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Movers and Shakers: Creating noise in the shark tank: what it takes to build a successful slot studio
Fredrik Johansson, CEO and Founder at Fantasma Games, on the challenging environment and organizational focus it takes for developers to create a sustainable business amid ever-increasing levels of competition.
Five years ago, the market entry barrier for a new game studio was relatively low.
This, combined with the low cost of accessing global and local distribution networks through well-established aggregators, led to an influx of studios moving into the space.
The result? Today, there are more than 750 game studios that released close to 11,000 new titles during 2023 alone â on average, an operator takes content from more than 60 providers.
One of the main challenges is that game themes and mechanical similarities now exist between the vast majority of games, and this is impacting the wider competitiveness of the market, and ability to position a unique player experience.
The market barrier entry for a new game studio is now incredibly high and for those who can get up and running, actually staying in the game is almost impossible.
Why? Because studios need to build trust with their portfolio and product roadmap and have a proven track record of creating premium content that hits the market with players.
If you canât achieve this, you quickly find there is no demand for your games.
Does this mean new studios canât succeed? Of course not. Fantasma Games is proof that with a clear focus and strategic direction you can get in on the action and find meaningful and trustful place in the market.
We have been able to establish ourselves as an innovative and premium provider of player-centric games that go beyond gambling to truly engage players.
We also keep our promises, and our customers are confident in our ability to continue to deliver games that perform highly and generate outstanding player engagement KPIs.
For me, this is crucial to the success of any studio.
Studios must be able to deliver premium, high-performing games that resonate with a wide range of player audiences in multiple markets, but they must also earn the trust of their operator partners.
Operators need to be confident in the studioâs strategic growth agenda and ambitions and that they will not only meet but exceed the goals they have set.
Of course, the success of a studioâs games comes into this and that is why the product roadmap must be balanced.
For Fantasma, this means daring to innovate and try something new while at the same time capitalising on existing high-performing mechanical frameworks that we know hit the mark with players.
The studios that take this approach can find they quickly move on from being the new kid on the block to being a major player in the content provision space.
For Fantasma, this has been achieved by working with a clear strategic plan and having a truly talented and passionate team always willing to go the extra mile to make a difference.
Hard work, focus and dedication from all our teams have been key to unlocking the strategic milestones that have enabled us to become established in this industry.
Again, I canât downplay how important it has been to foster trusted relationships with our customers who believe in our roadmap and organisational capabilities just as much as we do.
Of course, you must always ensure the business is moving forward and thatâs why we recently launched our own remote game server, FantasmaXpand.
This allows us to capitalise on existing partnerships and expand our joint collaborative initiatives in a way that ensures our customers are integral to how our roadmap is prioritised and developed.
It means our teams can focus on enhancing the technology roadmap, tuned and calibrated to our customerâs specific needs which in turn allows us to bring even more value to our partners.
This includes being able to deploy our content into new markets â another important capability for a studio to not only survive but thrive.
It has been natural for us to expand our geographical footprint alongside our international customers, as well as build strong local partnerships in key markets such as the US.
This ensures we stay relevant and allows us to keep optimising our global and local games roadmap in tight collaboration with our partners.
So, when you look at what goes into making a studio a success today compared to five years ago, itâs perhaps easy to see why some companies simply donât make it.
Thankfully, Fantasma is a success story, but it has taken a great deal of passion and hard work to get to where we are today â and this is just the beginning.
CT Gaming has announced its debut installations in Guatemala, marking a significant milestone in the expansion across Latin America. Following this yearâs successful installations in Mexico and PerĂș, CT Gamingâs presence in the region continues to grow at full speed.
âWe are proud of the established partnerships and see these installations as the foundation for a long-term collaboration. We believe this is just the beginning of our journey toward becoming a leading provider in Guatemala,â said Georgi Koprinarov, General Manager LatAm at CT Gaming.
Leading gaming venues in Guatemala, among which Fantastic â Majadas, Fantastic – Las Americas, Magic Bingo – Metro Norte and Magic Bingo â Capitol, are now equipped with EZ Modulo 32/32/32 slot cabinet and the newest addition to the Diamond King family â Diamond King 4. Among the 40 games in the pack, players will experience a unique blend of classic titles and brand-new games such as Zet Fruits,Clovers on Fire and others. Additionally, half of the games are linked to the progressive jackpot Diamond Tree Deluxe, which concept is offering exciting rewards and enhanced gameplay. Another new feature that premiers within Diamond King 4, is the âBuy Bonusâ game which brings additional excitement and better chances of winning.
âWe are thrilled to partner with CT Gaming and introduce their cutting-edge products to Guatemala. The installation of the EZ Modulo cabinets in combination with the latest multigame – Diamond King 4 has already sparked interest among our players. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration with CT Gaming, bringing top-tier entertainment to our customers,â said Edgar Paz Ravines, director of Desarrollos Providencia.
Spintec returns to IGA with its exclusive US distributor, Dynamic Gaming, and a shared booth with Gaming Arts.
Spintecâs return to the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Conference & Tradeshow this year is marked by the significant success the company has achieved since the last show. Their partnership with their exclusive distributor, Dynamic Gaming, has expanded their presence across the US by leaps and bounds.
They are currently licensed and approved for their latest product and games, in California, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Washington, with approvals in Arkansas, Wyoming, Idaho, and Florida waiting in the wings. This highlights their ongoing commitment to the US market and their growing footprint across North America, emphasized further by their imminent entry into Ontario, Canada.
To celebrate their unwavering success in North America, Spintec will be showcasing the best parts of their latest Charisma product line at this yearâs IGA. Charisma is a brand-new line of products, which has already won awards and has become an instant global bestseller. In an exclusive introduction, the visitors at IGA will be shown its brand-new Craps solution. It comes with super innovative elements such as the shooter button, 7-out function, and a rotating dealer feature. Additionally, they will also be unveiling their virtual/video Charisma Blackjack machine. Both of these exceptional new solutions are designed to elevate the gaming experience and include a variety of side bets on both games.
But thatâs not all â visitors will also have the chance to try out their proprietary new Galactic Spin Roulette game. It offers an enhanced roulette experience with integrated Mega, Major, and Minor Jackpots, bet multipliers of up to 300, and the exciting possibility of winning free spins. This game revolutionizes the roulette experience by eliminating breaks, making the wait for the ball to drop the most thrilling part of the game.
Their booth will also include a variety of compact, multi-station solutions, giving the visitors the opportunity to explore and experience the breadth of their latest product portfolio.
TheLotter US has expanded its trusted lottery courier service to Arizona, following successful launches in New Jersey and New York just last year. With this latest addition, TheLotter US now operates in five states, including Oregon, and Minnesota.
Yael Hertz, CEO of TheLotter Group, said: âWeâre thrilled to expand our service to yet another state. Now, Arizona residents can enjoy the convenience of entering their favorite lottery draws without having to go out and buy a ticket.â
TheLotter US fulfills lottery ticket orders on customersâ behalf at licensed retailers, scans them, and uploads them to their personal accounts before the draw. From there, they can view their ticket and track their numbers with ease.
With years of experience in the industry, TheLotter US is making lottery play more convenient than ever. Their dedicated 24/7 customer support ensures players always receive prompt and reliable assistance whenever they need it.
Over time, TheLotter US has built a loyal customer base by consistently proving itself as a trusted and reliable service.
Creating an account takes just minutes. After verifying their info, users can choose their favorite lottery game, pick their lucky numbers or use Quick Pick, select the number of lines to be added, and confirm their order. TheLotter US will take it from there.
With years of experience and a solid reputation, TheLotter US uses top-tier security measures like GeoTrust 128-bit SSL encryption to protect all transactions. Plus, ticket scans will be viewable in customersâ accounts before the draw for total transparency, and their 24/7 customer support is always there to assist with any and all queries.
Arizona has seen some incredible jackpot wins, including a $108 million Mega Millions prize in Lake Havasu City just four years ago. More recently, in January 2025, a lucky player in Tempe became the sole winner of a $112 million jackpot.
This win has special significance, as the winner purchased their ticket through an online lottery courier service. This incredible win highlights how ticket courier services make it easier than ever for players to enter their favorite drawsâand seize life-changing opportunities.
Now that TheLotter US is live in Arizona, Arizona residents have the same opportunity to play for the biggest prizes and create their own âjackpot momentâ.
Whether it is a big or small win, customers will be notified by email right away by TheLotter US. Smaller prizes (under $600) are deposited directly into a playersâ account. Should a player win a larger prize, TheLotter US will assist them in claiming their prize in person at the official lottery office.
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