As a multi-billion dollar industry, there is no shortage of manufacturers in the world of slot machines. This thriving industry features some major creativity, plenty of technological know-how, dynamic designers, and savvy business leaders.
Some of these slot manufacturers may be massive gaming companies that are publicly traded while smaller operators may have entered the market more recently as well. Online slot operators have also found bigger audiences as that segment of the industry continues to grow. Some of these companies specialize in only offering slot games for the online and mobile markets.
Keep reading to learn more about some popular slot machine manufacturers and some of their offerings and specialties.
AINSWORTH GAME TECHNOLOGY
Founded: 1995
Company size: 300 employees (estimate); $84 million in revenue for 2022
Country: Sydney, Australia
Popular games and brands: Ultra Shot, Xtension Link, Flames of Glory, Red Dream, Snow Kingdom, Stars Up, Dollar King, Grand Legacy, Treasure Spirits Phoenix Dragon.
Innovations and popular features: This gaming company was founded by Len Ainsworth, the original founder of Aristocrat Gaming. The company’s multi-level progressive jackpot games, known as Double Shot, Triple Shot, and Quad Shot, have become some of Ainsworth’s most popular titles. The company has expanded beyond traditional slots with historical horse racing games as well as online gaming options. Recent moves have included partnering with more studios to help in new and more creative game design. Len Ainsworth sold his majority shares (53%) in the company to Novomatic in 2015 for $342.5 million.
Website: www.agtslots.com
BETSOFT
Founded: 2006
Company size: 50 employees; around $79 million in revenue
Country: Malta
Popular games and brands: Super Golden Dragon Inferno, Rise of Triton, 72 Fortunes, Hot Lucky 7, Triple Cash or Crash, Mr. Vegas, Sleighin’ It
Innovations and popular features: This company has become a leader in online and mobile slot gaming. Betsoft boasts proprietary online casino manager systems designed to be fully modular and customizable to operations on various online platforms. The company takes pride in its excellent graphics, orchestral soundtracks, and interesting characters and themes. Betsoft works to put mobile designs at the center of its slot gaming options.
Website: betsoft.com
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BLUEPRINT GAMING
Founded: 2001
Company size: 25 employees; annual revenue reportedly in the €30 million range
Country: Newark, United Kingdom
Popular games and brands: Funky Buddha, The Goonies, Rise of Atlantis, Slots O’ Jackpots, Hungry Bear, Fishin Frenzy, King Kong Cass Go Bananas
Innovations and popular features: Blueprint is part of the Gauselmann Group, a major gaming company founded in 1957 in Germany and boasts 15,000 employees overall. Blueprint designs live and online slots, with a focus now on licensing popular television and film titles such as Rick and Morty, Ted, and The Goonies. The company’s Jackpot King online progressive has also become a major focus as well.
Website: blueprintgaming.com
INTERNATIONAL GAMING TECHNOLOGY (IGT)
Founded: 1975 (acquired by London-based Gtech in 2015, adopting the name IGT)
Company size: 10,500 employees; $4.2 billion in revenue for 2022
Country: London, United Kingdom (formerly Las Vegas)
Popular games and brands: Wheel of Fortune, Pharaoh's Fortune, Magic Treasures, Raise the Sails, San Xing Riches, Meca Bucks, Money Mania, The Price is Right
Innovations and popular features: The company found early success with a video poker gaming product that was the first of its kind. IGT later moved into traditional slots as well and was one of the first companies to move into the loyalty rewards business after acquiring Electronic Data Technologies. IGT thus became one of the first in the industry to offer computerized player tracking which would become critical in casino loyalty programs. Additionally, IGT became one of the first to license a popular television show in 1996 with the Wheel of Fortune game show. The brand has proven immensely popular, spawning numerous versions and becoming one of the most popular slot games in history. IGT has become one of the largest gaming operations in the world and has transitioned into online gaming in recent years.
Website: igt.com
KONAMI GAMING
Founded: 1969
Company size: 4,900 employees; $2.3 billion in revenue in 2022
Country: Tokyo, Japan (American gaming division based in Las Vegas area and Sydney in Australia)
Popular games and brands: Fortune Stacks, Pride of Egypt, Jumpin Jalapenos, China Shores, Imperial Wealth, Wealthy Monkey Slot, Astronomical Magic, Chili Chili Fire
Innovations and popular features: This Japanese multinational entertainment company not only produces slots and gaming titles, but also traditional video games, trading cards, pachinko machines, and more. The company had numerous successful arcade and video games in the 1980s and ‘90s. Konami began manufacturing slot machines in 1996 and recently has moved more into online gaming, multi-station entertainment, and contactless technology. A deep history in the video game market made that transition easier according to the company website. Konami notes: “Konami continues to respond to such market needs by tapping into a wealth of technological capabilities and knowledge amassed over years of developing products with excellent entertainment value, with the goal of spreading the sheer joy of gaming to customers worldwide.”
Website: konami.com
LIGHT & WONDER (formerly Scientific Games)
Founded: 1973 as Scientific Games
Company size: 9,000 employees; $2.5 billion in revenue for 2022
Country: USA (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Popular games and brands: Ultimate Fire Link, Rich Little Piggies, Double MoneyLink, Epic Fortunes, Cash Falls, Dancing Drums, Quick Hit Blitz Gold
Innovations and popular features: The company has a long history in the gaming industry with precursors involved in the horse racing industry as the Autotote company, dating back to 1917. Scientific Games introduced the secure instant lottery ticket in 1974. The company later officially launched into the world of slot machines and has become one of the largest gaming companies in the world, offering slot play, and other casino gaming options including electronic table games, online gaming, and more.
Website: lnw.com
MICROGAMING
Founded: 1994
Company size: 1,100 employees; $600 million in revenue for 2021
Country: Isle of Man
Popular games and brands: Mega Moolah, Dungeons & Diamonds, Vegas Cash, Wildfire Wins, Football Star, Jurassic Park, WWE Legends
Innovations and popular features: This is one of the largest privately-held gaming companies in the world. Microgaming launched the world's first true online casino software in 1994 and also holds the record for the largest online slot jackpot in history. In October 2015, British soldier John Heywood was playing Mega Moolah when he hit a jackpot for £13.2 million, now recognized by Guinness World Records. That topped a previous record payout on the same progressive game in May 2009, which saw one lucky player collect $6.4 million. Recent years have seen the company expand into other technology such as virtual reality.
Website: microgaming.co.uk
NETENT (NET ENTERTAINMENT, a subsidiary of Evolution Gaming)
Founded: 1996
Company size: 1,106 employees; $186.1 million in revenue for 2022
Country: Stockholm, Sweden
Popular games and brands: Vikings, Lost Relics, Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Conan, Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Slot, Ozzy Osbourne, Dracula, The Invisible Man, Motörhead, Jimi Hendrix, Creature from the Black Lagoon
Innovations and popular features: This company specializes in online slots and gaming for casino platforms around the world. Several NetEnt games feature pooled jackpots and the company has made pop culture-licensed games more of a focus in recent years. The company prides itself on platform integration and its cutting-edge hosting centers.
Website: netent.com
NOVOMATIC
Founded: 1980
Company size: 24,500 employees; $3.14 billion in revenue for 2022
Country: Austria
Popular games and brands: Dancing Lantern, 100 Roaring Sevens, Apollo God of the Sun, Asian Fortunes, Book of Ra – Temple of Gold, Black Jaguar
Innovations and popular features: Beyond developing slots for live and online casinos, this company also operates 2,100 casinos and gaming facilities around the world. The company takes an omni-channel approach to its products and services including offering land-based gaming, management systems, cash management systems, online/mobile and social gaming solutions, lottery, and sports betting. Other recent additions to the company’s slots include the XXL curved screen, sophisticated modern cabinets, multi-game machines, linked jackpots, and more.
Website: novomatic.com
PLAYTECH
Founded: 1999
Company size: 7,700 employees; $1.7 billion in revenue for 2022
Country: Isle of Man
Popular games and brands: King Kong, Crazy 7, Buffalo Blitz, Age of the Gods, Desert Treasure, Batman v. Superman, Top Gun, The Matrix, Man of Steel, American Dad
Innovations and popular features: The company has become one of the largest gaming developers specializing in the online market. Playtech debuted its first online casino product in 2001. In 2017, the company began offering live casino games to local online gaming operators. The same year, Playtech announced a deal with Warner Bros. to license DC Comics properties including Batman, Superman, Justice League, and more. Management has also focused on incorporating responsible gaming more seamlessly into its products in recent years including the BetBuddy behavioral identification and modification software. Machine learning has become an area of focus in recent years as well.
Website: playtech.com
UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT
Founded: 1969
Company size: 6,700 employees; $87 million in 2022 profit
Country: Tokyo, Japan
Popular games and brands: Universal Kingdom, Hanabi, Million God, Slots Street,
Innovations and popular features: With a similar founding as Bally, this company formerly known as Azure Gaming began by manufacturing video games in the 1970s and ‘80s. The company began branching out into slot machines and Japan’s slot-like pachinko games in the 1990s. Universal was a forerunner in the shift to “pachislot” machines. These pachinko machines are similar to traditional slots complete with a digital display screen with players trying to get three numbers or symbols for a payout. The games make use of tokens in line with traditional pachinko games. The company also offers social gaming options and provides other gaming technology beyond traditional slots and pachinko games. Its “Falcon X” system helps pachinko parlor managers manage their operations, efficiency, and analysis for sales strategies.
Website: universal-777.com
