Zeusplay - Interview with Antonio Zlatanos
Zeusplay CEO Antonio Zlatanos discusses the casino game developer’s history and plans, its growing place in the industry, and the wider online gaming sector. We asked him 10 questions.
Q1.: It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your work helped take the business from Sparkle to Zeusplay; what achievement at Zeus Play are you proudest of?
Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well. I’m glad you know about our journey through the gambling business, from 1995 to today.
I’m particularly proud that Zeusplay has spent many years creating successful slot and lottery games. We keep expanding our client base and building the brand internationally.
Q2.: Could you tell us more about Zeusplay’s background?
My first company was Sparkle Computers & Games. We started in an uncertain climate, when Greek legislation had completely prohibited gaming activity. By 2012, we had gained wider experience in local and international markets and attended many exhibitions in Athens, London, Bucharest and other cities. We then founded Zeusplay to focus exclusively on developing online gambling games.
Our venture is built around a capable, highly educated team that develops its work from the ground up. I’m proud of my colleagues and their contribution to bringing the company this far. Our progress has also drawn new investment. In the past few days, an investment group has started supporting us and will help move our business goals forward.
Q3.: How do you view growth and competition in Europe’s gaming sector, and what changed over the past year?
Pandemic lockdowns caused a sharp downturn in land-based gambling, including casinos and gaming halls. The suspension of sports matches and events also hurt the global gaming industry.
Online gaming, including online casinos, did grow. But with the worldwide disruption caused by Coronavirus, I don’t believe it reached the level we had anticipated.
We made real progress in technology and in developing new game models. We found that working from home had a positive effect on the development of our games.
I hope Coronavirus won’t return and that life can move forward without further setbacks of this kind.
Q4.: Live casinos are becoming more popular. Are you looking at entering that area?
We’ve seen the growing popularity of live casinos as well.
I can say that our future plans include moving into this game category too.
You’ll have to wait until next year to see what we have in store.
Q5.: What about mobile gaming? Do you expect it to reach more people, and how?
The smartphone revolution of recent years means we have to serve players on their phones too. All our games are mobile friendly, and we work to support a wide range of devices. They need to load quickly and be easy to use on mobile. The interface should also work smoothly in landscape or portrait mode, giving players a consistent experience.
Q6.: Zeusplay’s experience has helped it create engaging games. You already support many crypto payment options, and new languages beyond English are coming soon. What’s next?
I’m glad you brought that up. As I mentioned, our main goal is to keep creating distinctive, innovative games while prioritizing the player experience.
We’re working on five new games for release by the end of this year, with launches planned during 2021. Our new title “FAIRY’S GOLDEN PATH” is due in September, probably by the time you read this interview. Another game, “EMPEROR’S CURSE”, is scheduled to launch by the end of September. We also expect to introduce a new lottery game for retail use at land-based agencies, adding to our lottery portfolio. The games are due to be presented at ICE London Expo, which we hope will finally take place in February.
Q7.: Zeusplay and UOM developed an advanced tool that provides useful statistics. Innovation is part of what you offer partners. What else makes Zeus Play’s package stand out?
I’d also mention Zeusplay’s Math tool, developed by our Mathematics Department with the Department of Applied informatics at the University of Macedonia. It is designed to refine our game models and improve the experience for end users.
Several things set Zeusplay’s package apart: our highly educated, experienced team; products regularly updated with new features and capabilities; and tools that help customers manage those products. Our server network is also designed to deliver maximum uninterrupted functionality under varying loads.
Q8.: The years 2020-2021 brought major challenges. How did Zeusplay deal with the Pandemic?
As I mentioned earlier, the pandemic made these years challenging around the world. Businesses of all kinds have had to find their own ways to handle the difficulties it caused.
We took that time to experiment with new technologies. You’ll soon see how we plan to apply them in our products.
Q9.: You have over 30 titles. Which Zeusplay game is your favourite right now, and why?
My favourite game is always the next one, and every title we create after that.
I’m attached to every game we’ve made, each for a different reason. When we try a title before release and add it to our catalogue, it becomes one of my favourite casino games—until the next one arrives.
Q10.: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
In 2022, Zeusplay will reach 10 years of continuous activity in the gambling industry. We’ll celebrate the 10th anniversary by releasing distinctive games.
Stay tuned for updates—and game on!
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
