WMS Industries

History and Origins

WMS Industries traced its roots to Williams Manufacturing Company, founded in Chicago in 1943 by Harry E. Williams, a pioneer of the pinball industry. The company later operated as Williams Electronics, producing iconic arcade games such as Defender and Joust. In 1988, the business reorganized as WMS Industries Inc. and began a long transition from pinball and arcade entertainment into casino gaming. By 1999, WMS had exited pinball manufacturing to focus entirely on the slot machine business.

Slot Manufacturing Growth

As WMS Gaming, the company became one of the largest slot manufacturers in the United States during the 1990s and 2000s. It was an early leader in video slots with interactive bonus events; Reel 'Em In! (1996) is widely recognized as a landmark game in that category. WMS also built powerful licensed franchises, including Monopoly-themed slots and later Star Trek games, and introduced successful original titles such as Jackpot Party, Zeus, and Raging Rhino.

Product Platforms

WMS gained particular industry prominence through its Bluebird family of modular slot cabinets, launched in the mid-2000s. These network-connected cabinets could be updated with new games and became one of the most widely deployed slot platforms of their era. The CPU-NXT processing platform followed in the late 2000s, supporting more complex game features and improved operator flexibility.

Online and Lottery Businesses

Beyond land-based slots, WMS diversified into adjacent gaming sectors. WMS Interactive supplied an online gambling platform for regulated markets, and the company acquired Australia-based Stargames to strengthen its video lottery terminal business. These businesses extended WMS beyond the traditional casino floor while remaining within the broader iGaming and gambling equipment industry.

Acquisition by Scientific Games

In 2013, Scientific Games Corporation agreed to acquire WMS Industries for approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition closed in October of that year, and WMS was delisted from the NYSE. The WMS brand continued on slot products inside Scientific Games' gaming division, and the former WMS operations became a central part of Scientific Games' slot manufacturing business.

Legacy under Light & Wonder

Scientific Games later sold other divisions and rebranded the remaining gaming business as Light & Wonder, Inc. in 2022. Legacy WMS game titles such as Raging Rhino and Zeus remain part of Light & Wonder's portfolio. The defunct WMS Industries thus survives today mainly through its products and through the many industry executives who passed through the company, including Dan Schrementi, who went on to become President of Gaming at Bally's Corporation.