The famous Barcrest brand that once graced thousands of street market machines across Europe, is still being used on appropriate products under the Scientific Games "umbrella."
SG’s UK division, consisting of SG Gaming and SG Digital, are to mark the 50th anniversary of the Barcrest brand this year. In 1968 Barcrest had just two employees, but today it is a name that remains familiar as many of the products in the SG portfolio still carry it. The original Barcrest company pioneered technology landmarks in its history and today remains as a content brand alongside WMS and Bally.
Phil Horne, CEO of SG Gaming, said: "A 50th anniversary is an impressive milestone for any brand and we're extremely proud that even as a global name, the business still operates in the Manchester area, less than five miles from where it all began. What's more, with over 200 original Barcrest employees within our dedicated workforce from departments across the business including content, finance, warehouse and systems, the Barcrest values are also still very much at the heart of the business.
"The team's hard work, values and passion are the reasons that Barcrest is still a leading content innovator and well-loved brand after all these years. Many of our operators and their players will have fond memories of the games released over the years and we are proud that the Barcrest brand continues to be integral to SG Gaming UK and the wider Scientific Games group. We look forward to marking this achievement and hope for another 50 years of success to follow."
He noted that in the mid-1990s Barcrest was at the height of its popularity, supplying machines to arcades, pubs and bingo clubs in the UK and widely into European markets. In one year it hit a 40,000 output. Since 1970 when the company launched its famous Invader machine the company has produced a succession of winning content including the Rainbow Riches series launched in 2006 and it was one of the pioneers of community gaming in 2009 with Rainbow Riches Party.
