Upcoming Slots: What to Expect

Summer is just around the corner and the world is getting prepared for a gambling rush. This is the best time of year for all casinos in all cities, even in the baking heat of Reno and Las Vegas, where summer temperatures are enough to concern even the locals. The summer is when the emphasis in the gambling world shifts from online to offline, a time when the land-based casinos get to strut their stuff.

In this article we’ll look at what some of the biggest developers have in store for this summer. Slot machines have exploded in popularity in recent years and there are now more and more being produced, with licenses being granted for everything from bands and films, to TV shows and even chat shows, as we shall discover.

IGT

This is one company that many slot fans keep a close eye on, as they have been responsible for some of the best games to be released in recent years. They don’t do quantity, but they definitely do quality, and there is no shortage of that in their portfolio. One of the biggest acquisitions for IGT this year, and one that will be realized in the summer, is the Ellen slot. The Ellen chat show has taken over from Oprah to dominate this industry and to become one of the biggest TV shows in the US. Ellen is also popular around the world, which means that a lot of people will be eagerly anticipating the Ellen slot machine.

A game that they have already released is Wheel of Fortune: Jackpot Paradise, which fans of the long running TV show will get a huge kick out of. They are also working on some skill-based games, which could prove to be a big hit this summer thanks to a recent law change that has allowed slot machine developers to focus more on the skill aspect.

WMS

This developer has also picked up some big licenses, the best of which is probably the Mad Men TV show license, which will allow them to create a slot based on this intense drama. They also acquired The Flintstones license, which makes them the envy of slot developers the world over, and they are also working on an Elton John slot machine, which promises to be as eccentric, colorful and fun as the Rocket Man himself.

Aristocrat

Although not one of the best known slot machine developers, Aristocrat have been responsible for some big and impressive slots over the last couple of years and this summer should be a big time for them. They acquired the rights to produce a slot machine based on The Big Bang Theory, a comedy based on the lives of a few geeky friends from California. They also picked-up the rights for the Sons of Anarchy TV show, which is not as popular but still has a very large following. Aristocrat are also working on a Britney Spears game, which should be interesting, to say the least.