The gaming industry has cause to celebrate a true pioneer and ambassador of gaming this month with the 100th birthday of Len Ainsworth – the Australian innovator whose games not everyone loved but who left his mark indelibly on the industry so many of the precious years of life he devoted to it
To say he has been a somewhat controversial figure would be putting it mildly – to say he is loved and honored by all for his work would be a half-truth at best. However, he has always been his own man, and in the rugged country of Australia, that alone is enough to gain him respect. The fact that he stuck to it, through thick and thin should earn him respect anywhere.
A Century in the Making
Born on July 11th, 1923, Leonard Hastings Ainsworth is simply an icon as is his legacy in gaming – even from a purely mechanical, maths, and entertainment standpoint but there is always so much more to the picture of a survivor and a winner.
Some have even called him the devil incarnate – what he is, even today, is most certainly an enigma – hard to sort, difficult to understand completely in retrospect, and always a bit of a mysterious figure for such a well-known name. In fact, the enigma begins in his first year of life as Wikipedia lists his year of birth as “1922 or 1923” – since he is celebrating his 100th birthday this week, we’ll go with the latter.
He established himself in his first major company in 1933, Ainsworth Consolidated Industries of Australia building on his father’s work and created one of his most well-known brands in 1953 with Aristocrat Leisure. His family still maintains significant control of Ainsworth. The company’s journey to online gaming was not smooth and lucrative from the beginning but eventually, the company inked a deal with the former NYX (now part of the rebranded Scientific Games known as Light & Wonder) to distribute its legendary titles in 2013.
In the interim, he created Ainsworth Game Technology which enjoys sales in over 50 countries while other related titles are available in more than 200 jurisdictions. Some countries, such as Australia, have multiple gaming jurisdictions making it difficult to line up some of the numbers for a more precise recounting.
A recent posting on the company’s website announced his imminent centenary, the marvel said he wanted to express his gratitude for the support he has received and the successes he’s had thanks to family, friends, and many colleagues.
“I feel privileged to have reached this milestone and to have seen how the gaming industry has evolved and flourished over the years. I have been fortunate in establishing a worldwide reputation for quality equipment that continues to lead the field and that pleases me to no end. I have worked with many great people along the way, without them none of it would be possible.” said Mr Ainsworth.
Mr. Ainsworth’s foundation gives back to the Australian communities that supported him in his endeavors as well. The Ainsworth Foundation supports Australians in every community with education, healthcare, medical research, and other important causes. “Personally, I’m most proud that my good fortune enables me to support so many worthwhile causes,” he said.
Perhaps more important to an outside observer would be the legacy he has created in empowering individuals to reach their full potential by fostering an environment of innovation and creativity that has become a culture in its own right within and beyond the company.
One of those who is a beneficiary of his mentoring and tutelage is the current Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology, Danny Gladstone, who said: “I started my career in the gaming industry 50 years ago working for Len. It was a privilege to then have the opportunity to work with him again 16 years ago at Ainsworth and build on his legacy. He is a true icon globally and our industry would not be what it is without him. I wish him all the very best on his 100th birthday.”
Another Side of the COin
However, most people don’t live to be 100 and become profoundly wealthy without leaving a wake in the still waters of life. Australian pokie opponents have blamed him directly for gambling harm that has come to some citizens. With those rifts and age, many centenarians can also become a bit salty, as may be the case with Ainsworth.
The Weekend Australian Magazine visited him at home on Sydney’s Hunters Hill a few weeks ago and he reportedly didn’t mince any words when a reporter asked him to share what he thought about people who say his “actions” throughout his career may have been “evil”. Ainsworth replied:“It is offensive to me. feel that the people who criticize me are mainly people who are narrow-minded bigoted bastards, that’s what it comes down to. They need to get on with their own lives and not interfere with others.”
When asked if he was, indeed, the devil incarnate the quick-witted 99-year-old replied: “If they want to paint me that way, I don’t mind. Besides which, they can all get stuffed.”
Source: Celebrating Len Ainsworth on his 100th Birthday, Ainsworth, 6-7-2023