Hi Toni!
We are really excited to have you here on iGamingPub!
Q – Tell us a little about you and your role.
A – I’m Toni Karapetrov and I’m Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero. Before joining the company, I held various customer retention and client-facing roles.
At Habanero, my job is to develop strategies for marketing and how best to convey the wonderful world of Habanero to operators. As well as that, I identify client opportunities, ensuring we make the most of our current and potential partnerships. I feel very much at home at Habanero, it’s a fantastic place to be and we all share the brand’s vision of developing high-quality slots for players of all demographics.
Q – Can you tell us briefly about the history of Habanero? What are the company’s key achievements in your opinion?
A – Habanero has been live in Europe since 2016 and I’ve witnessed it grow exponentially since then. I think our biggest achievement is our expansion across 22 markets in Europe alone over the last seven years. Starting with Italy, we used this as a catalyst to take on other key European players and beyond, including our exciting entry into LatAm, going live in the likes of Colombia and Argentina.
Of course, being awarded our Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license – one of Europe’s most valuable accreditations for any supplier – is another big plus. The accreditation was a true testament to our ambitious growth strategy and cemented our position as a tier-one supplier among Europe’s best.
Last but certainly not least, when it comes to favorite achievements, Italy is probably the market we’re most proud of. Given the team’s Italian heritage and with it being one of Europe’s biggest markets, our success in the country was particularly important to us. I believe Italian slot enthusiasts have seen our dedication and that our games are truly treasured by players
Q – What steps does Habanero take to foster a strong company culture and ensure the well-being and satisfaction of its employees?
A – Habanero is made up of a team of like-minded individuals who all share a passion for what we do and deliver the best possible experience to players. We’re incredibly proud of what our team has achieved which we attribute to fostering a culture of creativity.
Habanero encourages all its employees to think outside the box and express themselves which results in a gaming experience that players can be truly immersed in.
Our team is spread out across Europe as we believe the diversity of cultures is what gives our games the universal appeal we are known for. After all, a great game should work anywhere, and how better to achieve this than through a diverse team of passionate individuals?
Q – The online gaming industry is highly competitive. What sets Habanero apart from other game developers in the market?
A – First and foremost, our proprietary mathematics gives Habanero a competitive edge in a highly saturated market. It’s one of the things that we are known to do exceptionally well, so we have embraced it, making it our mission to develop well-balanced products that customers can return to time and time again. Showcasing our smart technologies, mathematics is at the core of what we do, allowing us to engage with players and continue to deliver excellent results for operators.
Pairing this with our ability to imagine captivating stories in our games has proven key to success for Habanero.
Q – Are there any upcoming trends or technologies that you are excited about incorporating into your company?
A – The game uses our signature smart technologies to replicate a famous Italian card game into an innovative slot formula, which has ensured that we’ve been able to provide a truly unifying set of factors for European slot enthusiasts. AI is a particularly exciting emerging technology that holds unlimited potential. Providing endless possibilities in terms of enhancing and automating the design process allows the team to focus on what makes our games truly great.
While new technologies such as the metaverse and virtual reality provide opportunities, at Habanero, we are a firm believer that our games should be a timeless experience, that is accessible to as many players as possible. Instead, we choose to focus on staying true to what a slot is, listening to our players’ feedback, and exceeding their expectations.
Q – What are your most popular slots titles, and why do you think players love them?
A – Habanero believes that a great slot game should transcend barriers and appeal to players worldwide. A prime example of this is Scopa. While the game pays homage to famous Italian landmarks, its celebration of culture shines through universally. Creating an authentic Italian theme sets it apart from other games in the European market, where it remains a top performer.
Titles like Techno Tumble, Return to the Feature, and Marvelous Furlongs have also gained popularity due to their excellent dynamics and fantastic features, including rewind and calendar mechanics that have enhanced the latter and made it a true player favorite.
Seasonality and major occasions are also a strong part of what we do and have helped our games really resonate with players. Our recent St. Patricks Day-themed slot Rainbow Mania was an instant hit upon its release. The game provides an instantly recognizable theme that makes players feel right at home and gives that extra-special “luck of the Irish”. Through this, we are able to effectively showcase our engaging mechanics and innovative gameplay.
Q – Habanero operates in various international markets. Are there any particular regions or countries where you have seen significant growth or where you have plans for expansion?
A – The Balkans are a particularly exciting region for the industry, and we predict significant growth. As a region of young, lively markets, we can identify key characteristics that are favorable for iGaming businesses.
Having gone live in Croatia with the likes of PSK and SuperSport, the market responded particularly well to iGaming.
Serbia is also an area that has untapped potential. Being a country of avid sports fans, football in particular, traditional retail sportsbooks prevail. Always one to rise to the challenge, it is a country where we anticipate a positive reaction to our football-themed games such as Knockout Football Rush to players in the country.
Q – Could you share some insights into the main goals and strategies of Habanero for the year 2023? What can we expect from the company in terms of new releases, partnerships, or expansions?
A – Habanero has a truly exciting tier-one partner we are set to go live with, which will see us extend our reach across Europe. We see this development as a testament to all the work we have put in over the years and marks a milestone for us as a supplier. It has been in the works for some time and while we are not yet ready to announce the details, watch this space as something big is coming soon!
New markets also remain a top priority for us, particularly in LatAm, which is an area of massive potential when looking towards the future – with Colombia and Argentina as two countries of interest. By 2026, Argentina is expected to surpass the $3.5bn mark in terms of regulated online GGR, meanwhile, Colombia will surpass $1.5bn by the same time.
Of course, Habanero will also be reinforcing expansion across Europe markets. Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands provide a window of opportunity, as does Sweden once we attain our supplier license, and will be a focus for us for the remainder of the year.
As well as partnerships, Habanero has a lot of exciting games in its armory that go live later this year. We will now be releasing two new games a month, starting with Crystopia and Siren’s Spell, a duo of captivating titles that will undoubtedly prove a success.
Q – Finally, what excites you the most about being part of Habanero and working in the gaming industry? Are there any upcoming projects or developments that you are personally looking forward to?
A – At Habanero, we possess the ability to understand a player’s mindset. With this, we develop our game in line with how we believe players are evolving in preferences and tastes. Gamification is on the rise, and it is really interesting to see what will come next for engaging players with the likes of tournaments and jackpots. Our trademarked Jackpot Race™ solution, which combines a must-drop functionality with a fully-configurable poker-style shared pot, is a great example of this and one of which we are incredibly proud.
Looking ahead, I’m very excited for us to find ways to continue introducing land-based players to the world of iGaming and online casinos through our games that provide a broad appeal to a multitude of demographics and preferences. This proves a fascinating challenge, as in markets like Italy over 80% of the markets are still land-based, however, at Habanero we see this as a fantastic opportunity to introduce our games to unpenetrated markets.