Q&A: Our Country Manager - Italy, Piero Carlucci, speaks to DailySpin
Our Country Manager - Italy, Piero Carlucci, caught up with DailySpin to explore Push Gaming's slot portfolio, highlight achievements, and get an exclusive look at what's coming next. Let's get started!
Since you entered the Italian market, what have you learned about local player taste?
Following our entry into Italy at the start of last year, we have gained a lot of insight into the state of the market today, but also how it is likely to evolve. The typical Italian player has changed from being ‘a mature male’, into a more diverse group of younger users, with product preferences reflecting this.
Many slots that are popular in Italy were developed with an adherence to mechanics and aesthetics found in land-based casinos. As the market has developed, this trend has now given way to more captivating game features. Continuing this trend, we envision enhanced interactivity between the player and the game becoming more prominent, whether that be through gamification features or direct player choice.
What titles have been your biggest successes in Italy?
Our top three games in the territory perfectly exemplify our commitment to creating innovative and engaging content. Wild Swarm 2 is a prime example and has been incredibly popular in Italy. It serves as a worthy sequel to the classic slot Wild Swarm. The title maintains the original game's aesthetic and mechanics, whilst introducing reel multipliers, enhancing the gameplay and overall upgrading the slot for a more modern audience.
Meanwhile, Big Bamboo provides a tranquil setting and has an Asian theme which has proven popular. The title has a lot of replayability thanks to the outstanding depth offered through its mechanics. Mystery Stacks and Golden Bamboo enhance wins through various instant cash values, collect mechanics and the reveal of symbols. Italian players have quickly found an affinity for the mystery reveal aspects present in this slot.
Another success, both locally in Italy and internationally, is Razor Shark, one of our most iconic titles. It has an exciting base game and a great maths model that is amplified when entering the progressive free spins round. It offers a crescendo of excitement that has seen the title become one of our most prominent.
How has the Italian market evolved as a whole since your launch?
The iGaming landscape has undergone many changes in the last few years, with big brands merging or being acquired, smaller innovative providers entering the market and a new tender for Italian licences on the horizon.
The market is still evolving and we are yet to see it take its ultimate shape. On top of this, there are numerous new and existing operators climbing the ladder and challenging the more established names within the industry. In terms of content, many providers have now gained their licence, meaning the Italian market is now a very diverse and competitive one compared to just a few years ago.
Italy is an established and congested market, what can Push Gaming do to make its mark there?
Whilst the Italian market is popular for providers, it is also an exciting time to be active in the country and there is space for everyone. We are confident that our content is unique and different enough to offer players something that our competitors cannot. We aim to provide engagement which will allow players to become fans of the Push Gaming brand itself as opposed to just our titles. Our games are becoming blockbusters in Italy and are supported by a great team ready to assist partners with all of their queries.
You’re increasing your influence in several global markets, can we expect the same increase in commercial activity in Italy?
Italy is a flourishing market with significant growth potential. We're committed to strategically strengthening our position within the region, focusing on building a solid foundation that will benefit all stakeholders. My job is to primarily grow Push Gaming within Italy, which is made easier by our bespoke roadmap of releases for the market, promoting a recognisable and globally popular brand and of course our significant research into the market. These aspects, combined with our thrilling content, means that we expect our growth ambitions to be fully realised.
