Aristocrat Gaming

If we told you that there was a casino game developer that had been operating since the 1950s you probably wouldn’t believe us. However, Aristocrat Gaming is just such a developer, starting way back in 1953 and still going strong, having evolved from producing slot machines to online slots which are found in casinos all over the world. Let’s find out a little bit more about this Aussie innovator.

History

Aristocrat Gaming was founded in 1953 in Sydney, Australia, by Len Ainsworth, who is considered to be the ‘Father of Pokies’ in that country. Initially focused on creating mechanical slot machines as a sideline to the family dental supplies business, Aristocrat quickly established itself as a leading manufacturer in the global casino industry. The “Clubman” was the company’s first slot machine, but it was the introduction of the world’s first fully electronic gaming machine, the “Clubmaster,” in the 1960s which marked a significant milestone in the company’s history.

Aristocrat’s expansion into the online gaming sector in the early 2000s brought their popular land-based titles into the digital realm, making them accessible to a wider audience. Ainsworth sold his majority shareholding of the company to Novomatic in 2016 for $334M USD.

Popular Games

Aristocrat Gaming remains a big name in the online gaming industry, and here are a few of their most popular titles:

– Buffalo: A surprisingly large number of online slots feature Buffalos in their themes, and this land-based slot finally made it online in 2023.
– Miss Kitty: This is quite a simplistic slot in terms of design, but its cutesy theme has proved popular.
– Red Baron: Take to the skies with this WW1 game which offers a nice bonus game.
– The Walking Dead: This tie-in with the hugely-popular TV show of the same name was always going to be a winner.
– Jackpot Carnival: We had to mention this fun-filled slot as it picked up the award for the GGA Best Online Slot for 2023.

Innovations and Awards

As you would expect from such a venerable organisation, Aristocrat Gaming has consistently been at the forefront of gaming innovation. One of their most notable contributions to the industry was the development of the “Reel Power” system, which offers players hundreds of ways to win by allowing them to activate reels rather than paylines. Another groundbreaking feature introduced by Aristocrat was the “Hold & Spin” mechanic, which has become a staple in many of their most popular games.

The company has been recognized with numerous awards over the years, underscoring their excellence in game development and innovation. Recent accolades include recognition at the Global Gaming Awards – including that Best Online Slot gong – and the EGR Awards, where they were praised for their leadership in both land-based and online gaming. They also took the top prize for Best Overall Supplier of Slot Content in the 2024 EKG Awards – the sixth time in a row they won that trophy!

Conclusion

It’s quite something for a slot game provider to be able to celebrate over seven decades in the industry, which certainly marks Aristocrat Gaming out from the crowd. They managed the challenging feat of moving from being a mechanical slot machine manufacturer into becoming a major player in the online casino gaming world. In an industry where companies come and go in a matter of years, this Aussie company has proven to be a long-term winner.

For more info visit the Aristocrat Gaming website.