
6 Wild Sharks is a shark-themed slot with 4,096 ways to win and the WILD CHOICE mechanic. Before free spins, the player sets up the bonus: trading some spins for locked wilds and choosing where to place them, in the front zone for more frequent wins or in the back zone for bigger ones. In advanced mode, available in some countries only, the wilds can be fully configured. The game supports BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE, and the max win is 10,368x.
Besides these games, the studio has the Yeti, Fantastic Fish, 5 Wild Buffalo and Gold series and a mythology line featuring Zeus and Thor. The full release of the new 9K Wild Yeti is expected in November 2026. Also worth mentioning is 4 Fantastic Vikings Go Fishing, a joint game with Yggdrasil that brings together 4 Fantastic Fish and Vikings Go Berzerk.
In the land-based segment, the studio works with Ladbrokes, and in British pubs and clubs through Reflex Gaming.
Who 4ThePlayer suits
Why players love it
- Its own mechanics: DUAL SPIN, WIN TIME, WILD CHOICE and BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE
- Wins of up to 60,000x in 60 Second Heist
- A UKGC licence and presence in regulated US and Canadian markets
- Well-known series: Yeti, Fantastic Fish, 5 Wild Buffalo
What to keep in mind
- Some games come in versions with an RTP of 94%
⚡ Verdict
4ThePlayer suits players who are tired of identical slots and want to try something new. For a race against the clock, choose 60 Second Heist with wins of up to 60,000x; for a guessing game, 2 Gods Zeus vs Thor; and if you like setting up the bonus yourself, 6 Wild Sharks. On a smartphone, turn on BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE.
Where to play 4ThePlayer slots
You can explore the provider's games and choose a casino to play at in the slots and casino sections on GamblingShot.
FAQ
1
When was 4ThePlayer founded?
The studio was founded in 2018 in London and released its first games in 2019.
2
Does 4ThePlayer have a licence?
Yes, the studio holds a UK Gambling Commission licence (account 53858), as stated on the studio's website. According to the company, it is also licensed in Sweden and Michigan and operates in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Alberta.
3
How many games does 4ThePlayer have?
The studio does not publish an exact game count. Its main series are Yeti, Fantastic Fish, 5 Wild Buffalo and Gold.
4
What is BIG REEL PORTRAIT MODE?
It is 4ThePlayer's own mode for playing on a smartphone held vertically: the reels are stacked on top of each other and spin from right to left.
5
Can I play 4ThePlayer games in the US?
Yes, in states with legal online casinos: the studio holds a full licence in Michigan, a Transactional Waiver in New Jersey and regulator approval in Pennsylvania, and its games are also approved in Connecticut.
Where to play 4ThePlayer slots
Casinos from our catalogue that carry this provider’s games. Always check terms and bonuses on the casino page.
