Exclusive Interview with Jakub Popanda: Wazdan’s ‘Online gaining™’ Era Has Begun

Interview with Jakub Popanda: A New Era of Innovation and Growth

We caught up with Jakub Popanda, Lead Marketing Manager at Wazdan, to explore how this strategic shift is reshaping their approach to game design, marketing, and long-term growth in a highly competitive industry.

Wazdan’s ‘Online Gaining™’: A Philosophy of Engineered Growth

Joshua: Wazdan recently underwent a major rebranding, introducing the ‘Online gaining™’ philosophy. Can you explain the core idea behind this transformation and how it aligns with Wazdan’s long-term goals?

Jakub: This wasn’t a rebrand for the sake of rebranding. It was about putting into words what we’ve been doing all along. Online gaining™ stands for engineered, measurable growth – not luck, not chance. It’s a mindset that runs through our products, tech, and marketing.

Instead of promising fortune, we focus on delivering gains – for players, for partners, for performance. Long-term, we aim to be the brand that brings consistent, data-driven results. Every time.

From Rebranding to Maturation: Wazdan’s Strategic Shift

Joshua: You mentioned that Wazdan’s rebranding is more than just a visual update, it’s a ‘maturation’. How does this shift influence the company’s game development and marketing strategies?

Jakub: It’s a natural step forward – more clarity, more focus. As a team, we’ve grown into a company that’s way more intentional in how we build and promote games.

On the development side, we’re cutting the noise and doubling down on features that scale and actually deliver performance. In marketing, we’re clearer about what we stand for – clean visuals, strong messaging, and strategies that speak to our partners’ goals.

It’s less about shouting, more about showing real value.

Translating ‘Online Gaining™’ into Real-World Benefits

Joshua: Wazdan emphasises ‘Online gaining™’ as a unique selling point. How do you translate this concept into tangible benefits for online casino operators and players?

Jakub: For us, Online gaining™ isn’t just a phrase – it’s about real, measurable results. On the operator side, our network promotions and in-game tools consistently boost GGR and UAP. We’ve got the data to back that.

For players, it’s about control and progression – things like Volatility Levels™ or Chance Level™ aren’t just features, they’re tools that shape the experience. The idea’s simple: when players gain, operators gain too.

That’s the kind of win-win we engineer for.

Standing Out in a Saturated Market: Wazdan’s Game Strategy

Joshua: With over 250 games in Wazdan’s portfolio, how do you ensure each title stands out in an oversaturated market?

Jakub: We don’t chase numbers – we chase performance. Around 40 releases a year, each with its own math model tested and tuned before it sees daylight.

Features like Collect to Infinity™ or Cash Infinity™ aren’t just gimmicks – they’re built to deepen the experience and drive real gain. Our Coins™ and Hot Slot™ series stay fresh because we keep evolving them with new editions and mechanics.

And if a game doesn’t hit the benchmark? It doesn’t ship. Simple as that.

Award-Winning Marketing: Wazdan’s Campaign Success

Joshua: Wazdan has been nominated for multiple awards, including ‘Best Marketing Campaign’. What key strategies contributed to this recognition?

Jakub: Clarity and consistency – that’s what made it land. With campaigns like Valentine’s Drop, part of our 2024/25 Mystery Drop™ rollout, we focused on sharp messaging and strong branding.

Lines like ‘Gain™. Again and again.’ stuck with people – they summed up both the experience and the results. But good copy alone doesn’t win awards. It was the full package: seamless integration across top titles, strong operator support, and marketing that hit both B2B and B2C angles.

Internally, we keep tight loops between Product, Data and Marketing – no silos, just one goal: impact. And it worked.

Innovative Mechanics: Enhancing Player Engagement

Joshua: Wazdan’s games feature mechanics like ‘Hold the Jackpot™’ and ‘Cash Infinity™’. How do these innovations enhance player engagement compared to traditional slots?

Jakub: It’s all about keeping players actively engaged, not just spinning and waiting. Cash Infinity™ builds tension straight from the base game – it creates that “just one more spin” feeling that keeps sessions going.

Hold the Jackpot™ became one of our signatures for a reason – it delivers unparalleled bonus game excitement throughout the experiences it is a part of. You see it in titles like 9 Coins™ or, personally, Power of Sun™: Svarog – still one of my favourites.

These mechanics make every moment feel rewarding, and that’s what keeps players coming back.

Balancing Creativity and Profitability in Promotions

Joshua: The ‘Mystery Drop™’ promotion was awarded ‘Game Feature of the Year’. How does Wazdan balance creativity with profitability in such campaigns?

Jakub: At Wazdan, creativity isn’t guesswork. It’s engineered. Tools like Mystery Drop™ work because they’re fun and functional: simple to launch, easy to scale, and proven to boost metrics like bet value and retention.

We don’t build flashy features for the sake of it. Everything is tied to ROI. If it doesn’t deliver gain, it doesn’t get built.

That’s how we balance bold ideas with real impact.

Empowering Players: The Importance of Customization

Joshua: Wazdan offers player customisation through ‘Volatility Level™’ and ‘Ultra Fast Mode’. Why is flexibility crucial in modern slot design?

Jakub: Because players aren’t all the same. Some chase big wins, others prefer steady gameplay, and we let them choose. Volatility Levels™ puts that control in their hands, while Ultra Fast Mode is built for those who want fast, no-frills sessions.

It’s all part of our Freedom of Choice™ approach. The more a player can tailor the experience, the more likely they are to stay engaged, and that translates directly into gains for operators.

Building Strong Partnerships in iGaming

Joshua: Wazdan collaborates with major affiliates and operators. What makes a successful media partnership in iGaming, and how does Wazdan support its partners?

Jakub: It comes down to trust, alignment, and support that actually make a difference. We’re not just handing off assets – we co-create campaigns, share data openly, and stay close through every stage.

Partners get real-time tools, tech support, and integration that runs smoothly. And we mean it when we say: when our partners gain, we gain too. That mindset shapes how we work every day.

Navigating Compliance Challenges in Regulated Markets

Joshua: What’s the biggest challenge in marketing casino games in regulated markets, and how does Wazdan navigate compliance while staying innovative?

Jakub: Regulated markets come with a lot of moving parts – timelines, restrictions, approvals. But for us, those aren’t blockers, they’re a creative challenge.

Our campaigns are modular and flexible by design, so we can adapt fast. Innovation at Wazdan isn’t about bending the rules – it’s about doing more within them. We work hand-in-hand with compliance teams to stay sharp, future-proof, and ready for whatever the next jurisdiction throws at us.