Mancala Gaming - Interview with Emiliano Sanchez
Emiliano Sanchez offers an inside account of how Mancala became a forward-looking gaming brand in a few years, building an innovation-led approach intended to broaden its varied casino-game portfolio.
We spoke with Emiliano Sanchez, Chief Commercial Officer at Mancala Gaming, about the company and its direction. The conversation covers its origins, current hurdles, close partners and ambitions for the years ahead.
Q1: Thanks for joining us for this interview. Could you introduce Mancala Gaming, explain how it began and describe the approach behind the company? You are a relatively “young” business, yet already have a strong selection of games.
It is a pleasure to take part. In 2019, our CEO Nikita, CTO Sergey, CMO Lucie and I met to talk through industry trends, social changes and the gaps between game providers and operators. By then, each of us had worked in different parts of the industry, bringing a combined 25 years of experience. We saw both the openings and the difficulties involved in launching a brand, and decided that change required taking that leap. I am very glad we did. After securing investment, we acquired an established game portfolio and began building our own studio.
Drawing on our experience on both sides of the business, we have shaped a “B2B2C” strategy. It seeks to connect social casino, traditional casino and video games while giving operators new ways to retain players without asking them to commit extra development resources. We also bring flexibility to commercial arrangements, informed by our understanding of the different costs operators face.
Q2: What obstacles is Mancala Gaming dealing with now, and did the pandemic affect the company’s strategy?
As a young provider, we have the familiar challenges of getting games distributed and establishing brand recognition. The pandemic added difficulty by bringing in-person trade shows to a halt. We had to adjust quickly, and our network of partners across different jurisdictions has helped us gradually bring games to more markets. Our system also gives operators a flexible way to issue additional rewards to players without involving support staff, which can help with retention over time. Our studio’s games have raised expectations for both mechanics and themes. Together, our teams and adaptable approach are helping us enter several markets in parallel.
Q3: Which casino partners do you work with most closely? Where have you had the strongest results, and what has contributed to them?
Established partners including Vbet, Playamo and 1xBet have helped us reach different markets. We also have new partnerships that we looked forward to announcing, with the aim of strengthening our position in Europe. At the time, we were finalizing deals in Latin America and Asia to extend distribution there as well. It is natural to talk about countries: we were building a presence quickly in the CIS and gaining ground in Europe and Latin America. But we also look at measures that span B2B and B2C, such as total play and player retention. Our catalogue is designed to appeal to older audiences as well as millennials and generation X. We want to approach the audience differently, just as we are trying to do with the business. Starting the company in Prague gave us the opportunity to build a genuinely international team, bringing experience from many places. That perspective helps us develop games for cultural and geographic differences, as well as for different generations.
Q3: How does your in-house studio work? Some of your releases stand out: Zero Day, for example, blends modern and retro elements. What was the thinking behind it?
We are fortunate to have skilled people who collaborate smoothly across teams, almost as if working in a single unit. Concepts move from design into development with many considerations in view, including industry trends and emerging technology. The work happening behind the scenes has also helped us secure recent deals. Ultimately, the product speaks for itself.
For Zero Day, the initial idea grew out of our conversations, including informal ones. We are keen video game fans, and much of the team was waiting for Cyberpunk 2077, so the direction came naturally. As we settled on the game’s mechanics and visual style, we needed a name. After a team brainstorming session, we landed on Zero Day, a term associated broadly with cyberattacks and vulnerabilities in computer software. It suited both the artwork and gameplay, which came together through work by our Studio and Development team.
Q5: A new title is due to launch on the 10th of March. What can you reveal about its name or theme?
The title remains under wraps. What I can say is that the game will show how much each player and partner means to us: they are STARS in our eyes.
Q6: What did you expect Mancala Gaming to accomplish in 2021?
We expected growth on every front this year: the team, distribution and the brand’s overall reach. Exciting announcements were planned for the coming weeks, covering both games and new partners in different jurisdictions. We were also looking toward entry into regulated markets and hoped to share news soon. New releases and upcoming engagement tools were intended to extend our efforts to push boundaries. Our plans for the year were designed to benefit both players and partners.
With 12+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Evan specializes in reviewing online casinos, analyzing slot games, and evaluating player safety. Their expertise covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus conditions, and withdrawal policies. Through hands-on testing and independent research, Evan delivers transparent, fact-based reviews to help players better understand gambling platforms, their features, and potential risks.
