"This year, Slotegrator decided to be at ICE because we are continuing our work from the great results we had in 2022"

With the new edition of ICE London 2023 in early February (7 - 9, at ExCel London), the gambling industry will be reunited once again for what promises to be the biggest edition on record of the major event, set to gather the main stakeholders of the sector under one roof. Slotegrator is among them, ready to showcase its latest iGaming solutions.

The company’s Business Development Manager, Ayvar Gabidullin, spoke in an exclusive interview with Yogonet about what to expect from the event, what will Slotegrator showcase at its stand, and what new trends will gain momentum in the iGaming sector this year.

Slotegrator is set to exhibit at the upcoming ICE London edition. What will the company focus on this time around, and what products will it showcase?

We are looking forward to ICE 2023 in London. This time, we are not only presenting our innovative solutions, including our turnkey online casino platform and Telegram Casino solution — an alternative front-end to the classic gambling platform in the most popular mobile messenger — but we will also raffle them off to ICE 2023 participants.

We’re going to hold a lottery with incredible prizes: the third place will win a 100% discount on the set-up for integration of providers (except for those providers that require individual set-up); second place will go home with our Telegram Casino solution; and we’ll give first place our unique turnkey online casino platform absolutely free. It’s easy to participate in the lottery – just leave your contacts at Slotegrator’s booth, N6-250, and get the promoter's number. 

Given ICE London’s status as one of the industry’s major global events, what are your expectations for the expo?

We think that the event will be amazing. Last year we canceled our scheduled participation in ICE London 2022 due to the situation in Ukraine. Our priorities were focused on supporting our employees and their loved ones.

This year we've decided to be at ICE 2023 because we are continuing to do our work and we have great results in 2022. We improved our products in 2022: our new platform and Telegram Casino solution. We also strengthened our market position and entered new regions. The overall strategy was to continue to grow the gambling industry by doing what we know how to do, and we’ve managed with it.

We will be happy to meet customers and partners, and exchange ideas and views on the future of the gambling sphere. We believe that ICE 2023 will be very exciting!

Slotegrator said it is expecting to discuss “upcoming trends” in the iGaming industry with attendees. What are your customers most interested in learning about at the moment?

There are the TOP priorities, according to our customer survey:

1. Expansion into new markets with innovative products (obtaining appropriate licenses and launching online casinos with convenient and multifunctional platforms).

2. Expanding our partner base and game lineup (working with a reliable partner base and regular renewal of the game portfolio).

3. The implementation of innovations into gambling products (in the current era of digitalization, there is a constant stream of innovations that can improve platforms, games, etc.)

There are some specific trends regarding games:

Live dealer games

• Customization. Personalization options allow operators to recreate the atmosphere of their favorite casino in the digital space. 

• New hardware. New technologies go hand-in-hand with iGaming. VR/AR is one good example; virtual casinos are already catching on, and if increasing development lowers costs, VR casinos could become more and more accessible to wider audiences of players.

RNG games

• RNG games will remain ubiquitous. In order to attract players, you should pay attention not only to large providers but also to new ones, which sometimes enter the market with exciting new game offerings.

• Built-in retention features. Players will continue to respond positively to games that have built-in step-by-step player attraction features such as special game rounds, pressing certain buttons to get rewards, and getting different types of bonuses. 

• Diversified game offering. Betting companies will continue to expand their game portfolio, as well as the varieties of games themselves. That way they can always offer their players a fresh gaming experience.

Crash games

• New game mechanics. Players (especially the new generation) really appreciate new mechanics in games, unseen ways, exciting challenges. One of the most popular new mechanics offers the player a greater sense of control over the game they are playing. 

• NFT and blockchain-based games. Entertaining, tactical and easy to play, crash games take players on a unique journey that's made all the more thrilling thanks to advanced augmented reality. Originating from the video gaming industry, this format became popular in crypto casinos, due to its simplicity and exciting gambling experience. These games may have unusual features that set them apart from many other online games.

You can learn more about these trends here. 

What has the reception the Telegram Casino and the new Turnkey platform received last year been like, and what are their key features?

Last year, these two products became the most popular in our lineup. The platform’s new and updated modules offer everything casino and sportsbook operators need for success. Among the most important updates are:

• The Casino Builder, which allows quick and easy frontend design and alteration.

• The Business Intelligence module, which provides statistics and analytics from the platform.

• The Risk Management module, which helps prevent suspicious behavior and fraud.

• The Bonus module, which allows the user to create and change bonuses and loyalty programs.

• The KYC module, which enables a fast and smooth verification process.

And the other solution – Telegram Casino – is an alternative to the standard gambling platform, available through the popular mobile application and designed to reach an entirely new niche of players. Telegram Casino can be launched as an independent project or as an addition to the web version of the online casino.

One indisputable advantage at launch is the low cost of promotion, because Telegram has no restrictions. As a communication channel, Telegram is a multi-platform application with tools and functions that don’t exist in other messengers. With Telegram Casino, operators have the opportunity to attract new audience segments, and users can improve their gaming experience on mobile devices. You can learn more here.

In general, these two products are kept up to date. In 2023, we have ambitious plans to enhance them with several new updates.

The year has started strong for Slotegrator, which in addition to ICE also showcased its products at SiGMA Africa. What makes land-based expos important for the company? Do you plan to attend any other industry events soon?

It’s true. In January we were at SiGMA Africa first. Africa’s most attractive iGaming markets are Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa (the continent’s largest market, with a GGR projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2023).

Offline events are important to our team and the iGaming industry. When companies work online and communicate mainly via emails and phone calls, it becomes even more important to keep personal contact and have a chance to see clients and partners live.

This year we are going to ICE London, iGB Amsterdam, SBC Summit Barcelona, SiGMA Europe, and during the year this list will keep growing.