By Ulises Gil, journalist at G&M News.
The company was founded in 2019 and has since built a portfolio of over 90 titles. How would you describe the studio’s evolution and its current positioning in the industry?
Our evolution has been fast, but very organic. We started with a small team and a clear idea: to build a studio with its own identity, where a game is not just “another slot,” but an experience with personality. Today, with over 90 titles, we position ourselves as a provider that combines content quality, solid mathematics, and a strong layer of gamification tools. We are at a point where we are no longer just talking about growth; we are talking about consolidation, consistency, and performance across different markets.
What sets Mancala Gaming apart from other content providers in an increasingly saturated slots market? What is the concrete value proposition for operators?
The difference lies in the mix: content plus tools. In a saturated market, a game on its own is rarely enough. Mancala offers slots with a clear visual identity and well-designed mechanics, but we also bring to the table a set of gamification and bonus tools that help operators run campaigns, drive retention, and bring the catalogue to life. In short: we do not just deliver games; we also provide options to compete and improve metrics without complicating operations. We also offer different levels of customization for our partners.
The company is expanding its presence in Latin America, with recent partnerships focused on the Brazilian market. How are you approaching the region, and what adaptations does content require to connect with the Latin American player?
LatAm is a strategic priority, and Brazil in particular has enormous potential. We approach it with a practical mindset: understanding real playing habits, discovery channels, and what kind of experience works best. The Latin American player tends to value clarity, pace, excitement and frequent rewards, but also responds very well when content has a cultural or narrative touch. Brazil is also at a stage where the market is “rediscovering” iGaming, so there is an opportunity to build brand awareness and loyalty from an early stage; which is why we are working hard to obtain the necessary certifications to access the market as soon as possible.
Gamification tools and cross-game tournaments are part of Mancala’s offering for operators. What impact are you seeing in terms of player retention and engagement?
What we see is that when operators have tools to create dynamics -missions, activations, triggers, progressions-, players stay longer and return more often. It is not magic: it is behavior. Tournaments and cross-game systems help players feel that each session is not “more of the same,” but part of a broader experience. For the operator, that translates into better retention, longer average sessions, and campaigns that perform better, especially when properly segmented. We have seen from our own metrics how our tools help sustain retention without relying on excessive bonuses.
Which are the upcoming releases or projects and where is the studio’s roadmap pointing over the next year?
Over the next twelve months, the focus will be on two fronts: continuing to launch strong titles while also evolving our bonus and gamification tools to give operators more flexibility and players more entertainment. We are also revisiting some hits from the portfolio to give them new life with improvements and additional layers of interaction. There are surprises on the way. I would rather not say too much, but the goal is clear: more value for the operator, more excitement for the player.