Exclusive: Mancala Gaming Bold Moves & 2026 Plans

In this exclusive interview with Mancala Gaming, we explore the company's latest developments and future plans. From a new website redesign to innovative marketing shifts and an exciting lineup of upcoming games, Mancala Gaming is making bold moves in the iGaming industry. We talk about their vision for 2026, the strategies driving their growth, and how they plan to stand out in a competitive market. Read on for exclusive insights into what’s next for this dynamic company.

• You mentioned a new website initiative. Could you share where the project currently stands, what goals you’re aiming to achieve with it, and what improvements or new features partners and users can expect?

The redesign of the website has a goal to improve the user experience and help users find what they need faster. At the same time, we are modernizing the look and feel, as for the first time we will implement our new visual identity and make all our communication consistent across channels. Most of all, we work in improving the messages and the content and implementing a new SEO strategy.

• You’ve recently made some changes to Mancala Gaming’s marketing strategy. Can you walk us through the key shifts, what inspired them, and how they align with the company’s broader vision going forward?

Recently, we’ve taken a more structured and intentional approach to our marketing. One of the key shifts was finalizing our visual identity and clearly defining who we are as a brand, moving towards more consistent communication across all channels.

We focused on clarifying our messaging and aligning our tone of voice to reflect a more playful and confident personality. At the same time, we strengthened our digital presence by implementing a new SEO strategy and a more structured content approach. All of this supports our broader vision of positioning Mancala Gaming as a recognizable and confident brand that stands out in the market.

• As the iGaming landscape evolves, the demand for innovation keeps rising. Are there any recent developments or behind-the-scenes initiatives that have played a role in Mancala Gaming’s continued growth and positioning?

 A clear and quite ambitious goal, a growing team and a lot of passion and creativity combined with better collaboration and more efficient processes has allowed us to scale the production and release games faster while maintaining quality. We select themes and mechanics by combining creativity with insight. We look at player preferences, market trends, and performance data, but we always try to keep our brand personality and stay true to who we are. We focus on themes that support strong characters and storytelling, and mechanics that are easy to understand but also rewarding to play.

• Looking ahead, you have several exhibitions and industry events planned. Which ones are you most looking forward to, and how do these events support relationship building and market visibility for Mancala Gaming?

This year, we have already had a strong presence at ICE Barcelona, and we are planning to attend several SiGMA events across Africa, Rome, and North America, as well as SBC Rome, where we will have a particularly strong visual presence for the first time.

These key expos will be our main focus for visibility this year. They provide valuable opportunities not only to strengthen relationships with our existing partners but also to showcase our capabilities and portfolio to potential new partners. Alongside these larger events, our team will also attend several smaller industry gatherings to maintain a strong presence across the market.

• Do you see crash games and other quick-session formats becoming a more prominent way for players to engage with iGaming content? How significant is this vertical today compared to slots? Some industry voices link this trend to shorter attention spans and mobile-first behaviour - do you agree, and how is Mancala adapting?

Yes ofc, we see crash and instant games formats becoming more prominent in iGaming. They fit very well with today’s mobile-first behavior, where players often prefer short, fast and engaging sessions. I don’t think it will replace slots, these formats are expanding the overall content ecosystem. At Mancala, we’re closely watching this shift and we are planning to release more crash\instant\arcade games this year. As you know we already have 1 crash game and few instant games, but this year we are preparing something special.

• Gamification is shaping how casino games feel today, with faster rewards and more interactive elements. With your Trigger Bonus System in mind, how do you enhance engagement without overwhelming players or distracting from the core gameplay experience?

With our Trigger Bonus System, the goal is to add extra excitement and reward moments without disrupting the natural flow of the game. Recently, we have added a visual progression for players and we can see how players like this! It’s very easy to understand (even though we have 20+ languages) from the player perspective and beneficial for operators. The key is balance as usual, the core gameplay must always remain clear and enjoyable, plus gamification on top of it. For us, gamification should support the experience, not compete with it.

• The slot market is increasingly crowded, with many studios chasing similar mechanics and themes. How do you make sure Mancala Gaming stays distinctive rather than just part of the wider noise?

The slot market is definitely crowded, you are correct. This is why having a strong and recognizable brand identity is very important. At Mancala, we focus on building a clear visual and creative signature so that our games are instantly recognizable in a busy lobby. This comes through our distinctive art direction, playful tone, and consistent approach to design. Rather than chasing every trend, copypasting top games, we prioritize ideas that fit our brand and the experience we want players to associate with Mancala. Over time, this consistency helps us stand out and build stronger recognition with both players and partners.

• Your integration with aggregators such as Gamingtec has expanded distribution. What tangible benefits have you seen from these partnerships? Are there specific regions you’re prioritising in 2026, LATAM, for example, and how important is localisation when entering new markets?

Partnerships with aggregators like Gamingtec are very valuable because they significantly simplify and accelerate distribution. Through a single integration, we can reach a wide network of operators and access new markets much faster than through direct integrations alone. This helps us scale our portfolio efficiently while maintaining focus on game development.

In terms of regions, LATAM is definitely one of the markets attracting a lot of attention in 2026 due to its strong growth and expanding regulation. At the same time, we continue to see opportunities across other emerging markets as well. Localisation plays a key role when entering new regions because it helps ensure that our content truly resonates with local players. This is why we have 20+ languages in all our games.

• If you had to recommend three games that really capture what Mancala Gaming is all about, which ones would they be, and what do they show about your style, priorities, or player experience?

I will recommend my favourite games! My TOP-3:

• Snack me Up! (because it is so funny)
• Madame Veyra (because I’m winning a lot in this game)
• Freak Machine (because this cinematic approach is soooo good)