As you said, skill-infl uenced games are still
very new, and growing their footprint will not be a quick or easy process. But as more of these games get out onto the fl oor and in front of the players, they continue to gain momentum. It’s just about expanding awareness and educating the industry, as well as the players.
CI: What makes a good CEO in business today – and are you one? AV: A good CEO understands the challenges their industry is facing and inspires the people around them to help create a solution. It’s not my place to say whether I am worthy of being called a “good CEO” or not, but I hope to prove it true in time.
fi nancial acuity. I am actively involved in budgeting, marketing, business development and planning as well as regulatory processes and oversight. All of these areas are helpful in managing businesses in the gaming industry, a highly regulated and fast-paced business. CI: You’ve been involved with Synergy Blue personally for over fi ve years – what has your role been within the company up to now? AV: I’ve been working closely with our previous CEO on all areas of the business including game development, strategic direction of the company, cabinet design and aesthetics, regulatory compliance and licensing… Basically anything Synergy Blue, I’ve been involved at a senior level.
CI: What attracted you to this position in particular? And what about you – both your history and experience, and you as a person – made you the right person for the job to the company, do you think? AV: We’re uniquely situated as casino operators to see fi rst-hand what customers enjoy and fi nd interesting. Change is constant in our business and I’ve had a front row seat for several years and can translate that knowledge and experience to future development. Synergy Blue is at a unique point in its history. The company is well poised to lead the skill- infl uenced game industry by providing new gaming experiences for a burgeoning
6 APRIL 2021
demographic of gamblers. With our tribe’s fi nancial interest in Synergy Blue, it became clear that now is the right time for me to lead the company through its next chapter.
CI: How can the relatively new sector of video game gambling – or skill based slots – grow its footprint in the future? Is the key really solely bringing new, younger customers to the fl oor, or is there more to this? AV: There is so much more to arcade-style gambling than just attracting new demographics. It’s about evolving and creating new experiences — broadening the variety of casino entertainment and appealing to a changing variety of players. While traditional slots will always be a staple of the casino gaming fl oor, as they should be, a lot of today’s younger players aren’t as engaged with them as the older generations are. People are looking for new and exciting ways to play, as is evident by the rise of esports, sports betting and iGaming.
CI: Has Augustine Casino been used as a testing ground for Synergy Blue products previously, given the tribe’s fi nancial interests in Synergy Blue? If not, will it be used in future? AV: Augustine Casino was the perfect testing ground for Synergy Blue’s games. We were able to showcase, test and refi ne our games based on real-time feedback from Augustine’s active casino fl oor. As with every placement, we’re constantly making tweaks and improvements to fi nd the perfect balance of game play and wagering for our casino and our players. The secret sauce here is Synergy Blue’s HAWG® platform which provides every casino the fl exibility to run either the skill-based or chance-based versions of our games allowing for regulatory compliance in multiple jurisdictions and ‘fun you can bet on’ for any casino fl oor.
CI: Does/could having your own casino in the group infl uence game development, do you think? What positives stem from the association? AV: While the main goals of both the casino and Synergy Blue are aligned in providing people with entertaining and memorable casino experiences, they are two separate entities that function individually. The only way our casino infl uences game development is by providing easy access to real-time casino fl oor feedback, which is priceless. Being able to understand how the game play is embraced by players has been critical to Synergy Blue’s success.
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