With the iGaming market evolving, it can be difficult for some developers to keep up – especially in new jurisdictions. BonusFinder, an online casino bonus comparison site, interviews Evoplay’s CEO Ivan Kravchuk to discuss the latest in game development and innovation within the gaming industry.
This summer, you won the ‘Game Design & Art Direction’ award at the SBC Awards Europe. First of all, congratulations! Secondly, what does this mean to Evoplay? Have you received any similar awards in the past?
Thank you! Winning first place for Adrenaline Rush in ‘Game Design & Art Direction’ at the SBC Awards Europe 2025, and later ‘Industry Innovation of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025, has been incredibly exciting and a huge source of pride for us!
Looking back on our achievements, we’ve received many similar recognitions. For example, at the 2022 Game Developer Awards, Evoplay’s flagship game Star Guardians, inspired by the video gaming world, won gold in ‘Game Design & Art Direction’ and silver in ‘Game Innovation’.
I am extremely grateful to my team for their passion in everything they do, and to everyone who supports us. A special thank you also goes to the award organisers for recognising our achievements and inspiring the industry to keep moving forward.
How important would you consider game design in customer satisfaction and retention, and why?
Game design is fundamental. It defines how players feel and interact while playing. If something isn’t right, players notice immediately – perhaps the rewards feel unbalanced, the game doesn’t flow with the visuals, or the interface isn’t intuitive.
But when everything aligns, players feel comfortable and stay engaged, curious to see what happens with each game round. Good design is always about balance: how mechanics work together, the pacing of wins, how visuals and sounds fit the gameplay, and the overall feel of the experience.
A perfect example of this is our classic Hot Triple Sevens series. From the first release through to Hot Triple Sevens Special, American Sevens, and Hot Triple Sevens Hold & Win, each version introduced fresh features, combinations, and new themes in the right proportions, while preserving the core charm players enjoy. Well-balanced games like these naturally become long-term favourites.
What do you think stood out about ‘Adrenaline Rush‘ compared to other games that were up for the award?
Adrenaline Rush stood out as the first-of-its-kind 3D racing title in iGaming, making it truly original in the market. It’s skill-based, with manual controls that allow players to influence the outcome of each race rather than leaving it solely to chance, as is the case in traditional casino games.
This originality shows in the gameplay: a variety of cars with unique characteristics and three characters with personalised storylines turn each race into a true adventure. Gamification elements, including leaderboards, player statistics, and bonus rewards, make the experience even more engaging.
Another factor that makes the game stand out is the expansion of Adrenaline Rush into two additional titles – Adrenaline Rush: Super Boost slot and Adrenaline Rush: XCrash crash title. This enabled us to appeal to both traditional slot fans and modern iGamers who enjoy dynamic gameplay, betting opportunities, and influencing outcomes.
Together, all three games form a connected storytelling experience, where players can race using their skills, bet on when a crash will occur, or spin for winning combinations in the slot.
In short, beyond its original mechanics, Adrenaline Rush stands out through cutting-edge graphics, gamification, longer gameplay sessions, and a fully dynamic storyline.
You also announced that you had some outstanding achievements in H1 2025, especially regarding player engagement, including a 47% rise in activity and a 24% increase in total bets compared to H1 2024. What do you think are the key factors behind this growth?
All the work we have done over recent years is now bearing fruit. Since last year, we have launched several bold initiatives that have given a fresh boost to our efforts. We have entered the online lottery and bingo verticals, introduced new concepts in game development, and strengthened our B2C strategy.
To build stronger connections with players and grow the Evoplay community, we expanded collaborations with affiliate platforms, media partners, bloggers and influencers. We also actively involved players by conducting interviews, giving them an opportunity to directly influence the game development and gathering valuable feedback.
In collaboration with an affiliate platform with a deep knowledge of player preferences, we launched our first-ever joint game, Uncrossable Rush, which has already surpassed our expectations in both popularity and player engagement.
Good design is always about balance: how mechanics work together, the pacing of wins, how visuals and sounds fit the gameplay, and the overall feel of the experience.
We also ran an exclusive test campaign, Oath of Steel, with the player-focused platform SlotsCalendar, where players could experience the game first-hand and share their feedback on graphics, mechanics, and gameplay, receiving a chance to influence the development of the game.
These and other initiatives have brought us closer to our target audience, giving us a clearer understanding of their expectations and allowing us to target more specific groups. This has directly driven higher engagement and stronger business metrics.
Earlier this year, you received a supplier licence from AGCO, marking your entry into Canada. This month, you announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment, boosting your presence there even further. Why is Canada such a key market for you right now?
Canada is an important market for us as our first step into North America. It has a large base of experienced players who enjoy engaging content and added entertainment features – exactly what Evoplay delivers.
The market is especially interesting because of its mature gaming environment, with many local studios and players who are genuinely passionate about quality entertainment. This is where our diverse portfolio plays a key role.
Through our partnerships with leading operators like Caesars Entertainment and Rivalry, many of our top-performing titles are already available in Ontario. These include globally popular classics like Hot Triple Sevens, Hot Volcano, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy, as well as the modern, football-themed instant title Penalty Shoot-Out.
Over time, we’ll see first-hand what resonates most locally, helping us adapt our portfolio and plan future expansions with a clear understanding of player preferences. This approach helps us reach more players and grow steadily across North America.
Has your expansion into Canada been different from your entry into other countries? Was it a difficult geo to hit? Was it always part of your expansion plan? Where is next?
Evoplay has always been active in global expansion. Canada is a promising and well-developed market, and we were determined to make our entry. It required significant focus and resources, perhaps more than in some other regions, but we’re delighted to now be present there.
The market is especially interesting because of its mature gaming environment, with many local studios and players who are genuinely passionate about quality entertainment. This is where our diverse portfolio plays a key role. From slots, table games, instant and crash titles, to lottery- and bingo-inspired formats and video game-style experiences, we can explore which types of content resonate most with Canadian players.
And this is only the beginning. We plan to introduce more titles that players will enjoy, continue expanding our partner network, and support everything with promotional and player-first initiatives. Step by step, we’ll build a strong and lasting presence across Canada, with the long-term goal of gradually expanding further into North America.
