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“My vision was to create a game that can deliver excitement and anticipation with every spin” – Exclusive interview with Toby Woolhouse, PO at Push Gaming

Published

6 years ago

January 21, 2021

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Push Gaming has made a name for itself as a supplier that always looks to deliver on quality over quantity. In one of our latest exclusive interviews, we sat down with Push Gaming’s youngest PO to talk through his vision for their latest slot, Wheel of Wonders, as well as how we should expect player preferences to evolve this year when it comes to entertainment.

Wheel of Wonders marks the final slot released by Push Gaming in 2020, what made this title your favourite?

As one of the younger POs on the team, I’m very much drawn to providing a gaming experience that can really offer something different. As a passionate gamer, I’ve always been into Ways and the Cascading style of games, so I really wanted to deliver something that matched the same aesthetics, but also offered a real twist with something fresh and exciting.

The mathematics behind the game also provide something entirely new, especially when it comes to balancing the gameplay. My vision was to create a game that can deliver excitement and anticipation with every spin. As a result, Wheel of Wonders is absolutely crammed with exciting features that ensures that every single part of the game can bring in massive wins of over 1000x! But more importantly, anything can happen along the way, which is what makes the game hugely unpredictable and fun. For me, Wheel of Wonders is a truly entertainment-first product. Every feature is there to engage the player, rather than the usual mode of waiting for free spins to trigger.

Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the game’s features?

Features were a massive part of the thought process behind Wheel of Wonders, and we wanted to develop something that would really stand the test of time. I’ve used a lot of the cascading influences from our games – and rather than your usual 5×3 slot, it instead dynamically expands through each spin, bringing layers ever-changing win possibilities for each spin to really keep things interesting.

To a certain extent it’s a relatively new concept, but it’s something I really think players will buy into given what we’ve seen from games with similar ideas. Elk’s Gold series has plenty of shared characteristics, as well as Cygnus – which makes me confident that players will really enjoy the hugely changeable gameplay as the fundamentals of the game continue to shift throughout.

Last but not least, for the theme, we wanted to do something that centred around the best of the ancient middle east. Mesopotamia, Babylon, Assyria – we were influenced by them all. Our team put in some serious research into the music and sounds to ensure we could really bring together a disparate set of cultures, and I’m absolutely delighted by the result.

Are there any particular features that you wanted to incorporate that would particularly resonate with current player preferences?

I’m very excited about Wheel of Wonders’ variable reel set because it provides the player with a fantastic level of additional engagement. Games with progressive elements such as these are proving particularly popular right now, and I believe the inclusion of gamified features is something that is resonating very strongly with players.

Whether that’s randomised sequences that evolve as the game continues, or the expansive selection of completely new combinations of elements, there was a gameplay flow that we wanted to capture, and expanding reels proved to be a great option for doing that.

We took the slot through plenty of rigorous tests and we actually refocussed the game on this mechanic during the creation process. We saw what would make the game even more exciting and we incorporated it into the development, which really allowed us to elevate the parts that were entertaining. For me, the key learning is that we didn’t start out looking to tap into a fundamental formula, but rather evolving the title as we created it to come out with a game we were really happy with, and ready to share with our players.

Can you give us some insight into some of the standout moments players can expect in Wheel of Wonders?

For me, there’s two things players should look for. The first, and this is the same as any top-quality cascading game; a really fantastic element of unpredictability that will keep you engaged throughout each stage.

The second, and it’s something I’m really excited about, is the Base Game wheels – you can effectively work out the prizes you want to see. Because of how variable the game is, and the raft of different prizes and multipliers that come with it, there’s just so many ways you can move advance through the slot and begin to really understand what will be the most valuable on the reel at any moment. I think this type of entertainment will really keep players hanging on to their seats, and we’ve had some really great feedback since its launch.

When it comes to development, is there a signature style at Push Gaming and one that players can recognise across your catalogue?

On one hand, we put a lot of stock into the elements that go into the gameplay experience, as we want to make sure it emotionally satisfies the moment that comes with the pay-out.

When we’re making a game, the Push team is always looking to be as flexible as possible during the development process to find ways we can make our games deliver that little bit extra. We’re always ready to leverage that during production, and we do everything we can to ensure our games can deliver something that is truly fun to play. Key here is to make sure that our games can still be broadcast years later as a flagship for the brand. Jammin’ Jars, Fat Rabbit and Razor Shark are great examples of this from our catalogue, and I’m proud to be part of a brand that really pulls all the stops out to make sure we deliver a premium level of gameplay.

How do you think player preferences towards slots have changed this year?

There are a few conflicting schools of thought here. For me, two things are really popping off right now. I’m a big believer in ‘in your face potential’ when it comes to the gaming experience, and I think super-clear, big numbers, exciting gameplay and a clear understanding of the mechanics are what’s needed right now. Easy-to-understand gamified elements are really taking off too, such as progressive jackpots and the like, and players are really buying into it.

Games crammed with plenty of different mechanics and a wealth of symbols to choose from can create massive wins – which is the holy grail for many, but with it comes plenty of challenges for design and mathematics. From what I’ve seen over the last few years, there’s a strong risk that players may find too many instructions as a barrier to engagement, but I also think that’s really opened the door for a massive variation of elements that players can connect with.

Players always look for new experiences and shifting preferences are starting to open the door for mechanic-driven titles, as well as feature-rich slots that offer multiple additional levels of gameplay. As a PO, I’m going to be very happy if that is the case, because it opens the door for us to get even more creative with our content.

Charly Lippoth

Immersive In-Car Gaming Becomes Reality: The Cinemo and SmashLabs Partnership

Published

58 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

immersive-in-car-gaming-becomes-reality:-the-cinemo-and-smashlabs-partnership

Cinemo, a global leader and innovative one-stop-shop provider for fully integrated, multi-device in-car infotainment solutions, announces its collaboration with SmashLabs, a boutique gaming and technology company to deliver an extremely immersive in-vehicle gaming experience. The solution is designed to address growing consumer demand in connected, engaging cabin experiences.

The integrated solution combines SmashLabs’ music-based games with Cinemo’s scalable software, synchronizing lighting, haptics, audio and even climate elements with gameplay to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Optimised for low-latency performance across vehicle displays and audio systems, it enables interactive entertainment during charging stops and for passengers while driving.

The first game available from SmashLabs via Cinemo’s in-car immersion is Smashworld: Beat Explorers, a rhythm-based game where player interactions are directly synchronized with music, enhanced by immersive Dolby Atmos audio when supported by the vehicle. Through collaboration with Sony Music Publishing and Extreme Music (Sony Group), passengers can download new song packs for Smashworld: Beat Explorers at any time.

“OEMs are racing to turn the cabin into a standout experience. Together with SmashLabs, we’re proving that connected entertainment can captivate passengers, strengthen differentiation, and become a seamless part of the vehicle ecosystem,” said Charly Lippoth, Director of Partnerships at Cinemo.

“Bringing our games into the vehicle creates entirely new opportunities to engage passengers in ways that were not possible before. What makes this especially exciting is that we can now create experiences in the car that simply don’t exist at home: immersive, social, and perfectly integrated into the journey itself. It is a pleasure to work with Cinemo on this truly transformative gaming experience,” said Niccolò Cappon, President & CEO at SmashLabs.

The post Immersive In-Car Gaming Becomes Reality: The Cinemo and SmashLabs Partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

FIRST.bet

Pragmatic Solutions Enters into Partnership with FIRST.bet Sportsbook

Published

58 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

pragmatic-solutions-enters-into-partnership-with-first.bet-sportsbook

FIRST.bet, the Tier-1 sportsbook technology provider, announced its integration with Pragmatic Solutions’ iGaming Player Account Management (PAM) platform for regulated gaming and betting operators.

Under this collaboration, FIRST.bet is now available to operators through the Pragmatic Solutions platform ecosystem, providing access to its full sportsbook engine, trading stack, risk management and managed services.

The integration combines two core layers operators need to build and scale competitive betting operations: Pragmatic Solutions’ modern PAM platform and the trading-led sportsbook technology from FIRST.bet. The Pragmatic Solutions platform is designed to support end-to-end player journeys, multiple brands and flexible operations through a stable, scalable central infrastructure layer. Its open API model enables operators to integrate and manage sportsbook, casino, payments, CRM, compliance, reporting and third-party services within a single platform environment, while retaining control over their product roadmap, front-end experience and vendor strategy.

FIRST.bet is already live within the Pragmatic Solutions ecosystem, establishing FIRST.bet as a major sportsbook supplier and making its full managed offering available to operators across the platform. It is positioned as a managed sportsbook solution with advanced in-play betting and player engagement features.

Tom Light, Founder and CEO of FIRST.bet, said: “This is a major step for FIRST.bet. Operators don’t need another basic sportsbook connection – they need real trading depth, product innovation and managed execution that moves the business. That’s exactly where we focus: a sportsbook engineered to perform, run by a team that owns the result. Being available through Pragmatic Solutions puts that in front of operators who are serious about competing in sports.”

Ashley Lang, CEO of Pragmatic Solutions, said: “Sportsbook remains a core component of the product offering for many operators, particularly in regulated markets where flexibility, compliance, and speed to market are important. FIRST.bet brings a strong sportsbook product to our platform ecosystem, giving operators access to a modular product with proven in-play and player engagement capabilities.”

Two things set the FIRST.bet stack apart: API and gamification. SportOS, an open API, lets operators build and customise their own betting products on top of the FIRST.bet engine – the sportsbook becomes a platform they can extend, not a fixed product. GMFY, a full sportsbook gamification engine, makes engagement and retention native to the betting experience. Around them sit the essentials operators expect – Bet Builder, Player Props, Cash Out, Early Payout and ACCA Promotions – plus Fast Markets and SnapBet , all backed by FIRST.bet and its Managed Services for full trading, risk and operational expertise.

FIRST.bet powers a growing global partner network handling millions of daily transactions across LATAM, Europe and Africa.

This collaboration positions FIRST.bet as a leading B2B sportsbook supplier for operators that want more than standard sports betting technology. Through Pragmatic Solutions, operators can combine a proven Tier-1 PAM core with a fully managed sportsbook built around product depth, local-market execution, player engagement and trading performance.

The post Pragmatic Solutions Enters into Partnership with FIRST.bet Sportsbook appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Anne Marie Caulfield

Irish Gambling Regulator Threatens Prediction Market with High Court Action

Published

58 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

irish-gambling-regulator-threatens-prediction-market-with-high-court-action

One of the largest prediction market websites has been threatened with court action if it does not geoblock Ireland, the head of the Irish gambling regulator has said.

Prediction markets are platforms where users can trade bets and gamble cryptocurrency on sports, the financial sector, politics and more, including events relating to the war in the Middle East, the existence of aliens, and tweets posted by Elon Musk.

Anne Marie Caulfield, who has been chief executive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) since it began operations last year, said prediction markets amount to betting and therefore fall under her remit.

She said the GRAI enforcement team has already been active in the space, with one of the largest such markets already geoblocking on foot of “intervention” from the authority.

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week radio programme, Ms Caulfield said a second “is in the process of doing so”.

She added: “And if they don’t, it’s open to us to go to the High Court.”

She said sites were withdrawn in Ireland in the “vast majority” of the almost 30 interventions the GRAI had made.

She added that this had happened as quickly as 35 minutes after the intervention.

Asked what the High Court action may look like, Ms Caulfield said: “In the instance where they don’t do so, we can go to the High Court and get a blocking order for access to the site, and also in relation to the funding involved.”

Pressed on whether that action had been threatened, she said: “We have issued warning letters, yes, to that effect.”

Ms Caulfield did not name the prediction markets involved.

However, users from Ireland are already prohibited from trading “event contracts” on the prediction market Kalshi, as per its membership agreement which also lists 55 other restricted countries.

One of the other main prediction markets, Polymarket, has seen restrictions in more than 30 countries including Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, the UK, and Poland – while it operates in the US with additional compliance measures.

In May, Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said he would ask gardaí, regulators and government departments to examine “suspicious bets” made on Polymarket.

He raised “grave concerns” around a “Wild West” of unregulated betting on the platform, as he said it would be prudent to examine if there was money laundering occurring.

His comments came after reports highlighted a million dollars worth of betting on the outcome of the Dublin Central by-election, with hundreds of thousands of that volume placed on Gerry “The Monk” Hutch not to win a seat – which is what transpired.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on behalf of any candidate.

Mr Harris said: “What seems to be developing at a global scale and indeed a rapid pace now is a kind of Wild West where people are placing bets in the form of cryptocurrency in a secretive, murky and unregulated manner.”

The post Irish Gambling Regulator Threatens Prediction Market with High Court Action appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.