Hey All, it’s Dana Nikolic. I’m going to update this article because we noticed a rising interest in Jeopardy! slot machines as of late, and much of the information covered in this piece was outdated. For example, IGT switched hands and names since the original post. We will keep the original content in archive format, and provide updates at the bottom. We will also cover modern options to play this wonderful game.
[Archive] IGT launches more new game show slot machines at G2E 2019.
International Game Technology (IGT) is one of the oldest and by-far most famous slot machine manufacturing companies in the world. Dating back to 1975, the Vegas-based company has produced some of the most recognizable slot gaming cabinets in the world; most notably, their extensive series of Wheel of Fortune Slots.
There’s a lot more coming to the table this year from IGT’s software studio. Much of it revolves around the same premise as their most famous titles – game shows. The company just debuted a brand new Jeopardy Slot, The Price is Right Slot, Plinko Slot, and others.
New Game Show Slot Machines from IGT
There are already many game show themed slots on the market, but that’s not holding IGT back from delivering more. The way they see it, it’s a matter of giving players what they want. If it’s been done before, you can always do it bigger and better. So long as the topic is widely recognizable, there’s a market for it.
Vice President of Global Communications, Phil O’Shaughnessy, is the man IGT relies on to work the crowds and talk to the media at the world’s biggest gaming trade shows. He was on hand Tuesday to help promote their new games, and explain why IGT is so focused on the game show genre.
“Players really like games about games,” said O’Shaughnessy. “If you think about it, you understand some of the bonus elements; you understand the game play; you understand what it means to win.” That alone establishes a strong familiarity between games and customers.
“So Jeopardy, The Price is Right – we’re even building $25,000 Pyramid. They’re a natural in terms of the elements in those games that authentically fit into the slot environment,” said the VP. “So we’re thrilled to have that portfolio.”
Jeopardy James Promotes New Jeopardy Slot Machine
The opening day of the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas was a big one, hosting an estimated 27,000 attendees who packed into the Las Vegas Sands Convention Center on Tuesday. Most of them were there for business purposes, or to see what’s in store for the coming year in live and online gambling. Some, however, came simply because they heard they’d have a chance to compete in an authentic contest against the phenomenal “Jeopardy James”.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the last year, you may not know that name. Jeopardy James is the colloquial nickname given to James Holzhauer, the longest-winning Jeopardy champion of all time, who won $2.46 million in 32 back-to-back game winning appearances earlier this year. His reign of intelligence was finally ended by Illinois librarian, Emma Boettcher.
Playing round an authentic game show set built by the genuine makers of Jeopardy, Holzhauer took on 70 challengers at G2E. Each was given the opportunity to compete in three questions. Before it was all over, three contenders actually defeated Jeopardy James, answering two or three of the questions correctly before he could. Anyone paying attention knew James could have answered every question first, but he was clearly playing for fun, allowing others to ring in first now and again, but always quick to buzz in with the right answer whenever a competitor was wrong.
Robert Martin, who beat James 2-1, quipped, “I don’t know if he was pressing his buzzer or not. I think he just let us win because I know he could’ve gotten those answers.”
No one seemed to care about that, though. Everyone had a fantastic time, and the company’s new game show slot machines were the center of attention for the day. For IGT, it was nothing short of mission accomplished.
Update September 2024 from Dana Nikolic:
It’s important for our readers to know that the International Game Technology (IGT) company discussed in the original article is no longer the same entity. The brand known as IGT from 1975 to 2015 ceased to exist in its original form.
In 2015, GTECH, an Italian lottery company, acquired the original IGT. Following this acquisition, GTECH adopted the name “International Game Technology PLC” and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the IGT symbol.
This new entity, while carrying the IGT name and continuing to operate in the gaming industry, is a different company from the one that originally produced the Jeopardy! slot machine.
With that out of the way, the gaming industry has undergone significant changes since 2015, with mergers, acquisitions, and technological advancements reshaping the landscape. While game show-themed slots remain popular, the companies producing them and the technologies behind them have evolved considerably.
Here are some new game show themed slots that have been developed since 2015:
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways: Released by Big Time Gaming in 2019, this slot brings the excitement of the popular quiz show to the reels with the innovative Megaways mechanic.
- Deal or No Deal Megaways: Launched by Blueprint Gaming in 2019, this slot combines the thrill of the TV show with the Megaways engine for up to 117,649 ways to win.
- The Price is Right: Showcased by SG Digital in 2020, this slot features iconic games from the long-running TV show like Plinko and Cliff Hangers.
- Wheel of Fortune Megaways: IGT partnered with Big Time Gaming to release this Megaways version of their classic Wheel of Fortune slot in 2021.
- Family Feud: Developed by Fremantle and released in 2020, this slot brings the popular game show’s format to the casino floor with multipliers and bonus rounds.
The integration of familiar TV formats with innovative slot features continues to engage players and keep the genre fresh.
As for the Jeopardy! slot specifically, while it remains available in some land-based casinos, its online presence has become more limited. However IGT is a slots supplier for Jackpot City Casino run by Cadtree Limited, so we highly recommend them to play Jeopardy Slots.
