Free Light and Wonder Games

From Scientific Games to Light & Wonder: A Quick Overview

Light & Wonder is the new name for the game developer we used to know as Scientific Games or SG Digital.

Scientific Games' gaming division rebranded to Light & Wonder in 2022 to emphasize its shift of focus to online casino games.

Here are some notable things about the company, to get you up to speed:

Official website	https://www.lnw.com/
Established	1973
Game types	Slots, Table Games, Live Casino Games, Lottery Games, Instant Win Games
Gambling licenses	UKGC
Subsidiaries	SciPlay, NYX Gaming Group, Barcrest, Bally’s Technologies, WMS Industries, OpenBet, Authentic Gaming, BetDigital, Lightning Box, ELK Studios
Headquarters	Las Vegas, Nevada
Revenue	$2.81 Billion (2023)
Stock exchange	NASDAQ and ASX: LNW
Number of employees	Over 6,000

Delving Into the Light & Wonder Games Portfolio

In the Light & Wonder games portfolio, you’ll find several hundred titles encompassing all types of casino games, including:

• Video Slots.
• Scratch Games.
• Live Dealer games.
• Table Games.
• Keno.
• Bingo.

How come?

First, consider that the company has its own in-house studio called LNW, which releases original games.

In addition, keep in mind that the company has also acquired various other game studios. As a result, those studios’ games became more widely available on different devices and casinos - for more players to enjoy.

 *Provided that the casinos have kept their lists up to date.
**These studios still use their original brand name when releasing games.

In the following sections, I’ll quickly present some of the key game studios whose games you need to keep an eye out for at Light and Wonder casinos.

Barcrest Games

I think it’s fitting to start things off with Barcrest - a true veteran in the game. Despite its long history, Barcrests slots remain popular to this day.

I’d say that Barcrest is best known for its Big Bet (also called High Roller) mechanic that lets you make bigger bets for a chance at bigger winnings.

Generally speaking, Barcrest games feature classic graphics and a below-average RTP (95%).

Furthermore, the Rainbow Riches slot is Barcrest’s most popular game, and you have to try it out. It’s a classic Irish-themed game that inspired countless sequels, such as:

• Home Sweet Home.
• Pick & Mix.
• Megaways.
• Fortune Favours.
• Rainbow Reveal.
• Cash Cluster.
• Reels of Gold.

NYX Gaming Group Games

The NYX Gaming games portfolio encompasses slots, table games, and lottery-style games.

However, its slot games have gained the most recognition. They are known for their uniqueness, quality graphics, and inventive bonus features.

One of their innovations is the SuperBet feature, allowing you to increase your potential payouts by adding an extra bet to the stake. 

You can experience this feature firsthand in the popular Merlin’s Millions slot. If you activate SuperBet, your RTP increases from 95.08% to 95.63%.

Beyond Merlin's Millions, some other famous NYX Gaming slots you can now find in the Light & Wonder portfolio are:

• 300 Shields.
• Medusa II.
• Foxin’ Wins.
• Green Lantern.
• Batman.

WMS Games

WMS has more eggs in its basket than most studios that joined L&W’s umbrella. It created all types of casino games, from video slots to table games and scratch cards.

Still, the most popular WMS Gaming games are slots, including Zeus, Monopoly, and Reel’Em In.

I’d also like to add that WMS’s titles feature signature mechanics, like:

• Colossal Reels: a mechanic that features two sets of reels, one of standard size and the other colossal, offering you more paylines and increased chances of winning.
• Reel Boost: a mechanic that makes it easier to get winning combinations by introducing additional symbols and paylines to the reels.
• Transmissive Reels: a technology that combines video animations with mechanical reel spins, creating an immersive visual experience for players.

Bally’s Technologies Games

Bally is best known for its slot machines, but it has also launched over 100 video slots, with famous titles like Blazing 7s and Quick Hit.

I consider Bally the king of branded slots, by far. It has released many slots based on various media series, characters, and more.

Here are some noteworthy licensed Bally games that you can now find in L&W’s games portfolio:

• Michael Jackson: King of Pop.
• Wonder Woman Gold.
• Anchorman.

Lightning Box Games

Lightning Box is all about slots, with a couple of keno titles released now and then.

Lightning Box games usually feature unusual reel layouts and have a modern vibe that you can best notice in titles like Chicken Fox, Lightning Horseman, and Astrocat.

Speaking of, Chicken Fox is a playful slot that lets you embody a wild rascal fox that tries to catch farm animals. It has a lovely farmyard theme and a chicken-catching feature that can multiply each symbol up to 33x.

What Sets L&W Games Apart From the Rest?

I think that Light and Wonder’s best feature is simply being the hub for famous game studios that launched fan-favorite games.

The one thing I feel is truly unique to L&W is its Mighty Ways game mechanic (I’ll tell you about it in a few lines).

Otherwise, I don’t think Light and Wonder games have a distinctive look or feel.

Its games portfolio is a mixed bag since it encompasses games from various game studios, each with its own take on what makes a casino game enjoyable to players.

Things may change once it releases more games by itself.

Light and Wonder’s Mighty Ways Feature

L&W introduced the Mighty Ways feature in June 2022 with the launch of the Cluedo Mighty Ways slot.

It’s L&W’s take on the Any Ways genre and is quite similar to Megaways - but with some mighty twists:

• Each game features between 4,096 and 262,144 total paylines.
• You can play on a 6 reels format (like Megaways) but also on 3x3 or 3x5.
• It does not feature additional horizontal reels above and below the main reels for extra symbols and features.

Exclusive Features From Partners & Subsidiaries

The company’s portfolio is an all-in-one package, thanks to the sheer amount of partnerships and acquisitions that it has made.

These provided L&W with the rights to exclusive special features and mechanics, such as WMS's Reel Boost and Barcrest's Big Bet.

As a result, new Scientific Games Light and Wonder games will include such exclusive features and mechanics.

Award-Winning Casino Games

Light and Wonder games were nominated and came in first for various award categories at reputable ceremonies. Out of the top of my deck, here are some examples:

Are Its Games Fair?

Unfortunately, Light & Wonder is tight-lipped regarding its gambling licenses. You won't find license info on their official website.

We can only confirm that they've got the green light from the UKGC.

Moreover, we scoured the web but couldn't find any solid information on whether testing labs confirmed that Light & Wonder games are truly random and fair for players.

What’s Light & Wonder Gaming Cooking for the Future?

LNW is actively working on:

• Expanding its portfolio;
• Reaching new player markets.
• Establishing partnerships with reputable companies;
• Obtaining licensing rights to iconic pop media products. 

The most impactful things are likely the collaborations with big companies like Netflix and Warner Bros. 

Moreover, the company plans to expand into new markets so you can play its games anywhere in the world, as proved by its 2023 expansion into the South African market.

And let’s not forget that it’ll likely add its proprietary Mighty Ways feature to other legacy Scientific Games slots in the future. 300 Mighty Ways and Raging Rhino Mighty Ways were only the beginning.

LNW & Warner Bros. Discovery Collaboration

In 2023, L&W obtained the rights to use Warner Bros.’s extensive portfolio of well-known movies and characters to create branded online gaming experiences. 

They've kicked things off by introducing digital versions of "Willy Wonka: World of Wonka" and "The Wizard of Oz: Road to Emerald City., both of which have been successful in land-based casinos.

Scientific Games & Warner Bros

Scientific Games has also signed a licensing agreement with Warner Bros for the rights to HBO’s Game of Thrones.

It allows them to create lottery games, including instant scratch games, based on the series.

LNW & Netflix Collaboration

Light and Wonder teamed up with Netflix to bring the Squid Game series into the gambling scene. They're starting by creating a slot machine version first, but a digital one is sure to follow.

Are Light and Wonder Games Worth Playing? 

Absolutely! Light & Wonder (once known as Scientific Games) boasts a vast array of games, thanks to acquiring big industry game studios.

You get all the games from Barcrest, Bally’s, WMS, NYX, and several other creative studios under one roof - the Light & Wonder brand.

Not to mention L&W’s original award-winning games released following the rebranding, featuring the company’s exclusive Mighty Ways mechanic!

So, whether you're into slot machines, video slots, table games, or anything else, there's plenty to explore.

Curious? Go ahead and try some Light & Wonder games for free right here. See for yourself why everyone's talking about them!