AGS slots may not be as well-known as IGT or NetEnt, but they have a long history. American Gaming Systems has been producing games for more than 20 years. For many years, its focus was on class III games for tribal casinos in the US. AGS has since expanded into class II slots, and its reach is now international.
Even fans of live casino slots who are not yet familiar with the company will recognize some of its games. These include Rakin’ Bacon and River Dragons. Graphics on AGS slots have always been razor sharp. Now able to benefit from curved HD screens and 3D rendering, newer games are beautifully produced.
Other innovations include wins from both directions and random wild symbol features. AGS slots have jackpots, picks games and colourful themes. Each new title sees AGS compete with the legacy slot providers more effectively — both in live casinos and online.
This page covers AGS slots for Canadian players in depth. You will find what sets the games apart, how to choose the best titles and how to benefit from rewards while you play.
Play AGS slots online in Canada
Slots from AGS are finding their way onto real money Canadian casinos. Online casinos are able to license and curate their list of games from multiple providers. The most popular games from AGS, like River Dragons and Rakin’ Bacon, are obvious candidates for online play. While the sharp graphics and distinct animations will only be as good as your screen size and resolution, it is likely only a matter of time before you can play a full list of AGS slots at online casinos.
What makes AGS slots different?
These days you are just as likely to find AGS slots machines in commercial casinos as you are in First Nations venues like Casino Rama. This was not always the case. American Gaming Systems started as a niche provider. While its slots looked and played the same way as any other, they were based on bingo-style games behind the scenes.
Tall, narrow screens will catch your eye with bright, deep colouring and innovative graphics on the casino floor. Recent titles take the graphics and design skills of AGS to a new level. Games such as Royal Phoenix have curved screens combined with Ultra HD resolutions. Once you see the creative flair of AGS slots games, you will start to recognize their style and subtle differences in the animations compared to other slots.
Of course, sharp graphics are not enough to make a game successful. There are plenty of features like wild reels, jackpot picks games and bonus spins that will keep you engaged while you play. Nonstandard reel setups, with taller middle reels, are a common feature. Look for games that pay from both the right and the left — a popular option that appears in AGS’s many “Dragons” themed slots.
Top slots from AGS
Many AGS slots have an Asian–inspired theme. Several titles with the word “Dragon” in the name use similar gameplay — with different details, animations and jackpots. Noteworthy examples include Forest Dragons and River Dragons. These games use a nonstandard reel setup, which can enjoy a “reel surge” at any point. This expands the reels significantly. They already use an all-ways winning setup, which means expanding them increases the number of winning combinations.
Spin bonuses in these Asian-inspired games are based on how many win lines the bonus symbols cover. This gives players a shot at up to 128 bonus spins each time — significantly more than the 15 to 20 max for many Scientific Games slots.
A big hit game that appears in larger casinos around Canada is Rakin’ Bacon. This is another Asian-themed slot. Instead of a dragon, a wealth-bringing golden pig is a key symbol. Whenever you hit a wild, the pile of treasure above the reels grows larger. This randomly triggers a picks jackpot bonus, which can provide significant prizes. This idea appears in Asian-themed slots from IGT, using a pot of coins above the reels.
When you hit the bonus spins on Rakin’ Bacon, you get to choose the size of the reels. As you opt for bigger reel grids, the number of bonus spin declines. Fans of Dancing Drums slots from Scientific Games will recognize this setup. With bright gold graphics and a distinctive-looking happy pig symbol, this slot is hard to miss on the casino floor.
Xtreme Jackpots slots range from AGS
AGS links together its titles to provide bigger progressives. There are smaller progressives on individual cabinets. The Xtreme Jackpots range of titles offers a randomly triggered jackpot picks game. You can win the biggest prize on any linked machine. Games in this range include Fu Panda, Longhorn Jackpots, Fire Bull, Gold Dragon/Red Dragon and Wolf Queen.
While the jackpot prizes and picks game link these (and other) AGS slots, each has its own combination of features, theme and on-reel bonuses. For example, Fu Panda gives you the chance to win up to 600 bonus spins, while Wolf Queen has a choice of reel sizes, giving you up to 3,125 winning combinations.
The Kingdom Cash slots range from AGS
Kingdom Cash is a picks bonus system. It has five levels, each one giving you a chance to pick bonus spins, bonus credits, multipliers and jackpots. As with the XtremeJackpots games, there are different themed slots that use this system.
Each AGS Kingdom Cash slot has a one-word identification. For example, Kingdom Cash Wolf, Kingdom Cash Fire and Kingdom Cash Earth. Setups are similar, though each game has its own take on the bonus spins and base game prizes. For example, the Earth version uses all-ways wins (243 winning combinations) and has linked progressive jackpots alongside fixed-level minor jackpots. The graphics and effects for all the games in this range are excellent — taking a “standard” base slot and applying the sharp AGS production to it.
Accessing AGS slots online via desktop and apps
You can play AGS slots on mobile devices or on your desktop computer via your browser window. While some casino brands have apps for iPhones and Android smartphones, AGS slots are not yet available in this format.
Instead, the graphics and control buttons will automatically adapt to your screen size. These slots work well on phone-sized screens. To get the best from the graphics and animations, though, you may want to play them on your desktop instead.
Popular AGS casino games
AGS provides a range of electronic table games to casinos internationally. This includes the popular card game blackjack, casino poker variants, baccarat games and games with progressive payouts. AGS also provides the signs to display winning roulette numbers, and the latest progressive jackpots for physical table games.
The AGS range also includes electronic bingo games, many with colourful themes. Examples include Bingolette, which combines bingo and roulette, or the medieval-themed Bingolandia.
AGS casino bonuses and comps
Whether you choose slots from AGS, Aristocrat, Bally or any other provider, there is never any reason to play online slots without a casino bonus. Welcome offers go a lot further than just reducing the house’s take. You can get bonus spins (some deals don’t even require a deposit; others do), or rebates on your first day of play. This gives you a genuine shot to start a casino bankroll with no money down.
The most popular format for online casino bonuses for slot fans is a matched deposit deal. The casinos give you bonus credits matching the amount you deposit. You will then need to play through your bonus credits a set number of times. This varies from casino to casino — meaning it is worth checking the small print before you take any AGS slot for a spin.
Welcome bonuses are important to get off to a positive start. If you find an online casino that you enjoy, it is the ongoing offers and rewards that make the biggest difference to your bankroll over the long term. Loyalty rewards or cashback programs are the cornerstones of ongoing offers. Some casinos have tiered systems, which offer bigger returns as you move up in levels.
You may also receive reload bonuses, one-off promotions, bonus spins on slots, bonus chips to check out the casino app and deals that offer double (or higher) loyalty points.
Live casino comps for AGS slots
Slots in Canadian casinos always include a place to enter your loyalty card. This will track your betting level and how many times you spin. Your “coin in” earns you points, regardless of whether you win.
You can sign up for cards such as Encore Rewards at Parx Vancouver, Caesars Rewards at the Windsor Ontario casino or the Casino Privileges at Casino de Montreal. Head to the service desk of your local casino to find out more about the program. Some cards work throughout a province and allow you to earn points in one casino and cash them out for bonus play in another.
Rewards are not limited to bonus play based on points. Many loyalty programs get you access to promotions, come with $10 in bonus-play simply for registering, or get you discounts at resorts. Some programs have tiers, with VIP levels for big spenders getting you exclusive invitations to events, valet parking or a dedicated host.
American Gaming Systems overview
AGS is based in the US, with headquarters in Nevada. While it has been around since the 1990s, it is only now becoming well known to casino-goers in Canada. For many years, it served US First Nation casinos. AGS developed “Class III” games, which complied with the rules for tribal casinos. A large number of bingo games show that this focus is still prevalent.
AGS became a public company in 2018, via an IPO. It has since acquired Gameion Technologies and Integrity Gaming. Its flagship titles are available internationally with the move to online gaming.
More recently, AGS has won industry awards in the US for the quality of its working environment. While there is some catching up to do to reach the brand recognition of the big industry players, AGS is becoming better known to players north and south of the border with every new slot release.
Wrapping up: AGS slots – Immersive, innovative games
If you have seen a slot with sharp, distinctive graphics on the casino floor that made you turn for a second look, there is a strong chance that it was an AGS title. This company creates games with odd reel setups, vivid animations and innovative gameplay. Popular games that you can also find in larger Canadian casinos include River Dragons, Rakin’ Bacon and Fu Panda.
AGS gaming slots have bonus spins and progressive jackpot chances. Look for the Xtreme Jackpots range of games. They link the biggest progressives, meaning you can win them on a range of themed slots. More recently, selected AGS slots have become available online. You can also find table games and bingo titles from this company.
Whether you play AGS slots live or online, there is no good reason to spin without bonuses or other rewards. In live casinos, you should get a loyalty card for discounts, promotions and bonus-play rewards. Online casinos offer a wider variety of rewards, with bonus spins, matched welcome bonuses and tiered loyalty programs being the most common.