Light and Wonder might seem to have appeared out of nowhere in March 2022, but that's only because it's the new name for the developer formerly known as Scientific Games (SG Gaming). The developer itself has been around for decades, and it owns several famous gaming brands, including Barcrest, Bally Technologies and the NYX Gaming Group. It's also given the world more than 100 great online casino games, and as you'll learn in this review of the company, it's very likely that there will be plenty more to come.
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A Brief History of Scientific Games
Scientific Games was founded over five decades ago, in 1973, and it launched the first secure instant lottery scratchcard the following year. For the first couple of decades, the company focused on developing technologies and systems for lottery gaming and betting on horse racing, both on-track and remotely. However, it also had a keen interest in providing games and infrastructural services to the casino industry. This interest led to the company entering into multiple partnerships and agreements with other big names.
While Scientific Games made great headway in the casino world, it has never taken its focus off lottery gaming. Today the company employs over 3,000 people in more than 40 worldwide locations, and Scientific Games itself is exclusively concerned with lotteries. That's because its casino gaming division has been separated and rebranded as Light and Wonder.
Scientific Games Rebrands as Light & Wonder
The rebranding of Scientific Games as Light & Wonder took place in March 2022 following a restructuring of the company. The Scientific Games brand was retained for the company's lottery business, while the Gaming and iGaming business side now operates under the new Light and Wonder game provider brand. This is why you'll see now all of the classic Scientific Games and SG Digital titles, such as 88 Fortunes and Monopoly Utility Trails, branded as Light & Wonder at online casinos NZ and around the world.
Light and Wonder Online Casino Games
There are currently 110 online casino games that have been released by this company, and while most are pokies, there are a few table games among them. Three of the most notable ones are as follows:
Online Pokie Games
While finding Light & Wonder table games can be a bit of a challenge, it's a great deal easier to find online pokies from this company. The online pokies available cover a wide range of genres, formats and styles, so there is something for everyone. Here are a handful of titles that stand out for those of you who want to experience the Light and Wonder magic for yourselves:
Friends
This is a branded pokie based on the television show Friends, and it was released in 2015. The game has five reels, and symbols include a Central Perk coffee cup, the Central Perk logo, a guitar, and various scenes from the show itself, including a romantic clinch between Ross and Rachel. Get full stacks of bonus symbols on the middle three reels to trigger one of four special bonus games: Thanksgiving Bonus, Party Bonus, Wedding Bonus and Bamboozled Bonus.
88 Fortunes
Released in 2016, the 88 Fortunes pokie slot has become something of a flagship game for this company. It has an opulent Asian theme and symbols include golden turtles, ships, eagles and more. You'll have 243 ways to win with every spin, and there are two bonus features. The first is a Free Spins feature that will give you 10 free spins when you get three or more gong symbols on the reels. The second is a FU BAT feature that could help you to win one of four progressive jackpots by matching golden coins.
Heidi's Bier Haus
As the name of the game suggests, this is the perfect game to play during Oktoberfest. Released in 2017, the six reels of this pokie are packed with symbols that you might encounter at Germany's favourite beer festival. These include a pretzel, a Bavarian hat, an accordion, the essential stein of beer, which is wild, and Heidi herself, who serves as a scatter. Five or more Heidi's on adjacent reels trigger a Free Spins Bonus game, which can give you anything from 5 to 100 free spins, depending on the number of scatters you land.
Raiders of Fortune
This 2022 release from Light & Wonder puts you in the shoes of an adventurer who reminds us of a chap called Indiana that we've heard about. The game has six reels and takes place outside an ancient temple, and symbols on the reels include a compass, a knife, a pistol and whip, and a golden amulet. This is a cascading pokie, and every consecutive win will help you climb a feature trail to add wilds to the reels, expand the reel set, and receive other great rewards. Climb all the way to the top of the trail and you'll get seven free spins with an increasing multiplier, random wilds and more.
These are just some of the great games that are being offered under the Light and Wonder brand. Don't forget that this company also owns other big brands such as Barcrest and Bally, so it can also take at least some credit for plenty of other games that have made their mark on the gaming world. Rainbow Riches, anyone?
An Award-Winning Company
Scientific Games has won hundreds of awards for its products, services and even its general operation as a business. Here are just a few of the awards that the company has received over the last few years alone:
Now that Light and Wonder is a quite separate brand from those of Scientific Games and SG Digital, it's a fair bet that we'll see it nominated for plenty of awards in its own right in the months and years ahead. Watch this space for updates and we'll keep you posted.
Light and Wonder Has a Very Bright Future
Scientific Games has been a widely respected provider of gambling products and services for many decades. Now that its Gaming and iGaming business has been formally separated to go forward under the name of Light & Wonder, we have no doubt that the new brand will fare at least as well in the future.
Curious to know more about other innovative game developers making waves in the online casino industry? Head over to our Software Providers page for more.
