Slot machines have been around for centuries and have become a popular casino game. Slot machines are operated by a central computer and are usually found in casino halls or on the casino floor.
Slot machines come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Slot machine manufacturers are typically licensed by state governments and must meet certain requirements, such as paying taxes. In the early 1990s, slot machine manufacturers began to merge, creating large companies with a significant share of the market.
These companies, known as the “Big Five,” are Aristocrat, Bally Technologies, Caesars Entertainment Corporation (now subsidiaries of MGM Resorts International), IGT Corporation (now a subsidiary of Genting Group), and Microsoft Corporation (through its gaming division, Microsoft Gaming Division).
The five largest U.S. slot machine manufacturers accounted for more than two-thirds of all slot machine sales in 2015. The market is dominated by five companies: Aristocrat Technologies Inc., Bally Technologies International plc, Caesars Entertainment Corp., IGT Inc.
and Microsoft Corp.). Other major companies include WMS Gaming LLC (owned by William Hill plc), Amaya Inc., Aristocrat Leisure Group Plc (owned by Genting Group) and Ignition Casino Plc (owned by Evolution Gaming LLC).
The top five slot machine manufacturers account for about 80 percent of the global market. The other major manufacturers include Amaya Inc., Aristocrat Leisure Group Plc, Bally Technologies International plc, IGT Inc.
, Microsoft Corp., WMS Gaming LLC and Yggdrasil Gaming Ltd.
