Associate Marketing Specialist

Tradition on the floor. Mechanical reel-spinning games are here to stay. By frank legato. Quick. Envision a slot machine. To many of its readers, the image coming to mind is probably a video game with multiple paylines, a pot collection feature and a hold-and-spin bonus. But to the general public who may not frequent modern casinos, the same vision of a slot machine persists: Three mechanical spinning reels, bar and "7" symbols, and maybe even a handle. Twenty-five years ago, the traditional mechanical reel-spinner - known in the trade as the "stepper slot" due to the mechanical stepper motor spinning the reels - was on the endangered species list for many who study the casino industry. The big new thing was the multi-line video slot, with themes ranging from cartoons (Lucky Larry's Lobstermania, Reel 'Em In) to TV shows, movies, music and other icons of popular culture (The Beverly Hillbillies, Michael Jackson). Many industry pundits said mechanical-reel stepper slots couldn't compare, and some wondered aloud if the traditional slot model would soon disappear. It did not. In fact, play on stepper slots remained pretty much constant or slightly down to make room for the new video games at first, but by the current decade, a definite revival was under way for the spinning reel. It started when major slot manufacturers sensed demand among players for the classic slot experience, but in an updated version. Traditional games like Bally Blazing 7s and IGT's Double Diamond and Red, White & Blue had maintained consistent popularity over the years, with both suppliers creating new versions of those iconic games, and using them as the base games for themed progressives (see Wheel of Fortune). In the late 2000s, while IGT and Bally (now Light & Wonder) were resurrecting and revamping their classic reel-spinner libraries, Multimedia Games, which would become Everi Holdings in 2014, launched the Player Classic series of mechanical reel-spinners. Everi designed its mechanical-reel cabinet from the ground up, and added new cabinets like the Player Classic Signature, which added features like a simplified four-button deck, a clear digital touch meter panel and wider, more powerful spinning reels. Player Classic Signature took the genre to a tall format, with the reels as the lower portion of a nine-foot cabinet that includes monitors for pay tables and the progressive jackpot meters. Everi's reel-spinners were a modern, improved presentation of the best of traditional slots combined with great new ideas like Cash Machine, the hit game with the "what you see is what you get" pay scheme. New versions of that modern classic are still being released by Everi, now part of IGT. Meanwhile, Light & Wonder and IGT were improving on their stepper formats. Light & Wonder released a new version of the iconic Blazing 7s theme on its new Landmark 7000 mechanical-reel cabinet. Blazing 7s 2X3X5X added multiplying wild symbols to the familiar "7" and bar combinations. IGT released a modernized version of the familiar S2000 cabinet with S3000, and launched new stepper cabinets like DiamondRS, featuring the "Diamond Glass" transmissive overlays that add multipliers and other bonuses to reel-spinners. Classic themes from Double Diamond to Top Dollar are now offered on this presentation. The CrystalWheel cabinet offered up new versions of Wheel of Fortune. Most recently, AGS and Aristocrat entered the mechanical-reel business. AGS is still building a game library for its Revel stepper cabinet, and Aristocrat just released a version of its famed Buffalo theme on the Marquis mechanical-reel cabinet. The one thing that's common in all these new mechanical reel games? A devotion to re- creating the classic reel-spinning experience. To the player, the most elaborate setups in these new cabinets still feel like playing a traditional reel-spinner. The reels are large and illuminated, they're surrounded by shiny bezels, and most of the games feature that familiar pay table listing of all the line wins. Even the new reel-spinners with hybrid video elements use the monitor just above the reels to reproduce an authentic version of the pay table that you'll find on the silkscreened slot glass of the old mechanical games. The haptics mimic the feel of hitting the spin button on the old machines, and even the handles, if you choose to use them, feel like you're cranking a spring-loaded handle on a machine in 1980. The games themselves follow the same spin-and-win rhythm of the old reel-spinners, with modern elements sprinkled in. There are games with video-style cash-on-reels symbols that add up for wins. The use of transmissive panels allows for instant bonus awards and multipliers. There are various "nudge" features that turn losing spins into winners. There are free-game bonuses. But at the core, the resurgence of the spinning reel is due to the fact there are many gamblers out there who prefer this simpler style of slot play. And kudos to the manufacturers for understanding that, and for sticking to the script while applying the newest technology to these new stepper games. Here's to the mechanical reel. May it live long and prosper.

Playnetic goes live with Light & Wonder content marketplace. Published August 18, 2026 The deal extends Playnetic's distribution reach as the studio pursues a multi-aggregator strategy across European regulated markets. Independent studios are increasingly turning to large aggregation platforms to achieve the operator scale that direct integrations alone cannot deliver. Playnetic went live with Light & Wonder on 18 August 2026, bringing its catalogue to operators across the aggregator's OpenGaming content marketplace. Playnetic titles available across Light & Wonder's operator network. Playnetic has integrated its content with Light & Wonder's OpenGaming platform, making a selection of existing titles and new releases available to operators across the aggregator's content marketplace. The agreement, which went live on 18 August 2026, is the latest in a series of distribution deals Playnetic has signed as it builds out its aggregator footprint in regulated markets. Four titles are included in the initial rollout: Sun vs Moon: Hold n' Win, Assassin of Rome, Bubble or Broom, and Farmageddon. The selection spans the studio's Hold n' Win mechanic series alongside feature-rich originals, reflecting the breadth of Playnetic's catalogue across themes and game formats. The deal follows a run of distribution agreements for the studio. Playnetic has previously gone live through Relax Gaming's Powered By Relax programme, QTech Games, Hub88, and Stake, and most recently through White Hat Gaming in June 2026. The studio holds regulatory licences in Sweden, Romania, Malta, Greece, and Ontario, and entered the Italian market in January 2026 via a partnership with Microgame. Executives comment on scale and content quality. Kai Botha, Chief Commercial Officer at Playnetic, said: 'Light & Wonder's network gives our content genuine scale, and this agreement lets us put our games in front of new operators and players whilst keeping quality and player experience at the heart of everything we deliver.' Gabi Star, Senior Director at Light & Wonder, said: 'The strength of its Hold n' Win series, alongside the wider range of releases, made Playnetic a natural addition to our line-up.' Light & Wonder's aggregation push continues. The Playnetic deal is consistent with Light & Wonder's ongoing strategy of expanding its third-party content library via OpenGaming. The platform has added multiple studios over the past 18 months, including agreements with Playson covering the UK, Canada, and Latin America, and with Gaming Corps for access to more than 38 regulated markets worldwide. Light & Wonder's newsroom confirms the platform operates as a content aggregation hub for operators across regulated markets globally. About Playnetic. Playnetic is a B2B iGaming content provider founded in 2023 and publicly launched at ICE London in February 2024. The company operates three in-house game studios and holds regulatory licences in Sweden, Romania, and Malta, with additional approvals in Greece and Ontario. Its distribution partners include Relax Gaming, QTech Games, Hub88, and Stake, among others. About Light & Wonder. Light & Wonder (NASDAQ and ASX: LNW) is a cross-platform gaming company operating across land-based, iGaming, and social gaming segments. Its OpenGaming platform aggregates content from hundreds of third-party studios, giving operators access to one of the largest game libraries in the industry. The company is licensed and active across more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. Published August 18, 2026 European Gaming Editorial. Editorial desk * iGaming industry news * Regulatory updates * Licensing and compliance * M&A and financial results * Product launches * People moves The European Gaming Editorial team covers B2B iGaming news across regulation, product launches, M&A, and market developments in Europe and beyond. Press releases and industry announcements published under this byline are reviewed and edited to EuropeanGaming.eu editorial standards before publication.