Free Slots
Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and what is your role at Playson?
I’m Vsevolod Lapin, the Chief Operating Officer at Playson. I joined the company in 2017 as a Product Manager, before being promoted to Head of Product Development just eight months later. As the COO, it’s my job to oversee the company’s administrative and operational functions. This involves planning our product portfolio, streamlining our production process and increasing our presence in key markets around the world.
How did you first start in the gambling industry? What were the initial challenges?
In truth, Playson is the first company I joined within the gambling space, so everything I know and have learnt about iGaming has been during my time here. When I started as a Product Manager, my role focused on building Jackpots and Tournaments promo tools. So the initial challenge was trying to connect these with the needs of our customers, whilst ensuring they’re interesting for players. It was a great opportunity to dive deeper into commercial areas of the business, as well as technical parts – it provided a good overview of products, customers and players.
Another challenge was trying to step into the shows of players and understand what they feel when playing slots. By doing this, I found that I was really enjoying the games and grasped a better knowledge about player preferences.
With so many game studios on the market, what do you think is the biggest differentiator for Playson?
We have quite a wide offering but for us it’s all about quality over quantity. It’s all about giving fans the best gaming experience, and this includes a high standard of graphics and the most immersive features. A prominent part of our offering, and arguably one of our differentiators, is the renowned Hold and Win mechanics that amplify our slots. These mechanics are always very attractive to players as they elevate the captivating Bonus games we have on offer.
Can you please tell us what Playson slot produces the biggest wins? We are sure our readers would like to give it a spin, if they haven’t already.
Every release gives players the chance to win big but those that like high volatility games may want to try Hit the Bank: Hold and Win or our latest addition, the furry Bozo Cats.
The mafia-themed game contains a thrilling Hold and Win Bonus Game which offers unlimited respins, a range of boosters and an outstanding x20,000-win multiplier.
Meanwhile, our furry friends deliver an exciting experience with a host of exciting features. Such as a Free Spins Gamble that offers up to five upgrades, all players have to do is choose one of three coins. Up for grabs is three additional Free Spins, two guaranteed Sticky Wilds and x2 multiplier to Wild symbols.
What are your top 3 favorite slots from Playson? Can you please tell us about the reasons behind your choices?
With a portfolio of more than 80 games, it’s hard to pick a top three as every release is created with the same level of passion. Although, if I had to pick just three, I would go for Royal Coins 2: Hold and Win, Solar Queen and Pirate Chest: Hold and Win.
Royal Coins 2 is a top performer on many markets and a continuation of a very successful slot, while Solar Queen is the game that put Playson on the map and showed the world how innovative we can be – setting a standard for our mechanics and artwork. Lastly, Pirate Chest: Hold and Win is one of our newest releases and arguably the most feature-packed out of the three. This captivating game demonstrates our quality and growth as a supplier and sees us start 2023 in the right way.
What is the most important aspect of a slot from your perspective?
As any great supplier knows, strong mathematics and engaging mechanics are the most crucial part of a slot – get this right and you’ve created a strong foundation for what could be a captivating slot. In order to maximize engagement, it’s crucial that your artwork, animations and themes are as sharp as they can be, giving players an eye-catching playing experience. Meanwhile, a world-class user-interface promises a fantastic mobile-first experience, one that merges familiar mechanics and keeps players engaged.
Is there any way to predict if a slot is going to be a hit or not?
We believe every release has the capacity to become a hit, and if this wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t release it. Game development is a sophisticated process, starting from a variety of ideas and ending with many fine details that perfect the title.
We often have a lot of big ideas in our plans but obviously not all of them are brought to life. When choosing to go ahead with a concept, there’s a lot to consider such as mathematics, graphics and sound. We want to know that the release will resonate with a wide range of players and often you must make a hard decision by progressing with only one idea. It’s important to pick games that we know will satisfy the everlasting demand of global players.
As an experienced supplier we rely on the analytics we have at our disposal, including our knowledge of land-based casinos and understanding of the latest market trends. With all this, we’re in a good position to continue meeting demands with every new release.
Looking to the future, what is the next big release Playson is planning?
While it’s not a game, our Short Races promotional tool is an exciting new launch and something we’re really excited to reveal later in Q1 2023. This brilliant feature delivers several short-lived competitions that promise an engaging playing session, with highly motivating prize pools that can be won at almost any time.
The tool appeals to the short attention span of modern players – like short episodes on Netflix, everything is fast and clear. The new launch features the same win mechanics you’ll find in fast-paced tournaments which have proven to be very popular.
Do you have any advice for those who would like to work in the gambling/ e-gaming industry?
The industry is built on talented people, outstanding products, and a variety of strong relationships. It’s quite a saturated industry, so it’s important that you hire the best in-class to produce the products that set you apart. It’s also vital that you maintain high standards with every single release, this ensures growth and allows you to climb towards the summit of tier-one suppliers.
Most crucially is the partnerships you form, whether this is an operator, contractor, or studio – the best content in unison. By working with other companies that provide different services, you’ll gain a better understanding of the industry, player preferences and product performance.
Is there anything you would like to transmit to those who support Playson, before we say goodbye?
Just that we’re glad to have amassed a wide range of followers and hope to continue pleasing everyone throughout 2023. We’re always evolving and feel we’re on the right track to establish ourselves as a prominent supplier in a highly competitive industry. We’ll carry on exciting you with a host of thrilling titles and promotions.