Luca Mantegazza, Country Director for Italy at ARRISE Powering Pragmatic Play, spoke to Agimeg at the recent ICE London 2024 about the powerhouse provider’s show, how it has performed in Italy, and what to expect from it in 2024.
- You have been at ICE London with a stand, which products have you presented and which are you focusing on the most?
Pragmatic Play’s entire multi-product portfolio was on display at ICE London 2024. Not only does that include award-winning player-favourite Slots and Live Casino content, but it also features the very best in Bingo, Virtual Sports and Sportsbook. And in addition to the traditional product showcase, an immersive and interactive world of entertainment was made available for visitors.
Going a step beyond this year, the Pragmatic Play stand was home to seven thrilling experiential areas for delegates to enjoy. Some of these focused on expansive new products such as Smart Studio, which lets operators customise and brand their Live Casino environments. Drops & Wins, Blackjack, and the epic Gates of Olympus saga also featured, as did Pragmatic Play’s iconic CandyLand world. Guests were also able to enjoy a VR horse-racing experience and enter a fun selfie competition to win a Tesla!
- How was 2023 for Pragmatic Play in Italy and what are your expectations for 2024?
It was a year of continued growth for Pragmatic Play. Slots and Live Casino content in particular proved very popular in Italy, where a swathe of new partners was announced over the course of the year. In addition, Pragmatic Play received a number of nominations in major industry awards.
The vast majority of Italian operators are integrated with Pragmatic Play content and market share continues to increase at an impressive rate. Pragmatic Play will maintain its presence at trade shows across the country, including the inaugural Italian Gaming Expo in April. The Italian market still holds so much potential, and we’re excited for the coming months as Pragmatic Play stays focused on forging exceptional relationships with operators and producing fantastic games that players love.
- Will you be launching new products? What can your customers and players expect?
As always, the Pragmatic Play roadmap is packed with diverse content of exceptional quality. At least eight new Slots are set to be released every month. These include a mix of themes, concepts and mechanics that are designed to appeal to different player segments. There will be a focus on exploring entirely new games and characters while building on the hero franchises that have made Pragmatic Play so popular – starting with two new entries to the Big Bass series.
Pragmatic Play will continue to power up new possibilities in the Live Casino space, focusing heavily on advanced customisation and enhanced VIP experiences. And Jackpot Play is coming soon! Available across a selection of new dedicated Slots, Jackpot Play lets operators set up their own local progressive jackpots on multiple casino brands, giving players the chance to win potentially massive cash prizes. Other products in the portfolio will also be expanded as Pragmatic Play aims to double down on its success in Italy and other regulated markets throughout the world.
