Casinos don’t advertise what any one machine pays, but for casinos that report their data, you can get a sense for what each denomination pays on average. Sites like those run by the American Casino Guide book publish up to date information around this. Most markets that have Class III slots are also markets that require payback reporting. Class III Slot Machines. Typically known as ‘Vegas-style’ or traditional slots, these are what most people think of when they envision a slot machine. Each terminal is independent from the rest, with players competing against the house or casino for a pay-out prize. A great example of this would be Class II slot machines that closely resemble a normal, Class III machine but you will notice a small bingo card in the corner of the screen. So, in essence, you are actually playing a quicker version of virtual bingo against other players in the casino. The reels spin and you can see winning combinations.
To the untrained eye, every slot machine looks the same. But did you know there’s a huge difference between class ii vs class iii slot machines?
Almost every country in the world regulates some form of slot machines. They are offered to the adult public within licensed land-based casinos, online casinos, taverns, clubs, airports and/or charitable gaming facilities. While they all tend to look the same, there may be some very distinct, almost imperceptible differences between them. It all depending on whether they are Class II orClass III slot machines.
The legal delineation between class ii vs class iii slot machines is a purposeful one. They gives regulators more control over what types of games – and exactly how much winnings – players have access to. The decision to place one type or another in various facilities is often determined by the type of license an operator possesses, and the laws of the jurisdiction.
In many cases, especially throughout Canada, only full-scale casinos are permitted to host class iii slot machines. These are the kind found in major gambling destinations like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Macau. Charitable gaming facilities, like the 30+ provincially regulated bingo halls across Ontario, are restricted to class ii slot machines.
Class II vs Class III Slot Machines
The easiest way to describe the difference between class ii and class iii slot machines is to compare the traditional class iii variety – those found in Vegas – to a scratch off lottery ticket. When a lottery agency prints tickets, they know exactly which ones are winners, and exactly how much profit they’re going to make once they are all sold.
That’s how class ii slot machines work. They are programmed like instant win lottery tickets. Every spin is predetermined as a winner or loser, and every winning spin’s value is already programmed into the machine.
Class iii slot machines are built on the foundation of a Random Number Generator (RNG). Patented in 1984 by Norwegian mathematician Inge Telnaes, the RNG is capable of giving a slot machine complete and utter unpredictability, while giving manufacturers control over the probability of outcomes.
Before Telnaes invented the first virtual reels with RNG technology, a slots’ payout percentage was based entirely on the number of reels, and the number of symbols on each reel. If a 3 reel game had 8 symbols per reel, there would be exactly (8x8x8) 512 possible combinations, meaning it would pay its jackpot, on average, 1 in every 512 spins.
Slot Machine Classes By the Law Books
Any educated gambler would prefer to play class iii slot machines. Their odds of hitting a large jackpot are always higher. The RNG ensures that a jackpot can pay out at any given moment, not when the machine decides it’s time. But in many jurisdictions, the availability of class ii and class iii slot machines is determined by local and/or federal law.
The classifications of slot machines was first introduced by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, which defines class ii vs class ii slot machines. Note that Class I gaming refers to traditional Indian gaming based on a tribe’s cultural ceremonies and/or celebrations, thus has no bearing on any type of slot machines.
IGRA Definition of Class II Slot Machines
The term ‘‘class II gaming’’ means—
(i) the game of chance commonly known as bingo…pull-tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo…
The definition explicitly excludes:
“…electronic or electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance or slot machines of any kind”.
IGRA Definition of Class III Slot Machines
The term ‘‘class III gaming’’ means all forms of gaming that are not class I gaming or class II gaming.
Knowing the Difference Between Classes
A I said before, class ii and class iii slot machines look exactly the same. They use the exact same style of reels and graphics, and present the same types of features. A mere glance at the game screen, and you’d never know one from the other.
The easiest way to tell the difference between class ii vs class iii slot machines is to look at the signage in the gaming facility. By law, only class iii slot machines can actually be called “slot machines”. All class ii games will be referred to by another name.
Common names for class ii slot machines include Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) and Bingo Liners (machines programmed to pay out like a bingo card game). In Ontario, they are called TapTix machines (because it’s like tapping a button to play a scratch off ticket).
Whatever name they may go by, if the casino or gaming facility doesn’t call them “slot machines”, they are not real class iii slot machines.
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I’m planning to include some reviews of various gambling machines here soon, so I thought I’d start with a look at some of the slot machine manufacturers and their products. There was a time, not long ago, when such a list would be short. But with the advent of internet casinos, the list of slot machine companies grows longer every day.

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Of course, depending on where you live, you might be searching for such information using a phrase like “fruit machine suppliers” or “gaming companies.” Such a list should (and does) include old slot machine brands like IGT (International Game Technologies) and internet casino software vendors like Microgaming and Playtech.
As I create more posts about related subjects, I’ll update this page with links to manufacturer-specific lists of games and reviews of their overall offerings.
I know that a lot of sites in this space try to offer as complete a resource as possible, but please remember that I’m just one guy with a blog. I don’t have an army of freelance writers working for me, and even if I did, there are so many slot machine games from so many different providers that it would be almost impossible to keep up with them all.
But if I’ve left out your favorite slot machine manufacturer, let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it to the list.
Slot Machine Manufacturers List – Updated 2020
And here’s the list of slot machine manufacturers:
1. Ainsworth Game Technology
Ainsworth Game Technology is one of the oldest companies on my list of slot machine manufacturers. They’ve been in business for 20+ years. Ainsworth is an Australian company, and if you know anything about gambling in Australia, you know how popular slots are there. They call them “pokies,” though, which is an abbreviation for “poker machines.”
And some of Ainsworth’s most recent game additions include:
- Action Dragons
- Big Hit Bonanza
- Pac-Man Wild Edition
2. Amatic Industries
Amatic Industries has been in business for over a quarter of a century now. Besides slot machines, they make video lottery terminals and video roulette games. They have a huge selection of slot machine brands in their stable, too, including some of the following:
- Games Bond (Yes, this is a “James Bond” knockoff.)
- GrandX (A “Wheel of Fortune” lookalike.)
- Vampires (A simple enough theme and title, no?)
3. Amaya Gaming
Amaya Gaming is defunct now. It’s part of The Stars Group, the company which owns PokerStars. I include it here under its original name because I think some online users still look for games from Amaya Gaming. They offer lots of cute games, including:
- Barn Yard Boogie
- Jenga
- Street Fighter II
4. Aristocrat Gaming Technology
Aristocrat Gaming Technology is another Australian “poker machine” vendor. They’e recently gotten their hands on some major intellectual property, too, and they offer games like:
- Batman Classic TV Series
- The Big Bang Theory
- Britney
- Game of Thrones
- Sons of Anarchy
- The Walking Dead
5. Ash Gaming
Ash Gaming used to be a big deal, now they’re a part of Playtech. As part of that group, they have extensive licensed properties to create games about. Their most famous, though, is probably Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
6. Bally Technologies
Bally Technologies is now a subsidiary of SG Gaming (Scientific Games). The company has been around forever. Not only do they make slot machines, but they used to be one of the biggest pinball machine companies in the world, too. Some of their most well-known brands include:
- James Bond
- Monopoly
- Willy Wonka
7. Barcrest Gaming
Barcrest Gaming–like Bally Technologies– is also now a subsidiary of SG Gaming (Scientific Games). If you’re a real slot machine aficionado, you might recognize the names of some of their games:
- Deja Vu Diamonds
- Flippin’ Out
- Psycho Cash Beast
8. Betsoft Gaming
Betsoft Gaming specializes in online gambling games, especially mobile friendly slots and 3D games. Here are some of their titles:
- Dragon Kings
- The Golden Owl of Athena
- Ogre Empire (which has a suspicious resemblance to the movie Shrek)
9. Blueprint Gaming
Blueprint Gaming is based in the United Kingdom. Most of their fruit machines can be found on casino floors there or in Germany and Italy. Here’s a sample of their titles:
- Fairy Fortunes
- Slots o’ Gold
- Wild Antics
10. Cadillac Jack
Cadillac Jack was a subsidiary of Amaya Gaming, which is now wholly owned by The Stars Group.
11. EGT Interactive (Euro Games Technology)
EGT Interactive specializes in video slots. You can find a lot of their games at various sports book sites that also offer casino games. They offer over 150 different games, including titles like:
- 40 Ultra Respin
- Crazy Bugs II
- More Like a Diamond
12. Endemol Shine Gaming
Endemol Shine Gaming specializes in both online and brick and mortar gambling games. Some of their best-known properties belong to the licensed television game show genre. Some examples include:
- Deal or No Deal
- MasterChef
- Million Pound Drop
13. Fremantle Media
Fremantle Media is one of the more unusual listings on this page, because they don’t exactly design or manufacture slot machine games. They own several large television brands, which they aggressively promote through multiple channels–including slot machines. If you’re playing one of these slots, Fremantle Media had a lot to do with it:
- American Idol
- Blockbusters
- The X Factor
14. The Gamesys Group
The Gamesys Group does slots and bingo games. Some of the better known brands in their stable include:
- The Godfather
- Guardians of Fire & Ice
- Secrets of the Phoenix
15. Heiwa Corporation
Slot Strategies That Work
Heiwa Corporation is a publicly-traded Japanese corporation that specializes in pachinko and pachislo machine manufacture.
16. High 5 Games
High 5 Games creates both internet-based and land-based slot machine games, some of which are popular. They use HTML 5 for their online slot machines. Their most famous games include:
- Cats
- Golden Goddess
- Photographing Fairies
17. IGT (International Game Technology)
IGT is far and away the largest slot machine company in the world. They’re everywhere. The most popular gambling machines in the casino are the product of International Game Technology. Just a few of their big names include:
- Family Guy
- Jeopardy
- Siberian Storm
- Wheel of Fortune
18. Konami Gaming
Konami Gaming is the maker of the following slot machines:
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Flaming Red Diamonds
- Year of Best Wishes
19. Mazooma Interactive Games
Mazooma Interactive Games is a UK game company that specializes in online games. They’re now a subsidiary of Novomatic.
20. Microgaming
Microgaming was the first large online casino software provider. They’re best-known for the wide variety of their online progressive jackpots. Some of their most famous brands include:
- Battlestar Galactica
- Halloween
- Playboy
- Terminator 2
Slot Machine Class 2

I’ve written about Microgaming before, here.
21. NetEnt
NetEnt is another publicly-traded company that specializes in online games. They’re responsible for, among other things, the Jumanji slot machine game.
22. NewGin Co. Ltd.
NewGin Co. Ltd. is another Japanese manufacturer of pachinko and pachislo machines.
23. NextGen Gaming
NextGen Gaming serves both online and land-based casinos. They offer some really cool titles, including:
- King Kong Fury
- Samurai Split
- Wonder Hounds
24. Novomatic Gaming
The name “Novomatic” always reminds me of the Steve Goodman song, Vegematic.
But that song has nothing to do with the company, though. Novomatic Gaming is probably the biggest European slot machine maker there is, in fact.
Some of their games you’ve probably heard of include:
- From Dusk Til Dawn
- Stories of Infinity
- Treasure of Tut
25. Ortiz Gaming
Ortiz Gaming specializes in Class II and Class III slot machines, especially when it comes to bingo technology. And their games are OVERTLY bingo-based, too:
- Allstar Bingo
- Rodeo Bingo
- Multimania
26. Playtech
Playtech is another online game designer and creator, and, like Microgaming, they’re publicly traded. They also don’t allow their licensees to accept real money players from the United States. Some of their better known games include:

- Ace Ventura
- American Dad
- Batman Begins
- Grease
- Justice League
- Pink Panther
- Rocky
27. Realtime Gaming
Realtime Gaming (RTG) is probably the biggest online casino game vendor that still serves U.S. audiences — at least the audiences that don’t live in states with legal, regulated online casinos. (There are 47 states like that.) As a result, you’ve probably never heard of most of their games unless you’re a devoted internet gambler.
My favorite of their games is It’s Good to Be Bad, but I’m old school.
28. SG Gaming (Scientific Games)
Scientific Games is headquartered in Las Vegas. They own Bally now, and they own Shuffle Master. And they also own WMS Gaming. Their most well-known game is probably Monopoly slot machines.
29. Universal Entertainment Corporation
Universal Entertainment Corporation is another pachinko and pachislo manufacturer.
30. VGT (Video Gaming Technologies) – One of My Favorite Slot Machine Manufacturers
VGT is one of the biggest names in the Oklahoma gambling market, and they specialize in bingo-based slot machine games.
31. WMS Gaming
WMS Gaming is now a subsidiary of Scientific Games. So see that entry above.
32. Apollo Games (just added!)
Apollo Games has a full profile on our site. Click the link for full details.
Class 2 Slot Machine
The Final Word about Slot Machine Manufacturers
Slot Machine Class 2 Vs 3
The brand names in the slot machine manufacturers category are many, but, of course, IGT (International Game Technology) towers above the rest like Walmart towers over other retail establishments. The list above gets longer when you account for the companies making online slot machine games, too.
What Is Class 2 Gaming
If you have any comments about the games available from these corporations, I’d enjoy hearing them. I’m human and make mistakes, so if you leave a comment pointing one out, I’ll update this post with corrections (and probably even give you credit.)