CasinoLandia Interviews Emiliano Sanchez, CCO Mancala Gaming

The Interview

Nick Miroslavov at CasinoLandia had the pleasure and delight to sit down in an intriguing interview with a Mancala Gaming representative to speak on the company’s experience in the iGaming industry as a promising rising star in the field of online casino generation Y game development.

What distinguishes Mancala Gaming's slot games from those of other providers in terms of gameplay and themes?

Mr. Sanchez: I think Mancala offers flexibility for the player. They will find traditional content with a twist with some surprises more reminiscent of the 8-bit era or with the humor of classic shows like south park. Also, they can expect even more surprises depending on the casino team behind them as we are now rolling more and more out our TBS (trigger bonus system) promotions and network tournaments.

How do you ensure fairness and transparency in your games, and what steps are taken to maintain a high level of integrity?

Mr. Sanchez: Like any other provider, we partnered with reputable labs both locally and internationally, such as GLI, that continuously evaluate our RNG. Next year will be a big year for us, as we will be aiming for several certifications that will reinforce the commitment we have had since inception.

Mancala Gaming emphasizes great service; can you elaborate on the customer-focused initiatives and support services you offer?

Mr. Sanchez: Of course, we take great pride in our 24/7 support and the diligence of our integration and dev team. Moreover, our AM teams act not only as your account manager but as an additional casino manager for your operation. The tailored promotions we do allow the operator to launch them with one click so they don’t have to worry about content creation or setting up the promotion. We align our teams to give a break to the operators while at the same time presenting the calculations with the expected profits based on the traffic of each partner. Based on the comments from our partners, this is unique withing the industry.

What role does player feedback play in shaping your game development and strategy?

Mr. Sanchez: Humans are social beings and of course we have received feedback from partners, affiliates, players, and communities which we take very seriously. We incorporate a lot of what we receive into our new production or even in the way we do promos or develop tools. This is one part we expect to grow more in the upcoming years.

Can you discuss the innovative bonus tools you provide and how they enhance the player’s experience?

Mr. Sanchez: Not only do we have free spins via API, jackpots, and tournaments but also our TBS, or Trigger Bonus System that allows operators to present more rewards in different ways to the players. As we move closer to 2024, we are planning a big overhaul not only on how it looks but also adding more options for triggering and rewarding, as well as more gamification available to our partners.

How does Mancala Gaming prioritize responsible gaming practices, and what measures are in place to promote player well-being?

Mr. Sanchez: Well responsible Gaming starts at home, but I believe all the industry has a responsibility to it. We have our own internal tools to identify problems and we always try to address it with our partners so they can take the final call. Different jurisdictions and partners will have different requirements and we try to adapt as quickly as possible to each of them.

In what ways does the company stay up-to-date with iGaming industry trends and technology to remain competitive and relevant?

Mr. Sanchez: Innovation comes from inspiration, this comes from our industry peers and their work, other industries, and our own culture, including especially the internet culture. We come with a lot of B2B2C experience behind it which allows us to innovate behind the curtain, facilitating the life of our partners.

Could you share your perspective on the importance of catering to the preferences and expectations of Millennials in the gaming market?

Mr. Sanchez: Well, this is the key all the industry is aiming at. Our company is not only young since creation, but all our team members are relatively young with an average age of 30, so we take internet very seriously (or not, depends on who you ask I guess). With this in mind, we try to take important internet cultural parts and add them to our catalogue or innovate traditional mechanics with new versions and options for a new generation of players. Our themes come with twists you will expect from a lot of cartoons we grew up watching that a lot would consider its humor as tasteless. As I said, our mechanics in a lot of games are a reinvention of traditional mechanics that work or that we took inspiration from other entertainment industries without falling into the vulgar nor cheap. An MTV for slots if you want, and if you do not understand this reference either you are too young or too old.

Mancala Gaming has a broad portfolio of over 45 slot games; can you highlight some of your most popular or innovative titles?

Mr. Sanchez: I can easily name the Last Quack, Spirit of the Lake, Candy Clash, Buccaneer Royale, and Portal Master to exemplify what I mention previously. Other remarkable titles include Reel Reel Hot, Hot Fruits on Fire, Buffalo goes Wild and Eternal Dynasty.

What is the vision for Mancala Gaming's future, and are there any exciting projects or developments on the horizon?

Mr. Sanchez: We are working hard on new titles, new mechanics and of course in new tools for our partners. I can say, 2024 is looking very bright on what we will bring to the market.

How does Mancala Gaming foster a collaborative and inspiring work environment for its team members, which results in creative game designs?

Mr. Sanchez: All ideas are welcome. In all our teams, in all our games, everyone has a voice, and it is heard. Everyone decides their level of involvement and so far, that has granted a lot of fresh ideas for us to explore. Not only on game design, but also on Marketing and Design and even our internal processes are constantly evolving between our goals and the input of our teams.

In an ever-evolving industry, what challenges do you anticipate for Mancala Gaming, and how do you plan to overcome them?

Mr. Sanchez: I think the main challenge is still to be recognized in a sea of content and that is where most of our energy will go in the upcoming years. We are not only innovating in game development and gamified tools but also on how we do marketing and sales, on how AM is done and I think we will give a lot to talk to our industry peers.