Chicago is known as the home of pinball. Tracing the game back to its origins, Chicago was the ideal hub for pinball’s rise, perfectly positioned to ship games worldwide thanks to its status as a major transit hub. Staying true to these roots, Stern Pinball remains one of the leading gaming companies in the pinball world. We got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they create their beloved pinball machines, revealing the craftsmanship and passion that go into every game.

Stern Pinball, Inc. (SPI) is the world’s oldest and largest designer and manufacturer of arcade-quality pinball games, proudly leading the industry with decades of expertise and innovation. SPI offers a complete range of pinball machines, merchandise, parts, and accessories, catering to operators, collectors, and pinball enthusiasts across the globe.

The company’s roots trace back to the early 1930s, during the golden age of pinball. SPI’s story is a family legacy, beginning with Sam Stern, father of SPI’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Gary Stern. Sam Stern was part-owner and President of Williams Electronics, a pioneering force in the pinball industry. In 1947, in a now-legendary moment, Sam made a bold move by proposing to buy half of Williams from its founder, Harry Williams. It’s said that Harry, an avid aviator, made his decision to sell while flying over Chicago, marking the beginning of a partnership that would shape the future of pinball.

Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Chicago-based companies like Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb pushed the boundaries of pinball design, introducing innovations like multi-player games, score reels, and complex playfield mechanics. However, with the rise of video games in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the coin-operated entertainment market began to evolve. In response, Gary Stern founded Data East Pinball in 1986, which later became Sega Pinball. In 1999, Gary bought the company from Sega and transformed it into Stern Pinball, Inc.

By the 1990s, pinball was experiencing a resurgence, with Stern Pinball and its peers, including Williams, Bally, Midway, and Gottlieb, producing some of the most iconic pinball titles of the era. Despite challenges like the Great Recession, Stern Pinball forged ahead, partnering in 2009 with Hagerty Peterson & Co., LLC to stabilize and prepare for future growth. Led by Dave Peterson, this partnership helped SPI strengthen operations, expand product lines, and enter new markets.

Today, Stern Pinball stands at the forefront of pinball innovation, designing and producing games that blend cutting-edge technology with timeless entertainment. With Hall-of-Fame designers and programmers on board, SPI continues to create unforgettable gaming experiences, reigniting the passion for pinball among a growing global community.

Headquartered near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Stern Pinball designs, manufactures, and markets a diverse portfolio of pinball machines, accessories, and digital pinball experiences. Serving both consumer and commercial markets, SPI connects players of all ages through the world’s friendliest game—pinball.

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