Have you heard of Aristocrat Pokies? Chances are, if you are a gambler, you have at least heard of the Aristocrat company. In this article, we will take a closer look at the company from Las Vegas and its incredible global growth and influence on the gambling industry.
A Bit O’ History
Aristocrat Gaming is from Sydney, Australia. The company was founded in 1953 and came to prominence in 1956 with the creation of the Clubmaster. The Clubmaster was a slot machine that quickly became a game-changer in the gambling industry. It featured such innovations as self-lubricating reel assembly bearings and a free-play lock that paved the way for slots well into the future. By 1958, Aristocrat had invented the first poker machine in the world with lit reels and scorecards. The company has forever been associated with “pokies” since then. The company began an expansion plan that saw movement into the European market. Casinos in Las Vegas took note of the clever machines produced by Aristocrat and in 1961, the company launched the Aristocrat Nevada production facility.
The company kept improving its slots and by 1979 had found international success with the world’s first five-reel slot machine. It was called Wild West and incorporated a Western, frontier theme. In the 1980s, Aristocrat opened an office in London, England. To respond to changes in the slot machine industry, the company opened its casino systems business in Australia. The release of the Microstar range of slots soon followed. They featured new technology that is still in use today. Aristocrat also influenced the slot machine industry in 1983 with the innovation of the Virtual Reel. It was described at the time as, “a simple but exciting innovation to weight certain symbols.” It resulted in slots in the US exceeding table revenues for the first time in history. In 1995, the company released the MK Gaming System which led to further global expansion, and in 2000, Aristocrat secured a Nevada operating license to access the world’s largest gaming market in Las Vegas.
Five Things Aristocrat Is Up To This Year
Now that you know some of the background of this ground-breaking slot company, here is a look at what they have been up to this year.
Growing Success In Australia and New Zealand
Innovation is the name of the game and Aristocrat has developed many revolutionary features that have greatly enhanced the gaming world. All of them have been introduced in Australia and New Zealand first which has made these countries leaders in gambling trends. This is attributed to the relaxed attitude both federal governments have related to gambling which paved the way for Aristocrat’s success. The company continues to expand within its home territory testing various new products there before releasing them to the global market. You can thank Aussies and Kiwis for responding to such innovations as scattered and multiline payouts which have since been popular additions to the global slot machine market.
Global Expansion Continues
Speaking of the global market, Aristocrat continues to increase its footprint. Following the establishment of its Las Vegas operation, the company added another office in Mexico City. There are also sales and support facilities in New Jersey, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Probably the biggest move was when Aristocrat purchased ALI Gaming Solution which led to the launch of Aristocrat Africa. The company currently operates over 200 offices throughout the world including Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Argentina with plans to keep moving into parts of the world not already serviced by the company.
Moving To Digital Platforms
Aristocrat set the pace when they released the first-ever video slot machines Grosvenor and Moon Money in 1963 and 1965. Since that time, the company has incorporated classic themes accompanied by traditional sound effects to maintain an old-school feel to their products. However, with new technology, the company has chosen to move along with the changes as a visionary. One such example of this is the many partnerships Aristocrat has formed with popular entertainment companies such as HBO and Warner Brothers. This has permitted the development of many video slots with television show themes. Although the primary focus for Aristocrat has been gaming in land-based casinos, the internet has presented an interesting challenge where the company has actively moved to create video gaming options.
Pokies Go To Online Casinos
Currently, there are not a lot of online pokies from Aristocrat. However, that situation is going to change as the company has shifted its focus on adding innovative gaming solutions to the internet. They include live casino slot games that will be featured in online casinos. Aristocrat has formed partnerships with online developers such as NextGen and NYX Gaming to get Aristocrat pokies into the most popular online casino sites in the US and Australia.
TV Gaming
One more innovation making progress this year is something called Game On TV. This is a system that permits gamers to play several Aristocrat titles on their home televisions. The system is still new but promises to give Aristocrat exposure in a market that they have not been able to reach until now. Expect to see the company create a new gaming solution that will revolutionize the TV gaming market and open the doors to many competitors.
Final Thoughts
Slot machines have been part of the gambling landscape for many, many years. With all the changes that have come to these games and the technology that has ushered in a new era for slots, it is comforting to know that one of the original game makers is still in business. It is also encouraging to see that this company, Aristocrat Gaming, continues to set the pace within the industry. By using innovation, and business partnerships with other industry leaders, Aristocrat has managed to build a global empire. The company, with offices in Las Vegas, is busy and continues to create new and interesting ways to deliver gaming solutions to gamblers. This year is no exception as the company keeps moving forward and changing how we play games.
