Scientific Games

Scientific Games (SG) has gone by many names over the years, and current players will probably recognize them as Light & Wonder instead. This is a company that has been around for over fifty years, with decades of experience in slot machine engineering. Naturally, that includes digital slots and iGaming software in more recent years.

Over its long history, Scientific Games has supported the industry with physical slot machines, casino management systems, and a growing network of partners and acquired brands. Learn about all of them and more below.

History

While the company was founded in 1973, Scientific Games’ history is tied with an older business called Automatic Totalisators Limited. This Australian company was created way back in 1917 by George Julius, with US operations starting in the 1950s. They would later change their name to Autotote. Scientific Games created instant lottery equipment back then until Autotote acquired them in 2000 for $308 million. Instead of changing SG’s name, Autotote adopted the Scientific Games mantle instead. This means that Scientific Games spans a lot of different products and services within the gambling industry. Over time, other divisions were wound down or sold away, leaving SG as a creator of real-world and online slots.

They also acquired high-profile slot makers like Bally Technologies and Shuffle Master throughout the 2010s. In more recent years, SG launched SciPlay as its social gaming division while using its established reputation to grow “the world’s largest & most-trusted iGaming ecosystem.” Then, in 2022, the company rebranded itself as Light & Wonder.

Popular Games

As it exists today, Light & Wonder’s library has approximately 200+ games. Most of them are slots, though they support table games too. Their 200+ games include homegrown slots alongside choice selections from their vast and growing network of acquired brands and business partners in the industry. The full scale of their OpenGaming network spans upwards of 6,000+ games in the industry.

As a seasoned games manufacturer, they have experience creating both physical and digital slots with every kind of theme or setting. These games are proudly displayed on their website, but we’ve chosen a few of their greatest hits below.

• Book of Fusion: A suitably scientific slot set in a busy laboratory, with symbols inspired by alchemy and other volatile experiments.
• Raiders of Fortune: A treasure-hunting slot inspired by film franchises like Indiana Jones. Uses a special Trailways reel to throw curveball bonuses onto the grid during gameplay.
• Rainbow Riches: One of SG’s oldest games, this colorful 2009 slot leans into Irish culture and its stories about pots of gold at the end of a rainbow.
• Action Bank: This steely slot takes place in a bank vault filled with riches and risks, telling the story of a heist caper.
• Stargate Megaways: Just one of many brands that SG has been entrusted with, this sci-fi slot features characters, symbols, and settings from the franchise.
• The Demon Code: A cluster slot that takes place in a dark underground cavern, using rare demonic and supernatural themes.

Innovations and Awards

Given its history as a slot manufacturer and casino software developer, Light & Wonder has provided a lot of support for iGaming besides its game library. One of their biggest contributions has already been mentioned – their OpenGaming network. This network connects online casinos with up-and-coming studios, to fill out libraries across the internet with fresh, new games. As part of that network, they have pioneered B2B services that manage data, payment services, and regulatory compliance for their partners.

Where awards are concerned, Light & Wonder has made a consistent showing at industry events like the EGR B2B awards, the International Gaming Awards, and the EKG Awards. 2024 was no different – Light & Wonder won the EGR North America Award for their live services, a first for the company. They also swept the EKG awards, winning seven awards as both Light & Wonder and SciPlay, for physical slot innovations and being a top social casino operator.

Conclusion

That’s the story of Scientific Games, from 1973 to today. There’s no doubt they have a bright future ahead of them as Light & Wonder, now that they have shed a lot of their former operations and now focus on supporting the iGaming industry. Their library and their vast OpenGaming network continue to grow, so avid players can look forward to even more Light & Wonder experiences in the future.