Silicon Gaming

Silicon Gaming Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryGaming
Founded1993
FoundersRobert M. Fell, Dave Morse, Allan Alcorn[1][2]
FateMerged with International Game Technology
Productsslot machines, Gaming technology
Parent

Silicon Gaming Inc. was an American gaming company founded in 1993 by a group of multimedia entertainment executives and technology specialists such as Robert M. Fell and Allan Alcorn with funding from angel investor Dave Morse.[3][4][5][6][7][1] Silicon Gaming Inc. focused on applying various video gaming and computer technology to wagering products such as slot machines.[8][7]

Silicon Gaming Inc. was the first video gaming company to create a video-based slot machine game.[9] It supplied video-based slot machines to various hotels in the United States such as Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, MGM Grand Las Vegas, and Palace Station among many others.[7]

History

Silicon Gaming Inc. was founded in 1993 with the initial idea of applying multimedia and computer technology to slot machines to increase periods of play and win per machine for casino operators.[7] Engineers at Silicon Gaming Inc., including Allan Alcorn who served as the Senior VP and Chief Technical Officer, developed significant gaming security and authentication patents frequently dubbed the "Alcorn Patents" during their time at the company.[5][6][10][11][12][13]   

In 1994, Andrew Pascal, the founder and chairman of PlayStudios, was hired as the Director of Slot Operations and Marketing.[7] He was later named as the CEO of the company.[14] In July 1996, Silicon Gaming Inc. went public.[15]

In December 2000, Silicon Gaming Inc. announced a definitive announcement to merge with International Game Technology (IGT).[14] In March 2001, Silicon Gaming Inc. completed its merger with International Game Technology under the same name, International Game Technology (IGT).[16][17] In 2015, IGT was acquired by GTECH S.p.A., which itself was acquired by Lottomatica S.p.A., an Italian gambling company. The resulting company subsequently changed its company name to International Gaming Technology PLC (IGT).

References

  1. ^ a b "Allan Alcorn: Video Games as a Driver of Computing Technology" (PDF). San Jose State University, The Department of Computer Science and The Department of Computer Engineering. 5 October 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  2. ^ "Tales of the Creation of the Video Game Industry". Media X at Stanford University. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  3. ^ "Allan Alcorn, Silicon Gaming, The Design of the Odyssey Slot Machine". Stanford University, Colloquium on Computer Systems. 17 January 1997. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  4. ^ "Why Pong scored so highly for Atari". The Guardian. 17 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  5. ^ a b ""Allan E. Alcorn" Transcript of an interview conducted by Christopher Weaver" (PDF). 26 May 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  6. ^ a b "Oral History of Allan (Al) Alcorn" (PDF). 23 May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Silicon Gaming Inc.: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FORM S-1/A" (PDF). 29 July 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  8. ^ "Bloomberg Profile: Silicon Gaming Inc". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  9. ^ "Las Vegas slot game developer embraces innovation". 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  10. ^ "Electronic casino gaming apparatus with improved play capacity, authentication and security". 29 June 1995. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  11. ^ "Electronic gaming machine". 3 April 1997. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  12. ^ "Method and apparatus using geographical position and universal time determination means to provide authenticated, secure, on-line communication between remote gaming locations". 8 January 1998. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  13. ^ "Electronic casino gaming system with improved play capacity, authentication and security". 10 March 1998. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  14. ^ a b "SILICON GAMING AND INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCE DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING MERGER TRANSACTION". 19 December 2000. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  15. ^ "PitchBook Profiles: Silicon Gaming Overview". Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  16. ^ "SEC Archive: INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCES CONSUMMATION OF MERGER WITH SILICON GAMING". 27 March 2001. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  17. ^ "IGT Investor Relations: International Game Technology Announces Consummation of Merger With Silicon Gaming". 27 March 2001. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.