CasinosHunter is always excited about innovation and original approaches to game development, and this is why we are happy to publish a new Q&A, this time with Tony Plaskow, Co-Founder of Pixiu Gaming. Tony founded the business in 2014 as a specialist Keno developer for Canadian lotteries. He drives the commercial elements of the business and luckily he found some time to answer our questions about Pixiu.
About Pixiu Gaming
Pixiu Gaming was founded in 2014 after the founders noticed a valuable opportunity of taking a niche that hardly anyone wanted to take, which was Keno. The developers that existed were not looking towards offering features that players wanted, so Pixiu stepped up. After a few years of being focused only on Keno, the company started adding slot games and working on extra features that would make their games stand out from the crowd.
Today, the company has offices in Mexico and Canada. It has partnered with companies like Light and Wonder and Playzido and its games are already available at online casinos in many jurisdictions, not only in Canada. At the time of making this Q&A, Pixiu has 15+ interactive Keno games and is working on 22 new games.
Pixiu Gaming did what few others wanted to do: it brought cutting-edge technologies, modern features, and innovative approaches to Keno and Lottery games and thus offered variety to gamers. The mantra of “Keno reinvented” eventually made the company different from everyone else and filled the gap in the industry.
In the new Q&A with Tony Plaskow, Co-Founder of Pixiu Gaming, we find out about the peculiarities of Pixiu Gaming’s way to becoming a leading Keno provider.
Q&A With Tony Plaskow
Hello and thank you for joining us for the Q&A! Can you please tell us more about Pixiu Gaming in the first place? It was founded in 2014, as far as we know. What has been its path since then?
We came into being in 2014 when it became apparent that there was a valuable opportunity to develop and deliver high-quality and exciting Keno games for the lotteries in Canada. Their existing suppliers were not interested in listening to what they wanted so we stepped in, heard their wishes, and set about delivering a suite of innovative and engaging new Keno titles.
Until 2020 we were hard-focused on Keno in Canada but since then we’ve broadened our focus to include a range of slot and cluster-mechanic games, plus a range of table games we are working on in collaboration with our strategic distribution partners at Light and Wonder and Playzido.
In a hyper-competitive space, we believe in strongly differentiating our games by adding well-recognized brands or mechanics to our games whilst occupying a somewhat niche area by being a Keno-first developer.
In terms of brands and mechanics we have exclusive IP deals for Deal or No Deal in Canada and with the legendary NFL quarterback, Dan Marino alongside 10+ games we will be launching late in ’23 onwards which employ globally-recognized mechanics from Light and Wonder, such as Quick Hit and Blazing 7’s.
What makes Pixiu stand out from the crowd if compared to other game providers in the industry?
We are hard-focused on Keno which is an under-serviced area of the industry from a supply perspective.
We are unique in that regard in terms of having a suite of 15+ interactive Keno titles for operators. We also have a collaboration with Light and Wonder to bring the first ever multi-player slots to market in early 2024 which is incredibly exciting and will be a step-change in the excitement and fun online players will have from online slots by playing the same game with other players.
How many games are currently in the company’s portfolio?
We are currently working on 22 new titles.
What three games by Pixiu are the most popular among players? What makes these games so attractive?
Our most popular games are Lucky 8 Keno, Lucky Lily Keno, and Deal or No Deal Keno where we hold the exclusive license for Keno in Canada.
What game features are usually available in games by Pixiu? Are there any signature features that are instantly recognizable for the players?
Rather than re-using specific features, our mantra is ‘Keno Reinvented’ which is about adding slot-type features such as bonus rounds and jackpots to a traditional 80-ball Keno base game. This is a unique innovation that Pixiu has created and underlines the nature of all of our games.
Let’s talk about the company’s new game called Lucky 8 Golden Dragon. Besides boasting some beautiful visuals, the game is full of extra features. Can you please tell us more about how these features work for the player?
We have looked to pack Lucky 8 Golden Dragon with a variety of player favorites all in one place. That includes Expanding Wilds - which pay 2x or 8x multipliers - a Free Spins bonus round where wilds can expand and lock, an optional Ante Bet to increase your chances of hitting the bonus round, and the Golden Dragon Blessing, which gives the player a free spin after a dead spin which pays with an 8x multiplier.
In your opinion, what is the best thing about Lucky 8 Golden Dragon?
To be honest we think the whole game is well thought out and gives players an enjoyable, exciting journey. The Golden Dragon Blessing gives players a free spin at 8x multiplier after they have a dead spin so that’s certainly hugely satisfying for players.
In what markets is this game already available? How many casino sites have Lucky 8 Golden Dragon in their lobbies?
We are only just starting to roll out Lucky 8 Golden Dragon but it has had a very strong start with Loto Quebec and we’re so excited to see if flows into the European space.
Pixiu Gaming has been in the industry since 2014. Has the market changed a lot since that time?
Yes and no; from a supplier perspective, there is much more competition now with thousands of games launching annually whereas it used to be a couple of hundred. On the other hand, more regions have opened up and good games always rise to the top, so we believe that making as many good decisions as possible, and learning from our mistakes, is a recipe for success, the same as it’s always been.
In your opinion, what is the best trend or innovation in the industry today?
We are investing hugely into multi-player slots which we believe will command a material segment of the online casino market in the next few years; collaborative play between players acting as a team is the core foundation for the video games industry and something which doesn’t yet exist in online gambling – we’re going to change that in early 2024! Watch this space…
Eva is the voice of online casino reviews at CasinosHunter. With over a decade of copywriting experience, she ensures all content is clear and accurate. Eva simplifies complex gambling concepts and rules, helping players make informed decisions based on casino facts.
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