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Celebrating six months of outstanding success: Interview with CEO Ivan Kravchuk

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Slot studio Evoplay has gone from strength to strength over the past six months with some fantastic new titles as well as celebrating its debut across MGA markets.

Ready for the World Cup and an exciting few months ahead for the company, we sat down with Evoplay CEO Ivan Kravchuk to talk through their CEE team’s perseverance, as well as overcoming the challenges that have made the studio such a standout brand today.  

Evoplay has performed fantastically so far this year expanding into multiple new markets – despite the challenges faced in Eastern Europe and Ukraine for your team, how have your team persevered?

The beginning of the war wasn’t an easy time for us and our team, but we managed to overcome the difficulties and continue our story as an outstanding provider of some really fantastic games. In order to do that, we really needed to summon a lot of resources in order to quickly adapt our operations to quickly and ensure the safety of our employees.

Our people are what we value the most, and that is why our first measures were focused on relocating employees to a safe place. As part of our contingency plans, we relocated 15% of our staff to our main office in Cyprus, and opened a new office in a safer area part of the country – in Lviv, the west of Ukraine. Accommodation, transfer, and any other support were our main priorities as we wanted to provide our people with a helping hand at this difficult time.

I am very proud to work with such compassionate and courageous people as from the first days of the war, they have participated in many volunteering activities, and I believe we as a country will return from this stronger than ever.

 

Following on from an outstanding year of success in 2021, which saw you awarded with SBC Leader of the Year as well as the launch of Star Guardians, how has Evoplay built on its momentum during the first six months of this year?

Star Guardians was presented to the iGaming industry at the end of 2021, so the first half of 2022 was also focused around entertaining players around the world with the release, with the futuristic title snagging two awards at this year’s CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards. As a revolutionary product, it’s received sos much positive attention not only from players and casino providers but also from our team. I should also mention Star Guardian’s artbook and comic book – which were both released this year – have become an unprecedented offering in the industry, and a fan favourite

Of course, Evoplay never wants to rest on its success, we have an ‘eternal engine’ which keeps pushing us to create something new, investing in innovations that other developers are afraid of. During the half-year period, we launched 12 products, supercharging our titles with Bonus Buy, Jackpot, and other gamified features that challenge the traditional concept of gaming. To illustrate this, our April release Goblin Run is an industry-first crash game that turns gameplay on its head to offer something fresh. We totally deviated from the classic crash-style game scenario, creating a fully-fledged storyline with a protagonist, antagonist, an opportunity to change skins, all played out with a very the impressive range of settings for a 3D game.

2022 has also been marked by entering into new partnerships with outstanding representatives of the iGaming business, while we also received a letter of recognition from the MGA and Italian certification for our 62 titles.

 

Looking to gaming trends – what’s in demand from players right now? What kind of gaming experiences are players looking for now that we’re truly post-pandemic?

More traditional demographics still choose retro-styled slots, while new generations are thirsty for unconventional products and immersive gameplay. At the same time, even retro games fans can find a fresh gaming experience and innovation with retro slots – if they offer something new. That is why we take a new look at classic slots and reconceptualise them with additional features such as multiplayer modes, Bonus Buy, jackpots, etc.

I’m very proud of our team and I believe Evoplay’s uniqueness lies in its ability to deliver excellent, high-quality products for both categories. One of our most commercially successful games is Fruit Super Nova which delivers an old-school ambiance, while Star Guardians offers futuristic take, and both of these are spectacular examples of our diverse product offering. That, I believe is what is key to catering to player demand right now – it’s all about multiple themes that can engage and excite.

 

With the World Cup on the horizon, we no doubt expect Instant Games to again perform strongly with sports fans looking for additional entertainment. How is Evoplay looking to capitalise on this, given your heritage for Instant Games?

We are well-prepared for the World Cup as we already have an exciting package of titles dedicated to football on our teamsheet, all with a host of exciting features available that we’ve created to wow fans! Currently, we’re working on a new sports-themed title, which is set to win the audience of bettors and instant games fans who have always been our focus of interest. Not to give too much away, suffice to say, it will be a game delivering a multiplayer experience and a completely new level of betting excitement. We see it as the next all-time hit in the vertical of sports-themed games and we’re looking forward to seeing what sports fans make of it.

 

Last but not least, one for our readers – with Star Guardians still proving to be a one-of-a-kind hit with players – what’s up next for Evoplay’s next flagship game?

Our current flagship game, Star Guardians, is still among ours and ours players’ favourites, so we keep giving it attention, fleshing out its promotional activities and enhancing the gameplay in real-time with user feedback. It’s a launch that has meant to us, and we’re here to keep evolving the game to entertain players even more.

On to the next big news, I’m sure plenty will be delighted to hear that our team has already started developing a conceptual idea for our next flagship game, and we can’t wait to see the result, so stay tuned! We also have several ambitious games in the pipeline, aimed at targeting a real variety of players. One of our primary goals is to extend our audience reach with sports bettors and Esports fans, as we know exactly what kind of exciting fast-action gameplay they’re looking for, being players ourselves. Our job is now to create that for the gaming world!

 

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Wazdan amplifies Swiss presence with Swiss4Win launch

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Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences has further expanded in the regulated Swiss market, taking its games live with Swiss4Win.

The collaboration enhances Wazdan’s profile in the country with Swiss4Win’s leading online gambling platform revolutionising player experiences with the introduction of the studio’s exciting range of games.

As Wazdan continues to deliver the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, this new partnership heralds a new era of entertainment. Players can look forward to a diverse selection of captivating slots designed to appeal to Swiss players.

In conjunction with this partnership, Swiss4Win unveils its new website, meticulously crafted to enhance user engagement. The platform boasts a cutting-edge SEO-oriented design, complemented by a sleek dark mode interface. With a heightened focus on slot providers, the website features a dedicated page showcasing premier gaming offerings.

Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “We’re excited to join forces with swiss4win.ch to introduce our latest games to players worldwide. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the iGaming industry.”

Paolo Sanvido, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Lugano and Swiss4Win, added: “Wazdan’s distinguished reputation stems from its exceptional graphics and innovative features, which have resonated with players globally. Its dedication to crafting enriching casino experiences offers players greater control over their gaming preferences and seamlessly aligns with our audience’s interests.”

The post Wazdan amplifies Swiss presence with Swiss4Win launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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WhichBingo Reveals 2024 Award Winners at 10th Anniversary of the WhichBingo Awards

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WhichBingo, one of the UK’s best-known and most trusted online bingo review and affiliate sites, owned and operated by Gambling.com Group, has announced its 2024 WhichBingo Award winners at an action-packed event aboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in Gibraltar. The headline sponsor of the event was Pragmatic Play, a prolific provider of slot games and a powerhouse bingo platform. Other big-name sponsors included Eyecon and its parent company, Playtech.

Gala Bingo and Buzz Bingo were the big winners of the night, picking up four awards each. Popular choice awards for Gala Bingo included Best Bingo Site, Best Proprietary Bingo Site and Best Slots site for its Gala Spins game. In addition, Gala Bingo was awarded Best Marketing Campaign by an expert panel of judges. Buzz Bingo walked away with the trophies for Best Chat Team, Best Exclusive Bingo Game and Best Playtech Bingo site thanks to the player votes – and Best Livestream Entertainment from the judging panel.

There were several new features to mark the 10th anniversary of the WhichBingo Awards, including the first WhichBingo Player Panel. Designed to bring real players and their insights to industry insiders, and hosted by WhichBingo safer gambling partner Better Change, the panel was a highlight of the event. Themes included what players value most in online bingo games and a deep dive into their preferred play styles. In another first, the inaugural Better Change Positive Play Award was presented to PlayOJO in recognition of its efforts to ensure players stay safe while still having fun.

The night’s entertainment included the UK’s own Dabbers Social Bingo, famous for its annual contest to find the best comedy bingo caller. The bingo operators were the ones dabbing the bingo cards for a change, and the winners walked away with some enviable prizes.

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2024 WhichBingo Awards. It’s truly inspiring to see the passion and dedication of the bingo community celebrated in such a spectacular fashion. At Gambling.com Group, we value our partnerships with operators, affiliates, and industry leaders, and we are proud to be part of such an engaged and vibrant community,” Owen Watters, Vice President Commercial at Gambling.com Group, said.

WhichBingo was founded more than two decades ago, and the WhichBingo Awards remain one of the annual highlights in the UK’s online bingo industry calendar, a unique celebration that recognizes the best brands in the gaming business.

All the Award Winners in Full:

Best Bingo Site: Gala Bingo

Best Slot Game: Big Bass Amazon Xtreme (Pragmatic Play)

Best Exclusive Bingo Game: Buzz Bingo Live Bingo

Best Pragmatic Play Bingo Site: Heart Bingo

Best Dragonfish Bingo Site: 888Ladies

Best Playtech Bingo Site: Buzz Bingo

Best Proprietary Bingo Site: Gala Bingo

Best Bingo Chat Team: Buzz Bingo

Best Slots Site: Gala Spins

Judged Awards

Better Change Positive Play Award: PlayOJO

Best Customer Service: tombola

Best Marketing Campaign: Gala Bingo

Best Mobile Bingo Site: bet365 Bingo

Best Livestream Entertainment: Buzz Bingo

The post WhichBingo Reveals 2024 Award Winners at 10th Anniversary of the WhichBingo Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Bet365 Debuts its Bespoke Live Game Show Super Mega Ultra in Collaboration with Playtech

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Playtech announced the launch of the new live game show, Super Mega Ultra, in collaboration with bet365. The game is now accessible to players in multiple territories, including the UK, Mexico and Ontario.

The live game show is crafted in-house and draws inspiration from one of bet365’s popular slots. It stands as a testament to the synergistic efforts between Playtech and bet365, aiming to provide players with an immersive live entertainment experience.

As wheel-based live game shows continue to gain popularity, bet365 has positioned itself at the forefront by offering a range of captivating options for players. The introduction of this innovative three-tier base game across two wheels further solidifies bet365’s reputation as a leading provider of premium, entertaining gaming experiences and high-quality, in-house gaming content.

The game features three payout levels – Super, Mega, and Ultra – providing players with the chance to win significant rewards. Each round offers maximum multipliers (×300 for Super, ×500 for Mega, and ×2500 for Ultra). The game starts at the Super level, and with each “Level Up” spin result, players advance to the next payout level, either Mega or Ultra.

To add to the excitement, two bonus rounds – 7s Heaven and Slot Spins – have been incorporated to further enrich the player’s gaming experience.

bet365 spokesperson commented: “We’re thrilled to unveil this new game to our global community, marking a significant milestone for us. It is a valuable addition to our Live Casino portfolio, taking our in-house game production to new heights. With the introduction of the three-tier base live game spanning two wheels, we’re setting a new industry standard – a testament to our commitment to creating innovative, top-quality and engaging game experiences for our players. Playtech’s expertise and collaboration were instrumental in the development of this exciting new game show. The partnership between both companies continues to drive success, as we continue to work together to create groundbreaking gaming experiences for players around the world.”

Kevin Kilminster, Chief Product Innovation Officer at Playtech Live, said: “We are excited to collaborate with bet365 to launch their bespoke Live game show, Super Mega Ultra to their player base. It is fantastic to see one of our most trusted partners taking the opportunity to continuously build bespoke content and utilise the knowledge and experience that the Playtech Live team has to offer. The debut of the three-tier base live game across two wheels is a new industry standard and reflects our joint dedication to crafting innovative, high-quality, and captivating gaming experiences for players. We look forward to continuing our strong and successful partnership with this world-class operator.”

The post Bet365 Debuts its Bespoke Live Game Show Super Mega Ultra in Collaboration with Playtech appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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