WMS Williams Slot Machines for Home: Bluebird Buyer's Guide (2026)

When people ask us which slot machine makes the biggest impression in a home game room, the answer is usually a WMS Williams Bluebird. There is something about the dual-screen format, the cinematic bonus rounds, and the theater-quality audio that puts these machines in a category of their own.

WMS Gaming entered the slot machine industry from an unusual direction. Founded in 1943 by Harry Williams as a pinball machine manufacturer, Williams had already spent decades making electromechanical amusement games before it pivoted to casino slot machines in the 1990s. That background in making games people actually enjoy playing — not just games designed to extract money efficiently — shows in the final product.

In 1996, WMS introduced Reel 'em In, their first major slot machine hit. It was a multi-line, multi-coin video slot featuring a second-screen bonus round where players cast a fishing line for bonus prizes. That bonus mechanics concept, completely novel at the time, changed how the industry thought about player engagement. Nearly every video slot machine made since owes something to what WMS pioneered with that game.

We carry WMS Bluebird machines at Used Slot Shop and they consistently attract the most attention on our showroom floor. If you have never played one, the experience is genuinely different from a standard mechanical reel machine.

What Makes WMS Bluebird Machines Different

WMS built the Bluebird platform with a fundamentally different philosophy than IGT and Bally. Where those manufacturers optimized for simplicity and mass production, WMS invested in display technology, audio systems, and game themes that created genuine entertainment moments.

The result is a machine that feels less like a slot machine and more like an arcade game that happens to have spinning reels. Bonus rounds on WMS machines are not just a screen overlay. They are fully animated second-screen experiences where you make choices, interact with characters, and feel like something is actually happening.

For home game rooms, this quality difference is immediately apparent to anyone who plays one. Guests who have never seen a WMS machine will often stop what they are doing when they hear the bonus round music kick in.

The Bluebird Cabinet Lineup

WMS produced several generations of Bluebird cabinets during their peak years. Here is what you will encounter in the secondary market.

Bluebird 1 (BB1)

The original Bluebird cabinet is the most common WMS machine in the home market. It features an 18-inch LCD touchscreen display and a Bose sound system that was genuinely ahead of its time when this cabinet was introduced. The audio on a BB1 machine is noticeably better than most competing platforms from the same era.

The BB1 cabinet is an upright design with a clean, modern profile. It accepts standard 110V household current with no special wiring required. The power cord runs from the back of the cabinet and plugs directly into a standard wall outlet.

Game software is loaded on the machine and does not require any network connection or ongoing service. You plug it in and play.

Bluebird 2 (BB2)

The Bluebird 2 is the premium WMS cabinet and the most visually impressive slot machine available for home installation. It features dual 22-inch widescreen HD displays stacked vertically — a large primary game screen and a second screen above it for bonus content. The NXT2 technology platform inside provides the processing power needed for full HD graphics and complex bonus animations.

The audio system on the BB2 is a next-generation Bose setup that fills a room with sound in a way that smaller machines cannot match. Cinematic game themes like Wizard of Oz and Zeus 3 were specifically designed to take advantage of both screens and the full audio range.

Like the BB1, the BB2 runs on standard 110V household current.

Most Popular WMS Game Titles

WMS produced a large library of game themes, but several titles stand apart in terms of demand and entertainment value for home buyers.

Zeus

Zeus is arguably the most popular WMS game title, period. The original Zeus features cascading reels, wild symbols represented by a temple image, and scatter-triggered free spin bonuses. The mythological theme with epic orchestral audio makes every bonus round feel like an event.

The Zeus series continued through Zeus II and Zeus 3, each with upgraded graphics and expanded bonus features. Zeus 3 on the Bluebird 2 cabinet, with its dual HD screens, is one of the most visually impressive home slot machines available anywhere.

Wizard of Oz

The licensed Wizard of Oz theme is what most people picture when they think of WMS Gaming. The BB1 version features the full cast of characters and includes multiple bonus rounds: the Road to Emerald City Bonus, Flying Monkey Bonus featuring free spins, the Gilda the Good Witch Feature, and the Oz Pick Feature which can multiply line bets up to 25 times. All of this plays out on an LCD touchscreen with original movie imagery.

The BB2 version adds a second screen and expands the bonus content. The Ruby Slipper Multiplier Feature, Emerald City Free Spin Bonus, and Crystal Ball Bonus fill both displays during gameplay.

This is a showpiece machine. When you have guests over and someone hits the Wizard of Oz bonus round, everyone in the room stops to watch. It is genuinely entertaining in a way that simpler machines are not.

Reel 'em In

The game that started it all. Reel 'em In features the original WMS fishing bonus concept and has held up remarkably well over decades. The simplicity of the fishing mechanic — cast a line, see what you catch, collect the prize — remains immediately intuitive for players of any experience level.

This title also has excellent sentimental appeal for casino veterans who remember playing it in the late 1990s. We regularly have customers specifically request it because of the nostalgia factor.

Goldfish

Goldfish is one of those games that seems unlikely on paper — a slot machine themed around a fish tank — but is an absolute hit in practice. Players love the animation quality, the cheerful audio, and the fish-feeding bonus round. It tends to be especially popular with players who do not typically gravitate toward heavier themes like mythology or action movies.

Monopoly

The Monopoly-licensed games on WMS cabinets are another strong category. The Go to Boardwalk bonus feature, which sends a game piece around a virtual Monopoly board collecting prizes, is intuitive to anyone who has ever played the board game. These machines perform well with groups because everyone understands the premise immediately.

The 25-Year Rule: Critical Legal Context

Here is the most important thing a WMS buyer needs to understand before placing an order.

Twenty-eight states allow private ownership of slot machines only if the machine is at least 25 years old. In 2026, that means machines manufactured in 2001 or earlier. This is the same 25-year rule that affects buyers across most of the country.

WMS Bluebird 1 and Bluebird 2 cabinets were introduced after 2001. This means that in most age-restricted states, modern Bluebird machines do not yet meet the antique threshold for private ownership.

If you live in one of the 13 unrestricted states — Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, or West Virginia — you can buy any WMS Bluebird machine we carry with no restrictions. We ship to all of these states.

If you live in one of the 28 age-restricted states, you need a WMS machine manufactured in 2001 or earlier. WMS was producing video slot machines in the late 1990s and their early S-Class and video reel machines from 1996 through 2001 do qualify. The original Reel 'em In platform from 1996 is now 30 years old and qualifies in every age-restricted state.

If you are unsure, call us before ordering. We verify every machine's manufacture date and will only ship a machine to an age-restricted state if we can document it meets the age requirement. We have sold machines nationwide since 1992 and we take legal compliance seriously. Our customers should never be put at risk by unclear paperwork.

For a complete breakdown of your state's laws, see our state-by-state legal guide.

Price Range for WMS Machines

WMS Bluebird machines sit in the mid-to-premium segment of the home slot machine market.

Bluebird 1 Machines

Standard BB1 machines with popular game themes like Zeus, Goldfish, and Reel 'em In typically range from ,800 to ,800 depending on condition, game theme, and configuration. Licensed themes like Wizard of Oz at the higher end of this range because the game software licensing adds value.

Bluebird 2 Machines

The dual-screen BB2 commands a premium. Expect ,500 to ,800 for a well-refurbished BB2 in good cosmetic condition with a sought-after title. Zeus 3 and the BB2 Wizard of Oz are at the top of this range. These are genuinely premium machines and the price reflects it.

What Affects Pricing

Game theme has the biggest impact. Zeus, Wizard of Oz, and Monopoly carry premiums because demand is high and supply is limited compared to more generic titles. Cabinet condition matters — a machine with clean LCD panels and no cracks in the cabinet surround will always command more than one with visible wear. The configuration also affects price: machines already converted to free play mode and cleaned up for home delivery cost more than machines sold as-is.

Shipping adds 50 to 00 depending on your location relative to our warehouse in Kingman, Arizona. WMS Bluebird machines are upright units that can approach 350 pounds. We ship via LTL freight with liftgate service included.

What to Look For When Buying a WMS Bluebird

If you are buying from us or from any dealer, here are the things that matter most on a WMS machine.

LCD Screen Condition

The displays are the heart of a Bluebird machine. Check for dead pixels, backlight uniformity, and any lines or artifacts on the screen. Minor cosmetic wear on the bezel is acceptable. Display issues on the screens themselves are harder to ignore because you are staring at them during play.

Touch Screen Calibration

On BB1 machines with touchscreen interfaces, verify that touch inputs register accurately across the whole screen. A screen that works in the center but not the edges is a calibration issue that can usually be resolved, but worth noting.

Audio System

The Bose sound system on Bluebird machines is part of what makes them special. Power the machine on and listen for audio distortion, static, or channels that are out of balance. Speaker replacement is possible but adds to your cost.

Button Panel

All physical buttons should respond with clean, consistent actuation. WMS button panels are well-made but can develop dead spots after years of casino use. Any button that requires extra pressure or does not register reliably should be replaced before delivery.

Bill Acceptor

Test the bill acceptor with multiple denominations. On refurbished machines, the acceptor should have been serviced and calibrated. If it rejects clean bills or jams frequently, that is a refurbishment shortcut that will cause ongoing frustration.

WMS vs. IGT vs. Bally: Which Is Right for You?

This is the most common question we get from buyers comparing machines side by side.

Choose IGT S2000 if you want the most authentic mechanical reel experience, the easiest maintenance, and the widest parts availability. The S2000 is simpler, more reliable in a home setting, and qualifies legally in all 41 states that allow slot machine ownership. If this is your first machine, IGT is the safest starting point.

Choose Bally Alpha if you want premium construction, popular game themes, and a mid-range video slot experience with good graphics. Bally machines offer better aesthetics than comparable IGT platforms at similar prices.

Choose WMS Bluebird if you want the most impressive, most entertaining, most conversation-starting machine you can put in a game room. WMS trades some of the simplicity and legal universality of older platforms for a level of presentation that nothing else in this price range can match. If you live in an unrestricted state and want the machine that makes guests say wow, this is it.

We carry all three brands. Our team can discuss what matters most for your specific situation — your state, your space, your budget, and what kind of gaming experience you are looking for.

FAQ

Can I convert a WMS machine to free play mode?

Yes. WMS Bluebird machines can be configured for free play. In free play mode you press a button to add credits without inserting anything. This eliminates coin handling, reduces noise, and is the preferred home configuration for most buyers. We configure machines to free play mode on request.

Do WMS machines require internet to operate?

No. All game software is stored onboard. The machines are completely self-contained and do not require any network connection, subscription, or ongoing service after setup. Plug into power and play.

How loud is a WMS Bluebird?

Louder than mechanical reel machines, but with a volume control. The Bose audio systems are designed to fill a casino floor. In a home setting, most buyers run them at 30 to 50 percent volume. At that level they are comparable to a home theater system at moderate volume — noticeable but not overwhelming.

What warranty comes with a WMS machine from Used Slot Shop?

We provide our standard 1-year warranty on all components with every machine we sell. If anything fails during normal home use within the first year, we cover the replacement part. We also provide free lifetime tech support for as long as you own the machine. WMS machines are more complex than IGT reel machines, so having reliable tech support available is not optional — it is essential.

Are WMS machines good for beginners?

They are intuitive to play but more complex than a three-reel mechanical machine. The touch screens, multi-line betting, and bonus round mechanics have a short learning curve but are straightforward once you have played through a few rounds. Most guests figure out the core gameplay within minutes.

What is the difference between BB1 and BB2?

The BB1 has a single 18-inch LCD screen and the original Bose audio setup. The BB2 has dual 22-inch widescreen HD displays, updated NXT2 electronics, and an enhanced Bose audio system. The BB2 is the more impressive machine visually and has access to later game titles designed for the dual-screen format. The BB1 is more affordable and still an excellent machine.

How do I get a WMS machine into my home?

WMS uprights weigh up to 350 pounds. We deliver palletized to your curb via LTL freight with liftgate service. Getting the machine inside is your responsibility. See our complete shipping and moving guide for the equipment and methods that work best. Most customers use an appliance dolly and a second person.

Browse Our Current WMS Inventory

We keep a rotating selection of WMS Bluebird machines in stock. Game themes, condition, and pricing change as machines arrive and sell. Visit our shop to see what is currently available, or contact us to describe exactly what you are looking for. If we do not have it in stock right now, we may be able to source it — we have been in this business since 1992 and our sourcing network is extensive.

WMS machines are among the most requested machines we sell. If a specific title like Zeus or Wizard of Oz is at the top of your list, calling us directly is the fastest way to find out if we have it and in what condition.