Gaming
Fish Games in Latin America: a Real Catch
With their roots in the Asian iGaming market and a long history of success in the region, fish games have now found a new wave of popularity in Latin America. Thanks to their easy-to-learn gameplay, the chance to catch a big win while playing something other than slots, these games have quickly become a favourite pastime for many LatAm players. The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, with its partner, game provider KA Gaming, have been observing their rise of popularity and are ready to cover this trend in detail in this article.
FISH GAMES PHENOMENON
Fish games are RNG games for online casinos. These games are based on the concept of fishing, where players use virtual fishing nets or guns to catch fish or other aquatic creatures on the screen. Each shot or reel accounts for a bet, and every fish or character has its ‘value’. When the shot hits the fish, the winning prize is awarded to the players.
These games often have colourful graphics, lively sound effects, a variety of characters with different point values, and, consequently, the potential for big payouts. Players can win prizes by catching fish and accumulating points for this, and some games even offer bonus rounds or jackpots for particularly skilled players.
FROM ASIA TO LATIN AMERICA
Diving back into the history of fish games, they grew from simple arcade video games in China in the 2000s. Over time, the games became more advanced, with improved graphics, gameplay, and online connectivity, leading them into online casino portfolios. Many Asian iGaming companies now offer players a wide range of fish game options.
KA Gaming is one of the game providers whose portfolio includes around 50 fish games. In partnership with the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, they supply these games to operators in different markets via API, including LatAm, where the demand for fish games has increased significantly during the last year.
Argentina, in particular, has emerged as a hotbed for fish games, with KA Gaming’s average number of ‘fish’ bets exceeding 8.5 million a month. This is a significant milestone, especially when compared to Asian countries where fish games have been popular for years.
The popularity of this game type has also spread to other countries in the region, including Brazil, Chile, and Peru. As players across Latin America continue to discover the excitement and potential rewards of fish games, likely, the popularity of these games will only continue to grow.
Mei Tu, Director of Sales and Marketing at KA Gaming, comments: “We are thrilled by the potential for growth that the Latin American market represents for fish games. With an assumed room for growth in this region, the numbers we see from Argentina are auspicious. While fish games have been popular in Asian countries for many years and have already gained a regular audience, the average monthly spins range from 12 to 25 million. In contrast, the figure of 8.5 million spins per month in Argentina alone is an excellent result, especially considering that fish games have only been gaining popularity for the past year and that slot games remain the most preferred option in the region. We’re excited to see how the popularity of fish games will continue to grow in LatAm and beyond.”
REASONS FOR INCREASING POPULARITY IN LATAM
So why have fish games become so popular in LatAm? There are several reasons for this trend. For one, they are easy to learn and play, with simple controls and fast-paced gameplay that keeps players engaged. Additionally, fish games are known for their high payouts, which can attract both casual and serious players alike.
Tatyana Kaminskaya, Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, has also noted that the easy entry threshold, allowing players to place small bets and still win, is a major factor driving the popularity of fish games in LatAm.
“The trend we’re seeing among players in this region is to place small but regular bets, which sets them apart from players in other regions. Fish games have a high probability of winning due to the ‘frequent catches’ and low betting options.”
Additionally, Tatyana notes that players in LatAm prefer to place bets using mobile devices. Since many fish games offered by operators and gaming providers are mobile-friendly, this is convenient for players in the region, contributing to the increasing popularity of these games.
KA Gaming also highlights the reasons for the rising popularity of fish games in LatAm. Among them, there are the following:
- Fish games have the element of player interaction in the same rooms (usually 4–6) as they compete to ‘hunt the big fish for big rewards, creating much excitement for the players
- There are multiple stages of the game, such as the “big boss” stage, where the players expect big wins once they successfully ‘reel in the ‘big boss’
- The dynamic movement of the fishes and other characters on the screen, the fast pace of the fish hunt coupled with colourful visuals provide a great gamification experience for players
- In addition, the gameplay learning curve is low compared to other games. KA Gaming usually sets the minimum bet lower than a typical slot game, making it easy for players to dive into the game
Summing up the above, Mei Tu adds: “Good games will always be good, regardless of culture and geography. Fish games’ exciting and engaging nature attracts players seeking a unique experience. Physical table fish games have already proven popular in North America, so we believe that with proper exposure and availability in the LatAm market, fish games will also gain popularity. It may take some players a warm-up or educational period, but it will also attract new players to iGaming who originally enjoyed arcade games.”
The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator and KA Gaming have joined forces to provide top-notch content to operators in various regions, including supplying fish and hunting games to online casinos in LatAm. KA Gaming’s fish games, such as KA Fish Hunter, Poseidon’s Secret, Golden Dragon, Three Head Dragon, and Happy Food Hunter, are among the most popular titles among LatAm players in the content hub’s portfolio.
Tatyana Kaminskaya says: “We will continue to monitor the increasing popularity of fish games in LatAm. We recognise the potential for growth in this region beyond, and recommend operators to add this type of games to their online casinos The surge in popularity of certain game types reinforces this belief. Our portfolio boasts over 16,000 games available to LatAm clients, complete with API integration, exceptional service, and a range of tools that boost player engagement rates in online casinos. Notably, our recently launched Tournament Tool has already been tried out by several clients and has shown great promise.”
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Funding
EasyWin closes second seed round at $20m valuation
Real-money casual puzzle tournament startup says an EU private investor backed the April 2026 round.
EasyWin, a U.S.-based real-money gaming startup, said it has closed its second seed funding round at a $20 million valuation. The company announced the round in April 2026 and said it was backed by a private investor from the European Union.
The company previously closed its first seed round in December 2025 at a $15.5 million valuation. That round included funding from Velo Partners, Vladimir Nikolsky and several private angel investors.
EasyWin was founded by Ivan Leshkevich, a former executive at mobile game publisher and developer Mamboo Entertainment. The startup, which currently has a team of eight, says it has built a global tournament platform for casual puzzle games with cash prizes and operates across major markets.
Since launching in 2025, EasyWin reported 25% month-over-month growth in user spending and a 4.9 average user rating. It also said it has expanded into 12 countries with localized legal opinions and payment infrastructure, received PayPal approval for its MCC, and completed payments-stack integrations with global providers.
The company also said it has obtained GLI certification “confirming compliance with U.S. regulations for skill-based gaming products.” Leshkevich said: “In the long term, we aim to become a leading global skill-based gaming platform. To achieve this, we focus on a strong product USP and new AI-based dev tools.”
The post EasyWin closes second seed round at $20m valuation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
Why Some Slot Themes Perform Better in Different Markets
A slot that breaks records in Las Vegas can flop in Stockholm. One that prints money across Macau might leave Western players scratching their heads.
It happens all the time, and it’s rarely an accident.
Player taste is shaped by culture, regulation, storytelling habits, and even the kind of phone someone uses to play. Once you start digging into why some themes win in some markets and stall in others, the patterns get pretty clear.
Cultural Influence on Slot Theme Preferences
People are drawn to what feels familiar. Mythology, history, and cultural symbols come pre-loaded with meaning, which makes recognition easier from the very first spin.
A Norse warrior slot lands differently for a player in Gothenburg than it does for one in Tokyo. The imagery taps into stories already living in their cultural memory.
That’s why certain themes punch above their weight when matched to the right region. Norse mythology peaks in Northern Europe. Dragons and koi fish dominate East Asia. Ancient Egypt, oddly enough, travels almost everywhere thanks to decades of pop-culture exposure.
Developers have noticed. They’re now drilling into culturally specific micro-niches, drawing on real historical detail rather than recycling tired clichés. Modern players spot lazy localization in seconds, and they punish it.
Visual Style and Regional Design Preferences
Aesthetic expectations also shift sharply between regions.
Some markets prefer clean, minimal interfaces with uncluttered reels and easy-to-read paytables. Others want vibrant colors, dense animation, and constant movement on screen.
Asian markets typically gravitate toward red-and-gold palettes, ornate symbol design, and celebratory sound effects. Nordic players tend to favor sleeker, video-game-quality production with restrained visuals.
The slots that travel best find a way to keep universal appeal while quietly localizing the small stuff. That might mean dialing back color saturation, swapping out the soundtrack to fit local musical tastes, or tweaking pacing so wins feel either explosive or steady depending on who’s playing.
These details look minor on paper. They often decide whether a title sticks in a market or vanishes within weeks.
Popular Slot Themes Across Global Markets
North America leans hard into entertainment-driven, jackpot-focused titles. Branded slots tied to films, TV, and music do well, alongside progressive heavyweights like Mega Moolah and Wheel of Fortune. Big-win marketing and instant brand recognition carry a lot of weight here.
American-themed slots featuring buffalo imagery, Vegas iconography, and Wild West motifs also remain strong sellers. Coverage of American-themed slots shows how patriotic visuals and classic three-reel formats keep pulling loyal audiences across regulated US states.
Asia is dominated by themes built around luck and prosperity. Titles like 88 Fortunes and Dragon Link work because their symbols — gold ingots, dragons, lanterns, festival imagery — connect directly to long-standing beliefs about fortune.
Interestingly, Asian-themed slots also perform unusually well in Latin America. A lot of that comes down to early market exposure: Asian providers entered those markets first and shaped player taste before Western developers caught up.
Europe, including Sweden and the wider Nordics, favors adventure and mythology. Book of Dead, Vikings Go Berzerk, Starburst, and Gonzo’s Quest stay popular because they hit a sweet spot between accessible gameplay and strong storytelling.
Sweden has a deeper connection to these games than most. Many of them — Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest among them — were built by Swedish studios like NetEnt and Play’n GO right out of Stockholm.
Regional Market Trends and Player Behaviour
Behavior itself varies by region, not just taste.
Some markets gravitate toward high-volatility gameplay with rare but massive payouts. Others prefer steadier, low-risk experiences that stretch session length.
North American players often chase jackpot potential and the dream of life-changing wins. Asian markets emphasize symbol-rich, visually intense gameplay where the experience itself is the reward.
Nordic markets sit somewhere in the middle. Swedish players in particular are known for analytical play. They want transparent mechanics like Megaways and Hold & Win, and they tend to stick with trusted, familiar titles rather than chasing every new release.
Industry data from Evolution, the group behind Swedish slot pioneers NetEnt and Red Tiger, points to Swedish-built slots having set the bar for production quality. That’s part of why local players hold such high expectations.
How Platforms Adapt Slot Libraries for Different Regions
Players don’t usually find their favorite slots by accident. Online casino comparison platforms do a lot of the heavy lifting.
These sites curate libraries based on local taste, regulation, and language. They cut through thousands of available titles and surface the ones that actually fit a given market.
In Sweden, this is especially noticeable. An online casino comparison site such as casinohallen.se tends to spotlight the slots that resonate most with Nordic players — Starburst for its clean design and steady low-volatility wins, Book of Dead for its Egyptian adventure framing, Gonzo’s Quest for its cascading Avalanche mechanic, and Reactoonz for its quirky character-driven gameplay.
The same logic applied in North America would push jackpot networks and branded titles to the top. An Asian-focused platform would lead with dragon and prosperity themes.
The role of these comparison sites isn’t just to list options. They act as cultural filters, surfacing the games most likely to actually click with a specific local audience.
Game Design Elements That Influence Global Success
Mechanics carry as much weight as themes.
Free spins, cascading reels, expanding wilds, bonus multipliers, and Megaways-style variable paylines all amplify theme performance when they line up with the narrative.
Book of Dead works because the expanding symbol mechanic feels like uncovering an ancient secret. An adventure slot needs progression. A prosperity slot needs symbols that feel ceremonial when they land. Mismatch the mechanic and the theme, and the whole thing feels off.
Globally successful slots tend to share a formula: simple core gameplay, a recognizable theme, and one or two distinctive mechanics. That combination travels well without losing identity.
As Slots 101 coverage on slot fundamentals points out, the genre’s real strength is how easily it adapts. A few tweaks to symbols, sound, and volatility can transform the same underlying game into something that feels native almost anywhere.
In the end, slot performance is a reflection of the player. Get the cultural fit right, match the mechanics to local risk appetite, and respect regional aesthetic expectations — and a slot can quietly become a market favorite for years.
The post Why Some Slot Themes Perform Better in Different Markets appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Aggregator
SOFTSWISS wins ‘Aggregator of the Year’ at SBC Awards Europe 2026
SOFTSWISS has solidified its leadership position in the European iGaming market by winning the Game Aggregator of the Year category.
The recognition took place during the prestigious SBC Awards Europe 2026 ceremony, held on April 30 in Malta.
The event served as the official closing of the SBC Summit Malta, bringing together the industry’s top operators, suppliers, and regulators.
The award highlights the platform’s ability to provide content scalability and high-impact engagement tools for its global partners.
Technical performance and scale at the industry’s core
With a portfolio exceeding 40,000 titles, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator connects operators with over 300 providers across 24 regulated jurisdictions.
Beyond volume, technical stability remains a key pillar, maintaining a 99.999% uptime even during peak traffic loads.
Tatyana Kaminskaya, Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, celebrated the win in Malta, often considered the capital of the iGaming world.
According to Kaminskaya, the award reflects the team’s dedication to creating a practical tool for the daily management of operator brands.
Innovation in retention and new prediction markets
The victory at the SBC Awards follows the recent launch of new features, such as the Tournament Report and Instant Tournaments.
These tools allow operators to monitor campaign metrics in real-time and adjust marketing strategies without switching platforms.
The company has also diversified its B2B offering with the introduction of its Prediction Markets Platform.
This solution focuses on fixed-odds for real-world events, covering areas ranging from politics and economy to technology.
With over 15 years of experience and a team of 2,000 professionals, SOFTSWISS reaffirms its role as a global technology hub in the gaming ecosystem.
The post SOFTSWISS wins ‘Aggregator of the Year’ at SBC Awards Europe 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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