"Habanero will continue to look for new markets to move into"

In an exclusive interview with Yogonet, Vera Motto, Business Development Executive, spoke about the Habanero’s plans for the future which include two more games to release before Christmas, and traveling to Argentina, Spain, Italy to attend industry-related events. 

What can you tell us about the products you're planning to launch in the coming months?

We have just released Colossal Gems, which is our 100th slot. It’s also one of our most visually interesting and innovative games to date, so we are all thrilled with that. When you work in an industry that moves as quickly as iGaming, you never make the mistake of letting your rivals know what you have planned. Habanero prides itself on creating content that is of the highest level and fans of our games can rest assured that there is much more to come before the end of the year.

What can both operators and players alike expect to see from you in terms of product development?

We have two more games to release before Christmas, both of which will live up to player expectations as we continue to make the most of advancements in technology, both software and hardware, to create spectacular slots while still using classic frameworks. Maths models and engaging narratives are crucial to creating the most exciting titles and we’re constantly pushing ourselves to ensure we meet the tough targets we set ourselves.

Which jurisdictions do you feel currently offer the most potential for gaming growth?

At the moment Spain ticks a lot of boxes. The legislation is thorough yet workable and works to protect not only player, but also suppliers and operators. We’re already looking ahead to our goals in 2020 and forming partnerships with operators within the country is certainly on the agenda. Of course, we won’t limit ourselves to Spain alone. There are a number of other jurisdictions in which we will be moving into or expanding within, including the Baltics, the UK, Malta, Scandinavia and large parts of Latin America.

What is going to be your strategy this year to out-perform competitors and grow your market share?

It’s going to be a case of continuing to add quality and engaging titles to our portfolio. We are punching well above our weight in comparison to big-name studios because our games are of such high quality. We will continue to look for new markets to move into and I guess it’s a case of continuing to ‘scale up’ our operations as we go. Another reason for us competing with bigger and more established providers is our ability to make fast, smart decisions. We are very reactive and aren’t scared to push ahead with new ideas or adapt current ones to suit client needs.

In your opinion, which will be the most prominent topics to be debated in the aisles at G2E and off the show floor?

It’s not necessarily the most interesting discussion, but the one on everyone’s lips is still regulation. As more parts of the U.S. open themselves up to online gambling, it will be interesting to see which States take which approach and how operators react when it comes to showing their cards and making their plays to capitalize. But if you head south there’s just as much interest in LatAm as political changes down there open doors and, in some cases, close them.

Are you planning to attend any other industry-related events soon?

Plans are already well underway for SiGMA Malta 2019 and ICE London 2020 both sure to be as popular as ever with both suppliers, operators and just about everybody else linked to the industry attending. Of course, quality events are now put on around the world and we’ll be traveling to Argentina, Spain, Italy and wherever else we feel there will be value in us attending. We will certainly be topping up the airmiles!

You’ve recently launched Colossal Gems and Nuwa slots. What can you tell us about the market performance of both products so far? Do you have further launches coming ahead?

Colossal Gems is our 100th slot, so we were already excited about that release. Thankfully the market performance behind it backs up our excitement and it has gone down really well with players in a whole host of different markets. It’s the same story with Nuwa and I guess it’s testament to the quality of our slots portfolio that our games do so well upon release.