International Game Technology (1975–2015)

International Game Technology

Industry	Gambling Technology
Founded	1975
Founder	William Redd
Defunct	2015
Fate	Acquired by GTECH
Successor	International Game Technology
Headquarters	Las Vegas, Nevada
Products	Slot machines, Online gambling

International Game Technology (IGT) was a former American gaming company based in Las Vegas that manufactured and distributed slot machines and other gambling technology. It was acquired in 2015 by GTECH for $6.4 billion, which then adopted the IGT name.^[1][2]

IGT was founded as an A-1 Supply by William "Si" Redd in 1975.^[3] It changed its name to Sircoma in 1978, and then to International Game Technology (IGT) in 1981.^[3] The company went public in 1981,^[4] following its success in the video poker machine industry.^[5]

In 1984, IGT acquired Electronic Data Technologies, becoming one of the first companies to use the Computerized Player Tracking concept (CPT), which later contributed to the growth of 'frequent-player rewards' programs. This initial system gave casinos new marketing tools in player management, and over time, the tracking system evolved into the company's IGT Advantage^[6] and SBX^[7] systems.

After IGT's IPO and NASDAQ listing, the company introduced the S-Slot. This marked its entry into the spinning-reel slot market, and the Player's Edge video poker machine. IGT also launched the Nevada Megabucks slot machine, the first wide-area progressive slot machine system with a $1 million base jackpot. Additionally, IGT established an office in Australia to target the club market.

In January 1991,^[8] a decade after its initial public offering, IGT was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The following year, IGT Europe was established to service casinos across the continent, and commissioned new offices in South Africa, and Argentina.

In 1996, IGT licensed the game show Wheel of Fortune for a line of slot machines; chairman Charles Mathewson had encountered a Sony Pictures Television executive by chance at an awards show.^[9][10]

During this time, they also introduced The Game King video product^[11] which featured multi-denomination technology.

In 1998, IGT acquired Barcrest Gaming, located in the United Kingdom, along with Sodak Gaming, the distributor for the Native American market.^[12] In that time, IGT also introduced Triple Play Draw Poker through its partnership with Action Gaming,^[13] and an Elvis-themed slot machine. Their new S2000 spinning reel slot machine system was brought to the market in 1999.^[14]

In 2001, IGT became a member of the S&P 500. The company also continued to acquire gaming companies including Silicon Gaming and Anchor Gaming. The acquisition of Anchor Gaming resulted in doubled gaming operations revenue.^[15] The Anchor acquisition also gave IGT the rights to patents it had licensed for bonus wheels on slot machines, which were being leveraged for the Wheel of Fortune line.^[9]

During 2003, IGT acquired Acres Gaming. The company's bonuses and systems technology were a significant addition to IGT's games and systems products.^[15] In 2004, the company introduced its central determination system (CDS) as well as its Class II bingo games and systems to the Native American market. IGT Canada was established to serve the emerging Canadian lottery and gaming markets.^[16]

In 2005, IGT celebrated its 25th anniversary as a publicly traded company. During that year IGT acquired Wager Works, and the company unveiled its first multi-level progressive Mega Jackpots product, known as Fort Knox.^[17] In an effort to take advantage of emerging markets, new IGT offices were opened in Macau, Mexico and Russia.

Group play and community bonus games were introduced to the marketplace in 2006 with the debut of Wheel of Fortune Special Edition.^[17] The company also celebrated its 10th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune slots,^[18] as well as the 20th anniversary of the Megabucks wide area progressive game.

During the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas in 2006, IGT revealed the M-P Series. The new multi-player concept focused on roulette and baccarat and was the first of the company's electronic multi-player table game products.^[19]

In 2007, IGT worked to grow its Mexican gaming operation and product sales in the Japanese and Asian markets. In addition, a new IGT office was opened in China. Two intellectual property arrangements were also announced. These included an arrangement with Austrian-based Novomatic focusing on IGT's M-P Series multi-player product^[20] and with Pure Depth, Inc. for its 3D-like, Multi-Layer Display (MLD) technology.^[21]

IGT opened the Global Technology & Interoperability Center in Reno, Nevada, early in 2008. This first-of-its-kind research and testing center encompasses a 6,500-square-foot (600 m²) facility, which is available for use by gaming manufacturers, customers, and third-party gaming product manufacturers. The collaborative center focuses on product testing in a true-to-life casino atmosphere prior to market release.^[22] In an effort to diversify business and market opportunities in the United Kingdom, the company acquired Cyber-view Technology, Inc.^[23]

The company opened IGT Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in Beijing, China, in March 2009. The office was established to research and develop gaming, application and systems in addition to providing support, technical services and training.^[24]

In 2009, Patti S. Hart was appointed as IGT's new president and CEO.^[25] That year also saw the release of SBX Tier One package by IGT Network Systems.^[26]

Sex and the City Slots were introduced in fall 2009 in the United States.^[27] This game features game play with bonus rounds on a multi-level progressive jackpots platform. The year ended with IGT's SBX Experience Management System being installed at ARIA Resort & Casino at City Center in Las Vegas.^[28] ARIA's casino floor opened with a first-of-its-kind combination of IGT systems on the server-based network, including IGT Advantage and SBX.

IGT started 2010 with a repeat win at the International Gaming Awards as Best Slot Manufacturer of the Year^[29] and continued to win awards throughout the year. These included 16 awards in Casino Player magazine's Best of Gaming for 2010, top honors in Global Gaming Business' 8th Annual Gaming and Technology Awards, wins in the inaugural Casino Enterprise Management Hospitality Operations Technology Awards, and 35 awards in Strictly Slots Best of Slots Awards.^[30]

In the spring of 2010, IGT's SBX Experience Management System was installed in the first European locations as SBX went live at Casino D'Evian in France.^[31] This was followed by a number of additional European installations including Casino di Venezia in Italy^[32] and Grand Casino Helsinki in Finland.^[33]

In November 2010, the Company celebrated the production of its two millionth slot machine.^[34]

Late 2010 also saw the creation of an Interactive division within IGT dedicated to further building its online and mobile gaming presence.^[35] IGT's Wager Works and Million-2-1 groups merged into a single global division headquartered in San Francisco, California. This new division provides gaming products to online and mobile markets in regulated, legal markets globally. The year ended with a substantial go-live for both IGT's network systems products and games. The new casino resort, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, opened floor-wide in sbX; the majority floor share of games; plus, an entire suite of IGT Advantage system products.^[36]

IGT acquired Entraction in 2011. It was a poker network and video game developer with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. ^[37]It also acquired Double Down in 2012, a Facebook game company with its headquarters in Seattle.^[37]

In January 2013, IGT filed its preliminary proxy materials and indicated that it had received a Notice of Intent to Nominate four director candidates for election to the IGT Board at the Company's 2013 Annual Meeting through The Ader Group, run by Jason Ader. The intent of the notice was to inform IGT and its shareholders of a proxy battle that was going to take place, and that the Ader group's nominees include the slot-machine maker's former chief executive Charles Mathewson, and Jason Ader himself.^[38][39]

Following the initial release by IGT, The Ader Group issued a statement claiming that IGT relayed inaccurate information concerning Jason Ader and the Ader Group's proxy fight.^[40] The initial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by IGT suggested that Ader's group seeks election to the board, as Ader and Mathewson control 3 percent of IGT, (8.05 million shares), and they are seeking additional proxies for the company's 2013 annual shareholder meeting to put Mathewson back on the board IGT.^[40][41] IGT maintained its original statement.^[40]

On January 11, 2013, the Ader Group filed its proxy indicating that it had nominated three people for the IGT board, of which Jason Ader was not one of the candidates. The proxy statement claimed that IGT had lost value as a result of the decisions and direction of its leadership.^[42]

The Ader Group filed its action letter outlining its reasons for the proxy fight and urging stockholders to vote for the Gold slate on January 28, 2013.^[43][44]

In July 2014, Italian gaming equipment company Gtech agreed to acquire IGT for a total of $6.4 billion, including $4.7 billion in cash and $1.7 billion in assumed debt. The companies would be combined under a new holding company based in the United Kingdom and the Gtech name would be dropped.^[45]

On April 7, 2015, Gtech completed its merger with IGT, the new merger was named International Game Technology PLC.

In 2005, IGT purchased the UK focused online gaming supplier Wagerworks for $90 million.^[46] Wagerworks supplies casino and slot games to various online gaming sites, including Paddy Power, William Hill and Betfair. The company provides over 100 real money wagering options for customers in legalized jurisdictions. Currently online gaming is prohibited in the US, due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. With an increasing focus on New Media and online distribution channels IGT announced the appointment of Gideon Bierer in January 2010 to head up the division, based in San Francisco.^[47] The interactive division also has offices in Paddington, London.

When the new Interactive division debuted in late 2010, IGT's separate mobile- and internet-based gaming groups, known as Million-2-1 and WagerWorks, merged and formed one team with 18 years combined experience.^[48] IGT Interactive provides regulatory-compliant casino games content and platform solutions including the wide area progressive MegaJackpots series. IGT Interactive's mobile portfolio includes mobile slot, table, lottery and SMS games, mobile marketing, and platform products across all major mobile technologies including Apple and Android.

In March 2011, the IGT Interactive division moved to 405 Howard Street, Suite 600, in San Francisco, California, and announced plans to add 75 positions to their staff. The new Interactive division headquarters, located at the corner of First and Howard in the heart of SOMA, is home to 100 employees today with the ability to accommodate more than 250. The new 45,884-square-foot (4,262.8 m²) office triples IGT's total office space in San Francisco, allowing IGT to consolidate employees from two different locations in San Francisco, while also allowing for additional growth.^[49]

IGT online game titles include:

Power Blackjack and Three Card Second Chance are unique to IGT online casinos. Three Card Second Chance was developed by gaming consultant and casino game analyst Michael Shackleford^[50] also known as 'The Wizard of Odds'.