6 Retired Slots That Need to Make a Comeback – Star Wars and More

I remember when my favorite slot got the boot. It was called The Italian Job.

This was a super popular game, having been based on the classic original movie of the same name. It was also a hit, given its advanced features/design at the time it was released.

There is also a chance you might encounter it among other discontinued slots in old casinos or rundown theme parks across the UK, such as Barry Island or Blackpool. I refer to these as places where retired slots are sent to die.

Today, I’m looking at popular slots that ended up on the scrap heap. So, buckle up, and I’ll get us going.

2017 was a bad year for slots players who identified as nerds.

When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they already had a well-known anti-gambling stance. However, they touched a few nerves when they decided to pull one of the most popular games from the casino floor.

It wasn’t bad enough that the diehard Star Wars fans felt betrayed by Lucas. His apparent “selling out” to the corporation would mean the franchise was at risk of being torn apart. But how dare Disney remove this one?!

The Original Trilogy 'Star Wars' Slot Machines Discontinued in Vegas – https://t.co/SDQYdgyZ0s #StarWars #SlotMachines #LasVegas pic.twitter.com/9hjEpm81nI

— Jedi News (@JediNewsNetwork) April 30, 2018

You’ll struggle to find playable, retired slot machines based on Star Wars anywhere. Or similar games centered on the legendary series’ characters at the best online casinos.

Now, you can lament on retired slots like Star Wars all day or you can look for viable alternatives at Bovada. I’d recommend trying out Galaxy Stars, which is very fun!

I remember walking into a casino in Britain in 2008 and finding this one.

In all honesty, I thought it was hilarious. There was a huge cabinet with multiple player stations. It was as loud and obnoxious as anything I had ever seen before.

Fast forward to 2023, and Elvis is up there with the best-retired slots that need to come back. But given the heated legal battle between IGT and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.—the corporation which oversees Presley’s estate and intellectual property violations—I wouldn’t count on it.

Nostalgia plays a part in us convincing ourselves of such things. Then again, I still recall this one with fondness.

So, Elvis slot, allow me to apologize. Maybe I didn’t treat you quite as well as I should have. Maybe I didn’t play you quite as often as I could have. I hope that doesn’t warrant a lawsuit.

While I prepare my legal team, why not play slots for real money that are based on other famous bands and entertainers?

Or, maybe I could perhaps interest you in the best music slots?

Brian De Palma’s Scarface is a classic film. It’s one of the most quotable movies in history.

Unfortunately, it’s also known for its association with popular, discontinued slot machines. I don’t understand why it was pulled, given how popular it was in the slots community. But it is.

I thought this was a masterpiece when it came out in 2012. NetEnt was pushing envelopes harder than an angry postman at the time, and the Scarface slot took things to another level altogether.

As you can see from the promotional video from the software creator, it had all the factors necessary to make it a success.

The cinematic shots, soundtrack, and shootout bonus features were among the greatest of any slot ever made.

In a good world, Scarface would have no business gathering dust alongside other famous retired slots. But as with the epic gun battle that took the life of Tony Montana, all things must come to an end.

Al Pacino played the part of one of the most iconic gangsters of all time. But did you know that the original Scarface, produced by Hawks and Hughes, served as its inspiration?

It also inspired a slot named Mafia Family that you can play at Wild Casino. Give it a shot!

It hurts to see retired online slots like Wolverine make the list.

I’m not sure if you had a chance to play it. But if you didn’t, you missed out. Playtech smashed it with the design, adding some of the most innovative bonus features that I had encountered when it hit casinos back in 2013.

I vividly remember playing this one around Christmas time in Ireland. You know, that period after the big day when you’re stuffed with food and everything is on go slow? Let me tell you, I was more than happy to spin the reels on this one.

Like Star Wars, the rights to the Wolverine character are owned by Disney. And as we also know, the aforementioned corporation doesn’t like gambling. And a lot of games suffered, such as the ones you see below.

Disney’s decision to discontinue Marvel slots was in-line with its “family-friendly” ethos.

But surely anyone over a certain age should be capable of making adult decisions. I guess the problem these days is companies such as Disney turning adults into children with some of the muck it churns out.

I’ve just checked the calendar, and apparently, today is not a ranting day.

So, almost all Marvel slots are now retired slots. But there are more than enough alternatives out there!

You can accuse me of being a little self-indulgent here.

But there’s no way I am writing a piece about the best slots that no longer exist without mentioning The Italian Job. Not only was it the game that got me into slots, but I made so much money playing it that I seriously rate it as one of the best.

This was more of a fruit machine than a Las Vegas slot. Therefore, you would have struggled to see it planted around major casinos on the Strip. I encountered it first while working in a bar to supplement my income while in college.

I would watch the locals pumping coins into it from behind the taps. As soon as my shift was finished, I’d have a blast myself.

The first time I played The Italian Job, I hit the jackpot. Much to the annoyance of the pub landlord and his friend, who had lost a fair amount of cash chasing the same thing.

Here’s the crazy part: the coin I put in was one I had found on the floor.

Needless to say, you will find fans of The Italian Job slot out there.

The premise of this classic movie was about an ambitious heist. It inspired other slots, too, such as Cash Bandits. You can find that game at El Royale Casino.

If there was a king of slot machines that were shut down, it’s the infamous Lion’s Share.

This slot was created for MGM grand, with one residing at the Las Vegas casino for almost twenty years. From 1993 to 2004, the progressive jackpot had never dropped. This had the crazy effect of attracting players rather than pushing them away.

Queues of casino goers would try the game whenever they got the opportunity. But no one could hit the jackpot. That was until a New Hampshire couple claimed $2.4 million while playing it on a particularly fortunate Friday night in 2014.

This machine was one of a kind. It was hilarious, if I am being totally honest.

As far as retired slot machines go, this one had to be lifted away after it paid out. It was an anachronism among newer games; more importantly, it served its ultimate purpose. But let’s bring it back for a laugh!

I’d advise looking into the story behind the slot that now lives with the couple that dropped it. That is unless you want an alternative to this kind of game.

Why not play hot drop Jackpots? Unlike Lion’s Share, they must pay out! And you won’t be waiting 20 years, either! There are several to choose from, but I suggest starting with Golden Buffalo.

Footnotes: