WMS Gaming is one of the industry giants well known for their innovative land-based slot machines. Along with implementing innovations into their cabinets, the company has also kept up with the times and made their games optimised for online and mobile play. Today, players around the world can enjoy their products boasting features that have changed the industry trends.
About the company
WMS Gaming, Williams Interactive or simply WMS is a subsidiary of WMS Industries, a company that was established back in 1943 as Williams Manufacturing Company. Williams Gaming was established in 1991 as a branch that would produce video lottery terminals and the first one was launched in 1992. Since 1994, the company has been developing slot machines with their first land-based slot machine Reel ‘em In launched in 1996. The game that was described as “multi-line, multi-coin secondary bonus” video slot machine was an instant hit thanks to innovative features that became the hallmark of the WMS production.
Earning an excellent reputation for their inventive multi-line titles, WMS started developing licensed slot machines by the end of the 1990s. It all began with the Monopoly series and continued with the other branded releases we will discuss later in the text. In 2013, the parent company WMS Industries merged with Scientific Games and became its subsidiary along with Bally. The company’s headquarters are based in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, a city that bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World.
WMS Games
The WMS-powered slot machine that changed the way slot games play was aforementioned Reel ’em In. It is a 5-reel slot with 20 paylines, which was groundbreaking at the time of its launch. The first installment from the Monopoly series was launched in 1998 and these branded titles were introduced as participation games to North American casinos which means that the company licensed or leased them to casinos instead of selling them. Being networked within casinos or multiple casinos, some of these titles offer large jackpots thanks to prize pools that are increased with every bet placed on them. The slot machines from the Monopoly series offer multiple inventive bonus features that keep players entertained and boost their winning chances on each spin.
In 2010, WMS entered the online gaming arena and made their games optimised for play on the web. Other licensed titles include The Wizard of Oz, Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings. KISS is another game-changing branded slot by WMS. Inspired by one of the most popular rock bands in the US, the game introduced so-called Colossal Reel, an additional set of reels featuring 12 rows. These slot machines were initially offered at land-based casinos and later adapted for online play. Their unique selling points were 100 paylines, providing players with more opportunities to win, stacked symbols, transferring Wilds and a free spins feature. Besides KISS, other slots using the Colossal Reels feature are Spartacus, Lil’ Red Riches and Giant’s Gold. These titles have been among the most popular and at the same time lucrative ones in Vegas and Atlantic City casinos.
Other popular slot machines from the WMS portfolio include the G+ and G+ Deluxe series slots with titles like Kronos, Queen of the Wild or Zanzibar. These slots may not be as advanced as some other titles from the developer but if you are in for the real casino action, they may be a perfect fit. Other innovative titles include Nemo’s Voyage based on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, a classical SF novel, and it comes packed with multiple bonus features with a progressive element providing players with an unparalleled gaming experience and keeping them glued to the screen of their device. Red Flag Fleet themed on pirates, for instance, features a unique 2-3-4-5-6-7 reel structure with the whole screen getting flipped during the lucrative free spins feature.
Bonus Features
Putting a lot of effort in the way their slot machines play, WMS is responsible for the introduction of numerous features that have changed the industry standards. Thanks to implementing multiple paylines and exciting features into classic slots, today we can enjoy so-called video slots that provide players with an engaging gaming experience and make them come back for more.
When it comes to bonus features you can find in WMS-powered slots, they come in various forms from free spins rounds, stacked Wilds, increasing multipliers and so on. One of their games, Roman Chariots, features so-called Supercharged Reels with three additional reel sets above the main screen that spin when you cover respective reels on the main reel set with a full stack of Wilds. These extra reel sets play on their own and offer increasing multipliers that can help you win big.
If you opt for any of the titles from the Monopoly series, you will enjoy an action-packed gaming experience thanks to bonus rounds added on top of standard bonus features. They also offer the Big Bet game with 5 or more linked spins offering even more rewarding gaming experience at a bit higher price.
Why Play WMS Titles?
As we have already mentioned, WMS slots are perfect for punters who prefer the genuine casino action. When we say it, we mean a real land-based casino experience with mechanical sounds of reels spinning and flashy visuals paired with a highly exciting gaming experience, medium to high volatility and a bit above average RTP. With WMS-powered slots, you can have it all and benefit from bonus features that will keep you pushing the spin button.
On the other hand, coming from the land-based casino industry, which is evident from their titles, WMS may seem to lag behind some of the biggest players on the market in terms of visual and sounds. Their titles can strike you as a bit dated, so if the aesthetics of slot games is the key feature you pay attention to, we are sure that you should look for games from other software developers.
