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IGT Pokies NZ

By Betty Cherotich, Updated:

In the world of online casinos, International Gaming Technology (usually just called IGT), is a household name. Back in the 1970s, they started out as a maker of video pokie machines. When digital casino games entered into the mainstream, IGT successfully moved into the online casino market and have since been a mainstay in both the physical and digital realms.

 

IGT Background

Established by William Redd, IGT was originally known as A-1 Supply. Specialising in the design and manufacture of video pokie machines, the company slowly grew in stature during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1978, it changed its name to Sircoma before changing again to International Gaming Technology.

By 1981, IGT was able to go public thanks to the enormous success of its video pokie machines. Its innovations in the field of video pokie production opened up new markets and emboldened the company to push the envelope even further.

In 1984, it acquired Electronic Data Technologies and pioneered the ‘frequent-player rewards’ program which is still in use today. This new technology has since morphed into the Advantage and sbX systems.

IGT Microprocessor-Driven Pokies

Other cutting-edge products were released during this period such as the S-Slot and the Player’s Edge video poker machine. Both products marked IGT’s early forays into the microprocessor-based pokie vertical. These were followed by one of the world’s first land-based progressive jackpot pokies, Nevada Megabucks, which featured a jackpot of $1 million.

IGT International Development

IGT’s expansion was rapid and unabated during the 90s. In January of 1991, it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and quickly become a top performer. Then in 1992 IGT Europe was founded. Three years later, the company had offices in Argentina and South Africa. By the middle of the decade, IGT was a developer of international repute.

Key Acquisitions

This global reputation was bolstered further with the acquisition of Barcrest Gaming and Sodawk Gaming in the late 1990s. The 2000s were no different as Anchor Gaming and Acres Gaming became part of the IGT family.

Online Expansion, Wheel of Fortune Update

On its 25th anniversary as a public listed company, IGT snapped up Wager Works with a view to expanding its online offering. Within a year, the maiden Mega Jackpots game, Fort Knox had been unveiled, followed by Wheel of Fortune Special Edition – an update to one of IGT’s most storied games of all. In 1996, IGT released the Wheel of Fortune progressive pokie which was based on the famous American TV show. To this day, it remains one of the most popular gaming machines of all time and is now available online in many different guises. The 2006 version included extra features such as group play and community bonus games.

Mid-2000s – Present Day

Multi-player gaming elements for online roulette and baccarat were unveiled at the Global Gaming Expo of 2006. Many of these features provided a foundation for the development of modern live casino platforms.

2010 – IGT Sweeps the Boards

For its innovations in online casino games, IGT has been the recipient of numerous awards over the past decade. Indeed, 2010 was a vintage year. The company won ‘Best Slot Manufacture of the Year’ at the prestigious International Gaming Awards. Further industry recognition came from the Casino Player Magazine and the Global Annual Gaming and Technology Awards.

Present Day at IGT Casinos

Today, IGT is based in London with operating headquarters in Rome, Las Vegas and Providence, Rhode Island. Though it bears the same name, the company has gone through various iterations and takeovers in recent years. In 2014, IGT was bought by GTECH which in turn was bought by Lottomatic, Italy’s largest lottery provider. Despite this, the company chose to retain the IGT name, and so the legend lives on.

With over 12,000 employees worldwide, they work in all verticals of the gaming industry and in both commercial and government-sponsored spheres. These include gambling online, lotteries, social platforms, retail and traditional casinos. Their entire online gaming portfolio has been converted from HTML5. This framework is now a bare minimum requirement for online casino game developers ensuring ultimate interactivity between all devices whether you play casinos on mobile or desktop. Gone are the days of Flash-based casino games.

In addition to real money online pokies, IGT casinos design and produce classic casino table games with HD-quality graphics. Available as part of an attractive, multi-functional package, these popular titles include extra features such as tournaments, bonuses, loyalty programs and progressive jackpots (more about those in a minute).

Online pokies by IGT

To put it mildly, IGT’s video pokie game collection has a large and devoted fanbase. In New Zealand, Cleopatra is a mainstay of the region’s online casinos. It’s almost a sure thing that their games will be popular all around the world because of how universally appealing they are to players of all skill levels.  High5Games, a New York-based company, has licensed some of its games to IGT. Some of their games, including Da Vinci Diamonds and Golden Goddess, are among the most played pokies games among Kiwi players. Three of IGT’s most popular games are listed here.

Da Vinci Diamonds

Da Vinci Diamonds, one of IGT’s flagship games, is based on the famous High5Games pokie machine. In addition to the Tumbling Reels feature, this Renaissance-themed pokie game has five reels, twenty paylines, and a bonus round that may give up to 300 free spins. A 40-cent wager on Da Vinci Diamond scan result in a win of up to 5000 times your stake.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra, one of IGT’s most well-known titles, has become a benchmark for the industry in terms of both gameplay and visuals. Despite only having 20 paylines, the 5×3 base game stands out thanks to its bonus features, which may provide up to 180 free spins. Filling all of the reels with wild symbols gives you an opportunity to win 10,000 times your initial stake. Because it can be played for as little as 1p every spin, Cleopatra remains a popular option among gamers despite its antiquity.

Pixies of the Forest

The minimum wager you can make in Pixies of the Forest is around 60 cents, which is a lot more expensive than the other online games offered by IGT. Thankfully, the game compensates for this with 99 paylines, a free spins bonus, and a “Tumbling Reels” mechanic which randomly inserts new icons to replace any already-winning symbols for additional wins.

IGT Collaboration Pokies

Deals with well-known brands bring a lot of money and attention to the companies that create casino games. This is especially true of IGT’s strategic partnerships with well-known properties, which gamers will recognize and immediately grasp onto.

Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane’s iconic American cartoon series, Family Guy, is the perfect source material to build a quirky online pokie game with. In addition to the five regular reels, there are seven additional bonus games that may be won. You may win as much as 1000 times your initial bet in both the Drunken Clam and Chicken Fight bonus minigames, the latter of which contains a fight between Peter Griffin and a giant chicken.

Ghostbusters

IGT’s Ghostbusters collaboration pokie game is focused on the original cast and graphics, which is great news for anyone who disliked the 2016 remake. The lowest bet on this five-reel, 30-payline pokie is $1.00 per play, and there are six different extra features to unlock.

Mega Jackpots by IGT

IGT’s range of progressive jackpot pokies are all under the “Mega Jackpots” network. All of the Mega Jackpots games, similar to Microgaming’s Mega Moolah network, offer players the potential to win a life-changing sum of money if they land the progressive jackpot.

Isle O’ Plenty

This is a five-reel, 40-payline pokie game that transports players to a Celtic island of untold riches. In the game, the Wild Rush feature, in which wilds flood downhill to build towering stacks, is one of its most impressive aspects. Both the regular game and the bonus game have this feature, which may give you as much as 240 free spins at a time. With four Mega Prize symbols, you’ll be eligible to win the game’s top prize.

Wheel of Fortune

This five-reel, 20-payline slot machine is based on the iconic 1980s game show of the same name. The Mega Jackpots Bonus wheel, which has 24 possible results, is the most prominent element of this pokie game. There are three opportunities to win the Mega Jackpot if you’re fortunate enough to land on the coveted Ultra Wheel.

Star Lanterns

With the same 5 x 3 reels and 20 paylines as the classic Wheel of Fortune pokie, Star Lanterns takes the same gameplay formula and dresses it up in an Oriental style. Chinese lantern symbols cover the reels, some of which activate the floating reels bonus feature. New symbols are utilized to replace the winning ones, therefore allowing for several wins each spin. The star is the most valuable symbol, as it offers an x5 multiplier. During your session, you must gather Mega Jackpot symbols to have a shot at the grand prize.

Golden Goddess

This five-reel, forty-payline jackpot is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. In addition to the Mega Jackpots, Golden Goddess has a free spins bonus game and a super stacks feature. It has a wide range of wager possibilities, from 40p to a whopping 1200 for a single spin, making it one of the most versatile games on the market. It goes without saying that placing a wager of that magnitude is not recommended for anyone but the most daring of Kiwi players with the bankrolls to back them up.

Siberian Storm

In Siberian Storm, users may help save virtual tigers by spinning reels to win. On top of the noble theme, the game offers 40 paylines and the same bonus free spins game as Golden Goddess. This game also has a Super Stacks function. At any point in the basic game, five consecutive Mega Jackpot symbols anywhere on the reels will earn you entry to the progressive bonus round.

Why Play IGT Pokies?

International Gaming Technology should not be overlooked while seeking for top-notch pokies to play in NZ, especially given their impressive credentials and near-legendary position in the industry.  Considering that IGT has worked on such well-known games as Da Vinci Diamonds, Cleopatra, and Mega Jackpots, we’ll just let their work prove their abilities.

IGT Pokies FAQs

Can I win real money playing IGT pokie games?

You can win real money playing IGT pokies as long as you play the real money version. To increase your odds of winning it is advisable to play the demo version of the game first before playing the real money version.

What are the casino sites in New Zealand to play IGT pokies?

We have compiled a list of online casinos in New Zealand that offer IGT pokie games. These casinos are licensed to operate and feature IGT’s most popular games.

What are the top IGT pokie games?

There are a few games that stand out more than others among the numerous online pokies and classic casino games released by IGT over the years. These include the online video pokie game Cleopatra

Play IGT pokies here >>

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