WMS

Introduction

WMS Gaming is a premier provider of online casino games. The company’s timeline goes back to the 1940s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it ventured into making slot machines for casinos, before finally entering the iGaming industry in the 2010s.

Today, WMS, or Williams Gaming, are best known for their online slots, which remain the cornerstone of their iGaming offering. Some of their popular titles include Raging Rhino, Montezuma Megaways, Heidi and Hannah’s Bier Haus, Wizard of Oz: Ruby Slippers, and Zeus II.

Their ability to move with the times and embrace new technology has contributed greatly to their survival. Although the company has gone through several acquisitions, they are still around and their games continue to delight players from around the world.

Read on to learn more about WMS and their offerings.

Specifications

About WMS Gaming

WMS history started in 1943 when Harry Williams founded Williams Manufacturing Company to develop mechanical games. In 1974, WMC gave way to WMS Industries, which focused on pinball machines, then later expanded to coin-operated video games. As a means of entering the new gaming machine market, the company created Williams Gaming (WMS Gaming) in 1994.

In its early days, WMS Gaming manufactured slot machines and video lottery terminals. They released their first successful slot, Reel ‘em In, in 1996, and it wasn’t long before they became a big name in the casino space. They went on to create more slots and arcade games, and also made game software for casinos.

WMS Gaming introduced online games in 2010, first in the UK and later in the US. In 2012, they brought their game to mobile devices. Initially, they hosted their games by themselves, using platforms like www.jackpotparty.com. By 2014, they started licensing their games to third-party operators, bringing it to more players.

Most of the online slots from WMS Gaming are digitalized variants of some of their slot games, and they are available on different platforms, including PC and mobile.

In 2013, WMS was acquired by Light & Wonder (then Scientific Games), which remains their parent company to this day.

License and Regulation

WMS Gaming online operations are licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. In addition to that, the company distributes its games through Light and Wonder, which has more licenses, including the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, and the Swedish Gambling Authority.

Pros and Cons

WMS Software Features

• Cross-platform Compatibility: WMS Gaming slots can be played on both PC and mobile devices. The games have been optimized to render correctly across many breakpoints, allowing players to enjoy gaming, whether on PC, tablets or smartphones.
• Remote Game Server: WMS delivers its online slots via a Remote Game Server platform. This enables seamless integration of their games into online casinos and also makes it easy to provide consistent, secure gameplay across platforms.
• Rich Bonus and Gameplay Features: WMS online slots include engaging bonus mechanics like free spins, multipliers, pick-and-win games, and guaranteed bonus payouts. Their games also feature diverse wild symbols and multi-level progressive jackpots that enhance player excitement and retention and offer a rewarding experience.
• Advanced Security Measures: WMS iGaming software incorporates advanced security features such as SSL encryption, multi-level authentication, and role-based access control to protect player data and financial transactions. These security protocols help prevent unauthorized access, fraud, and cyberattacks, ensuring safe and trustworthy gameplay for operators and players alike.

WMS Gaming Portfolio

WMS Gaming’s portfolio consists exclusively of slots, most of which are based on their slot machine games. These games offer the same experience as the real machines, down to the graphics, sound, and animation. Some of these games include Reel ‘em In, Jackpot Party, Star Trek, Gold Fish, and The Wizard of Oz. Those who are familiar with WMS Gaming’s slot machines will find their iGaming offerings to be somewhat similar.

You may have observed that the titles of some WMS games are the names of real movies and TV shows. In a bid to stand out early in the industry, WMS Gaming was one of the first companies to secure licenses that could allow them to use the names and likeness from popular movies and TV shows. Some other examples of games like this include Men in Black, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and The Lord of the Rings.

Features of WMS Online Slots

• Branded Themes: Most WMS games infused popular media, making them easily recognizable, even when the company was not yet well known. It also made the games a lot more immersive with richer storylines and themed bonus features.
• Immersive Audio-Visual Effects: WMS games integrate high-quality graphics and 3D sound effects to give the player an immersive gaming experience.
• Interactive Bonus Rounds: Another common feature that can be found in WMS games is bonus rounds that are usually triggered by a player’s actions, such as landing particular symbol combinations like scatters or bonus icons. These bonus rounds transport players into a special game mode that offers extra chances to win prizes through free spins, pick-and-win games, multipliers, or other interactive mini-games.
• Competitive RTPs: Many WMS games feature relatively high return-to-player (RTP) percentages, often ranging between 95% and 97%. These games also typically offer medium-to-high volatility levels.
• Innovative Game Mechanics: WMS games also feature advanced mechanics, some of which are developed in-house. One such feature is the Bonus guarantee, which ensures that players receive a minimum payout during bonus rounds, even if the bonus outcomes would otherwise result in smaller wins. There’s also Cascading Reels, which allow winning symbols to disappear from the reels after a spin, making way for new symbols to fall into place.

WMS Popular Titles

Raging Rhino

Launched in 2015, Raging Rhino remains one of WMS’s most iconic slots. It features a six-reel setup with 4,096 ways to win, set against the backdrop of the African savannah. The game’s standout feature is its Megaways-inspired mechanics, offering expanding reels and stampeding reels that increase winning potential. Players can trigger free spins and wild multipliers, with a maximum payout of 12,500 times the stake.

The Wizard of Oz

This slot employs the timeless appeal of the classic 1939 film. With 30 paylines, it offers several exciting bonus rounds, including the Glinda the Good Witch feature that randomly triggers expanding wilds. The Oz Pick feature lets players choose from different bonuses, such as free spins with winged monkeys or cash prizes.

Super Jackpot Party

One of WMS’s earliest and enduring hits, Super Jackpot Party is a 20-payline slot with a festive theme. Its signature Party Feature is a pick-and-win bonus where players uncover cash prizes but must avoid the Party Pooper symbol, which can make the bonus end sooner than expected. However, a second-chance mechanic allows players to continue if they find the Party Favor. Additional features include multipliers and the interactive Whack-a-Pooper mini-game. Overall, it is a very engaging game.

Bier Haus

Celebrating Germany’s famous Oktoberfest culture, Bier Haus is a 40-payline slot famous for its generous free spins bonus. During free spins, any wild symbols triggered become locked (sticky) wilds that remain in place for the duration, greatly increasing winning chances.

KISS

This 100-payline slot brings the legendary rock band KISS to life with a unique Colossal Reels mechanic, featuring two sets of reels spinning simultaneously – a 5×4 grid and a larger 5×12 grid. Players enjoy pick-me bonus games, free spins, multipliers, and cash prizes, all set to the band’s iconic soundtrack.

User Experience

They say playing a game tells you more about a company than anything else, so I took some time to play WMS games. My general experience was nice, as I was interacting with the products of a company that took game-making quite seriously. Here’s a breakdown of my experience:

Graphics and Sound

Like I noted in the previous section, most WMS games were branded with references from popular movies, TV shows, bands, or other pop art references. For their branded games, WMS did a tidy job, properly integrating aspects of the brand into the game in an almost native way.

The branding aside, all the games I tried featured very crisp graphics, with superb animations that made every spin feel special.The background sound is well-tuned and can be turned off by choice. The sound effects enliven the game a lot but they could sound more modern.

Although it’s easy to tell that the games were made in another period because the graphics looked outdated. Only few of their games feature 3D graphics and even those have a bit of age. So while the games did look good, they could really use an update.

Performance

I tried some games across different platforms, and my review of their experience is mixed. I noticed that their games loaded faster on some platforms than others. This made me believe platforms have a role to play in how games load or play.

That aside, I found that the games ran smoothly, even after the delay in load time. This was also the same experience when I tried their games on a mobile device. Still, the age of the games show here as the outdated graphics give them a choppy feel, but not in all cases.

Game Play

Featuring branded content in a game tend to gives it a richer story than it may ordinarily have, making it a lot more fun to play. This is how I felt when trying out some WMS games, particularly those based on real movies or rockstars.

The mini-games or bonus rounds, in games like Bier Haus and KISS, are not quite easy to trigger, but they can be rewarding when they show up. Other bonus like free spins were present but they were hard to get. The games I tested out were between medium and high volatility, but while I expected some wins with smaller payout, the wins were not as frequent.

Fair Play and Transparency

WMS Gaming is committed to upholding fair play, as well as making sure they provide a safe betting experience for all. Some of the ways they do this include

• RTP Transparency: The RTP percentages for all their games can be easily viewed by players. This allows players know how much they can expect from every spin, in theory. Displaying RTP percentages is in line with industry best practices as it promotes trust and protects players.
• Licensed Operation: WMS Gaming is licensed to operate and distribute games in certain regions. For countries where they do not possess a license for, they make use of distribution partners to validate their operations and make their games available to more players.
• Certified RNG: To ensure the integrity of their games, WMS Gaming makes use of Random Number Generator (RNG) software that has been independently audited and certified.
• Advanced Security: WMS Gaming makes use of advanced protocol (128 SSL), which safeguards transmitted between players and their game server. This advanced security also helps protect players’ details and other sensitive details from unauthorized access.

Support

WMS Gaming provides support directly to casino operators and other partners or clients they have on a B2B level. This means they do not attend to players directly. However, players with any issues or report about their games should first report to their casino support fo further escalation.

Final Thoughts

WMS Gaming is one of the few iGaming companies with roots in developing traditional casino games. They made a name for themselves in the early days for adding branded content in their games, a feature still present in their slots today. The company’s talent for innovation is something that’s easy to spot after coming across any of their games.

However, to remain relevant in this age, the company has work to do to meet the technological demands of the present times. This includes giving their games an upgrade, either through a remake or sequel. They should also explore incorporating table games or live dealer games to their offerings.

FAQ

Does WMS Gaming Have Live Dealer Games?

No, WMS Gaming only offers slots. They currently have no tables, crash or live dealer games in their portfolio.

Can I Play WMS Games on my Mobile Device?

Yes, WMS games are compatible with mobile devices. This means you can easily play them from your mobile browser.

Does WMS Gaming Have Demo Games?

Yes, you can try out WMS games for free through demo games they provide directly. That way, you can have a feel of the game before betting with real cash.

How do I Find RTP Information for a WMS Game?

To find the RTP information for a particular game, simply open the game and click the more icon to reveal game details, including the RTP percentage.

Do WMS Games Feature Bonus Rounds?

Yes, many WMS slots include engaging bonus rounds such as free spins, pick-and-win games, multipliers, and interactive mini-games that enhance gameplay and winning potential.