Bally Slots
In the world of slots, a few names rise above all others. One
of the most notable is Bally, known for being a leader in
producing video slots, as well as arcade games and pinball
machines during their partnership with the now-defunct Midway.
The era of Space Invaders and pinball wizards may be over,
but Bally Technologies is still going strong when it comes to
producing innovative and profitable slot machines. This article
looks at some of the most popular video slots made by the
company, as well as providing a brief history of Bally and a
list of some of their biggest casino winners.
You can also play free slot games from Bally here. We provide you with
the free versions of many of their games so that you can
test them out to make sure you really like the software and
the gameplay before spending your own money to play them.
History of Bally Technologies
Bally appeared on the scene in 1932, when Raymond Moloney
founded the company to make pinball machines as a subsidiary of
Lion Manufacturing. A mechanical whiz, he was able to expand the
business over the next few decades by becoming involved with
slot machines, aircraft parts, and even the music industry.
The company faltered following the passing of Moloney in
1958, and it was purchased by investors in 1963. Bally then grew
to become the primary manufacturer of slot machines on the
planet, at one point holding a commanding 90% share of the
market.
became a publicly traded company and also introduced the world’s
first electronic slot.
Bally entered the casino business in the latter half of the
1970s, and the Park Place was opened on the Atlantic City
Boardwalk in 1979. Thanks to their acquisition of Midway
Manufacturing in the late 1960s, they also became a key player
in the growing video game market (producing Pac-Man and Space
Invaders).
The 1980s saw a period of expansion, with Bally buying
fitness clubs, casinos, and the Six Flags amusement park chain.
This came back to haunt them, however, as too many expenditures
forced Bally-Midway and Six Flags to be sold.
Bally Gaming was acquired by Alliance Gaming Corporation
after a hostile takeover attempt in 1995. The company pioneered
the concept of the wide-area progressive slot in 1999, releasing
licensed games such as Popeye and Blondie.
The decision was then made to focus on gaming technology, and
a number of longtime business interests were sold off. This
streamlining had a positive effect, allowing Bally to make
record gains and Alliance Gaming to move onto the New York Stock
Exchange. In order to present a unified identity, Alliance
rebranded itself as Bally Technologies in 2006.
2014 was a landmark year for the company, as several of their
slots were honored with awards for innovation and overall
quality. In August, Bally Technologies entered into an agreement
to be purchased by Scientific Games, a longtime maker of sports
betting and lottery equipment. The transaction was made for $3.3
billion, as well as an additional $1.8 billion in assumed debt.
Bally was not the first acquisition made by Scientific Games;
the company has WMS Industries, which once owned Bally/Midway,
as well as Sciplay, MDI Entertainment, Barcrest, and The Global
Draw. Scientific Games also owns stakes in a number of
lotteries, including those in China, Italy, and the state of
Illinois.
The current board of directors for Scientific Games (as well
as Bally) includes the following:
Ronald O. Perelman
Chairman of the Board since 2013. Has
also served as chairman for Revlon, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings
Inc., and M&F Worldwide Corporation.
Richard Haddrill
Served as Bally’s CEO from 2004 to 2012.
Also served on Bally’s board of directors from 2003 until the SG
acquisition, as well as being Chairman of the Board from 2012 to
2014.
David L. Kennedy
A UCLA graduate and certified public
accountant, Kennedy has worked with MacAndrews & Forbes
Incorporated, Revlon, and Coca-Cola.
Gavin Isaacs
A gaming industry executive with over a decade
of experience, Mr. Isaacs has worked with Bally Technologies and
Aristocrat Leisure Limited. Also part of the board of directors
for the American Gaming Association.
Peter A. Cohen
Chairman of the Board and CEO of Shearson
Lehman Brothers from 1983 to 1990. Director of L-3
Communications Holdings Inc., as well as a founding partner of
Ramius LLC.
Gerald J. Ford
Has over three decades of experience in
public and private mergers. Served as CEO and Chairman of the
Board for Golden State Bancorp from 1998 until 2002. Recently
served as the director of Triad Financial SM LLC.
Paul M. Meister
CEO and co-founder of Liberty Lane
Partners, LLC, as well as the Chairman and CEO of inVentive
Health Incorporated. Has served on the board since 2012.
Michael J. Regan
During 40 years of service with KPMG LLP,
Regan served as the lead audit partner for numerous companies on
the Fortune 500 list. Also affiliated with Citadel Broadcasting
Corporation and Allied Security Holdings LLC.
Barry F. Schwartz
Affiliated with Scientific Games since
2003, Mr. Schwartz is also the director of Revlon Consumer
Products Corporation and Harland Clarke Holdings Corporation.
Frances F. Townsend
From 2004 until 2008, she served
Homeland Security and Counterterrorism as an assistant under
President George W. Bush. She also worked for the U.S.
Department of Justice for 13 years in various positions, as well
as serving as the Assistant Commandant for Intelligence in the
U.S. Coast Guard.
Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald
Teacher, judge, lawyer, and
the only female to serve as the president of The Hague since its
creation in 1994.
Notable Slot Machines from Bally Technologies
Bally has released hundreds of slot machines over the
decades, and each year sees additional titles become available
to the general public. If you’ve never tried one of their
products before, the following list details some of their more
popular slots games.
Gears of Gold
Part of the Cash Connection series, this
5-reel slot features a steampunk theme, mystery stacked reels,
directional wilds, a wheel bonus, and free games bonus. There
are a total of 40 paylines, and the wide-area progressive pays a
minimum of $400,000. Free games also come with a multiplier,
allowing players to increase their winnings up to a factor of
five.
Sumo Kitty
The title character is both a cat and sumo
wrestler, so you know you’re going to be in for a unique
experience. The five-reel game offers hundreds of ways to win,
and possible denominations range from a penny to $500 (with a
2500-credit maximum). The top payout is 5000x the amount of the
initial wager, and this is bolstered by scatter symbols, free
games, and the always-innovative Hot Zone feature.
Ultimate Tower of Power
Part of the Digital Tower series,
this slot features a wide-area progressive jackpot that starts
at $250,000. The object of the game is to scale the tower one
level at a time, and both players and onlookers should be
captivated by the dazzling sounds and special effects. There are
five reels and 30 paylines, and the top wager of 150 credits is
affordable when you consider that it’s a penny slot.
The Blob
Based on the sci-fi classic starring a young Steve
McQueen, this five-level progressive slot is sure to entertain
those who remember the days of drive-in movies. Free game
features include “The Growing Blob” and “The Blob Devoured,” and
any free games earned by the player can be retriggered
repeatedly. Watch for falling meteors to get a possible jackpot,
including the massive Box Office jackpot that can rise to over
$1 million.
Wonder Woman Gold
Based on the classic 1970’s TV show
starring Lynda Carter, this 5-reel slot includes three
progressive levels (mega, major, mini), extra wilds, expanding
wilds, mystery super stacks, and up to 25 free games. Fans of
the show should adore the video clips and theme music, and
progressives are available regardless of the size of the wager.
ZZ Top: Live from Texas
Combining rock and blues since
1969–and sporting some awesome facial hair in the process–the
trio known as ZZ Top has become one of America’s best-loved
bands. This slot features video footage of five of their biggest
hits, including “Legs,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your
Lovin,” “La Grange,” and “Cheap Sunglasses.” Each wager has a
chance at the three-level progressive jackpot, and mystery
bonuses and spinning wheels offer additional ways to win.
Playboy: Hot Zone
While the famous Playboy empire has
struggled since the creation of the Internet, their brand still
retains worldwide recognition. This five-reel, 40-payline slot
offers all the style and luxury you’d expect from the Playboy
name, but without all the fake breasts and blatant nudity.
Available denominations range from a penny to $100, and there
are multiple bonus features to shoot for.
Pawn Stars
Based on the popular reality show, this game
debuted in 2013. The object of the game is to visit a pawn
broker and walk away with a massive payout, and it features five
reels, 25 paylines, and a maximum wager of 250 credits. Players
can participate for as little as a penny, and they’re able to
choose from Pawn Stars celebrities such as Chumlee or Rick. Four
bonus rounds are offered, including one where you get to haggle
about the price of items in order to get the best deal.
NASCAR
This slot debuted in 2013, and it allows players to
choose one of the following drivers as their character: Dale
Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, and
Jimmie Johnson. A 32-inch touchscreen displays all the action,
and the roar of the engines emanates from the player’s seat. A
wide-area progressive, the game features bonus rounds such as
Burnout, U Race, and Pit Stop.
Grease: Pink Ladies and T-Birds
Based on the popular movie
starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, this progressive
slot lets players begin by choosing their gang. The females are
known as the Pink Ladies and include characters such as Sandy
and Rizzo, while the male T-Birds include Danny and Kenickie.
Three or more scatter symbols trigger free wins, and this phase
includes an expanding wild to increase the player’s cash reward.
David Copperfield
This slot features the world-famous
magician and draws directly from his long-running act at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas. Two screens allow for virtual reels and
continual footage, and don’t be surprised when Copperfield
appears and turns symbols into extra wilds. The five-reel slot
has 30 paylines, and all symbols support the magical motif. The
famous “Death Saw” trick also figures prominently into the game,
adding a unique twist to the common wheel spin bonus.
Star Signs
If you’re into astrology and the signs of the
zodiac, you should get a kick out of this penny slot. There are
five reels and a massive 50 paylines, and getting five wilds in
a row delivers the top payout of 300x your bet. Not available as
a progressive, the game makes up for this fact by featuring
numerous payouts and the ability to choose your astrological
sign at the beginning of the game.
Skee Ball
Drawing inspiration from the game that’s been
amusing arcade patrons for years, Skee Ball includes 40 paylines
and allows participants to wager anywhere from a single penny to
$100 per spin. The coolest element of the game is when players
actually get to participate in a game of virtual skee ball by
moving their fingers across the touchscreen. In 2011, this
product was given a major industry award for being one of the
most innovative releases of the year.
Big Winners on Bally Slots
Bally has been in the slot machine business for decades, and
during this time they’ve produced a tremendous number of
winners. Whether you’re curious about the payouts available from
Bally or the land-based casinos most likely to produce a major
jackpot, the following list should prove helpful. As you’ll
notice, a lot of big winners prefer to remain anonymous.
Cash Connection
- On 6/14/2014, Anonymous won $669,065.65 at Gila River
Casino in Arizona - On 4/2/2014, Anonymous won $1,362,953.33 at Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Oklahoma - On 3/26/2014, Anonymous won $1,258,301.94 at Wind Creek
Casino & Hotel in Atmore, Alabama - On 2/23/2014, Anonymous won $2,807,702.88 at Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida - On 9/17/2013, Kathryn Stokes won $1,862,447.25 at
Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario - On 5/15/2013, Anonymous won $825,254.00 at Seminole
Coconut Creek in Coconut Creek, Florida - On 4/28/2013, Anonymous won $1,851,795.75 at Mohegan Sun
in Uncasville, Connecticut - On 3/27/2013, Anonymous won $1,445,319.14 at Paris Las
Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada - On 11/30/2012, Tami DeMarr won $1,572,006.18 at Lac
Courte Oreilles Casino in Hayward, Wisconsin - On 7/5/2012, Mickie Schiel won $734,266.00 at Santa
Claran Hotel Casino in Espanola, New Mexico
Ultimate Tower of Poker
- On 9/15/2010, Kimberly Tillinghast won $325,228.95 at
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut
1,000,000 Degrees
- On 6/8/2014, Jerry Dennis won $1,238,018.88 at Wind
Creek Wetumpka in Wetumpka, Alabama - On 1/11/2014, Anonymous won $1,723,073.78 at Creek
Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama - On 5/12/2013, Anonymous won $1,315,887.18 at Creek
Casino Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama - On 1/20/2013, Anonymous won $1,220,501.74 at Kickapoo
Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas - On 10/4/2012, Anonymous won $2,374,781.54 at Wind Creek
Casino and Hotel in Atmore, Alabama - On 6/18/2010, Anonymous won $1,008,328.52 at Dejope
Gaming in Madison, Wisconsin - On 6/9/2010, Anonymous won $1,087,055.97 at Dejope
Gaming in Madison, Wisconsin - On 2/18/2010, Anonymous won $1,301,231.82 at Quinault
Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores, Washington
Millionaire Sevens
- On 5/20/2014, Anonymous won $1,070,209.74 at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida - On 4/27/2014, Anonymous won $1,906,424.92 at the MGM
Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - On 4/20/2014, Kerry Gillis won $1,180,484.42 at the
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut - On 2/19/2014, Anonymous won $1,645,348.60 at the Thunder
Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California - On 7/31/2013, Leander Burgess won $1,005,554.87 at the
River Rock Casino in Geyserville, California - On 7/28/2013, Anonymous won $1,395,915.43 at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Tampa, Florida - On 4/16/2013, Anonymous won $2,330,336.63 at the Mohegan
Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut - On 3/8/2013, Anonymous won $1,161,223.60 at the Riviera
Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - On 12/28/2012, Anonymous won $1,352,715.27 at the Four
Queens Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - On 8/3/2012, Anonymous won $1,607,432.52 at the Four
Queens Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
QuarterMillion$
- On 4/11/2014, Patrick Calma won $298,624.65 at Foxwoods
Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut - On 10/30/2013, Anonymous won $263,500.07 at Foxwoods
Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut - On 9/24/2013, Rhonda Frieson won $283,176.28 at Golden
Eagle Casino in Horton, Kansas - On 7/14/2013, Anna Joels won $410,299.98 at Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida - On 10/21/2012, Anonymous won $409,722.64 at Four Winds
Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan - 4/15/2012, Anonymous won $302,782.93 at Fort Sill Apache
Casino in Lawton, Oklahoma - On 10/10/2011, Richard Mendoza won $288,960.64 at
Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico - On 9/17/2011, Anonymous won $304,706.45 at Foxwoods
Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut - On 8/19/2011, Anonymous won $256,907.33 at Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida - On 8/15/2011, Anonymous won $468,749.28 at Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, Florida
