So why would IGT be considering a possible sale of the divisions? IGT created some 300 versions of the game, which has paid out more than $3.5 billion in jackpots since 1996, according to a company statement. The launch of the Wheel of Fortune slot machine changed the trajectory of then-Nevada-centric IGT when the company launched the game - just as casino legalization began rolling across the U.S.
The announcement came three days after IGT said it reached a new 10-year licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television for the exclusive rights to use the Wheel of Fortune brand across the company’s casino, lottery and social gaming products through the end of 2034. In a statement, company executives said the range of options included a sale, merger or spinoff of the divisions, as well as further investment. The Italy-based company, which maintains a small corporate office presence in Las Vegas and a manufacturing facility in Reno, said last week it was “evaluating strategic alternatives” for its global gaming and digital operations business segments. Gaming equipment giant International Game Technology may be taking a page out of the playbook of rival Light & Wonder.
