IGT’s Multi-Game Packs Diversify the Floor
Interview with Petko Ivanov IGT Director of Sales EMEA
Global gaming leader IGT continues to expand its portfolio throughout Eastern Europe and deliver market-attuned content on leading-edge cabinets. Capturing the attention of players, IGT is committed to evolving its engaging USwitch multi-game packs, which continue to drive play in the region. Casino Life had the opportunity to discuss IGT’s strategy and outlook for Eastern Europe with Petko Ivanov, IGT Director of Sales EMEA.
➤ How has 2023 been so far for IGT in Eastern Europe?
IGT remains focused on supporting our customers’ growth and replacement cycles by delivering regionally attuned content that drives play on gaming floors. Operators constantly seek solutions that will return solid performance results, and we have received positive feedback from our customers, which is very encouraging. We credit our momentum in the market to our innovative game designs with lively art packages and player-attuned math and bet structures. As an industry leader, IGT is committed to meeting the evolving market demands of existing and new customers by installing research-backed gaming solutions at venues throughout the region.
➤ What has IGT’s growth strategy been for the region?
Our strategy is to focus on the operators and their needs hence we aim to align our product roadmaps with our customers’ growth opportunities; and our goal is to provide value for our customers by helping them achieve their long-term objectives. Our global headquarters are in London, and we have knowledgeable local teams in offices in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, where the local sales and technical teams are on the pulse of the business and close to the operators. As a key supplier in the region, we are committed to constantly communicating with our customers to ensure they have the right mix of compelling market-attuned content that will maximize player engagement in commercial gaming venues throughout the region.
➤ What has the reception been for the USwitch multi-game packs?
We have been successfully introducing new games and improvements to our diverse USwitch multi-game packs. Last year, we released the USwitch Clover Edition Purple multi-game pack on the PeakSlant32 cabinet, which went on to win “Casino Product of the Year” at the 2022 BEGE awards. The product has become a standout in our portfolio and features a user-friendly game chooser for a first-rate player experience. Highly engaging, Clover Edition Purple features a customized mix of highly entertaining fruit, bonus, and number games, including the popular Samurai 888 Katsumi and Hephaestus Cash Eruption.
Building on the success of Clover Edition Purple, this year we also introduced the Sevens Edition Green multi-game pack featuring a tailored library of entertaining titles. Taking the player-favorite fruit theme to a new level, Fruit Pursuit offers a frequent wild feature, proven math mechanics, and upgraded visuals. Hot To Drop is an energetic game with frequent wilds and free games bonuses, or players can be entertained by the frequently hitting wheel bonus in Wheel Strike with a winning potential of up to 5,000x the bet.
Further elevating our multi-game offering, we also introduced the Treasure Edition Orange bundle, which features 30 new themes, including a lively mix of market-attuned fruit, number, and bonus games. Highlights include Magic Treasures Dragon, Twin Strike Grand, and Fruit Pursuit. Magic Treasures Dragon is a three-pot bonus game with free games, multipliers, a jackpot bonus, and a money ball feature. In contrast, Twin Strike Grand features an exciting Twin Bet feature that allows players to double their bet and play on an expanding matrix with ten lines.
Extending the capability of IGT’s USwitch multi-game portfolio are the Neon Treasures and Coins o’ Luck mystery bolt-on progressives, featuring up to four operator-configurable jackpot levels. To further energize the gaming floor, the bolt-on progressives can connect the games to a casino’s sound system and play the animated theme music heard during a jackpot win throughout a venue.
➤ What continues to drive the success of the “Peak” family of cabinets?
Building premium cabinets has been an IGT specialty for decades. IGT’s “Peak” family of cabinets are backed by industry-leading design and research and have a consistent modern look and ergonomic feel that players recognize around the world. Popular in Eastern Europe, the PeakSlant32 cabinet remains a standout on the floor and was the gaming industry’s first cabinet to feature three seamlessly integrated 32-inch-high-definition displays and incorporates a large dynamic player panel with a 13.3-inch multi-touch display for the ultimate convenience.
In addition, at this year’s Entertainment Arena Expo in Bucharest, Romania, we introduced the high-performing PeakSlant49 cabinet to operators in the region. Standing nearly two meters tall, the cabinet features a progressive 49-inch ultra-high-definition curved screen for an optimal viewing angle. Complete with our leading content, the PeakSlant49 has become a centerpiece in gaming venues around the world, and we are confident players in Eastern Europe will embrace the design.
➤ What are the latest innovations you will preview at the BEGE expo?
We look forward to continuing to build on existing relationships and create new ones with European operators through our presence at key trade shows like the BEGE expo. They provide the ideal platform to connect with our customers and demonstrate what IGT has to offer, including new games, cabinets, and systems solutions.
This year, we will once again show the latest games in our award-winning Clover Edition Purple multi-game pack. Highlights include Red Hot Joker Cash Eruption with the exciting lock and respin bonus, Hot & Mighty with stacked wilds, and Power Coins Leprechaun featuring a growing Pot of Gold prize. We will also preview the new Sevens Edition Green multi-game pack with Fruit Pursuit, which takes the player-favorite fruit game to a new level, and Wheel Strike with a frequently hitting wheel bonus. The multi-game packs will be presented on IGT’s PeakSlant32 and Cobalt 27 cabinets. Further demonstrating opportunities for operators, the multi-game packs will be displayed with the Neon Treasures and Coins o’ Luck mystery bolt-on progressives.
In addition, for the first time at the BEGE expo, IGT’s systems team will present the award-winning Resort Wallet and IGTPay cashless gaming solutions, along with a cloud-based version of the acclaimed casino management system, IGT ADVANTAGE.
