PROFILE


Who’s Who: Matej Mihalj This month: Win Systems’ R&D Director, Gaming Division


When did you first get involved with the gaming industry? I first entered the gaming industry as a career in 2002, straight out of university. It’s been a very interesting period, seeing the gaming sector grow and develop in a way that few could have imagined just after the millennium.


What attracted you to this sector? One of the main attractions when starting out was the size and scope of the industry across the world. I wanted to expand my knowledge and grow my passion for gaming by meeting industry peers from different backgrounds and countries, and fortunately I’ve managed to do so. It’s an industry that’s always been at the


cutting-edge of the technology of its day. Whether looking at the emergence of video slots 30 years ago, or the information-based systems we have today, it’s exciting to see how we, as suppliers, can grow and how far imagination can take us.


What were you doing prior to the gaming industry? I came straight into gaming from a degree in telecommunications and have been fully involved in the sector ever since.


What are you responsible for in your current position? My main responsibilities include overseeing the R&D arm for our gaming product range. This includes working with development teams to improve upon our existing electronic roulette machines, and forging the future of land-based roulette with new versions and features. The casino floor has changed so much in just


the last five years, and it’s an exciting time to work in the space with customers becoming more demanding than ever in what they want from their gaming experience. This is a great challenge and one we’re very happy to meet.


What have been the biggest industry changes you’ve seen in your time? The transformation in roulette wheels has been significant in the last 10 years. The traditional


Favourite… Movie: Ice Age Band: Queen Past time: Football and training dogs TV Show: The Simpsons Food: Homemade Karst ham


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wheel may look to many as being fairly fixed in its design and function, but with better technology and enhanced graphics, it’s been possible to add an extra dimension to the game. Electronic roulette machines now incorporate changeable graphics and sounds that open the game to a new demographic of customer who demand more in terms of aesthetics and playability. With different versions targeted at different players, the previously fixed roulette wheel now has greater appeal and revenue- driving potential.


What are the biggest positive factors for your sector right now? The rate of progress in new product development has been incredible over the last few years and doesn’t look like stopping yet, with new types of roulette, more engaging gaming cabinets and slots titles, and customer retention strategies becoming more personalised. With such a competitive marketplace and


growing number of jurisdictions opening up to a regulated casino market, it’s important we maintain investment in new products and services to maintain and grow our position as a key part of the global betting proposition.


And what are the negatives ones – the obstacles to growth? In terms of my role, I don’t see many obstacles in the way of a burgeoning casino sector, but it’s important we maintain sensible discussions when it comes to regulatory changes. Win Systems, and previously Gold Club, have always been proactive in working with regulators and operators alike to pass on our expertise when it comes to legislating for a fair gaming industry. We’re happy to carry on doing so with those looking to implement best practice in their own estates and territories.


Looking at your entire career, what do you think was your smartest move? I know it might sound like an obvious one, but I’ve fallen on my feet in the gaming industry. Having made the choice straight out of university, this career has kept me exciting and


engaged almost every day. I’ve had the chance to travel the world, meet interesting people, and be part of various progressive businesses that have allowed me to exploit my passions.


And dumbest one? After years of driving on the right like the majority of Europeans, I’d ordered a taxi in London and the driver kindly went about putting my luggage away. I proceeded to enter what I thought was the passenger side. Unfortunately, to my surprise I’d opened the drivers door and looked as if I was looking to drive away with his car and livelihood. After a bit of awkwardness, we decided it was best for him to drive and I eventually got to my destination.


What do you think the gaming space will look like in ten years’ time? As an R&D director, this is something that could come back to haunt me in ten years’ time! Our main focus is on attracting the younger demographic, but this is increasingly challenging in such a saturated entertainment space. We need to make the casino floor functional for those who’ve been brought up with a multi-channel service, and so I see an environment that maintains the personal touch of the casino but with enhanced products that simply aren’t possible on mobile and desktop.


This could mean huge screens with an


improved multiplayer and social experience, tied in with operator apps or potentially a form of VR.


If you’d never embarked on this career, what other line of work would you have liked to pursue? I’d have probably remained at university, continuing as a researcher perhaps. I thoroughly enjoyed my time exploring for myself the power telecommunications has in changing the world, and I still apply some of the more fundamental theories to my practices today. Technical engineering has crossovers into so many industries and it’s given me the skillset to draw from them.


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