With the upcoming G2E Las Vegas event just around the corner, Play’n GO’s Head of Game Retention, George Olekszy, shared insights into the company's remarkable growth in the U.S. iGaming market and offered a glimpse into their future plans. Since entering the U.S. in 2022, Play’n GO has rapidly expanded its presence and continues to impress with exclusive game launches and innovative content tailored to American players.
When asked about Play’n GO’s success in the U.S. market, Olekszy pointed to the exclusive launch of Piggy Blitzin partnership with BetMGM in late December 2023. Released officially across all licensed U.S. states on January 18, 2024, Piggy Blitz quickly gained traction, especially in New Jersey. Within its first month, the game ranked as the number one newly released title in New Jersey and the second-highest new release overall across the U.S., despite initially being available only through BetMGM.
In February 2024, the game’s popularity showed no signs of slowing down. Piggy Blitz secured the fourth spot in the prestigious Eilers and Krejcik Online Game Performance Top Slots report, which tracks performance across all U.S. online games. This ranking was especially significant, considering the game had only been available for a short time in the U.S. market.
Olekszy also discussed the performance of another Play’n GO title, Colt Lightning Firestorm, which debuted in the U.S. market last month. The game was initially launched as a BetRivers exclusive for the first three weeks of August, before becoming available to Play’n GO’s other operator partners.
“The performance has been pretty staggering,” Olekszy remarked. Although exact figures were not yet available, he expressed confidence that Colt Lightning Firestorm would soon rank as one of Play’n GO’s best-performing games in the U.S. The early reception of the game has been overwhelmingly positive, further solidifying Play’n GO’s standing in the competitive U.S. market.
Among the other notable releases in the U.S. this year is Midnight Princess Power of Love, which builds on Play’n GO’s popular Moon Princess series, well-known among European players. The game, featuring engaging characters, dynamic mechanics, and captivating graphics, has had a strong start in the U.S., following in the footsteps of Play’n GO’s other successful grid slots like Reactoonz and Rise of Olympus 100.
Olekszy attributed the game’s early success to Play’n GO’s meticulous approach to game development. “Engaging characters and story, combined with exciting mechanics and graphics, with a striking musical composition, all add up to a classic Play’n GO title,” he explained.
When debating why Play’n GO’s games have resonated so well with American players, Olekszy emphasized the company’s philosophy of designing games for a global audience. Every aspect of game design, from the mechanics to the soundtrack, is carefully considered to create a holistic experience that appeals to a broad range of players.
“We always say that we design our games for a global audience, and we fundamentally believe our content is good enough to thrive anywhere in the world,” he said. Olekszy noted that U.S. players are relatively new to online casino gaming compared to their counterparts in Europe and Latin America, but Play’n GO’s releases have been well-received so far. He expressed optimism that this trend will continue as more of their games are licensed in the U.S.
Since Play’n GO entered the U.S. market in 2022, the company has made tremendous strides. It is now live in five states: West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut. The company has also partnered with leading operators and is continuously working to get more of its games licensed in additional states
Looking ahead, Olekszy expressed confidence in the future, especially with more U.S. states likely to open their markets to iGaming. “We have a publicly stated goal of being active in every regulated market in the world, and we plan to keep that promise,” he said.
Play’n GO’s upcoming U.S. releases have generated significant excitement. Among the highly anticipated titles is Midnight Princess 100, a sequel to Midnight Princess Power of Love, which will hit the U.S. market in the coming weeks. Additionally, Oasis of Dead, another eagerly awaited release, is set to debut in three weeks, followed by Rise of Olympus Origins around Halloween. The latter is expected to build on the success of Rise of Olympus 100, which has already performed exceptionally well in the U.S.
As Play’n GO prepares for the G2E Las Vegas showcase, Olekszy reflected on the importance of the event for the company. “It’s no secret how massive G2E is for Play’n GO every year, and this year is no different,” he said. The three-day event at the Venetian Expo will offer Play’n GO the opportunity to connect with existing and potential new partners while showcasing the best of what the company has to offer.
Olekszy expressed confidence that the event will be a major success for Play’n GO, as the company continues to solidify its place as a leading provider in the U.S. iGaming market. “I’m passionate about the quality of our games, and it’s a pleasure to exhibit our content on a public level for three days,” he said.
Source:
''Play'n GO – Taking The USA By Storm'', playngo.com, September 12, 2024.