Katarzyna Olewińska-Halupczok (Wazdan): Technological Innovation to Success

04th December 2024 - 10:15am

In an exclusive interview, Katarzyna Olewińska-Halupczok, Senior Account Manager at Wazdan, offers valuable insights into the company's journey, innovations, and future plans.

With over four years of experience at Wazdan, Olewińska-Halupczok shares her perspective on the iGaming giant's evolution from a small, passionate group to a global leader in just 13 years.

This interview delves into Wazdan's impressive portfolio of over 250 games, exploring the company's unique features like Volatility Levels™ and Hold the Jackpot™. Olewińska-Halupczok discusses how Wazdan balances innovation with classic appeal, their approach to global markets, and their exciting expansion into North America.

Welcome, Kataryna! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Wazdan?

"My name is Katarzyna Olewińska-Halupczok, and I have proudly served as a Senior Account Manager at Wazdan where I have worked for the past four years. My primary focus is on cultivating strong and productive partnerships, ensuring client satisfaction, and identifying strategic opportunities to enhance collaboration and drive mutual growth."

Wazdan has been in the iGaming industry for over 13 years. How has the company’s vision evolved since its foundation in 2011?

"From our launch, consisting of a small group of individuals who shared an overwhelming passion for the industry and a desire to bring leading content to the market, we have grown to now operate in over 30 global markets, boasting a portfolio of more than 250 games.

As one of the industry’s fastest-growing content studios, our vision and objectives constantly evolve to ensure we remain a benchmark for those around us. Ultimately, we focus on delivering long-term gains for our operator partners with our best-in-class and highly accessible solutions."

Your portfolio includes over 250 games. How do you ensure each new release stands out in such a crowded market?

"At the heart of our success lies a commitment to technological innovation, combining technical precision with creative artistry. Variety in our offering has also been integral in distancing ourselves from competitors. Our ever-expanding portfolio includes classic three- and five-reel slots for players after a sense of nostalgia, as well as those that feature more complex mechanics for slot enthusiasts after a fresh gameplay experience.

Our unique approach to player control also resonates strongly with players who can adjust volatility levels and increase the chance of access to bonus games through Chance Level™. As a constantly evolving developer, our mobile-first approach has also been critical, providing players with uninterrupted and smooth gameplay across our top-performing titles."

The Volatility Levels™ feature is a trademark of Wazdan. Can you explain how this feature was developed and why you decided to give players control over volatility?

"I spoke too soon! As mentioned above, our player-centric approach is critical to Wazdan’s overall brand. As the company’s global expansion went from strength to strength reaching diverse demographics, we encountered varying player preferences which led to us developing a feature that caters for playing behaviours across the board.

Wazdan’s Volatility Levels™ feature forms part of our broader Freedom of Choice™ suite encompassing a series of customisation tools that have allowed us to stand out in an incredibly saturated market.

Our three Volatility Levels™ allow players to modify the size and frequency of their wins, with high volatility bringing bigger wins but less often and low volatility ushering in more frequent, smaller wins.

By assisting the creation of flexible experiences and placing the user’s experience at the centre of its values, we have been able to grow steadily, year on year, without tapping into every new technology or trend that appears on the market."

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind some of your popular game series, such as the Hold the Jackpot™ games?

"The first question we ask ourselves when considering where to transform a stand-alone slot into a series is whether the game has room for further upgrades and if any changes implemented might transform it into a separate production. If the answer to the first question is ‘yes’, we then carefully examine the latter.

However, we have noticed that most games typically possess a unique quality that allows them to expand their potential continually. With regards to our Hold the Jackpot™ offering, following the overwhelming success of Unicorn Reels, it felt only right to incorporate the mechanic into a host of our other top-performing titles such as Midnight in Tokyo, Power of Gods Hades™ and Jelly Reels™.

It was clear the unique mechanic was easily transferrable and enhanced gameplay across our portfolio. Continuing to expand its use made sense, embedding it into future releases."

How does Wazdan approach the balance between creating new, innovative features and maintaining the classic appeal of slot games?

"We work around the clock to provide our customers with fresh gaming experiences, with every new title offering unique math models, varied reel arrays and various ways to win. Our Hold the Jackpot™ collection again is a testament to this, taking the industry by storm by delivering a unique version of the mechanic in each title that it stars in so that players have a diverse playing experience. At the same time, we ensure players are still able to engage with the core familiarity of gameplay that led to their initial engagement when opting for a Hold the Jackpot™ slot."

Your games support multiple languages and currencies, including cryptocurrencies. How has this broad support impacted Wazdan’s global reach and player demographics?

"Supporting various languages and currencies, including cryptocurrencies, has become essential for any renowned provider. At Wazdan, by supporting thirty-plus languages across all currencies and cryptocurrencies, this allows us to continue catering for our diverse global audience and meet the needs of players and partners alike, whilst continuing to seek out further marketing ventures."

12 Bells™ is your latest addition to the Bells™ series. How does it innovate on previous instalments, particularly with the new 12 Bells bonus game and the One Click 2 Grand™ feature?

"12 Bells™ brings fresh energy to the beloved series with new opportunities for lavish wins. Building on previous success, the latest offering introduces players to a revamped gameboard across 12 reels with a thrilling twist on familiar features, such as the signature Hold the Jackpot™ and Cash Infinity™ combination, which fans will recognise from the popular Coins™ series.

Exclusive rewards are available during the Hold the Jackpot™ and the innovative 12 Bells Bonus Game. In the 12 Bells Bonus Game, players can select three out of 12 gates, each hiding a secret reward. This exciting feature is enhanced by the new One Click 2 Grand™ option, allowing players to claim the Grand Jackpot with just a single click.

Both bonus rounds unlock the potential to win the Grand Jackpot prize, worth up to 750x, providing significant win potential. Additionally, the Chance Level™ mechanic has been integrated to enhance gameplay engagement, making it more exciting to access the bonus rounds."

Prosperity Reels utilises a 6x6 grid with 46,656 ways to win. What inspired this layout, and how does it contribute to the game’s ‘prosperity’ theme?

"Following the success of Choco Reels™ in 2020, we created Prosperity Reels™ with an abundance of winning possibilities, including via Hold the Jackpot™ and sack symbols. If landed alongside up to five bonus symbols, these award an extra cash prize equal to the sum of the bonus symbol’s values. Its reliable, profit-focused math model, influenced by the popular Fortune Reels, has made it one of the most revenue-generating titles in our portfolio."

Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Diamond Edition features an upgraded Cash Out mechanic. How does this enhancement improve the base game experience for players?

"With the Cash Out value increasing up to 200%, Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Diamond Edition offers big-win potential within just a few spins. The increased winning opportunities and multiplier enhancements have led to a sharp increase in player engagement and betting activity."

Wazdan has been expanding its presence in North America, recently launching on Caesars Entertainment’s platforms in Pennsylvania. What are your plans for further expansion in this region?

"Wazdan’s global presence has strengthened considerably throughout 2024, with its Online Gaining™ approach entering new territories, notably Pennsylvania. We are delighted to now be operating in four states across America, with New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia having established regulated iGaming markets that have provided significant opportunities for growth. Naturally, plans to expand into new regions across the US depend on a few factors.

Compliance with state-specific regulations, including licensing and testing procedures, is vital, as is ensuring adherence to the Responsible Gaming and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards in each new state. With this in mind, we’re open to opportunities in emerging markets like Illinois and Indiana, which are exploring iGaming legislation, as well as states with growing regulatory momentum like Ohio or New York.

Possible launch timelines depend on how quickly momentum builds and markets open, but we maintain a close eye on all potential opportunities that will allow us to expand our player base and worldwide profile."

Your recent news mentions a thrilling roadmap for Q1 2025. Can you give us a sneak peek into what players and operators can expect?

"2025 promises to be another milestone year for us. We’re focused on delivering top-quality games that entertain players and bring sustainable growth to our partners. With additions to our beloved Coins™ series and the impressive Mighty Wild™: Jaguar, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in iGaming. Watch this space!"