<PAGE>   1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 7, 1999
                        REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                                             -----------
                                        
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                                        
                                    FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                        
                    INNOVATIVE GAMING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                                        
                                   MINNESOTA
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                        
                                   41-1713864
                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)
                                        
                             4725 AIRCENTER CIRCLE
                               RENO, NEVADA 89502
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                        
                      1998 NON-EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full title of Plan)
                                        
                                Scott Shackelton
                    Innovative Gaming Corporation of America
                                 4725 Aircenter
                               Reno, Nevada 89502
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                        
                                 (775) 823-3000
         (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


                                   Copies to:
                                        
                             Douglas T. Holod, Esq.
                       Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
                              3300 Norwest Center
                           Minneapolis, MN 55402-4140
                                 (612) 672-8200
                                        

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================================

Title of                            Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum      Amount of
of Securities to be                 Amount to be         Offering Price        Aggregate            Registration
Registered                          Registered (1)       Per Share (1)         Offering Price (1)   Fee    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>                  <C>                   <C>                  <C>
  Common Stock ($0.01                350,000              $1.1875               $415,625.00         $122.64
  par value per share)                Shares
==================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)       Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee in 
          accordance with Rule 457(h) and based upon the average of the high and
          low prices of the Common Stock on NASDAQ on May 4, 1999. 
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

     (a)    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
     ended December 31, 1998; and

     (b)   The description of the Company's Common Stock included in its
     Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 33-61492C) under the
     caption "Description of Securities."


     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

     The Company is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.  Minnesota
Statutes Section 302A.521 provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person
made or threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the former
or present official capacity of such person against judgments, penalties,
fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person
with respect to and employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses,
including attorney's fees and disbursements, incurred by such person in
connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of
such person complained of in the proceeding, such person has not been
indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same
expenses with respect to the same acts or omissions; acted in good faith;
received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255, if applicable, has
been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or omissions by
persons in their official capacity for the corporation, reasonably believed that
the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or in the case of acts
or omissions by persons in their capacity for other organizations, reasonably
believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation.

  



                                       2
<PAGE>   3
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS


       4(a).   Articles of Incorporation of the Company as Amended (incorporated
               herein by reference as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's 
               Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-61492C));

       4(b).   Bylaws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference as 
               Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 
               SB-2 (File No. 33-61492C);

       5.      Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP;

       23(a).  Consent of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.;
       
       23(b).  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP;
       
       23(c).  Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP (contained in 
               Exhibit 5); and

       24.     Power of Attorney (contained on page II-5).



ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

       (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

               (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of 
                     the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising 
                     after the effective date of the registration statement (or 
                     the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, 
                     individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental 
                     change in the information set forth in the registration 
                     statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or 
                     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total 
                     dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that 
                     which was registered) and any deviation from the low or 
                     high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be 
                     reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the 
                     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, 
                     the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 
                     percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set 
                     forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in 
                     the effective registration statement;


               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the 
                     plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
                     registration statement or any material change to such 
                     information in the registration statement;

       (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
               Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
               be deemed to be a new registration statement relating


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
             to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
             securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona 
             fide offering thereof.

       (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
             any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the 
             termination of the offering.

       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
       determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
       of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
       of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in
       the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
       statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
       such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide 
       offering thereof.

       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
       Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
       persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
       otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the
       Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against
       public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
       In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
       (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
       a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
       successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
       director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
       being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
       counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
       court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
       indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
       and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets 
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this 
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto 
duly authorized in the City of Reno, State of Nevada, as of May 3, 1999.

                                      INNOVATIVE GAMING CORPORATION
                                               OF AMERICA

                                      By:  /s/ Scott H. Shackelton
                                         --------------------------
                                         Scott H. Shackelton
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Secretary


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Innovative Gaming 
Corporation of America hereby severally constitute Scott Shackelton and Edward 
Stevenson and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full 
power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names, in the 
capacities indicated below the registration statement filed herewith and any 
amendments to said registration statement, and generally to do all such things 
in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable 
Innovative Gaming Corporation of America to comply with the provisions of the 
Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may 
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement 
and any and all amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, this 
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the 
capacities and as of the date indicated.

NAME                                    TITLE                    DATED AS OF

/s/ Edward G. Stevenson       President, Chief Executive         May 3, 1999
----------------------------  Officer and Director
Edward G. Stevenson

/s/ Scott Shackelton          Vice President - Finance,
----------------------------  and Chief Financial Officer        May 3, 1999
Scott Shackelton              (Principal Financial Officer)

                              Director                           May  , 1999
----------------------------                                         -
Lyle Berman

/s/ Ronald R. Zideck          Director                           May 3, 1999
----------------------------
Ronald R. Zideck

/s/ Ronald A. Johnson         Director                           May 3, 1999
----------------------------
Ronald A. Johnson

                              Director                           May  , 1999
----------------------------                                         -
Leo V. Seevers



 
<PAGE>   6



                                    EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT NUMBER              DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
--------------              ----------------------
<S>                         <C>
    5.                      Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP.

    23(a).                  Consent of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.

    23(b).                  Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

    23(c).                  Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP (contained in
                            Exhibit 5).

    24.                     Power of Attorney (contained on page II-5).
</TABLE>


















                                       6
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15035}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INNOVATIVE GAMING CORP OF AMERICA", "cik": "0000897795", "assigned-sic": "3990", "irs-number": "411713864", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-77967", "film-number": "99613084"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4750 TURBO CIRCLE", "street2": "STE 60", "city": "RENO", "state": "NV", "zip": "89502", "phone": "7028233000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4750 TURBO CIRCLE", "street2": "SUITE 60", "city": "RENO", "state": "NV", "zip": "89502"}}
1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 7, 1999
                        REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                                             -----------
                                        
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                                        
                                    FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                        
                    INNOVATIVE GAMING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                                        
                                   MINNESOTA
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                        
                                   41-1713864
                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)
                                        
                             4725 AIRCENTER CIRCLE
                               RENO, NEVADA 89502
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                        
                      1998 NON-EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full title of Plan)
                                        
                                Scott Shackelton
                    Innovative Gaming Corporation of America
                                 4725 Aircenter
                               Reno, Nevada 89502
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                        
                                 (775) 823-3000
         (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                                   Copies to:
                                        
                             Douglas T. Holod, Esq.
                       Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP
                              3300 Norwest Center
                           Minneapolis, MN 55402-4140
                                 (612) 672-8200
                                        

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==================================================================================================================

Title of                            Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum      Amount of
of Securities to be                 Amount to be         Offering Price        Aggregate            Registration
Registered                          Registered (1)       Per Share (1)         Offering Price (1)   Fee    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock ($0.01                350,000              $1.1875               $415,625.00         $122.64
  par value per share)                Shares
==================================================================================================================
(1)       Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee in 
          accordance with Rule 457(h) and based upon the average of the high and
          low prices of the Common Stock on NASDAQ on May 4, 1999.
2
                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof:

     (a)    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
     ended December 31, 1998; and

     (b)   The description of the Company's Common Stock included in its
     Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 33-61492C) under the
     caption "Description of Securities."

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

     The Company is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.  Minnesota
Statutes Section 302A.521 provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person
made or threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the former
or present official capacity of such person against judgments, penalties,
fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person
with respect to and employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses,
including attorney's fees and disbursements, incurred by such person in
connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of
such person complained of in the proceeding, such person has not been
indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same
expenses with respect to the same acts or omissions; acted in good faith;
received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255, if applicable, has
been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or omissions by
persons in their official capacity for the corporation, reasonably believed that
the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or in the case of acts
or omissions by persons in their capacity for other organizations, reasonably
believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation.

  

                                       2
3
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

       4(a).   Articles of Incorporation of the Company as Amended (incorporated
               herein by reference as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's 
               Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-61492C));

       4(b).   Bylaws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference as 
               Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 
               SB-2 (File No. 33-61492C);

       5.      Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP;

       23(a).  Consent of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.;
       
       23(b).  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP;
       
       23(c).  Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP (contained in 
               Exhibit 5); and

       24.     Power of Attorney (contained on page II-5).

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

       (1)     To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

               (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of 
                     the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising 
                     after the effective date of the registration statement (or 
                     the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, 
                     individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental 
                     change in the information set forth in the registration 
                     statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or 
                     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total 
                     dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that 
                     which was registered) and any deviation from the low or 
                     high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be 
                     reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the 
                     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, 
                     the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 
                     percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set 
                     forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in 
                     the effective registration statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the 
                     plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 
                     registration statement or any material change to such 
                     information in the registration statement;

       (2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
               Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
               be deemed to be a new registration statement relating

                                       3
4
             to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
             securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona 
             fide offering thereof.

       (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
             any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the 
             termination of the offering.

       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
       determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
       of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
       of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of
       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in
       the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
       statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
       such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide 
       offering thereof.

       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
       Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
       persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
       otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the
       Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against
       public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
       In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
       (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
       a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
       successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
       director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
       being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
       counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
       court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
       indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
       and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       4
5
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets 
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this 
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto 
duly authorized in the City of Reno, State of Nevada, as of May 3, 1999.

                                      INNOVATIVE GAMING CORPORATION
                                               OF AMERICA

                                      By:  /s/ Scott H. Shackelton
                                         --------------------------
                                         Scott H. Shackelton
                                         Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Innovative Gaming 
Corporation of America hereby severally constitute Scott Shackelton and Edward 
Stevenson and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full 
power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names, in the 
capacities indicated below the registration statement filed herewith and any 
amendments to said registration statement, and generally to do all such things 
in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable 
Innovative Gaming Corporation of America to comply with the provisions of the 
Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may 
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement 
and any and all amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, this 
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the 
capacities and as of the date indicated.

NAME                                    TITLE                    DATED AS OF

/s/ Edward G. Stevenson       President, Chief Executive         May 3, 1999
----------------------------  Officer and Director
Edward G. Stevenson

/s/ Scott Shackelton          Vice President - Finance,
----------------------------  and Chief Financial Officer        May 3, 1999
Scott Shackelton              (Principal Financial Officer)

                              Director                           May  , 1999
----------------------------                                         -
Lyle Berman

/s/ Ronald R. Zideck          Director                           May 3, 1999
----------------------------
Ronald R. Zideck

/s/ Ronald A. Johnson         Director                           May 3, 1999
----------------------------
Ronald A. Johnson

                              Director                           May  , 1999
----------------------------                                         -
Leo V. Seevers
6

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER              DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
--------------              ----------------------
5.                      Opinion of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP.

    23(a).                  Consent of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.

    23(b).                  Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.

    23(c).                  Consent of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP (contained in
                            Exhibit 5).

    24.                     Power of Attorney (contained on page II-5).
6