Slot Suppliers Shine at IGA
All of the major slot manufacturers rolled out new products at last month’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow. The annual exhibition staged by the Indian Gaming Association provided a showcase of innovation in the slot sector. Here are some highlights, by manufacturer:
AGS
AGS showcased two new sister titles for its Railway Riches series on the Spectra 43 Premium cabinet, Conductors Cash and Miners Millions. Both games offer hold-and-spin bonus features, Conductors with tickets to collect and Miners with sticks of dynamite.
The company also highlighted the Revel cabinet, a new three-reel mechanical stepper with an old-school organic stepper feel. Two titles were shown on the cabinet, Liberty Diamond and Triple Treasures, which are set to release later this year.
Its Knock Knock Guardians title on the Spectra 43 Core cabinet was also on display, an Egyptian cat-themed perceived persistence game that is available now.
Ainsworth
Ainsworth showcased new titles for both Class II and Class III markets, with its Raptor cabinet being a key theme throughout the company’s booth. Officials highlighted the new Rocket Link title, the first Class II/ HHR offering for the Raptor, to be released in June.
Also featured were San Bao Rabbits and San Bao Tigers, the latest iterations of the company’s San Bao series, which are also coming in June. Looking ahead, QuickSpin Electric Pots Super Charged 7s and Rocket Frenzy were two additional games expected to launch at the end of the year.
This year’s booth marked the return of the Ainsworth Live! media zone, a professional broadcast desk offered in partnership with CDC Gaming Reports and Tribal Gaming & Hospitality.
Aristocrat
Aristocrat lauded the introduction of Jackpot Carnival Extreme, a new Jackpot Carnival sequel that features both Buffalo and Power of 88 themes. Updates include six more reels and a new golden hammer bonus feature.
Coin Trio Royal was another new sequel debuted at the show, rife with new themes and bonuses. The company’s soon-to-be-released Class II NFL-themed title, Rings of Victory, was popular among attendees.
Overall, the company noted that it has worked and will continue to work to build bespoke Class II titles that are distinct from its traditional Class III portfolio.
Bluberi
Bluberi continued to highlight its Devil’s Lock series by further showcasing Devil’s Lock All-In, the sequel to the breakthrough title from 2022. The title, first shown at G2E last year, officially went live at California’s Yaamava’ Casino earlier this month.
The company showcased the game on its premium Beacon Elite cabinet, which features LED dividers on the sides that integrate with the game content.
Overall, Bluberi officials said that increased content streams were a main focus for the show, as the company has added new studios in Reno, Nevada and Austin, Texas.
Everi
Fresh off of a massive hardware expansion last year, Everi showcased new titles such as its Evel Knievel game, a multi-denom, wide-area progressive featured on the Player Classic Reserve cabinet. The game features traditional reels as well as video screens with clips of the high-flying daredevil.
For the Dynasty Sol Sync premium cabinet, Everi featured Smokin’ Hot Stuff Link, a new iteration of the Smokin’ Hot Stuff line that includes cash on reels and the “close enough” feature, where the game’s mascot favorably assists bonuses.
Eclipse
Eclipse showcased the launch of Big Shake 2, a sequel to the original Big Shake title on the Impact 49 cabinet. The game features an arcade-style coin pusher persistence feature and also includes the lovable Jackpot gopher mascot throughout. The company plans to launch the game next month.
Also featured was Gem Link Deluxe, complete with a hold-and-spin bonus with diamond, emerald and ruby jackpots. That game, officials said, will deploy in April or May as well.
IGT
Attendees flocked to see IGT’s latest multi-level progressive debut, Tiger and Dragon, housed on the PeakCurve49 cabinet. Officials noted that the previous two IGA shows featured the releases of hit titles Prosperity Link and Mystery of the Lamp, and indicated that expectations for Tiger and Dragon were similarly high.
Speaking of Mystery of the Lamp, the Class II version of the game was also shown on the PeakCurve49, having first launched earlier this year. The company’s Whitney Houston-themed series will also expand in June, being launched for the first time on the SkyRise cabinet.
IGT’s Mesa ETG system also made its first appearance at the show, featuring 4K-quality monitors and overhead screens. Even though the system already features the fastest-timed roulette wheel on the market, the company said new upgrades are coming later this year.
Incredible Technologies
Incredible Technologies (IT) displayed its new True Pick Fastball Class II ETG hardware, a bingo-style roulette variant in which 38 numbered balls are shuffled in a center hopper with one being selected at random.
The game debuted in Washington state earlier this year and the company plans to begin additional installs around the U.S. in the near future.
On the game side, IT highlighted Stack Up Pays Island Riches, its newest title for the well-performing Prism Element cabinet. The game features a reel expansion up to 10×5 and a video board up top that shuffles through previous jackpot wins.
Interblock
ETG specialist Interblock highlighted its Reel Roulette game, a roulette variant in which straight payouts are lowered to 30-1 in order to offer special multipliers on select numbers ranging from 50-1 to 100-1. On certain spins, a gold ball also raises straight payouts to 40-1.
Company officials also noted that its Smart Pit continues to be one of if not the No. 1 focus for the company moving forward, especially as staffing issues and higher-priced traditional tables persist in casinos around the country.
Interblock’s live craps game, debuted last year, will also reportedly see some upgrades later this year, including dice recognition that will greatly improve accuracy and payouts.
Konami
Konami’s new offerings included Crazy Stuffed Coins, a variant of the original Stuffed Coins game with a new reel expansion feature. The title is expected to launch this fall, company officials said.
The large-format Dimension 43×3 cabinet was also shown for the first time at the show, representing the latest installment in the company’s Dimension line.
The Synkros management system also continued to be a focal point for Konami, especially the new Progressive Management floorwide progressive software and its new Gift & Go integration feature.
Light & Wonder
Light & Wonder (L&W) showcased a range of products, starting with the Class II debut of its Dragon Train title on the Kascada Dual Screen cabinet. Other Class II debuts included the Huff N’ Even More Puff and Hot Hot Blazing Locks titles.
For hardware, L&W brought out its new Landmark 7000 Transparent stepper cabinet, incorporating a video reel and an iDeck platform.
On the tables side, the company debuted the Double Down Madness blackjack variant, which is not live yet but will soon launch in Nevada and Iowa.
Novomatic Americas
Novomatic Americas unveiled new themes for its Thunder Cash Gold Link line of linked progressives, including Golden Book of Ra, Golden Dolphin’s Pearl, Irish Locks and Irish Grace.
The company also debuted content from its partner Apex Pro’s Clover Link series, including the new Diamond Link with themes such as Mighty Emperor. That content was shown on Novomatic’s J-Curve 43 cabinet.
With regard to hardware, the company featured an array of cabinet lines, such as the Diamond X, VIP X and Panthera models, in addition to its ETG and sports betting kiosk offerings.
Zitro
Zitro’s Fu Pots and Fu Frog sister titles on the Allure Glare cabinet, first shown at last year’s G2E, were a return staple at the IGA show, and the company said the triple-pot games have both been well received.
Lun Pan Du, featured on the Altius cabinet, was also a focal point—the game features a wheel-spinning bonus that players can activate with the spin button or by swiping the screen. Officials said it was recently launched at the nearby Pechanga Casino.
