Barcrest: the betting-shop legend now inside a giant
Barcrest is a name older than most of the studios in the lobby. It built the fruit machines that defined a generation of betting shops, then carried that heritage online with Rainbow Riches. Today it lives inside a much larger company, and that is the key to understanding its games.
From pub floors to online lobbies
Barcrest was founded in 1968 in Manchester and spent decades making land-based fruit machines. By the late 1990s it was shifting tens of thousands of cabinets, and in 1998 International Game Technology bought it. Under that ownership it moved online and launched the Rainbow Riches series, which became one of the most recognisable slot brands going. That land-based pedigree still shows in the design: simple reels, clear features, and a feel built for players who learned slots on a physical machine. It is the opposite of the streamer-bait approach you see from newer studios in our provider reviews.
The ownership trail and the Big Bet feature
The ownership story matters. In 2011 Barcrest was sold to Scientific Games, which rebranded as Light and Wonder in 2022. Since then Barcrest has more or less stopped existing as a standalone company, with its games and operations folded into the larger range. Its signature contribution was the Big Bet system, where you pay a higher stake across a block of linked spins for boosted features, an idea later echoed across the industry. The Rainbow Riches line keeps running, now flying under the Light and Wonder banner rather than its own.
What to check before you play
Because Barcrest games now sit inside Light and Wonder, the practical checks are the same as for any major supplier. Confirm the RTP in the game info screen, since titles ship in more than one version, the way our RTP guide recommends. Volatility varies across the catalogue, and the Big Bet feature is a high-cost option that needs a budget, so read our volatility guide first. And the studio's standing is separate from the casino's, so vet the operator with how to choose a casino.
The verdict
Strengths: a genuine heritage brand, one of the most famous slot series in Rainbow Riches, and the simple, readable design that comes from a land-based background. Weaknesses: it no longer exists as an independent studio, the catalogue is largely legacy, and the Big Bet feature can be an expensive trap if you do not set a limit. Barcrest is nostalgia done well, best understood as a Light and Wonder sub-brand now. Play its games at a licensed casino from our casino reviews. 18+, gamble responsibly.
Barcrest FAQ
Who owns Barcrest now?
Light and Wonder, formerly Scientific Games, which bought Barcrest in 2011. Barcrest no longer operates as a standalone studio; its games and the Rainbow Riches series are now part of the Light and Wonder range.
What is Barcrest best known for?
The Rainbow Riches series, first released online after IGT acquired the company, plus its land-based fruit-machine heritage from the 1970s onward. It also popularised the Big Bet feature, a higher-stake block of spins with boosted features.
What is the Big Bet feature?
It lets you pay a larger combined stake across a set block of linked spins in exchange for enhanced features and higher win potential. It can pay off, but it is expensive, so only use it within a budget you set in advance. 18+.