From Las Vegas to the Internet: IGT’s Pioneering History

International Game Technology, or IGT, is regarded as one of the major producers of both land-based and online slot machines, and is unquestionably one of the most experienced firms in the gambling industry.

With around 11,000 employees worldwide, the corporation is now headquartered in the United Kingdom, with operational offices in Rome, Italy, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Providence, Rhode Island.

The firm – which began its activities as a distributor of physical slot machines in the 1970s and has been developing casino games since then – even predates the birth of internet casinos. IGT became recognized for pushing the industry’s boundaries, having pioneered various innovations, including computerized player tracking for bonus programs, linked progressive jackpots, and a slew of branded games.

As one of the pioneers in the gambling industry, IGT offers a large library of casino games, including iconic slots like Cleopatra, DaVinci Diamonds, Kitty Glitter, and even branded slots like Ghostbusters Plus and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, being one of the industry’s pioneers. IGT’s focus is also on online gambling, and even before the foundation of IGT Interactive, the company’s online gaming department, its limited virtual game presence earned more than $13 billion in yearly revenue. IGT games may now be found on over 300 casino websites on the Internet.

IGT has been pushing for mobile-friendly systems and responsiveness since the advent of mobile gaming. Most of their latest games are mobile-first and can be played on a range of mobile devices running both iOS and Android. IGT Interactive’s mobile portfolio includes mobile slots, table and live dealer games, some of the most popular US online lotteries, mobile marketing, and platform products across all major mobile technologies including Apple and Android.

In this article, we’ll look at IGT’s history, the licenses the business presently has, and some of their most popular games.

A brief look at the past

International Game Technology was formed in 1975 as A-1 Supply by William “Si” Redd, a pioneer in the casino business who became renowned as the “king of slot machines”.

After years of working as a distributor and eventually forming a subsidiary of Bally Manufacturing, one of the gaming industry’s oldest firms, Redd went on to buy the rights to video poker and build his own company. In 1978, he changed the name of the company to SIRCOMA (Si Redd Coin Machines), and three years later, he finally settled on International Game Technology.

IGT has created ground-breaking products and slot games that have survived the test of time for over 50 years. Megabucks, the company’s millionaire-making game, debuted on casino floors in Las Vegas in 1978, while Wheel of Fortune, one of the most successful slot games of all time, debuted in 1996.

IGT has also purchased a number of well-known gaming companies throughout the years, including WagerWorks in 2005 and Double Down Interactive in 2012. Finally, in 2014, Gtech, an Italian gaming equipment manufacturer, bought IGT for $6.4 million, becoming International Game Technology PLC, a new holding company located in the United Kingdom.

IGT games

IGT offers a wide range of slot machines and online slot games, including progressive jackpots like MegaJackpots, branded titles like Ghostbusters Plus and HBO’s Sex in the City, and even game show-themed slots like Deal or No Deal, Jeopardy, and, of course, Wheel of Fortune, one of the world’s most played slots.

The firm is also the world’s largest producer of video poker games, which blend the thrill and excitement of slots with the strategic thinking of poker. Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, two of the most popular video poker games in the world, are among IGT’s video poker titles, as are titles like Lucky Quads and Extreme Poker, which were recently introduced.

Finally, IGT has just entered the online table game market, offering a wide range of classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, as well as pushing for technology breakthroughs to provide high-quality, thrilling gaming experiences with a genuine casino feel.

Licensing

IGT possesses more than 450 worldwide gaming licenses, which are overseen by state, provincial, national, tribal, and other governmental gaming authorities, making it one of the top businesses in the iGaming market in terms of licensing and regulation. IGT maintains licenses from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, which certify and ensure that its games are safe, fair, and unpredictable.