In October 2023, slot developer IGT revealed a partnership with Primary Wave Music, the estate holder of the late R&B superstar Whitney Houston, to release a casino slot machine that will feature the iconic singer and her music.
As reported by CDC Gaming, the slot was first revealed at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas in October, where it was hosted on a Skyrise 55 cabinet. Later that year, our reporters also wrote about the 11-foot, high-definition cabinet at the Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow & Conference in Anaheim, California.
In February 2025, IGT announced the addition of the Whitney Huston slot to its PlayDigital portfolio, gradually launching the game online in eight European igaming markets, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Romania.
With the company’s plans to soon introduce the slot to online markets in states and provinces where igaming is legal in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, we decided to give it a closer look, this time from both land-based and online perspectives.
Ziv Chen, a senior industry journalist and regular contributor to CDC Gaming, has over two decades of experience working for casino game-development companies. So, we decided to leverage his igaming expertise and have him test the Whitney Huston slot machine both on a real-life casino floor and online. Ziv travelled to Las Vegas to play the Whitney Houston slot on the casino floor and also played online from Europe to compare the experiences. Here’s his story.
How I review slot machines
Disclaimer: Perhaps because I was a teen in the ’80s, I’m a huge Whitney Houston fan. Like her tragic life story, struggles, and early death, Huston’s voice, talent, and charisma left a lasting impression on me and will always be part of my growing up. So similar to other slots I’ve reviewed previously for CDC Gaming, involving subjects I’m passionate about, I assure you that I’ll look past the game’s theme to ensure it is also backed up by solid features, mechanics and gameplay.
Whitney Huston – My Las Vegas experience
When I landed in Las Vegas, I checked into my hotel on the Strip and immediately went downstairs to the casino to look for the Whitney Houston slot. I expected a long sailing across the casino floor until I found it in the sea of cabinets, but to my surprise, I spotted it in a few minutes.
A world-class experience
The Whitney Houston slot is one of those games that dominate a casino floor. Aimed first at the brick-and-mortar casino market, the game premiered in June 2024 at the Yaamava Resort & Casino at San Manuel in California, which is operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. IGT uses its outstanding SkyRise cabinet for this game, a machine that features dual 55” 4k edge-optimized, curved LCD screens. It rises to 11 feet, towering above other slots and beaming videos of Whitney belting out her songs, attracting attention from all corners of the slots arena.
Many casinos are putting Whitney Houston in prominent positions because the game has excellent word of mouth. I often saw people lining up to play the game, and when I was spinning the reels, there was a small gathering of people watching me. With a full light show, video footage, and of course the hits bouncing from the speakers, the Whitney Houston slot is a land-based spectacle that feels half concert experience, half game. When I played, I enjoyed people gathering around me.
Consistent, volatile gameplay
In terms of features, symbols, payout mechanics, and structure, the land-based slot is exactly the same as the online Whitney Houston slot. One slight thing I found is that maybe the volatility swings towards high in a land-based setting, while the online version feels medium volatility. It is worth considering that and managing your bankroll accordingly, depending on which variant you play.
Bonuses, wins, losses, and atmosphere
While I did not trigger a massive jackpot payout on the Whitney Houston slot, I did have a steady session. A classic spell of decent wins and losses that left my bankroll around where I started, just slightly down. Although I did see other people hit several-thousand-dollar payouts and it was party time thanks to the blaring music and light show from the IGT SkyRise 55 cabinet. I did manage to join in on a few celebratory drinks with other winners who played on the other side of my cabinet, and were luckier than me.
Maybe better luck next time
Let’s be clear, Whitney Houston is a slot that can definitely deliver life-changing progressive jackpot wins. In April 2025, a player at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas triggered a $1.5 million payout, while in June someone won $1.2 million from the game at Table Mountain Casino in California.
Whitney Houston Slot Online Version
Game Specifications
- Provider: IGT PlayDigital
- Release date: February 2025
- 5 reels, 3 rows, 243 ways to win
- RTP: 96.32 %
- Volatility: medium/high
- Max win: 2,250× stake
- Min/Max Bet: 0.2 to 100
Visual and Audio Design
Whitney Houston was a diva, so it is fitting that IGT has crafted a glitzy and glamorous game. I think the slot is an excellent homage to the singer, while also serving as a mini greatest hits for fans. As on the land-based version, the online slot also features a bunch of Whitney’s best songs, including “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “So Emotional,” and “How Will I Know.” It opens in spectacular fashion with “I’m Every Woman” blasting through the speakers.
There is an option to play without music, but what’s the point? This is about embracing the songs to set an immersive atmosphere. I enjoyed the music a lot more on my computer and when playing on my phone, without the competing noise of the casino floor and other slots and people in the background.
In terms of overall game design, spotlights and gold trims set an opulent look on a blue background, while videos play clips of Whitney at concerts throughout her career. There are also loads of images, mostly serving as high-value and bonus symbols. It would be nice to see actual photos of Whitney as the symbols, but I still like the rendered versions we get on the reels.
Symbols and Paytable
IGT has chosen standard 10, J, Q, K, and A icons as the low-value symbols. These look nice, with an elegant design that fits the vibe, but I would still prefer theme-specific symbols. We do get those Whitney symbols for high-value payouts and bonuses, including classic looks the singer had throughout her career.
Fans of Whitney Houston will recognise symbols featuring her late 80s hairstyle, her look from the movie The Bodyguard, the music video for “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” and more. This slot is loaded with features, so there are lots of modifiers and bonus symbols, including a larger Whitney icon acting as the wild symbol to help form winning combinations by replacing non-bonus symbols.
There is also a game logo symbol that lands randomly and converts to a wild symbol. Silver record symbols trigger the Respins feature, leading to the progressive jackpot bonus mini game. An awards trophy symbol unlocks the Wheel Bonus. Wins are formed on the Whitney Houston slot by landing 3, 4, or 5 matching symbols.
Bonus Features
- Wheel Bonus: Landing 3 or more Trophy scatter symbols triggers the Wheel Bonus, where you play for one of the 5 progressive jackpots (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand, or Platinum). If one of the jackpots does not hit, you will open the free spins bonus.
- Lock & Respins: The Respins bonus on Whitney Houston can open during base game and free spins, when you get 6 or more silver record symbols. The feature opens the first active playing area with 3 Respins. If a Mini, Minor, or Major Jackpot vinyl symbol drops in the active area, you get the jackpot. The round continues until you run out of Respins or fill the grid with 15 records to win the Grand jackpot.
- Free Spins with Multiplier Wilds: You access the free spins from the Bonus Wheel jackpot, which gives 10, 15, or 20 free spins if you land the Free Spins symbol on the wheel. You can re-trigger the freebies to get 5 additional spins up to a total of 60 spins overall. During your free spins, Multiplier Wild Symbols on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 can boost wins even more.
Performance & Player Experience
There’s no doubt that this slot game appeals to Whitney Houston fans in a big way, but I also found that it caters to proper slot fans too. This is a serious slot with features aplenty and big win potential. It is loaded with popular modifiers such as free spins, re-spins, multipliers, wilds, and jackpots. This makes gameplay dynamic and exciting, including the following features.
IGT PlayDigital has done a fantastic job in porting the land-based cabinet to the online space, retaining the thrilling gameplay and immersive sensory experience. Many players will be drawn in by the Whitney hits and the singer’s unmistakable presence, but others will simply choose this slot because it is an excellent game.
Comparing Whitney Houston Online to the Land-Based Machine
| Feature | Online | Land-based |
| Visuals & Sound | Smooth performance and ability to control the audio | Huge cabinet with video screens and blasting speakers |
| Bonus Features | Identical mechanics | Identical but delivers more immersion |
| Atmosphere | Feels more intimate | Like a concert live setting |
| Play Style | Fast sessions with big win potential | Allow wins to ride longer |
Interestingly, the Whitney Houston slot offers a very similar gameplay experience whether you play online or at a brick-and-mortar casino. However, the overall experience does change because of the dynamics. Online, the slot feels more intimate, almost like a private Whitney concert with a game on top. On the casino floor, the IGT cabinet creates a true spectacle, a sound and visual extravaganza. As I said, the volatility feels different on the land-based game, but it is not officially rated differently, so it is probably just how the gameplay feels in a live setting.
My tips for playing the Whitney Houston slot
Use the following tips to make the most of the Whitney Houston slot online and at the casino:
In real life
- Playing the SkyRise cabinet is all about the show, so embrace the showbiz and expect an audience.
- While you can turn the music off on the online game, the land-based slot is all about the music, with loud tracks blasting from the speakers.
- When playing in a land-based casino, let your wins ride a bit. The Whitney Houston slot can deliver big payouts if you are patient.
- Just like online, beware of the volatility, which can switch from medium to high. Bet responsibly and make sure your bankroll lasts a session.
Online
- This game can be highlight volatile, so always pace yourself with smart betting decisions. The key to larger wins is the bonus features.
- You can play Whitney Houston online for free at top European casinos and soon in the US/Canada. This allows you to become familiar with the mechanics before you use real money.
- Always gamble responsibly and consider using the loss limit setting that is included in the game, allowing loss limits from 1x to 100x your bet.
- If you are playing longer sessions, consider using the Autoplay feature for a more seamless experience.
Conclusion
I have been extremely impressed by the Whitney Houston slot. This game delivers plenty of visual style alongside its outstanding soundtrack of classic Whitney songs. If you’re in Vegas, this is an unmissable slot thanks to the stunning SkyRise cabinet, which delivers a visual and audio treat. Online, Whitney Houston is one of the most complete slots with loads of features and even a progressive jackpot. While beginners may be overwhelmed, players already into video slots will love this game.
