July’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow was the first big event to get the industry back together on a face-to-face basis and it was a warmup to the most important event on the industry’s calendar.

Great anticipation surrounds G2E 2021, when the entire industry converges on the renamed Venetian Convention and Expo Center for the first time in two years for education, networking, and the most important exhibit of new products in the business.

Slot machines have always been at the center of the G2E buzz, and this year is no different. It’s no secret that all the slot manufacturers kept R&D rolling at full speed during last year’s industry shutdowns, and this year, most are still launching a backlog of content. But all that R&D has led to what will surely be one of the best “new model years” the slot sector has ever seen.

Each slot manufacturer—they are presented in alphabetical order—adds its own flair and style to these game mechanics. Each slot-maker also continues to change the landscape of casinos through new hardware, from IGT’s Peak65 to Scientific Games’ Mural to the Orion Curve Premium from AGS to the Big Mech from Bluberi. And yes, there are more, but you can find them all by flipping through the following pages.

Slot technology, meanwhile, continues to advance. Ultra-high-definition video monitors—some in breathtakingly large displays—have become as standard as the on-board wireless cellphone chargers and LED button decks. Cashless and cardless play technology is one of the fastest-growing trends, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also has led manufacturers to create new pod configurations for their games that naturally promote social distancing.

But in the end, it’s the game content residing on all this technology that impresses the most. Competition among the suppliers has led each to add what is some of the best veteran talent in game design and product management. And the content they are all producing has never been better.