Ebaka on Fast Games, Crypto Players, and Market Expansion

Ebaka Games is a new studio in the fast and instant games segment, operating at the intersection of data-driven development, crypto audiences, and high-volatility mechanics. In this interview, the CEO of Ebaka Games Vitalii Zalievskyi discusses with Bohdan Lytvyn (mycasinoindex.com) its ecosystem, target players, regional focus, and business model.

Ecosystem and Relationships

What role did Already Media (as a traffic provider with more than 1,000 affiliate sites, SEO channel) and Blask (as a market analytics platform) play in the formation of Ebaka Games? How close is the interaction between these entities and Ebaka Games today?

Interaction between all units naturally exists, but project development proceeds independently. Blask provides many opportunities for market research, identifying needs, and trend-watching, which is why it plays an important role for Ebaka Games — data and its analysis are the key to establishing a strong market presence.

What role does Dmitry Belianin (a founder of Already Medai, Blask and Menace casino) play in the development of the studio, for example, as a strategist, mentor, investor, or a connector to specific markets?

Dmitry is the founder of Ebaka, from the concept to the very name. He gave the initial impulse for the company to be born, and from there the team has been working independently, guided by its own vision and strategy.

Is it fair to speak of a closed iGaming ecosystem being formed, where content, analytics, and distribution operate under a single strategic umbrella?

That's fair, though only partially accurate. Ebaka will soon launch with numerous operators beyond the Menace Casino ecosystem. Ultimately, we'll collaborate closely with partners, adapting our strategies in alignment with theirs. Active dialogue is underway.

Player Generations and “Fast” Games

Which generation of players are you primarily designing your games for — Gen Z, younger millennials, or “retrained” players coming from classic slot formats?

All these segments are important to us, and each will find something unique in Ebaka Games. We're targeting players accustomed to the speed and vibrancy of modern internet experiences. The gaming experience should mirror the ease of everyday app usage — that's how we get closer to the player.

We've already stated: Ebaka isn't for everyone, but zoomers, millennials, and even older generations used to classic slots will each find something that resonates with them.

Is the shorter round duration and high-paced gameplay, in a sense, a response to TikTok culture and clip-based thinking?

This is more of a natural response to the majority's demand — people need speed, vibrant colors, and instant gratification. TikTok format isn't the only thing shaping the appetite for fast content right now. Just look at your daily apps to see that “quick” mechanics are an inseparable part of the user experience.

Do you believe that traditional 20–30 second spins are gradually losing their relevance?

Rather yes than no. Even old-school studios making slots are spicing them up with new mechanics — and often starting to create their own crash and instant games. The market hasn't fully abandoned classic long rounds yet, but it's confidently shifting toward simplification, acceleration, and instant feedback.

Crypto Audience: Behavior and Expectations

From your observations, how does the crypto player fundamentally differ from the fiat player, beyond the payment method itself?

The crypto audience tends to embrace higher risk, fueled by high volatility — this is one of the key traits of this segment, and as a provider, we're ready to meet it head-on. Ebaka Games offers a maximum multiplier of 100,000x, which not only amps up the thrill but directly addresses the crypto players' demands.

Is this audience more tolerant of high volatility and non-standard RTP models?

Rather yes — the crypto gaming audience is more receptive to new mechanics and far more interested in high volatility.

How important are elements such as provably fair systems, transparency of mechanics, and on-chain logic for this audience?

I think this applies not just to the crypto audience, but to everyone. But there's one key difference — crypto operators can provide greater transparency than many fiat ones, thanks to blockchain tech and provably fair round verification, which builds trust that's standard for crypto players.

Is it fair to say that the crypto audience is less loyal to brands, but more loyal to the actual gameplay experience?

Not always — in the crypto segment, strong community systems around brands are well-developed, and it started not with operators but with NFT drops and similar initiatives. Nearly every project has its own Discord servers with community managers. However, a fresh gameplay experience is a crucial part of what truly captures and holds the audience's attention on the brand.

Geography and Market Focus

Which regions are you primarily focused on today: Africa, Latin America, Asia, or the global crypto-first market?

Our naming suggests a strong presence in the CIS region, but we're not limited to it. We're open to the entire world without restrictions: we already have collaborations with partners who have exclusive country lists where we'll appear very soon. Won't reveal all the details just yet!

To what extent does the African market — considering the experience of your team and your investor (Dmitry Belianin) — influence the core concept of your games?

Of course, Africa is one of the segments that interests us, and here Dmitry's experience, influence, and expertise will help us unlock major opportunities for a high-impact launch.

Do you see fundamental differences in player behavior, for example between Africa and Latin America, specifically in the context of fast games?

Both markets feel far more attuned to new trends. Based on Blask data, Latin America's market shows quantitatively more interest in crash and instant formats — players are actively exploring these games. In Africa, attention leans more qualitative: in some countries, games like Aviator top popularity charts, but new alternative instant games haven't yet reached notable positions. African players remain somewhat conservative in their choices for now, but we believe this will change soon, especially with Ebaka Games entering the scene.

Do you design your games as “universal” products, or are they initially built around specific regional patterns?

At this stage, our portfolio consists of several “universal” games by mechanics, but we're openly stating our readiness to customize for specific requests from operators and aggregators.

Distribution and Business Model

Do you plan to distribute your games to other casinos and aggregators, or is the one-shop / white-label model (your status as an exclusive partner of Menace Casino) strategically preferable for you?

Yes, we plan launches with other operators and aggregators — the first ones you'll see in the coming weeks. Ebaka must grow and capture hearts worldwide.

What risks and advantages do you see in exclusive distribution compared to large-scale B2B distribution?

Exclusivity can be an appealing policy and focus opportunity, but our current goal is mass reach. We want to introduce Ebaka to as many people as possible, and exclusive placements alone won't cut it. In short: the strength of global distribution is its broad coverage.

Can we expect Ebaka Games to eventually become an independent supplier with a broad network of partners?

No need to expect it — this is already happening, and you'll soon learn the names of our partners.

Which KPIs do you consider key when evaluating the effectiveness of your partnership?

Player count, retention rates, GGR, game rankings on operator leaderboards — a mix of product and business metrics that will help us and our partners grow as businesses.