Christos Zoulianitis is the Director of market strategy at Playson and will be joining us this week for iGaming Talks.
He will share insights on Playson’s leading role in the iGaming industry, its primary goals, regulatory issues, obstacles and company strengths.
TheGamblest: Playson has continued to secure its position as a leading slot supplier in the last year. Can you share some highlights from the past year?
Chrisos: Playson has continued to amaze the gaming world with its accomplishments, even surpassing our own. Over the last year we’ve exceeded all of our expectations. Our people are the secret to the success of the company. They strive for the best in gaming content. The positive culture that we’ve created also reaches out to our partners as we focus on long-lasting partnerships and listen to what they need. It is not only a result of last year’s success, but also the hard work we have put in over the years to achieve this position and create top-notch games which make a difference on the market.
The highlights of last year are many. It’s hard to pick one. There were many games that we released. Coin Strike:Hold and Win was a big hit in the majority of markets where we are active. 3 Pot Riches Hold and win also became a top game in places we did not expect. Energy Coins Hold andWin, and Diamonds Power Hold andWin, were other popular games. We also launched Short Races and got a lot of good feedback both from the players and the operators.
TheGamblest: You were recently promoted to the role of Director of Market Strategy at Playson, after more than five years at the company. What is your vision for this new role and what learnings will you take from your previous positions at the company?
Christos :I began this year wearing new shoes. After five years of working in various roles at Playson I was appointed Director. After many years in account management and the sales department, I feel that my understanding of the needs and wants of our partners and colleagues has improved.
As Director, my vision is to see Playson continue its successful journey in our industry and achieve even more success over the coming years.
TheGamblest: What are your aims for Playson in the coming year?
Christos Playson already has a strong presence on the global market. I want to continue this and strengthen its position in our current markets. I want to expand our reach into new, exciting markets.
A second goal is to share Playson’s culture with the entire gaming industry by making all existing and prospective partners a member of our community. Playson’s mission is to make gaming fun. Playson has created a community of passionate gamers who share a goal: to create the best possible gaming content using their technology innovations.
TheGamblest: What markets are Playson currently focused on and how do they fit into your wider growth strategy?
Christos:Playson enters new markets each year as it pursues rapid growth in many jurisdictions. We were awarded the Gibraltar license at the end last year. Our main focus now is on working with the market leaders who operate under the licence. Our expansion will continue into LatAm and Ontario in Canada.
TheGamblest: Regulation is becoming more stringent across the global iGaming landscape. What are the biggest challenges faced by suppliers in 2024?
Christos:The regulatory parameter becomes stricter each year. However, I don’t believe that this is the biggest problem for providers. It is better to have strict regulations than no regulation at all. The difficulty is more likely to come from the numerous new rules that must be implemented during the certification process. Playson’s compliance team has shown that it is easy to adapt to regulatory changes. However, this may not be true for smaller providers or those with less resources.
TheGamblest: Personalisation is a key strength of your offering to operators and players. Can you share more about Playson’s capabilities in this area and how you will enhance them going forward?
Playson provides multiple options to partners for personalisation. Our promos can be run alongside the logo of their company or we can change it to suit different holidays, like Christmas, Halloween, sports events and other themes. I believe that our main strength lies in our games. They have captured the interest of players for many years and they continue to do this with each new release.
TheGamblest: Playson has released a number of successful new mechanics in the last year, such as 3 Pots and Hit the Bonus. How do you decide on what mechanics will be successful?
Christos We were excited when Hold and win went live in the last year. Operators and players have given us a very positive response. The launch of Clover Charm – Hit the Bonusthe new game in the Playson Portfolio, which showcases our latest mechanic, was the most thrilling.
The research and development team at our company is always analyzing new game mechanics, as well as researching ways to improve existing games so that they are more engaging for players. When creating new gameplay mechanics, our main objective is to provide the most enjoyable gaming experience and meet players’ expectations.
TheGamblest: How do you ensure regulatory compliance while remaining profitable?
Christos:Playson has a market share that grows every quarter and is compliant in each market.
Our new games and features are a great way to ensure that we stay profitable despite the large investments in compliance. Our game clients are adjusted to comply with regulations or operator requests, such as changing the interface, the visuals or functionality, or turning off the animations of the games. Our portfolio is flexible in terms of themes, and can be adapted to the preferences of players, as well as being technically adaptable to satisfy regulatory requirements.
TheGamblest: How do you successfully maintain partnerships over a long period in such a crowded and competitive markets?
Christos:At Playson we don’t see our partners simply as our customers, but rather make them a part of our Community. When it comes to our partner relations, we take a very serious approach. ‘Playson & Friends events’ are one of the ways that we achieve this.
The majority of providers launch just one large corporate event a year, and only fly the C- and D levels. In order to be more locally focused, we decided to run several events on the market where we are active and invite all members of the company. We want to show our gratitude for working with clients by bringing them together in the local community.
TheGamblest: Now that we’re nearing the end of our interview, our readers would definitely like to learn more about you. Having a rich experience in marketing, which companies have you worked at and which brought you the most valuable skills and knowledge, Christos?
Christos:I began my career as a gaming professional in the iGaming industry almost ten year ago, with a Greek small company. This has helped me to build the foundations for both the online and land-based sectors. I attribute my marketing experience to the humble view of this world that I have and the communication skills that I possess. My belief is that the purpose of human existence is communication, working together, and building something amazing. A group of people came together and created some of the greatest architecture in history. In the business world, people should work together to create long-lasting relationships by communicating with one another.
