There are few casino floor slot machines as easily recognizable as the Wheel of Fortune machine. From its signature sound of letters being revealed, to the audience chant and bonus puzzle countdown music and its massive game show wheel – anyone familiar with watching the popular show knows exactly what they can expect when encountering one on a gambling floor.
At first, the Wheel of Fortune game was simply a standard three-reel slot machine with typical symbols and pay lines. Due to its popularity, however, a special version was developed which featured extra spins, instant win prizes with multipliers on winning combinations, as well as a spin-to-win feature rewarding players with credits, cars, trips or houses!
IGT first created Wheel of Fortune slot machines known as Super Spin in 1989. Their initial release could seat nine people simultaneously and featured the iconic TV show bonus wheel as its center piece; when players won a bonus round they would hit a button that activated it and watch as it spun around to reveal their prize.
Wheel of Fortune marked the inaugural licensed slot game based on a television show, setting an exciting trend of themed gaming platforms licensing its theme for years after. Now owned by Spin Master Corporation and distributed as part of a 10-year deal.
Today, you can still find Wheel of Fortune slot machines in casinos across America and its popularity has led to various variations, including the recently developed Triple Extreme Spin variant that boasts both a larger jackpot and faster spin rate compared with traditional machines.
There are even some versions that do not use the traditional Wheel of Fortune mechanism; rather, they rely on different triggers to activate their bonus features – some require the appearance of Wheel of Fortune symbols or scatters on paylines to activate this bonus, while other games allow players to use regular reels instead of Wheels of Fortune symbols or scatters to activate bonus features.
Wheel of Fortune slot machines have proven an enormously profitable game for casinos, and are well known for offering huge jackpots and exciting bonus features. But remember never to gamble with money you cannot afford to lose; always set a budget before starting to play; only keep going until your goal or funds have been expended completely.
Wheel of Fortune slot game has been around for more than 25 years and remains a fan favorite among casino enthusiasts. IGT recently inked an agreement with Sony Pictures that gives them exclusive iGaming and retail lottery rights until 2034, giving IGT the opportunity to maximize its brand potential while continuing its legacy of producing popular and lucrative omnichannel games that drive revenue streams for both retailers and IGT itself.