Williams slot machines

Who makes Williams slot machines?

Today the WMS name belongs to Light & Wonder, the US supplier formerly called Scientific Games, as set out in Wikipedia's Scientific Games and Light & Wonder article (opens in a new tab). WMS merged with Scientific Games in October 2013 and was fully absorbed in 2016, but the brand lives on. It sits alongside Bally and the British Barcrest brand in the same group.

Before slots, Williams was famous for pinball tables and arcade video games. That background shaped its slot machines, which leaned heavily on screens, animation and licensed themes. The manufacturers hub has the other makers we cover.

From Chicago pinball to Williams Electronics

Harry E. Williams founded the Williams Manufacturing Company in 1943 at 161 West Huron Street in Chicago, according to Wikipedia's WMS Industries history (opens in a new tab). The same article says the business that became WMS Industries was formally founded in 1974 as Williams Electronics, Inc., after a period under Seeburg ownership from 1964.

Its pinball tables set records. A-Go-Go (1966) sold 5,100 units. The Addams Family (1992), released under the Bally label, sold 20,270, and Medieval Madness (1997) is often cited as one of the best pinball machines ever made. The pinball division closed on 25 October 1999 after the Pinball 2000 project failed to pay off.

In arcades, Williams released Paddle Ball in 1973 and had its breakthrough with Defender in 1981, followed by games such as Joust and Robotron: 2084. It bought Bally's amusement arm, Bally/Midway, in 1988; Midway later had hits including Mortal Kombat. None of these are gambling machines, and they are mentioned only for context.

WMS Gaming: how Williams moved into slot machines

WMS created WMS Gaming in 1991 to make gambling equipment. It started with video lottery terminals and introduced its first slot machines in 1994. Two years later came Reel 'Em In, its first hit casino slot, followed by titles such as Jackpot Party, Boom and Filthy Rich.

Reel 'Em In and the second-screen bonus

Reel 'Em In matters beyond WMS because of how it delivered its bonus. Wikipedia's slot machine article (opens in a new tab) records it as the first American video slot with a second-screen bonus, meaning a separate display or scene that takes over when the feature triggers. Australia got there first: a machine called Three Bags Full introduced a second-screen bonus round in 1994.

Here is how a second-screen bonus works in general, using the fishing theme of Reel 'Em In as a picture rather than a description of its exact rules, which are not published in sources we checked.

1. The base game spins as normal on the main reels.
2. A set combination, often bonus or scatter symbols, triggers the feature.
3. The game switches to a second screen with its own scene and rules, such as picking or revealing prizes.
4. The prize is calculated in the feature, usually as a multiple of the stake.
5. Play returns to the base game with the win added to the credit meter.

Modern bonus features and pick-me bonuses descend from this idea. The first video slot machines page covers the screen technology that made it possible.

Monopoly and other branded Williams slot machines

By 2001 WMS had a Monopoly-themed series of participation slots. Participation means the machines were licensed or leased to casinos rather than sold outright, so WMS kept an ongoing stake in how they performed. Other branded titles in this group included Men in Black, Star Trek, The Wizard of Oz and Top Gun.

Licensed themes are now a staple of the industry. Our guides to branded slot machines and TV and film slots explain why: a familiar name draws attention, but it says nothing about the game's maths.

Raging Rhino and Planet Moolah: Williams slot machines online

WMS formed Williams Interactive in 2012 to bring its games online, buying Jadestone Group and Phantom EFX the same year. Two WMS games with checked figures have their own pages: Raging Rhino and Planet Moolah.

Worked numbers for Raging Rhino at its published 95.91% RTP: 100 spins at £1 is £100 staked, with a long-run average cost of £4.09. At the £2 cap for 18 to 24-year-olds the same 100 spins cost £8.18 on average from £200 staked; at the £5 cap for players 25 and over, £20.45 from £500. High volatility means real sessions vary widely. Our high volatility slots page explains what that feels like.

Williams slot machines in the UK

No Gambling Commission account is listed under a WMS or Williams company name. Light & Wonder's UK business holds licences through companies such as LNW Gaming UK Limited. Which WMS cabinets are installed in British casinos is not confirmed in any source we checked; any that are must fit a UK category, such as Category B1 in casinos with a £5 stake and £10,000 prize limit.

Online, WMS games offered in Great Britain are adapted to UK rules: no autoplay, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam stop, and no celebration of a win that is equal to or less than the stake. Our UK slot game design rules page explains each one.

Williams slot machine myths

• A branded game is not set to pay more because it is popular. Its return is in the help screen like any other.
• A second-screen bonus is not 'due' after a dry spell. The trigger is random on every spin; see how many spins until a bonus.
• Arcade skill from Williams' video game days does not carry over to its slots. The outcome is decided before the reels stop.

Where to find WMS games online in the UK

WMS games such as Raging Rhino appear at many UK casinos, but no source confirms which of our partners carry them, and lobbies change. Search the casino's games list for the title first, and open the help screen to check which RTP version is running.

Our partner offers, 18+ with terms applying: Ladbrokes new customers who play £10 on slots receive 50 free spins each day for 10 days (up to 500), worth 10p each, with no wagering; claim them by 23:59 daily. Coral new players who bet £10 on slots receive 100 free spins on selected games, 10p each, with no wagering on winnings and 7 days to use them. PlayOJO's first-deposit offer is 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza (minimum deposit £10, 10p spins, no wagering). Payment-method exclusions apply to Coral and Ladbrokes.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.