Interviews
Mix it all up – how Playson strengthens its popular Hold and Win portfolio with its latest hit
There has been an influx of games over the past 12 months that use the compelling Hold and Win mechanic. With Playson’s newest slot on the block, Royal Joker: Hold and Win, likely to be a huge hit, why does this classic offering continue to be so revered amongst players? We spoke to Natalia Shkarbanova, Product Owner at Playson, to understand the inspiration behind Royal Joker and the future for this series of slots.
What inspired the creation of Royal Joker: Hold and Win?
We wanted to extend the experience of our hugely successful game Royal Coins 2: Hold and Win, and enhance it further with the attractive character and additional features that we have at our disposal. Since the game is based on the traditional 3×3 fruit theme, we selected a joker as the game’s main focus because he is a symbol commonly used within classic games and is very familiar to players, both new and experienced.
You can expect the joker to have a significant impact on the game’s output as his presence within the reels has the potential to mix up everything, and that’s exactly what he does in this new game. Meanwhile, a range of engrossing mechanics and crisp audio-visuals promise a truly engaging spectacle and we look forward to witnessing what sort of impact this game will have on the market.
Talk us through the gameplay, what are the key features that players can experience?
We’ve added the joker and his multi-player feature on top of the Hold and Win mechanic that was used in Royal Coins 2. This significantly diversifies the game and players can expect to go on a journey where bigger wins are more accessible.
The Bonus game has been strengthened with the inclusion of the Joker’s Multiplier feature. Any Joker symbols that appear on a specific cell during this game mode leave a x2 multiplier as a parting gift. As the Bonus game progresses, a Joker symbol that lands on a multiplier in the same place will increase the multiplier by one until the game stops.
There is also our interactive Pile of Gold feature, which can randomly trigger access to the Bonus Game during the main base game, as well as add symbols with x2 multiplier during the respins mode.
This is the latest addition to Playson’s “Royal” series of games. Why have previous hits such as Royal Coins 2: Hold and Win proved so successful?
These games offer an immersive bonus game experience that combines the advantages of the usual Hold and Win mechanic with the fact that the player can collect winnings from many coin symbols and is not limited by the size of the 3×3 game field.
As I touched upon previously, the Pile of Gold feature is a fantastic edition to our portfolio of slots. Players have been able to interact with this feature on some of our most renowned titles, and it has proven to be a real hit. This feature provides a different twist for players from other classic features they may find on other slots so it shows that we want to continue to innovate.
Royal Joker also marks the latest Playson game to feature the Hold and Win mechanic. How do you ensure each game is different to others and is appealing to players?
We have tried to preserve the much-loved and admired experience of Hold and Win games, but also adapt it to the limitations of a small but simple 3×3 field, turning it into a fantastic product for us as we continue to scale the heights of the iGaming world.
Our adaptations of the Hold and Win mechanic have been subtle, as we don’t want to forget the main theme and focus behind this captivating feature. However, we’ve now added multipliers, allowing players to have an infinite variety of positive experiences within a single product.
The biggest advantage about Hold and Win is the fact that it is a staple of casino games and has been for a long time, so players can easily recognise and relate to it. With players and operators expecting to see casino offerings evolve, the development of this mechanic has been a huge success for us.
Why would Royal Joker complement an operator’s existing casino offering?
Royal Joker is an enhanced and more volatile variation of Royal Coins 2, which proved to be a very successful project. Thanks to the overall package of this slot, the brilliant combination of engaging mechanics and beautiful aesthetics, we are confident it will deliver strong engagement for players. Operators can trust that Royal Joker will resonate with a wider audience.
Lastly, can you give us an indication on whether you have any plans to broaden your series of “Royal” games, as well as launch new Hold and Win variations?
We truly believe that the Hold and Win mechanic still has plenty to offer to players and we plan to expand our portfolio as the year unfolds. There are always discussions about broadening such a successful chapter of games like our “Royal” offering and there is great news on the horizon as Coin Strike, the next game in this enchanting series, will be released very soon.
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You’re the Founder and CTO of AmaraTech—what inspired you to start the company, and how has your journey shaped where you are today?
Our Story: Technology Innovation Born from Purpose:
AmaraTech IT Solutions, founded in 2020 in the Washington, DC metro area and expanding strategically into Africa, dedicated to transforming communities through technology. Our journey began with a profound experience in Liberia, a country riddled by 14 years of brutal civil war, witnessed the limitations on human potential and economic growth due to inadequate technology infrastructure. This experience sparked a deep commitment to making advanced technology accessible for all, enabling organizations to flourish amid challenges. We truly believe in technology’s amazing ability to empower and transform communities everywhere.
Intro Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wstteIwaSKk
What’s one big lesson you’ve learned as a founder that you wish you knew earlier?
Learning to say no as a founder is one of the most critical yet counterintuitive skills for startup success. The natural instinct is to say yes to every opportunity, partnership, feature request, and meetings, but this creates resource dilution, product confusion, and team fatigue that ultimately kills focus and progress. Startups with limited time, money, and energy must recognize that every “yes” is an implicit “no” to something else, and that niche dominance beats broad mediocrity. The cost of learning this lesson late includes providing so many products that confuse users, burning resources on low-impact initiatives, and missing opportunities in core focus areas. Successful founders develop “hell yes” criteria, create decision frameworks, practice graceful declines, and conduct regular priority audits to maintain laser focus. The paradox is powerful: saying no to more opportunities allows you to say a much bigger yes to what truly matters, creating clearer product vision, stronger team alignment, better resource utilization, and ultimately more fundable and successful business.
In your view, what makes great managed services today—and how do you bring that to life in the work you do?
At AmaraTech, we believe great managed services today go far beyond traditional IT support—they require proactive, AI-driven cybersecurity intelligence tool that prevents threats before they impact business operations. We deliver this through our integrated ecosystem approach, where cutting-edge threat detection, cloud infrastructure, and business applications work seamlessly together under 24/7 SOC monitoring. What sets AmaraTech apart is our commitment to being true strategic partners: we develop deep industry expertise to understand each client’s unique compliance requirements and operational challenges, then translate our technical capabilities into measurable business outcomes like revenue protection and competitive advantage.
Through transparent reporting, continuous innovation with leading cybersecurity vendors, and flexible engagement models that scale with growth, we don’t just manage technology—we architect security-first solutions that drive business success. When you partner with AmaraTech, you’re not getting a vendor; you’re gaining a cybersecurity-focused technology advisor dedicated to keeping your business protected, compliant, and positioned for innovation in an increasingly complex threat landscape. My passion for helping organizations embrace progressive technology drives successful business transformation and seamless technology integration, positioning our company as a leader in next-generation cybersecurity solutions.
Do you see any gaps in the tech industry that you think more companies should be addressing?
The cybersecurity industry urgently needs to develop AI-native security frameworks that can match the speed and sophistication of AI-powered attacks, which are scaling exponentially while traditional defenses remain linear. Current cybersecurity frameworks are built on reactive, signature-based models that cannot adapt fast enough to counter AI-generated attack variations, creating dangerous gaps in real-time threat response.
The industry must prioritize developing adaptive security architectures that integrate human expertise with AI-driven defense systems, democratize advanced security tools for organizations of all sizes, and establish rapid threat intelligence sharing networks that operate at machine speed. At AmaraTech, we’re addressing these framework gaps by building AI-enhanced security operations that evolve with threat patterns, making enterprise-grade adaptive defenses accessible through managed services, and creating collaborative intelligence systems that amplify human analyst capabilities rather than replacing them. The critical challenge is shifting from traditional periodic security updates to continuous, proactive AI-native frameworks that can defend against tomorrow’s threats today—because the window for reactive cybersecurity approaches is rapidly closing in an AI-accelerated threat landscape.
How do you keep up with the fast-changing tech landscape—especially when it comes to things like cybersecurity, compliance, or AI?
As cybersecurity threats evolve at unprecedented speed with AI-powered attacks and constantly shifting compliance requirements, AmaraTech maintains its competitive edge through a comprehensive intelligence ecosystem that combines strategic vendor partnerships, real-time threat monitoring through our Security Operations, and active participation in threat intelligence sharing communities. Our team maintains cutting-edge certifications while operating hands-on testing labs for emerging AI security technologies, ensuring we can rapidly assess, deploy, and scale new defensive measures across our client portfolio within hours of threat emergence. This systematic approach to continuous learning—from regulatory compliance partnerships to client-driven insights and internal knowledge sharing—positions us as a proactive cybersecurity advisor who anticipates and prepares for threats before they impact business operations. While many MSPs react to security incidents, our commitment to staying ahead of the threat landscape through multi-layered intelligence gathering and rapid adaptation capabilities ensures our clients receive protection against both current attacks and tomorrow’s emerging cyber challenges, making cybersecurity readiness a competitive advantage rather than a reactive necessity. It enables organizations to thrive in our increasingly connected, threat-aware digital landscape by fostering inclusive partnerships that bridge technology gaps and accelerate innovation adoption across diverse business sectors.
What’s coming up next for you and AmaraTech—any big plans, goals, or ideas you’re excited to roll out?
I’m currently leading the development of a groundbreaking AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to revolutionize security management for businesses and organizations through advanced technology integration and intelligent automation. This comprehensive solution leverages custom AI models built on cutting-edge large language models to enhance user interaction and automate complex security workflows, delivering protection through a dual-module architecture. The platform combines systematic Vulnerability Management—featuring automated assessment, structured remediation workflows, and continuous monitoring capabilities—with advanced Threat Intelligence that generates operation-specific insights tailored to each organization’s unique risk profile, industry sector, and business context. By delivering actionable threat intelligence for informed risk assessment and strategic remediation planning, this innovation empowers organizations to systematically identify, prioritize, and address security risks while maintaining regulatory compliance, ultimately improving overall security posture and delivering personalized cybersecurity experiences that create measurable business value across diverse client platforms.
The post HIPTHER Community Voices: Alieu Kamara – Founder and CTO of AmaraTech appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
It’s not just black and white label
Yoni Sidi, CEO at Wiztech, says white labels are all about striking the balance between pros and cons, but for some, it’s impossible to achieve and that’s why it’s important to consider other options.
For most operators, a white label solution seems to offer the best route to market. But is that actually the case?
I’ve been working in the industry for more than two decades now, and over that time, I’ve worked on both sides of the fence – so on the white label operator side and on the white label provider side. This gives me a deep understanding of the pros and cons of white label solutions, and this understanding ultimately led me to launch Wiztech. To answer your question more directly, white labels are always about striking the balance between the pros and cons they present – for some operators, a balance can be found, but for others, it can’t. Ultimately, it comes down to knowing what you want from your platform or technology stack, and whether a white label can meet those requirements with the budget and resources you have available to you.
So, what are the pros and cons of a white label platform?
There are plenty of upsides to white labels, and that’s why they’re used by so many operators. The main advantages are speed to market and cost effectiveness – you can literally go from first discussions to your online casino being live in a matter of weeks. The upfront fees are relatively small, and, in most cases, you pay a revenue share back to the platform provider. This can tighten margins a little, but it means you don’t have to have a large capital reserve to get going. Another benefit is that you can take on as much or as little of the operation as you like – for some, they will let the platform provider take care of the operational aspect while they focus solely on marketing and customer acquisition. Other upsides include licensing, with the white label partner securing and being responsible for the licences they hold.
Drawbacks. The biggest for me is the lack of differentiation you get with a white label. The many brands that run on the platform often look very much the same, just with different logos and branding. After a few months of operating your online casino, you’ll likely notice friction points that you’ll want to address, but the rigid nature of white-label platforms means it’s incredibly difficult to smooth out even the smallest of bumps in the road. It’s also incredibly difficult to roll out unique features and functionality as the development team is usually working through a backlog of requests – most of which are for the friction bumps that need ironing out. Factor in the frequent regulatory changes that happen, and the need for the development team to respond to them, and it’s easy to see how hard it can be to improve the experience being offered to players.
How can operators strike a balance between the pros and cons of white labels?
It comes down to understanding the capabilities of the platform provider and whether they offer customisation and localisation. If they don’t, the operator needs to determine if this is a price they’re willing to pay in exchange for the speed to market and cost effectiveness that white labels provide. Of course, some white label providers do offer support and are happy to help when it comes to developing and deploying bespoke features and functionality. But in my experience, most don’t have the capacity for this, even if they say they do. For me, the balance is found by accepting the limitations of white labels and working within the (often pretty rigid framework) they provide. There are plenty of examples of operators that have done this and have gone on to run very successful brands in highly competitive markets.
Is there an alternative to white labels?
The most obvious alternative is to develop a proprietary technology stack, but this approach comes with just as many, if not more, pitfalls. Building a platform from the ground up is incredibly expensive and tremendously risky, and this is why so few operators outside of the industry power players have been able to pull it off. And even those that do often encounter issues such as ongoing maintenance, tech debt, staffing and compliance. But there is a middle ground between white label and proprietary, and it can be found with smaller platform providers whose technologies offer the agility, flexibility and adaptability required for operators to launch highly customised, almost bespoke, online casinos and sportsbooks.
How does Wiztech fit into the platform mix, and how do you support your partners in achieving their goals in often highly competitive markets?
At Wiztech, we champion modular tech and the likes of AI and automation. By embracing these, we have been able to build powerful yet highly customisable casino and sportsbook solutions that are also fully compliant in tightly regulated markets. In our experience, being able to quickly respond to regulatory changes provides a competitive advantage to our customers. In Mexico, for example, our client Winpot has been able to deliver a unique player experience while always ensuring compliance. And this is against a backdrop where regulatory changes often come with very little notice. Our technology can adapt quickly while Winpot continues to capitalise on the growing demand for entertaining online casino products and experiences.
But just as important as our technology is our approach to our partners. This sees us undertake a comprehensive onboarding process where we spend a lot of time understanding the client’s “why” before we map out the “what” and the “how”. This has proved to be incredibly effective and ensures that our clients can get the most out of the flexibility of our platform and the high levels of customisation and personalisation it provides.
The post The White Label Dilemma: Finding the Right Balance for Your iGaming Business appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Interviews
The UX Revolution: Why Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Reflects the Industry’s Digital Shift
How Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Mirrors the Industry’s Shift Toward Seamless Digital Journey
The online gaming industry is a whirlwind of constant change, and to stay ahead, companies must evolve their digital presence. Juha Kauppinen, CEO of Gaming Corps, explains why the company’s recent website redesign was more than a simple visual update. It was a strategic move to better reflect the company’s growth, showcase its expanded portfolio, and create a seamless digital experience for partners and stakeholders.
What prompted the decision to redesign the website?
We had clearly come to a natural point in Gaming Corps’ growth, so the need for a redesign just naturally became obvious.
We’ve had many new game releases, record-breaking quarters, and the launch of our Remote Gaming Server, so it became clear to the team that we needed a website which better reflected who we are today.
It wasn’t just about a fresh look, it was about making it easier for partners to explore what we offer and connect with us in a more intuitive, seamless way.
How does the new site better reflect who you are as a business today compared to a year or two ago?
A year or two ago, we were still finding our footing and growing our portfolio.
But today, we’re a more established, ambitious company with a clear identity and vision. The new site reflects that shift – it’s more polished, more dynamic, and built to showcase not just our games, but our capabilities as a partner and platform provider.
What were the most important improvements you wanted to make during the redesign — and why were they important for your users or partners?
We wanted to ensure the website reflected how we present ourselves as a modern, innovative studio.
So, we now have a more modern, user-friendly design and a UX that’s more intuitive. What this means is that the site is easier to use, whether you’re a client, partner or stakeholder.
Speaking of partners, it’s now easier for them to understand what we do and explore our games.
We’re very proud of the Gaming Corps portfolio, so now we can showcase it much better, with clearer vertical distinctions between our Mine, Smash4Cash and Plinko games, etc.
When it comes to us as a company, we can now highlight our careers section to support our drive for talent acquisition and to keep growing our fantastic team.
Finally, the new site also gives more prominence to our investor relations, reflecting our position as a listed company and offering clarity on that.
Were there any common pain points, feedback, or gaps in the old site that influenced your approach to the new one?
The main product offering wasn’t clear to partners or visitors. The site design felt outdated and more suited to an early-stage company, and those days are long behind us now.
Our investor relations content wasn’t visible or prioritised enough, considering that we’re a PLC, and existing partners weren’t highlighted.
The old site just didn’t reflect who we are, what we do and what we can do. The new one does all of those things.
How important is your website today in terms of attracting or informing potential partners, clients, or stakeholders? Has that role changed in recent years?
Our website has become a much more important touchpoint for us, especially as we’ve grown internationally and have expanded what we offer to our B2B clients.
Our site is often the first chance we get to make an impression on potential partners or stakeholders, so it needs to communicate who we are, what we offer, and where we’re going.
The role of our website has evolved – it’s no longer just a digital brochure; it’s a core part of how we connect and do business.
What would you say to other companies in the B2B iGaming space thinking about refreshing their digital presence?
Don’t underestimate the impact of a strong digital presence, because it’s more than just visuals.
It’s about clarity, usability, and showing your value at a glance.
Also, involve your people from across the company early on, as this helps create something that truly reflects your brand and speaks to your audience.
The post The UX Revolution: Why Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Reflects the Industry’s Digital Shift appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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