IGT International Game Technology
A global casino gaming machine company founded in the US in 1975. It created Megabucks, Wheel of Fortune, and Cleopatra, and in 2025 Apollo acquired its gaming and digital business and merged it with Everi to form the new IGT.
| English | International Game Technology |
|---|---|
| Classification | Providers |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | William "Si" Redd |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, USA (2025 onward) |
| Ownership | Apollo Funds (acquired 2025, privately held) |
| Deal size | About $6.3 billion (including Everi) |
| CEO | Hector Fernandez |
| Business units | Gaming, Digital, FinTech |
| Online platform | IGT PlayDigital |
| Landmark | Megabucks - the first wide-area progressive jackpot |
| Signature titles | Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Da Vinci Diamonds, Wolf Run |
| Official site | igt.com |
Overview
IGT (International Game Technology) is a casino gaming machine company founded in the U.S. in 1975 by William “Si” Redd. It went public in 1981 on the success of its video poker machines, and it is a global company that has made the slot machines and game systems that fill Las Vegas casino floors.
Unlike companies that began as online casino businesses, IGT started with land-based casino gaming machines. It moves casino classics such as Cleopatra and Wheel of Fortune to HTML5 and supplies them online through “IGT PlayDigital.” In 2025, private equity firm Apollo acquired its gaming and digital businesses and combined them with Everi, launching as the new IGT.
History
Apollo acquisition and the new IGT
On July 1, 2025, U.S. private equity firm Apollo acquired the gaming and digital businesses of International Game Technology PLC, along with casino fintech company Everi, for about $6.3 billion in an all-cash deal. IGT PLC received about $4.05 billion from the deal, and Everi shareholders received $14.25 per share. Everi was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
The new company formed by combining the two keeps the name “IGT” and became a private company headquartered in Las Vegas. It is split into three divisions, Gaming, Digital, and Fintech, and Hector Fernandez, formerly of Aristocrat Gaming, serves as CEO. The original IGT PLC, left with only its lottery business, was renamed “Brightstar Lottery.”
In September 2026, IGT unveiled a new brand at the G2E show in Las Vegas, setting its direction as a “casino as a service” provider rather than a company that sells individual products. The combined studio organization has more than 1,200 people.
Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune
IGT is considered the company that first created the “wide-area progressive jackpot,” which links slot machines across multiple casinos to grow a jackpot. Nevada’s Megabucks was the first wide-area progressive jackpot slot system, with a starting amount of $1 million. The “Wheel of Fortune” slot, based on the American TV game show, is IGT’s flagship with more than nine games in the series alone. IGT also first introduced the “player tracking” concept, which rewards regular casino customers.
Signature online slots
| Games | Release | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra | 2012.01 | 95.02% | 10,000x |
| Da Vinci Diamonds | 2012.01 | 94.94% | 5,000x |
| Wheel of Fortune Megaways | 2021.02 | 96.46% | 82,700x |
| Wolf Run | – | – | A progressive jackpot version of Mega Jackpots is available |
| Kitty Glitter | – | – | Online versions of land-based classics |
Cleopatra
IGT’s signature game, themed around the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. It has been loved for so long that the series alone has nine versions.
Wheel of Fortune Megaways
A 6-reel game built under Big Time Gaming’s Megaways license. The base game has up to 117,649 ways, which can grow to up to 1 million ways in free spins, and wilds can turn into “Wild Megastacks” of up to 7 stacked wilds. It launched first in New Jersey in 2021 and became one of the most popular games on BetMGM.
Headquarters
Headquartered in Las Vegas, USA since 2025.