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Exclusive interview with Lars Kollind, Business Development Manager at Playson
Reading Time: 5 minutes
European Gaming caught up with Lars Kollind who is spearheading the brands strategic plans to continue expanding its operational portfolio worldwide, both vertically and horizontally.
You joined Playson in January this year. How is your experience so far?
Kollind: Hello and thank you for the opportunity to share my experience at Playson.
When I joined the company, I expected a young provider, still figuring things out, however in the few months I’ve been here I have been pleasantly surprised to understand the company is well-established, with clear goals and direction, and with a great culture focused on quality of workplace experience. Playson games are popular among operators and players alike due to their high-quality graphics and animation, supported by a robust and reliable technical set-up that ensures seamless a experience.
On a more personal level, I am greatly enjoying the atmosphere in the company. Values such as collaboration, teamwork, peer support and responsible autonomy are at the core of company culture, which is why we work as a closely-knit pack. At the same time, this allows me the freedom to be myself and motivates me to give my best in my role.
Playson has signed some major clients recently, such as Leo Vegas, ComeOn, and Hero Gaming. Tell us more about the new deals and strategic aspects behind each deal.
Kollind: It’s no secret that we are proud of these recent partnerships and they have given us added impetus to re-evaluate our operations. The company has operated for a long time as a small-to-medium-scale, dynamic studio, with laser focus on quality of product and support. Recent deals with tier one operators and other suppliers have provided us with the context to understand that our position in the market is changing. We are moving with confidence towards the core of European iGaming, increasing our regulated market footprint and our ambitions.
What was your specific role role in these deals?
Kollind: It is common practice in the company to appreciate the team-effort even across every acjhievement, no matter how large or small. It’s true, actually, that even top performers reach out to a large number of professionals from other departments in order to secure a deal. These particular deals were coordinated by our Sales Manager and my involvement only started after the deals were signed.
How do the new deals auger for Playson’s future? What are the new deals in the pipeline?
Kollind: The most important message sent by these deals is that Playson is a mature, stable and reliable provider that is here to stay – and grow. Our engines are revved up and we don’t expect to slow down our expansion process any time soon. We have some significant announcements to make in the coming months so watch this space!
Are there any plans to expand Playson’s footprints to the USA and Asia? Big things are happening or about to happen in the USA and Japan in the gaming sector.
Kollind: For the time being Playson is focusing on its core markets and only contemplating non-European territories from afar. We expect markets such as the US and Asia to take decisive steps towards regulation and developing the necessary framework for harbouring safe, compliant and responsible gaming, bit this will take time. This year we are committed to expanding our presence exclusively on regulated European markets, but next year it’s not out of the question that we may consider other regulating and/or regulated jurisdictions as well.
Playson has already published more than 70 omnichannel games? Are you going to launch any new games soon, like the Blackjack suite in HTML5? Would love to hear more details.
Kollind: Our HTML 5 Blackjack game is already live and performing well. We are committed to releasing two to three new games every month with new and exciting themes and highly engaging features and functionality that players love and keep coming back to time and again.
Playson has published some much sought-after games in its history. How does the planning go before developing and publishing the games? Could you also tell us more about some of the most successful games in Playson’s portfolio?
Kollind: Our game development process is extensive and we take a meticulous approach to themes and details within each product ensuring our products meet the right compliance standards, are customized to the market we are looking to target and the player segment we are catering for.
We always look at the history of what is popular with certain player demographics, however we also innovate as much and as often as possible with new features such as “daily” jackpot implementations.
Our classic titles such as Legend of Cleopatra are still a major success for us. Players love this 100-bet line game that can pay out huge wins across the pyramid-type reels.
Playson’s offices are spread across four countries: Malta, Ukraine, UK and Greece. How do you manage to maintain a coherent work culture? Any special human resources policies?
Kollind: We may be spread across several global locations, but we embrace a connected working culture and we’re constantly in touch with each office. This has proven to be a huge success for us internally with increased productivity, plus it’s also great to have our employees spread out so we can meet our clients as often as possible based on the geography of staff. Each location is designed to appeal to local talent, and we have carefully planned this within the hiring process.
You are participating in CEEGC 2019 at Budapest on 24-25 September. What do you think is special about CEEGC? Why this event is important to your company?
Kollind: This is the fourth Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference and Awards (CEEGC & CEEG). With several countries within the region opening and regulating this market is becoming increasingly important and we’re very much looking forward to meeting new and existing clients in September.
Our General Counsel, Andrei Andronic, is taking part in a compliance panel at the event in Budapest and it will be great learn and network with our peers on issues such as compliance and investment opportunities in the regulated Central and Eastern European jurisdictions including Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovenia, and the Emerging CEE jurisdictions, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland.
We really value having a presence at events such as this, particularly in exciting, emerging territories.
You have had about 15 years of experience in the gaming industry. How do you look back at your career?
Kollind: I’m very proud of my personal achievements but my focus is very much about building on the reputation Playson has built during that time and the significant plans and announcements we have for the coming months and years. We have some seriously exciting developments to discuss soon that I can’t wait to share.
Finally, do you think artificial intelligence is going to change the industry? What are Playson’s plans to tackle the opportunities and challenges that emerging disruptive technologies pose in the gaming sector?
Kollind: AI is clearly the buzzword of the moment, but I don’t see many companies making many inroads here. We use advanced AI technology to both improve our internal processes and our 70+ omni-channel slot games. It is helping us design better performing and more targeted localized content and this will only grow in value over time.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Exclusive interview with Lars Kollind, Business Development Manager at Playson
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WIN ONE OF 30 PACKAGES TO CHRIS MONEYMAKER’S 2025 POKER TOUR, COURTESY OF ACR POKER
ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker headlined an unforgettable 2024 land-based poker tour, drawing fans to premier destinations like Aruba, Las Vegas, and Florida. Now, ACR Poker is going all-in for this incredible tour in 2025, offering 30 exclusive packages ($75,000 total value) to a destination of each winner’s choice.
“My 2024 tour was a huge success—it was amazing to see so many players come together to play poker at fantastic stops like Aruba and Las Vegas,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “A huge thanks to ACR Poker for their continued support, and I’m thrilled they’re helping to make 2025 even bigger by offering more packages for players to compete in a Main Event at their favorite tour location.”
Players can win their Moneymaker Tour package by competing in the Beast Tournament Mega Satellites on Sunday, December 8th and 15th at 6:05pm ET, with each event guaranteeing 15 packages. The buy-in for the Mega Satellites is $95, or players can qualify for free by climbing the ranks on the Beast weekly leaderboard.
Each winner will receive a package worth $2,500, which includes a $1,500 buy-in towards a 2025 Main Event of their choosing, such as the Moneymaker Tour Aruba stop scheduled for September of next year. They will also get $1,000 towards airfare, hotel and spending money, paid directly into their ACR Poker account.
To learn more about the Moneymaker Tour Satellites, visit ACRPoker.eu.
For further information on the Moneymaker Tour itself, visit the website at moneymakerpt.com.
The post WIN ONE OF 30 PACKAGES TO CHRIS MONEYMAKER’S 2025 POKER TOUR, COURTESY OF ACR POKER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Renowned British creator ‘AngryGinge’ signed as Red Bull Player
Today, Morgan ‘AngryGinge’ Burtwistle was announced as the newest Red Bull Player, following a special live stream from Red Bull Racing HQ earlier today.
Widely known for his online gaming content as one the UK’s biggest streamers, with 4.7 million followers across his social media channels, AngryGinge is a pioneer in football gaming culture, collaborating with global stars such as Wayne Rooney, Luke Littler, and Aitch previously.
The rise of football video games is transforming the traditional football scene, seamlessly weaving into the fabric of football culture and uniting fans across generations through a shared passion for the game.
AngryGinge has been essential to the cultural shift where 87% of gamers report that sports video games drive their interest in attending real-world matches, and 83% of sports gamers agree that sports video games are a good way to enhance the enjoyment of real-life sports content.
AngryGinge joins an elite roster of Red Bull talent, including reigning Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, Brazilian footballing icon Neymar, and current Liverpool FC midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
I wanted to share more details on AngryGinge’s signing as a Red Bull Player in case it’s of interest to your readers:
- Earlier today, streamer Morgan ‘AngryGinge’ Burtwistle was signed as the UK’s most recent Red Bull Player.
- The announcement happened during a special livestream featuring exclusive content, including a behind-the-scenes look at Red Bull Racing’s Formula 1 Headquarters, and the prestigious Red Bull cap handed over by Red Bull Athlete and BMX star, Matt Jones.
- His signing as a Red Bull Player reflects the growing popularity and influence of content creators, who are becoming household names alongside mainstream celebrities. In a recent Adidas campaign, he appeared with actor Barry Keoghan and England footballer Luke Shaw.
- AngryGinge will join an impressive roster of British Red Bull Players, Rocket League professional player Joseph ‘noly’ Kidd, and Call of Duty: Warzone professional player Liam ‘Jukeyz’ James.
- Following his signing as a Red Bull Player, AngryGinge said: “I’m buzzing to be joining as a Red Bull Player. Obviously it’s a massive brand, but it really does things differently to deliver amazing stuff with some of the biggest creators around the world. Can’t wait for the new content opportunities and events with the rest of the Red Bull team”
The post Renowned British creator ‘AngryGinge’ signed as Red Bull Player appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.
To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.
What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?
NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.
What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?
NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!
What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?
ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.
Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?
ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!
Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!
What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?
STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.
As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?
STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.
How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?
STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.
The post Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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