When it comes to Pokies and Slot Machines there is only really one or two names that come to mind – three if you are a regular punter and frequent more than one or 2(00) establishments – but for the most of us regular players the major names familiar to us are Aristocrat, IGT and Ainsworth. Aristocrat is without doubt the king of the Pokies, especially here in Australia – and surprisingly the man who started the company, one Len Ainsworth also happens to be the owner and creator of the other big slot machine manufacturer Ainsworth Technology!

iGT is not as big as Ainsworth and Aristocrat but are still a popular manufacturer who’s pokies and slot machines can be found in pubs and clubs all across this great southern land. You can also find pokies from Konami – a manufacturer of console games who has made the move over to Electronic Gambliing Devices

In the early 1990’s there were several other brands such as Universal and Jubilee but these games have all but disappeared.

The Top Pokie Manufacturers

Aristocrat Gaming Technology

Founded in 1953 by Len Ainsworth, Aristocrat had perfect timing as pokies were legalized in New South Wales just 3 years later. The first machine to roll off the production lines was the Clubman which was followed by the Clubmaster a few years later. You can learn more about Aristocrat and get some insight into the secrets of their success in Australia (and around the world) by visiting our Aristocrat dedicated games page – with reviews and links to all the best Aristocrat Pokies. Simply follow THIS LINK HERE

In 1984 Aristocrat changed the face of gambling in Australia with the release of the first of what would become the modern day pokie. Today, their name is synonymous with pokies and their game library includes greats like Queen of the Nile, More Chilli and 5 Dragons.

IGT (www.igt.com.au)

While IGT was operating as a private company as far back as the 1950’s it was in 1981 when International Game Technology went public and made a major move into the slot machine industry. They are the number one game maker in the United States and are making inroads into the Australian market with great games such as Cleopatra and Major Money.

IGT enables players to experience their favorite games across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Interactive and Social Gaming. Leveraging a wealth of premium content, substantial investment in innovation, in-depth customer intelligence, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our gaming solutions anticipate the demands of consumers wherever they decide to play.

 

Ainsworth Game Technology

Founded by “Pokie King” Len Ainsworth (pictured above) in 1995 after leaving Aristocrat, Ainsworth Gaming has quickly become one of the top three game makers in Australia and is rapidly expanding around the world.

One of the trademarks of the Ainsworth games are their multi-level progressive jackpots with the Double Shot, Triple Shot and Quad Shot games being some of their most popular titles.

 

Other Slot Machine Manufacturers

While the three pokie manufacturers listed above are the biggest and most prominent there are some other companies that have either been big in the past or are just started to make an impact. These companies are;

• Konami
  Once one of the top three, Konami pokies are now found less frequently. They entered the Aussie market in 1996 with popular games like Money in the Bank and Incan Pyramid.
• Star Games / Shufflemaster / Bally
  Three big names in the gaming machine industry have merged into on with Bally now being a big US slot machine maker looking to make inroads into the Australian market. Top games include Kelly’s Fortune and Wold Mountain.
• WMS Gaming
  Founded by Harry Williams in 1943, WMS Gaming’s pokies are now available in Australia. They even have a game development office in Sydney. Some of their top games are Zeus, Li’l Red and Jungle Wild.
• Aruze Gaming
  Aruze Gaming have been in the Australian pokie market since 1989. Their games are not as commonly found as they once were although the new G-Series and G-Deluxe games might signal a comeback.

Online Pokies and Slot machine Manufacturers

When it comes to the world of online pokies and mobile slots we stop talking about manufacturers and focus on the actual sofware that powers the pokies and slots you have come to love. The physical machines that you see in the pubs, clubs and casinos work exactly (and I mean exactly) the same as the online pokies you play except there is no need for a physical machine. As such the manufacturers stick to the bricks and mortar world and leave the online casinos and pokies to the software companies to develop interactive gameplay and awesome online casino games to keep even the most fussy punter happy.

When it comes to online software companies who supply the casino games for you to enjoy real money pokies and slots there is only really 2 or 3 names worth mentioning. In fact I would go so far as to say that if the online casino of your choice does not run one of utilise one of these software companies then I would not even waste my time and money there.

The Biggest names in Online Pokies is Microgaming – with Playtech and NetEnt following closely behind.

Learn more about the best online pokies software companies in the followup article –> HERE and learn first hand why Microgaming and their Mega Moolah progressive slots game is the world’s most popular online progressive slots game