For over 100 years, companies have been creating slot machine games. Certain companies have been known for their innovative features and hit slots.
Which companies are most well-known in the world of slots?
Below, I will cover the 7 most well-known slot machine manufacturers and what games they are responsible for.
1. IGT
International Game Technology (IGT) is the largest slot producer in the world, with offices from Las Vegas to Rome.
IGT was founded in 1971 under A 1 Distributing. They made their mark in the slot industry by creating Megabucks, a progressive slot machine that can be played across large areas, in the 1980s.
Megabucks awarded the most significant progressive jackpot money in history, are still very popular in land-based casinos.
IGT introduced another iconic slot machine, Wheel of Fortune, in 1996. Based on the long-running game show, Wheel of Fortune has won millions in jackpot money over time.
IGT was founded in 2005 by WagerWorks’ acquisition. Since then, they have produced a variety of online hits, including Cleopatra, Coyote Moon, and CSI: Slots.
IGT is still the best in brick-and-mortar, with games such as Avatar, Back to the Future and Breaking Bad, Bridesmaids, and Dirty Dancing.
Another thing to mention is that IGT was purchased by GTECH, an Italian gaming company, in 2014 for $6.4 million. The company was renamed IGT PLC in 2014 and has been business as usual.
2. Bally
Bally is the most innovative slot developer in the industry. This is odd, considering their company was founded in a completely different direction.
The company was founded in 1968 as Advanced Patent Technology. It received over 80 patents in its first ten years. Among their most prominent patents were an ultrasonic meat tenderizer and an ultrasonic fluidic fuel system for combustion engines.
Advanced Patent Technology was only able to get involved in the gambling industry in the 1980s and started producing slot machines. After several name changes and failed casinos, Bally finally made their mark with state-of-the-art slot technology, which is still the company’s hallmark.
Bally launched the U Spin feature in 2010. This allows players to spin a wheel through bonus rounds using a touchscreen. This innovation won the Best Slot Product award at the 2010 Gaming & Technology Awards.
Bally also invented iREELS which uses an LCD screen for intense 3D effects, and iDECK, which allows you to control bonus round features using your hands.
Bally produced some of the most popular slot machines, including Betty Boop and Cash Spin, China River.
Scientific Games purchased Bally in 2014 for $5.1 billion. It is now a subsidiary.
3. Amaya
Amaya’s announcement of plans to purchase PokerStars for $4.9 Billion made international headlines in June 2014. Amaya became the world’s biggest publicly traded online gambling company just 10 years after their 2004 launch.
The Canadian company produces online and land-based slots, despite its association with online poker. Many of Amaya’s land-based slots have been adapted into online versions.
Amaya is a well-known developer and acquirer of slot machines such as Batman and Battle of Olympus.
Amaya also participates in business-to-business deals. She has completed several critical transactions, including the PokerStars deal.
In 2011, they bought Chartwell for $23 Million and Cryptologic for $35.8 Million in 2012. Amaya also signed a bond with Aristocrat to convert some of their land-based slot machines into online ones.
Amaya purchased Chartwell and Cryptologic from NYX Gaming in 2015 for $110 million cash and $40 million NYX Digital shares. This was Amaya’s exit from the B2B market so they could focus on their consumer business.
4. Microgaming
Microgaming was founded on the Isle of Man in 1994. Microgaming is credited with creating Gaming Club, an online casino, and over 600 online slot machines.
Microgaming is well-known for its Mega Moolah jackpots, which are record-breaking.
An anonymous Finnish man won a record-breaking online payout of EUR17.861,813 via Mega Moolah in January 2013. This was broken by Jonathan Heywood, a British soldier, who won EUR17 879 645 in October 2015.
Avalon and BAR BAR Sheep are some other Microgaming slot favorites, along with Mega Moolah.
5. Aristocrat
Aristocrat Leisure Limited, which produced its first slot machine in 1953, is the oldest company on this page. Aristocrat is now one of the biggest slot manufacturers in the world, with over 200 licensed jurisdictions.
The company, based in Australia, is most well-known for creating hundreds of land-based slot machines. They also signed an agreement with Amaya to offer online versions of their most popular slot machines.
Aristocrat is well known for his slots classics such as Big Red, Let’s Go Fish’n, and Queen of the Nile.
Aristocrat is still a significant player in the slot industry, with more modern games such as Britney Spears, Dumb & Dumber, and Sons of Anarchy.
6. Konami
This list does not include Konami, which is not the largest slot machine manufacturer. They are, however, one of the most well-known because of their successes in the arcade and video game industries.
This Japanese company started developing arcade games in the 1970s. It was founded in 1969 as a repair and rental business for jukeboxes. With hit games such as Frogger, Scramble, and Super Cobra, Konami was a massive success in the 1980s.
They enjoyed more success in console gaming with NES / Famicom releases such as Castlevania and Contra – these games have been adapted for later consoles.
Konami opened a new office in the Las Vegas suburbs in 2005. This was their first move into casino gaming. Because of Australia’s high interest in gambling, Konami has since opened an Australian office.
Konami produces a variety of slot machines for brick-and-mortar casinos, including African Treasure, Ancient Dragon, and African Treasure.
7. WMS Gaming
WMS Gaming was founded in 1943 as a subsidiary of Williams Manufacturing Company. It is best known for its arcade and pinball machines in the 1970s and 1980s.
Both industries started to decline in the 1990s. WMS Gaming decided to concentrate on slot machines. The Chicago-based company made its mark quickly in 1996 when it introduced multi-line and multi-coin secondary payouts via Reel them In.
These two innovations have helped to accelerate an industry that previously relied on simple themes or payout structures.
WMS Gaming is responsible for more than 70% of its revenues in the US casino market. However, WMS Gaming products can also be found in Argentina, Australia, and Canada.
WMS’s most notable slot machines include Amazon Queen, Bruce Lee, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Conclusion
Aristocrat, Bally, and IGT PLC are just a few of those giants who have shaped the slot industry. These companies have created hundreds of slot machines that are available in casinos all over the globe.
Microgaming proved that you need a physical presence to be an industry leader. Microgaming supplies slot machines to dozens of online casinos and has won the most significant online jackpots ever.
Amaya, Konami, and WMS are just a few recent players in the sector.
WMS is credited for creating more complex slot machines due to their multi-coin payouts and secondary bonus feature.
Despite being launched in 2014, Amaya has become the biggest online gaming company in the world. After overgrowing, it will be fascinating to see where their future lies.
Konami is a relatively new company in the slots industry. Still, they will continue to be successful with slot machines based on their long track record with video gaming.
