Scientific Games (Light & Wonder) Best Slots & Casinos 2023

Anyone who has ever visited a land-based casino anywhere in the world has most likely played on a Scientific Games machine. Scientific Gaming used to be one of the leading providers of casino software. While never a developer in their own right, they did act as an umbrella company for famous software developers that included WMS Gaming, IGT, NYX, NextGen Gaming, ShuffleMaster, Bally and Barcrest, amongst others. During that era, Scientific Games oversaw the development of hundreds of quality online and offline slot machines, including notably big names, such as 88 Fortunes, Cash Falls, and Dancing Drums Reels.

Eager to downsize and focus more on producing quality games, Scientific Games began to let a few of its subsidiaries go a couple of years back. A rebrand has seen them become known as Light & Wonder, and while they still run the rule over subsidiaries that include (through the NYX brand) NextGen Gaming, OpenBet, Side City, BetDigital, Game360 and NYX itself, they no longer produce slots and table games to quite the same extent. Instead, many of their modern releases are more focused on lottery-style games. Light & Wonder is primarily renowned as the home of NextGen Gaming these days, as they develop precious few popular slots of their own.

Best Scientific Games/Light & Wonder Slots to Try

Scientific Games never developed slots themselves – ever. They always acquired software providers and ran them as businesses. It has always been about investment and ownership over game development. For that reason, it isn’t a surprise to see Light & Wonder continuing that trend.

While Light & Wonder does produce lotto-style games, scratch cards, fixed odds and instant win titles, the best slots in their library still come from NextGen Gaming.

Let us briefly introduce you to a handful of top NextGen slots available under the SG/L&W banner below.

300 Shields

300 Shields is one of NextGen Gaming’s most popular slots, which naturally makes it one of Light & Wonder’s more successful games. The slot features an elementary 5-reel, 25-line format and an RTP of just 95.3%. Given the slot’s age, though, we’ll let that go. Based on the Battle of Thermopylae, this unique game also supports a non-progressive prize that tips the scales at over 17,500x a bet. Leonidas appears as a wild symbol in this release, while a free spin bonus round can ramp up what you win.

Wilds double winnings in this mode while re-triggering free spins can raise multipliers, too. In some (lucky) cases, playing with multipliers worth up to 300x here is possible.

Medusa

Medusa has spawned sequels and spin-offs and is the jewel in the crown of NextGen’s (and thus, Light & Wonder’s) array of games. It is also played over 5 reels and 25 lines and costs a pittance to play. An RTP rate of 95.42% and a non-progressive prize of 25,000x a bet make it worthwhile. The real action is had in the bonus rounds, though.

Re-spins and click-and-win bonuses can help you score decent prizes. The re-spin round invokes the famous “turned to stone” aspect of the myth, while 3x multipliers can boost wins. There’s a free spin bonus, too, with multipliers boosting your wins. Finally, a Super Spin can increase your balance by 5x, while the Pegasus click-and-win round can offer you instant cash prizes.

Foxin’ Wins

Foxin’ Wins used to be a lot more popular back in the day than it is today. However, this NextGen-developed slot is still one of the best in Light & Wonder’s range. It was one of the first slots to introduce the buy-a-bonus mode (known as Superbet back then). This would let you increase the number of random wilds you could land on the reels.

A flurry of sequels and spin-offs have followed this original game. Many have different takes on its theme but similar free spin rounds. In Foxin’ Wins, you can expect ten spins with 2x win multipliers. There’s also a fun-filled Leprechaun Chase bonus awarded at random in this medium variance, 5-reel and 25-line slot.

Best Casinos to Play Scientific Games/Light & Wonder Slots

There is no shortage of Light & Wonder casinos for you to choose from, but the array of games found at those sites has dramatically diminished over the last few years. Light & Wonder remains partners with many of its former subsidiaries from its Scientific Games days, so you can still find their games mixing with others at casinos. However, the days of their titles dominating are over. Let’s briefly examine two of the most popular casinos you can join.

Conclusion

Let’s face it – Light & Wonder is not the powerhouse it used to be under the old Scientific Games banner. It is hard to see how transforming into Light & Wonder and downsizing its array of subsidiary providers was a positive step. It is what it is, though. Light & Wonder is still in charge of NextGen’s superb array of slots, so if you want to play those, you’ll still need to deal with Scientific Games/Light & Wonder casinos. This reason alone makes some worth a visit.

Scientific Games/Light & Wonder FAQs

What is Scientific Games’ new name?

Scientific Games now do business under the Light & Wonder brand. However, they don’t just have a new brand name but an entirely different set-up with many of their former subsidiaries gone.

What does Scientific Games (Light & Wonder) develop?

For the most part, it develops lottery and instant win games or titles for the land-based betting world. This is a far cry from the array of games it used to deliver.

How many locations does Light & Wonder operate in?

The American company has offices all over the world, from the UK to the US, Australia, India, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, Malta, Sweden and beyond.

Is Scientific Games (Light & Wonder) a Public Limited Company?

Yes. Scientific Games has plenty of investors, with both Light & Wonder and the old SGMS brands now trading as LNW.

What Light & Wonder are there?

Scientific Games sold off most of its major subsidiaries when it became Light & Wonder, with only NYX and NextGen Gaming remaining. However, they also run the rule over OpenBet, Side City, BetDigital, and Game360.