Exclusive Interview with Vitalii Zalievskyi from EBAKA Games: Behind iGaming’s Boldest Mascot & Unforgettable Modes

Interview with Vitalii Zalievskyi: The Visionary Fueling EBAKA’s Rebellion in iGaming

To understand the mindset behind EBAKA’s unapologetically bold identity, we sat down with CEO Vitalii Zalievskyi for an in-depth conversation. From the studio’s rebellious branding to its high-volatility features and unconventional creative process, Vitalii offers a candid look at what drives EBAKA Games. Below, he breaks down the philosophy, risks, and personal experiences that shaped one of iGaming’s most distinctive new studios.

The Bold EBAKA Name Origin

Joshua: Vitalii, great to have you. Let’s start with the elephant in the room: EBAKA is a name no one forgets once they hear it. What spark - or scandal ignited that choice, and how does it set the tone for everything your studio stands for?

Vitalii: When an industry has 700+ providers all making similar products and saying the same things, we couldn’t just be the 701st. We decided to create EBAKA - a bold brand, a memorable mascot, and ultra-volatile games that make the “Ebaka Mode” unforgettable.

There’s no scandal here - this is an 18+ industry, and we make adult games for an adult audience that seeks emotion and thrills.

Rebellious DNA in Game Design

Joshua: Your brand radiates a rebellious “we’re-not-playing-by-your-rules” energy. How does that defiant DNA translate into the worlds, characters, and mechanics you create?

Vitalii: The gambling industry is built on risk - that’s exactly what guides us. The blue dog Ebaka is hardly a traditional provider mascot, and that’s the point.

We use familiar mechanics players love, but our vision carries the EBAKA charge: special modes with high multipliers, boosters, and other unique features that reflect our studio’s values, all created first and foremost for players.

Balancing Creativity and Controlled Chaos

Joshua: Edginess attracts attention, but it can also invite outrage. Where do you personally draw the line between fearless creativity and calculated chaos - and how do you keep EBAKA controversial in the right way?

Vitalii: There are no lines. Limits kill progress, and if your goals aren’t bold, what’s the point of building cool stuff? EBAKA knows how to control chaos and that’s what makes us attractive.

At the same time, we do things honestly and transparently: certified RNG, Provably Fair where every round can be verified. We’re reliable and loyal partners, and doing business with us is mutually rewarding.

The Game That Defines EBAKA

Joshua: If you had to point to one EBAKA title that captures the studio’s soul - its bite, its humor, its rule-breaking spirit - which would it be, and what exactly makes it so unmistakably “EBAKA”?

Vitalii: Our mascot, our EBAKA modes, and our visual style - instantly recognizable among thousands of games released every month in our industry.

Growing Without Losing the Edge

Joshua: The industry evolves fast, but bold brands can get diluted over time. How do you plan to grow EBAKA without sanding down the sharp edges that made it stand out?

Vitalii: We’re not chasing numbers (like 10 games a month). We’re going our own way, with our philosophy, culture, and business approach. We said from the start that we’d find “our people,” and it worked. We’re already live with our first partners and are truly proud of the trust they’ve placed in us.

That’s why we’re sure EBAKA is destined for greatness.

From Emigration to Fearless Leadership

Joshua: Let’s get personal: what moment in your life - maybe a failure, maybe a fight, maybe a breakthrough - turned you into the kind of leader who could helm a studio built on risk and rebellion?

Vitalii: Emigration. When circumstances force you to start from scratch in another country - without knowing the language, culture, or local norms — and with a child who has to begin school not speaking the language, that’s a serious challenge. But after a couple of years, you adapt.

Then I felt another calling: to learn something new. I enrolled in an MBA program, and that opened a new chapter in my career and thinking. That’s when I realized I wanted to create something new, unconventional, loud, and bright. That’s how I became CEO of EBAKA GAMES.

Learning from Leadership Mistakes

Joshua: Every creative leader has a scar or two from lessons learned the hard way. What’s one leadership mistake that shaped you, and how has it influenced how you run a team built for bold moves?

Vitalii: Every manager has scars, bumps, and a shelf full of screw-ups. The key is learning from them, otherwise, you’re doomed to repeat the pain.

One specific mistake that shaped me was not parting ways with a key employee on time. I invested time and gave them plenty of chances, but it backfired, hurting both the studio’s performance and my own effectiveness. Eventually, we parted ways.

From that experience, I built a simple rule: clear agreements, transparent reporting, trust from day one, empowered delegation, and mutual accountability.

Fresh Perspective Fuels Constant Innovation

Joshua: You’re constantly pushing boundaries. What fuels that? What keeps your curiosity and fire alive when the industry gets predictable?

Vitalii: The fact that I haven’t spent decades in the gambling world, seen it all, and become numb. Coming in from another industry brings fresh drive - the urge to shake things up and gather like-minded people.

Out of my 15 years in gaming, only five have been in gambling, which means EBAKA benefits from the other ten years of experience from mobile, AAA, and AR games. That’s incredible energy, and with the right team, that’s how a studio like EBAKA comes to life.

Boxing, LEGO, and Creative Fuel

Joshua: Outside the office, what unexpected passions or obsessions secretly feed your creativity and show up in your work - maybe even when players don’t realize it?

Vitalii: A good physical workout clears the mind. Boxing gives me adrenaline, which is the best fuel for ideas. Walks often bring insights too. You just have to walk enough kilometers without getting lost along the way.

And surprisingly, building massive LEGO sets - over 10,000 pieces - which I’ve been doing with my daughter for years, can sometimes trigger ideas as well. It’s meditative, focused, and creative all at once.

EBAKA's Dream Dinner Party Guests

Joshua: And a fun one: EBAKA is throwing a dinner party, and you get to pick three guests - living, dead, or completely fictional. Who’s sitting at your table, and what chaos, brilliance, or inspiration would each one bring?

Vitalii: Rick Sanchez (from Rick and Morty) - his humor, culture, and style are deeply aligned with EBAKA, and he’d definitely appreciate our insane “Ebaka Mode.”

Elon Musk - the ultimate meme hero! He’d love our games, and we’d have plenty to discuss.

Hachiko - he knows how to wait. EBAKA respects and values that.