The iGaming industry has evolved far beyond spinning reels and flashy win screens. Today, it’s a rapidly shifting space where player expectations define innovation. Creativity, data, and emotional design have become central to building not just games — but experiences.

We sat down with Gabor, Chief Product Officer at DreamPlay, to discuss what modern slot development really means, how ideas transform into products, and why the future belongs not to games that are simply entertaining — but to those that resonate.

What makes a slot competitive today — math, visuals, gameplay, or a combination of factors? And which matters most?

Gabor: A great game is like an orchestra: you need every instrument playing in harmony or the whole thing falls apart.

The math and design are the heart and soul of every game — without them, even the best art is just a pretty face. Today’s players also expect to be entertained: strong pacing, polished audiovisuals, and features that feel meaningful, not gimmicky.

I always say that one of the challenges of creating great slots is that you have to be able to tell a whole story just through a push of the button — making them feel exciting while being simple and smooth for the player, but this means a lot of complexity for the creator.

So the real magic happens when everything clicks together. The best slots feel effortless, but behind that effortlessness is a very deliberate balance of math, flow, visuals, and just the right level of innovation.”

When working on a new release, what helps you shape the product vision before development even begins?

Gabor: Ideas can come from anywhere – a family vacation, a conversation, a movie, a meme, pretty much anything you can think of.

Creativity thrives when everyone on the team can chip in with their own ideas – we actively encourage that.

But inspiration alone isn’t enough. Every game needs a clear purpose. Is it pushing boundaries? Refreshing a classic theme? Continuing a successful series? We always start by defining the ‘why.’

Then we let data and experience meet in the middle. When the numbers support the idea and our collective instincts say ‘yes, this will work,’ that’s when a concept becomes a vision worth building.”

Do you see potential for an even closer integration of video games and slots, or are they still two different markets?

Gabor:There’s definitely potential — and honestly, the two worlds have been borrowing from each other for years. iGaming has embraced progression systems, more complex storytelling, achievements… while video games picked up loot boxes and other elements from gambling.

They will never fully merge, because the motivations and regulations are different, but there is clearly much more overlap than 10–15 years ago when these two industries were completely different. Today’s players grew up with games that blend entertainment, challenge, psychology, and reward, and they

expect a different form of entertainment than previous generations.

So we’re moving from ‘old-school gambling’ toward ‘interactive entertainment with a gambling core.’ And that trend will only continue.

Is the industry truly ready for bold experimentation, or does it still prefer playing safe?

Gabor: This is where it gets interesting. The industry loves talking about innovation and bold ideas – but in reality, the audience is still quite conservative. Most players enjoy evolution, not revolution.

We’ve seen a few big hits like Megaways and crash games, but they didn’t throw the core DNA of gambling out the window. These mechanics are mainly focused on enhanced entertainment value and presentation.

So yes, there’s room to experiment, but true format-breaking innovations tend to become niche and usually struggle to gain wider traction. The sweet spot is pushing boundaries without losing the essence of why players show up in the first place.”

What was your first step in iGaming, and when did you realize this was your industry?

Gabor: My start was completely unplanned. I moved to Israel from Hungary at 26, didn’t speak Hebrew yet, and was looking for any English-speaking job. A friend worked at an online casino, said they were hiring, and I thought, ‘Perfect, something temporary to help me get settled, I will find a proper job once my Hebrew improves.”

I have never even tried finding a ‘proper job’ afterward. That ‘temporary’ role turned into a 15+ year career across multiple countries, teams, and roles across casino management and game production — and I’ve loved every minute of it.

This industry is fast, sometimes (often) chaotic, but full of brilliant people and challenges that keep you sharp. Even after all these years, I still wake up excited about what we’re building. It’s hard to imagine doing anything else at this point.”

Final Takeaway

The iGaming industry continues its transformation — not just technologically, but emotionally. As Gabor pointed out throughout our conversation, the future belongs not to those who release the most games, but to those who understand what players truly feel.

We’re seeing a shift toward more immersive, meaningful experiences — where design, psychology, and data work together to create lasting engagement.

And it’s leaders like Gabor — and companies like DreamPlay — who are moving the industry forward, proving that innovation isn’t just about features or mechanics… it’s about connection.

Dream Play’s most recent releases and upcoming products here:

👉 Dream Play

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Have you ever seen a banana and an ostrich fused together to form the ultimate creature? In Nolimit City’s latest release, Bizarre, peek into the window of Dr. Bizarre’s wild experiments. This slot falls under the eccentric category of Nolimit City slots such as Munchies, Outsourced and Ugliest Catch.

Reel Area

The farm has been… busy. Bizarre plays out on a 4-4-4-4-4 layout across 5 reels, with a number of variations of xSplit® that can land as either a single symbol or as a 4-row-high symbol, which may appear partially or fully visible. When it lands it splits all symbols on the same row, doubles its size and acts as a Wild symbol after doing so.

Chimera Spins

Dr. Bizarre’s breakthrough experiments begin here. Landing 3 Scatter Symbols will trigger 3 Chimera Spins where a scatter on the middle of the reel will transform into a Wild that remains sticky throughout the feature.

Before the bonus round begins, the middle reels spin individually. During this spin Wild symbols, extra spin symbols or empty symbols can land. When Wild or extra spin symbols land then it stays on its position and a respin is awarded. This continues until new extra spin or Wild symbols land.

If Wild symbols land then it will remain sticky throughout the feature. If a Wild is split by an xSplit® symbol then it gets a multiplier that also remains sticky for the entire feature.

Super Chimera Spins

Funding groundbreaking monstrosities isn’t cheap. Landing 2 Scatter Symbols and a Super Scatter in the base game will trigger 3 Super Chimera. In addition to Chimera Spins features, all Scatter Symbols will transform into Wild symbols and will remain sticky throughout the Super Chimera Spins.

Coinage

To take his experiments to the next level Dr. Bizarre needs to collect some coins. In Coinage, only coins with the multiplier values and special symbols can land. If any positions are empty after a spin then a respin is awarded. When the feature ends, the sum of all the multiplier values are added before multiplying the base bet. The coin values are: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000.

Special symbols can land during Coinage:

• Collector – Collects the total value of all visible coins and removes them. The used Collector remains on the reel and if another Collector lands it will also collect the value of the previous Collector.
• xSplit® – Splits all coins and Collectors on its row and doubles their values.
• Scatters – When 3 Scatters are collected, it triggers Chimera Spins after the Coinage feature ends. If one of the 3 Scatters is a Super Scatter, it will trigger Super Chimera Spins.

Extra Spin

Extra Spin is back! When Chimera Spins or Super Chimera Spins are triggered, players might get the opportunity to purchase an additional spin at the end of the round. The additional spin will keep the Wild symbol along with its multiplier value of the previous spin. The cost of the spin will be calculated based on the Wild symbol multipliers. If the cost of the Extra Spin is less than or equal to the total win, then the Extra Spin opportunity will be presented.

Nolimit Boosters

The final phase of Dr. Bizarre’s experiments are quite the sight to behold, especially with these Nolimit Boosters:

• xBoost – guaranteed a Scatter symbol on the second reel. The guaranteed Scatter might be a Super Scatter. (3 times more likely to hit Chimera/ Super Chimera Spins).
• Bonus Hunt – 49 times more likely to activate Chimera Spins/Super Chimera Spins. During this mode, only Scatters or empty symbols can land with a maximum of 1 Super Scatter.

The monsters are now Dr. Bizarre’s rise to fame. Bizarre has a maximum payout of 20,000x the base bet. Bizarre is rated as “Extremely Volatile” delivering the thrilling high-stakes gameplay that Nolimit City fans know and love.

Per Lindheimer, Head of Product at Nolimit City, said: “Mixing animals with fruits is something we like to talk about on a daily basis at Nolimit City. Dr. Bizarre is a crazy mofo with ambitions of fame and power. Chimera Spins and Coinage are features we’ve developed specifically for this game and hope that players will enjoy these freaky experiments”

‘Bizarre’ will be available to all Nolimit City partners on November 18th, 2025.

The post Nolimit City breaks into the lab of a mad scientist in its latest release, Bizarre appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

EGT is proud to announce that it is an official partner of the “Gaming Industry Gala Dinner”, organized by the Association of Organizers of Gambling Games and Activities in Bulgaria (AOGGAB) with the support of EUROMAT. The event will be held on November 25 and for the third consecutive year will bring together leading companies and figures from Bulgaria and abroad.

The motto of the gala dinner will be “Together in Europe” and will focus on European integration, professional collaboration, and a shared vision for a sustainable future of the industry.

Traditionally, the “Golden Spade’s” Awards will also be presented during the event. The prizes honor the greatest innovations and the most significant achievements in the sector over the past 12 months. EGT is among the finalists in the competition and will compete for the accolade in the “Most Successful Bulgarian Company Abroad of the Year” and “Slot Machine of the Year” categories.

EGT received the nomination for “Most Successful Bulgarian Company Abroad of the Year” as it is the biggest gaming equipment manufacturer in Bulgaria with 28 international offices on 5 continents. In 2025, it made a large number of installations and substantially increased its footprint in a number of markets. Currently, EGT’s products are present in over 100 jurisdictions around the world.

The company is also a contender for the “Slot Machine of the Year” award. It was shortlisted because of its latest series of slot cabinets Supreme, including 4 models – S 32-32 UP, S 32-32 ST, S 55 S ST, and S 55 V ST. They immediately received high praise from both operators and players for the perfect combination of attractive design, exceptional convenience provided by their numerous ergonomic features, and compatibility with some of the most popular and beloved games from EGT’s portfolio. Supreme slot cabinets have already been installed in a number of gaming venues globally, where they continue to demonstrate excellent results and remain among customers’ favorites.

The post EGT is an official partner of the prestigious “Gaming Industry Gala Dinner”, organized by AOGGAB appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.