A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Nevada alleges that IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot machines are systematically designed to deceive players by rigging the bonus wheel feature to prevent them from winning larger monetary prizes.
The lawsuit, filed on 21 November by four plaintiffs from different states, targets IGT and several major casino operators, including MGM Resorts International, Bally’s Corporation, and Penn Entertainment.
According to the complaint, the Wheel of Fortune electronic gaming devices appear to offer players a fair chance of winning by featuring a bonus wheel with equally sized segments representing different monetary amounts.
However, the plaintiffs allege that the wheel is actually controlled by an internal computer programmed to stop much more frequently on lower-value segments.
The complaint said: “By way of analogy, the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ game at issue in this case is the modern-day equivalent of a roulette wheel with a magnet surreptitiously affixed beneath the green zero and double-zero segments.”
The complaint highlights IGT’s strategic use of the popular game show’s branding to create a false perception of fairness.
It added the company has licensed the voices of Wheel of Fortune hosts Vanna White and Pat Sajak, and uses sound effects from the television show to reinforce the game’s seemingly random nature.
IGT Wheel of Fortune devices date to 1997
IGT has been manufacturing Wheel of Fortune-themed gaming devices since 1997 and renewed its licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television in 2023.
The devices have become very popular, with the company describing them as “one of the most successful slot themes of all time.”
The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages and an injunction that would require the defendants to clearly disclose the true odds of the Bonus Wheel Feature.
They argue that the casinos have used these devices to “illegally siphon billions of dollars from consumers’ pockets into their own coffers.”
The lawsuit is brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and state common law, alleging fraud and deceptive practices.
The plaintiffs claim that the gaming devices are designed to induce players to continue playing by creating a false sense of potential big winnings.
The case, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, seeks class-action status and a jury trial.
An IGT spokesperson told NEXT.io the business did not comment on pending litigation.