Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and what is your role at G Games?
I’m currently the Lead Mathematician at G, supplying all the boring numbers & the unearthly mechanics to unite an electrifying product out of it. Actually, that’s my secondary role here. My primary role of course is to complain about almost everything, and make everyone rework on every aspect of the product to … well… I’m not always promising it makes it better but at least huge care and attention has been lavished on it!
How did you first start in the gambling industry? What were the initial challenges?
Fresh from post-grad, I got offers from two different industries, but the profile describing ‘Mathematician” from SG (one of the leading global providers of lottery and iGaming) made me feel like this was the job for me. I’ve always loved problem solving and combinatorics – although to be honest, I’d no idea what I was getting into at that time. The journey from being one of the worst coders ever to enjoying it came from beginning to master the art of simulation. That hooked me to the psychological world of design, and I think that’s when I really fell in love with my work.
With so many game studios on the market, what do you think is the biggest differentiator for G Games?
Even though over the past few years the number of studios in the market has risen, it’s really hard for most of them to think long-term about product strategy. Instead they focus on getting out barely finished product as quickly as possible to the easiest operators for quick cash. I understand the short-term tactical requirement, but short term always bites you in the end. G has had plenty of challenges and trade-offs to make, but we’ve always tried to focus on our priorities to deliver not only to our clients, but also to ourselves. Having lots of amazing ideas is great – knowing which one to double down on – that’s the hard bit!
Can you please tell us what is the slot with the most Big Wins from G Games? We are sure our readers would like to give it a spin, if they haven’t already.
We’ve a lot of 5,000 x stake wins in our games – the biggest win though is Million Book where you can win €1m from just a 1€ stake. That’s not a progressive – it’s a top prize – so it’s available on every single spin!
What are your top 3 favorite slots from G Games? Can you please tell us the reasons behind your choices?
I’d go for Fishing Trawler, as it’s definitely the best fish game in the market and those who really know their slots agree! Age of Athena is also one of our best games in recent times, as the player data shows! And finally Cheeky Fruits Deluxe, well why not? It’s THE most popular game of G, and it shows absolutely no signs of losing its popularity!
What is the most important aspect of a slot from your perspective?
That’s something I get asked a lot, and I’ll keep on saying, nothing matters more than how well you present the anticipation of a particular game. I’ve seen amazingly well detailed (with heavy art) games fail, while simple structured games having just one feature break all sorts of records. Of course, a detailed well-themed game matters, but if the game doesn’t have the basic juice flowing, the player won’t even press the spin button the second time.
Is there any way to predict if a slot is going to be a hit or not?
Humans have tried. Failed. AI tried. Failed. So no, we can’t predict if the slot will be a hit or not, but we can definitely maximize or increase its probability of making it a success. A lot of small things matter in slots, and if we can work on polishing and honing it with a running prototype, we can improve the product drastically. Most slots out there which have failed are basically unfinished slots. You take any random slot, change the anticipation numbers, and redefine the theme and boom! – it’s likely to perform way better than the failed slot we were just talking about.
Looking to the future, what is the next big release G Games is planning?
We’re cooking a lot of things right now, but the thing I’m super excited about is a Slot which we recently started working on. A fresh mechanic that is yet to be explored in the online market, which I’ve full confidence in. I wish I could tell you more about it, but you have to wait until June, ’23 (fingers crossed!!)
Do you have any advice for those who would like to work in the gambling/ e-gaming industry?
Gambling/iGaming is booming right now. But with that comes increased competition, squeezed margins and a glut of poorly finished product. The past few years have proved that slots studios aren’t innovating/inventing enough to make a step change. It’s really important that we get people who care about the product. The industry needs really good Slot Designers and Artists with fresh ideas, commitment and the ability to learn from the data. If you get an opportunity in the industry, from Art to Dev to Product, seize it! For those who work hard and want to learn, there are amazing opportunities.
If you weren’t in the gambling industry, what other industry would you want to work in?
I think I’d either be in the sports or education industry. I still see myself in one of those in my distant future, but for the next decade I think I’ve a lot of unfinished business here.
Is there anything you would like to transmit to those who support G Games, before we say goodbye?
For everyone who’s supported G, I can assure you that our best is yet to come. I can guarantee you that if you’ve liked our work so far, you’re gonna love what’s coming. You have my word.