Inside Pragmatic Play: Interview with Anastasios Ioannidis
We sat down with Anastasios Ioannidis, Affiliate Manager at ARRISE, to get an insider’s perspective on Pragmatic Play’s newest releases, from blockbuster slots to innovative live casino game shows. In this interview, Anastasios dives into what makes titles like Gates of Olympus Super Scatter, Sweet Bonanza Super Scatter, and Money Time stand out in a competitive market, how Pragmatic Play balances accessibility with depth, and why storytelling, player engagement, and responsible gaming remain at the heart of their strategy.
iGamingNuts: Pragmatic Play is renowned for its creativity in slot themes and mechanics. Could you tell us more about the latest headline releases and what makes them stand out in today’s crowded market?
Anastasios Ioannidis: Pragmatic Play certainly aims to deliver a whole range of themes, mechanics, and features in its slots portfolio – refining and adding twists to the formula with each one as much as possible. Recent headline releases include Gates of Hades, Waves of Poseidon, and two additions to Pragmatic Play’s Super Scatter range in the form of Gates of Olympus Super Scatter and Sweet Bonanza Super Scatter. As with its supercharged ‘1000’ series of slots, Pragmatic Play handpicks some of its best and most popular titles to feature the all-new Super Scatter symbols. In Gates of Olympus Super Scatter and Sweet Bonanza Super Scatter, when these symbols trigger the bonus game, they can award an instant cash prize of up to 50,000x.
iGN: Game shows like Money Time are bringing a fresh dimension to the live casino experience. What’s special about this new game show?
A: Pragmatic Play has had a busy year adding all-new experiences to its live casino offering, kicking off with Fortune Roulette back in January, two live poker games, and then Dice City in the summer. Money Time is the blockbuster live casino game show release of the year.
Delivering original experiences is the name of the game and Money Time perfectly captures that spirit. Starting in the base game, which offers four prizes and four bonus games, a bet spot booster on every spin multiplies payouts by up to 50x.
The four bonus games – Cash Roll, Bank Heist, Coin Rush, and Money Time – combine dice, bingo balls, random multipliers, and interactivity for a thrilling, fast-paced live game show experience. Bonus boosters in each game add to the excitement, with a huge 40,000x on offer as the maximum prize.
iGN: Many of Pragmatic Play’s games appeal to both beginners and more experienced players. How do their latest AAA titles balance accessibility with depth?
A: Catering to all kinds of players is a core tenet of Pragmatic Play’s design philosophy. It can be a difficult balance to manage but the formula is there. Take the range of Super Scatter games, for example, based on previous hits like Gates of Olympus and new IP as seen in Mahjong Wins Super Scatter. The core gameplay is already amazing, with various features and mechanics working together to deliver an engaging experience, and the Super Scatter symbols are just that little something extra for people who want to take their gameplay (and win potential) to the next level. And for players looking to go in the opposite direction – fast, simple gameplay with high hit rates and snappy win animations – Pragmatic Play’s exclusive range of Fat Panda slots provides just that, with the likes of Lucky Tiger and Lucky Mouse offering an exciting alternative to more complex or higher-volatility games.
iGN: Pragmatic Play is also known for innovative promotions and mechanics, such as Double Down After Split. How important are these in-game features for enhancing player engagement?
A: It’s incredibly important to offer a variety of strategies and ways to play in the live casino space, not just to differentiate Pragmatic Play from its competitors, but also to provide a deep, rewarding experience for players. You can see the same thing with Free Chips, Prize Drops, and the various other tools in Pragmatic Play’s Enhance suite of promotions – adding extra bits of excitement to spice up each round.
iGN: With a growing focus on safer gambling, how does Pragmatic Play ensure that even the biggest titles and live game shows remain entertaining while promoting responsible play?
A: Each and every one of Pragmatic Play’s games – across all its product verticals – is tested extensively to ensure a fun and fair experience for players. As well as rigorous testing during development, which involves the simulation of millions of spins or rounds just to start, games undergo independent testing and certification to ensure their suitability in regulated markets worldwide. Pragmatic Play is committed to upholding the highest standards of responsibility and will continue to work with the wider industry to promote safer gambling.
iGN: Live products often go beyond mechanics, incorporating strong narratives and branding. How central is storytelling in Pragmatic Play’s live casino games?
A: Every live game show is an opportunity to inject even more fun to the formula, giving the game a personality rather than just being a series of wheels and boards.
You can see it in Money Time, especially the titular Money Time bonus game, where players are invited into to a spectacular golden vault and get to choose which colour to back as the round unfolds. With players actively involved as the game progresses, it makes the overall experience incredibly engaging. Treasure Island is another great example – tasking players with exploring a deserted island in search of lost treasure. This is a familiar and relatable narrative which underpins the core gameplay. And to bring the story to life, you not only need a stunning studio design and advanced special effects, but also energetic presenters brimming with personality and professionalism.
iGN: Looking ahead, what innovations in slot games, game shows, or promotional features can players look forward to?
A: There’s always something new in the pipeline, whether that’s an original concept, a twist on existing content, or a novel theme, feature, or way of doing something. The difference between innovation and iteration is often negligible. Pragmatic Play delivers a multi-product portfolio for a wide range of audiences in markets around the world, and the focus is always on improving the experience for players. Sweet Rush Bonanza is just one example of how fan-favourite content can inspire something new that is both fresh and familiar. Taking its inspiration from Sweet Bonanza and Sugar Rush – two of Pragmatic Play’s all-time top slots – Sweet Rush Bonanza combines pays-anywhere mechanics with multiplier spots, and in select markets, a range of special bets and bonus buys to sweeten the gameplay.
iGN: Collaborations with affiliates and operators are key to reaching audiences. How can affiliates like iGamingNuts best support the promotion of Pragmatic Play’s latest titles and features?
A: The best way to support Pragmatic Play is to keep doing what you’re doing. That goes to the players as well. Pragmatic Play keeps a keen ear out for constructive feedback (whether good or bad), and reviews, forums, and catch-ups like this are invaluable to that process. Pragmatic Play appreciates the role affiliates and streamers play in helping to inform players of exciting new games and features.