Latin America is the most coveted region when it comes to ‘gambling’. For this reason, gaming studios for online casinos are increasingly on the rise and the demand is growing for games with cultures from that region.
Following the trend, Neko Games, whose slogan is Online games with a Latin American flavor, have been specializing in the production of games for this region.
Juan Pablo Cordoba, product manager of the company, spoke exclusively with the iGaming Brazil team and mentioned the strategies adopted to establish itself in Latin American territory, and the Super Showball phenomenon, the game that quickly became one of the most important From Latin America.
The agreement with Microgaming and plans for Brazilian players were also discussed in the interview. Read below in full:
iGaming Brazil: What led you to create a game studio focused on the Brazilian and Latin American audiences?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: Neko Games are born out of our own need as casino operators in the region. Together with the founders of Neko, we have been operating physical and online casinos in Latin America for 15 years and, since the beginning, we have communicated to different suppliers our concern with the difference between the current offer of games, mechanics and features that are increasingly evolved and mainly aimed at meeting the demand for more mature markets, in contrast to regional needs, where the segment of users with little experience in the online world and, consequently, with little preference for this more complex type of entertainment predominates.
It was during this search that the multinational Microgaming encouraged us to develop our own product, accompanying us in the process and sharing its vision, experience and standards of excellence in everything related to game development, as well as in its wide distribution channel worldwide.
iGaming Brazil: Neko is currently distributing its games through Microgaming. Are there any exclusive contracts or are you free to integrate with other ‘aggregators’?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: We have an agreement with Microgaming that is clearly an added value for us and, for now, we do not plan to launch the games on other platforms. Having the Microgaming distribution is a strategic advantage for Neko, understanding that they are already integrated into the most important operators, not only in the region, but worldwide.
At the same time, Neko games are part of the company’s monthly launch schedule, like any other in its portfolio, which allows us to be available on all of its operators immediately after launch and without any additional integration.
iGaming Brazil: Since the launch of the games (on several sites) that are part of the Microgaming network, you must have noticed a greater movement in certain games. Which one would you highlight in terms of volume and popularity, of the ones that were released?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: In May this year, we launched Super Showball, our first game using the Microgaming distribution, and it immediately became one of the most important games in Latin America, ranking first in all indicators.
But the most interesting thing is that it is also at the top of the games in other important countries in Europe and the world, demonstrating that there is potential for this type of product in other markets besides Latin America.
iGaming Brazil: So far, as I understand it, the games you launched are video bingo. Are there any expectations or desires from Neko to advance in other types of games? Like slot machines, video slots?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: Our vision is to develop casino games with the aim of capturing users who are starting the online game and maximizing its value. In this line, the possibilities of game types and mechanics are extensive.
In fact, we currently have several video bingos in production that will be launched in the coming months, but we will also have the development of slots for the next year in our portfolio, although always in line with the vision we have established and with the ultimate goal, the player.
iGaming Brazil: Apparently, the games released so far are to meet a demand from the Brazilian market, but are there plans in the company to develop, launch games in Latin America or Hispanic-speaking countries?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: The situation in Latin America where less experienced players and increasingly complex games coexist is not a purely regional scenario and, consequently, we developed our games with a view to meeting global demand. That’s why Neko’s portfolio is available in several languages and in more than 50 currencies, while also meeting the regulatory requirements of each market.
iGaming Brazil: Still on its main market, the Brazilian. What is Neko’s expectation or plan for the expansion and popularization of games in Brazil?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: Brazil is undoubtedly the country that should stand out in the region, mainly due to its size and potential to become one of the most important markets in the sector, but today it is not our focus. It produces games for the world, and Brazil is still in a regulatory definition stage.
In this sense, I believe that the potential values estimated for the Brazilian market will not be reached immediately after regulation, but will go through a medium or long term maturity period. That is why, in my opinion, only the operators and providers that most understand the needs of new players and, at the same time, have the necessary flexibility to adapt to changes will be successful. So, I understand that Neko has an important advantage, considering that our vision and essence are mainly aimed at providing entertainment for this type of scenario.
iGaming Brazil: With the potential possibility of legalizing and regulating resort casino (firstly here in Brazil) and eventually online casinos. What would you expect to enter this physical market?
Juan Pablo Cordoba: We have no short-term plans in this regard, as we intend to first confirm the regulatory characteristics of Brazil before we fully start immigration.
Thus, Neko games were developed mainly with online operations in mind, but without neglecting the possibility of migrating to other formats, and if there are differences between a casino resort product and an online operation, the versatility with which we have allows us adjust our proposal to align with the requirements of the physical world when necessary.
About Neko Games
Neko is associated with Velo Partners, a UK venture capital firm with extensive experience in the iGaming industry, which has entrusted our team with the financial resources necessary to build a state-of-the-art gaming studio.
With the support of RNG Foundry, a sophisticated game accelerator, Neko has continuous access to the most innovative and advanced game development tools, test facilities, expert network and much more.
In addition, Neko Games is part of Microgaming’s global creative studio network, offering Neko worldwide game distribution capabilities. Microgaming is an award winning online gaming software distributor, which provides casino games to major leading operators.
