While the manufacturing of thousands of "Player's Edge" video poker machines was a major part of IGT's 1980 domination of the slot market, the company also introduced new concepts like the S-Slot, IGT's entry into the microprocessor-driven spinning-reel slot market.
IGT also introduced Nevada Megabucks, the world's first multi-casino, wide-area progressive slot system. The Megabucks jackpot boasted a base top jackpot of $1 million and made million-dollar payouts possible for any casino on the system.
The 1990's at IGTThe 1990's dawned with IGT moving to the New York Stock Exchange and the opening of IGT Europe in 1992. In 1993, the company began manufacturing components for the Japanese pachisuro machine market and benefited greatly with the legalization of riverboat gaming in the United States.
In 1996, IGT debuted the Wheel of Fortune progressive slot, still one of the company's most popular products. It also introduced multi-denomination, multi-game technology with its Game King video product, but the best was still to come.
Through a partnership with Action Gaming, IGT introduced Triple Play Draw Poker, which took the gaming market by storm. Within six months there were Triple Play machines all across Nevada and new jurisdictions were clamoring for machines of their own.
The 2000's at IGTIn January 2000, IGT rolled out its one-millionth gaming machine: the Red White & Blue S2000 slot. It also introduced EZ Pay ticket-in, ticket-out technology, which fueled replacement machine sales for IGT over the next several years.
A year later IGT acquired Anchor Gaming and immediately doubled gaming operations revenue. The company's success was recognized with a listing in Fortune magazine's "100 Fastest-Growing Companies" list. Not wishing to lose any momentum, the next acquisition was Acres Gaming, followed by the creation of IGT Canada.
Since that time, IGT offices have been established in Russia, Mexico, and Macau to take advantage of emerging market opportunities, and new offices have now been added to mainland China.
Popular slots introduced by IGT this decade include Star Wars, Sex and the City, and many other favorites. The upcoming American Idol machines are likely to be player favorites too.
