Mr. Gamble Interview With Anastasios Ioannidis, Head of Affiliates at Pragmatic Play

Today, we sit down for a candid conversation with Anastasios Ioannidis, Head of Affiliates at Pragmatic Play. As one of the biggest casino software providers in one of the most competitive industries, Pragmatic Play knows what it takes to stay in the game (no pun intended).

Thanks for joining us! The industry tends to move so fast, it feels as though one year in the real world equates to five years in iGaming. How has the casino space changed since Pragmatic Play first launched in 2015?

Thank you for having me! Since 2015, the iGaming industry has seen an explosion in game suppliers and studios, particularly in the slots category. Additionally, live casino offerings have expanded significantly, with live game shows becoming a popular choice alongside traditional games like Blackjack and Roulette. This expansion has led to a greater variety of choices for players.

Pragmatic Play has managed to stand out by releasing up to nine high-quality slot games monthly, along with exciting new live casino titles, crash games, and other popular products.

On that note, can you share any details of recent and upcoming game launches?

Pragmatic Play kicked off 2024 with some fantastic new games. Loki’s Riches, Big Bass Floats My Boat, and Pompeii Megareels Megaways™ are recent top performers. The latest addition to the iconic Big Bass series landed in March with the launch of Big Bass Day at the Races. This was followed closely by water-themed adventure Beware The Deep Megaways™.

Sugar Rush 1000, Fire Portals, and The Dog House – Dog or Alive are also ones to watch. Sugar Rush 1000 is based on the multi-award-winning Sugar Rush game but features bigger multipliers and wins of up to 25,000x the bet. Fire Portals is an original 7x7 Slot with an exciting new wild feature present in the base game and bonus round. The Dog House – Dog or Alive extends another popular Pragmatic Play game series, leading the much-loved canine characters into a classic Western adventure.

And that’s just slot games. In the coming months, Pragmatic Play will launch a new type of bingo game, add a third title to its crash portfolio, and continue to grow live casino while bolstering other products.

For many casino developers, online slots remain the bread and butter. Pragmatic Play, on the other hand, tends to diversify its game library and has enjoyed success with a range of products. Is this driven by research or experimentation?

Pragmatic Play aims to be everyone’s favourite supplier across a range of products. As the business has grown, so too has its portfolio. Slots remain an important focus, but there’s so much going on across other products, not least live casino and sportsbook.

Every new product launch is accompanied by a degree of experimentation – especially when an original concept is being introduced – but Pragmatic Play’s multi-product offering is based in large part on player and operator demand.

The term “fair play” keeps popping up more and more in the industry. How does Pragmatic Play ensure the play is indeed fair?

This is arguably the most important topic in the industry, so it should always be at the forefront of the conversation. All games released by Pragmatic Play are independently tested and certified to ensure they are fair to play. The games are also licensed in regulated markets around the world, meaning they meet stringent regulatory controls designed to protect players.

Before all of this, each new game undergoes rigorous testing over millions of spins or rounds to calculate the RTP and ensure that the hit rates are accurate.

It's worth keeping in mind that, like any supplier, Pragmatic Play wants players to enjoy its games over the long term – and that means the gameplay needs to offer excitement and reward. Fair play is integral.

Thanks for answering the questions! Any last words of advice or encouragement to the players and fans who are reading this?

Pragmatic Play aims for diversity on a large scale, delivering games to a wide range of players that explore different themes, mechanics, features, volatilities, and so much more. With such a vast selection of new games coming this year, there is plenty to look forward to in terms of diverse and original gameplay.