IGT describes itself as "the global leader in gaming" and that really is as good a summary as we can think of for this software provider. Founded in 1990, but with roots that go back to the 1970s, IGT has given the world some of the most popular games of all time, including MegaJackpots Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune on Tour and Wolf Run. In this article, we'll take a look at where the company came from, why it is so good at giving players exactly what they want and where you can find its games online.
Best New Zealand Sites with IGT Games
HOT IN NZ!
IGT - From Slot Machines to Online Gaming
The story of IGT goes back to 1975 when an American businessman by the name of William Redd started a company called A1-Supply. This was renamed International Game Technology (which is what IGT stands for) and its aim from the start was to develop and manufacture gaming machines for land-based casinos. Early games were video poker titles and online pokies, all of which were as financially successful as they were popular with players.
The offline success of the company put it in a superb position to make the most of the new opportunities offered by the internet. IGT was keen not only to create online versions of its already popular gaming machines but also to develop new titles that would be suitable for both land-based and online casinos.
IGT has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1991. It has its main headquarters in the United Kingdom, with operating headquarters in Rome, Las Vegas and Providence. The company has over 11,000 employees worldwide and continues to develop games for offline casinos as well as online venues.
Authentic Casino Gaming
Because IGT started out as a manufacturer of video poker and slot machines for traditional casinos, it has a wealth of experience in creating innovative games that keep players entertained. That background has been very useful in helping the company to create some of the most authentic online games around. Quite simply, when you play an IGT game online you'll get the very same experience that you would when playing at your local land-based casino.
A Focus on Pokies
The online games created by IGT are mostly online pokies. That isn't a surprise, given that these are the most popular games of any kind, and the company does a particularly good job of making its titles aesthetically appealing. The artwork and audio content of IGT pokies are both superb, and you only need to play a game for a couple of spins before you find yourself immersed in the experience.
Broad Accessibility
IGT's products are as popular among industry insiders as they are with players, and casinos both online and off are always keen to have them in their lobbies. This makes IGT games very accessible, and you'll find plenty of online casinos offering both classic titles and new releases.
An Abundance of Awards
Players have voted for IGT games with their virtual feet, but the company has also earned scores of awards and accolades from the gaming industry itself. We have no idea how large its trophy cabinet must be (maybe it has a trophy warehouse instead) but we can tell you that it wins dozens of awards on a yearly basis. In 2021 alone it won awards for Casino Supplier of the Year, Technology Provider of the Year, Best Consumer-Service Technology, Product Innovation of the Year, and Best Innovative Products, to name just five.
IGT Online Casino Games
Having seen where IGT came from and what the company has achieved, we should now turn our attention to the IGT games you are likely to find at online casinos. There are around 250 such games that are playable in New Zealand alone, so rather than attempt to discuss all of them in specific terms, we'll provide a more general discussion and highlight a few of the most notable titles by name.
IGT Online Pokies
As we said in our introduction to this article, IGT has produced some of the most popular pokies in the world. It gave us the iconic Cleopatra slot in 2002, and that game, along with the 2006 release, Pharaoh's Fortune, played a huge role in establishing the Egyptian-themed genre that is still going strong to this day. A couple of sequels to the original Cleopatra game have been released by IGT, and both Cleopatra 2 and MegaJackpots Cleopatra can be found today at many online casinos in NZ.
Fans of branded games are likely to have played at least one or two from IGT because this developer does them frequently and to a very high standard. We've already mentioned Wheel of Fortune on Tour, but other branded online pokies that you can enjoy include Battleship, Ghostbusters, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Baywatch and Jeopardy!
IGT MegaJackpots
When you start looking at IGT pokie games that can be played at online casinos in New Zealand, you'll notice that there are quite a few with MegaJackpots in the title. That's because MegaJackpots is IGT's own progressive jackpot that can be won by any player on any MegaJackpots game, regardless of which online casino they happen to be visiting. Some of the most popular MegaJackpots games are:
IGT Table Games
While IGT has definitely focused on online pokies for online casinos, it hasn't completely ignored table games by any means. The company has created some simply stunning online casino versions of games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Three Card Poker, so if you ever want to sit down and play something more traditional, IGT has you covered. You can read more about table games and their live versions at our live dealer casino guide.
IGT Video Poker Games
Given that IGT has been creating video poker games for land-based casinos for decades, it stands to reason that it has also released a number of video poker titles for online casino players. Some of the most popular include Game King Video Poker, Jacks or Better Game King and Double Double Bonus Poker Game King.
A Force to Be Reckoned With
By now you should realize that IGT really isn't exaggerating when it describes itself as the global leader in gaming. The company has been developing, manufacturing and coding games for longer than many of today's gaming fans have been alive. That makes IGT one of the most experienced developers in the world, and you can be confident that any game it puts out is well worth playing.
