BF Games is a busy bee: they are always on the lookout for new slot ideas to develop while expanding their jurisdictional footprint and forging new partnerships. You may even say that we were lucky to get one of BF’s own to sit down and talk to us!
We invited Rok Hribar, BF Games chief commercial officer, who found time in his tight schedule to answer our questions and share insights into this amazing studio: from game creation process to the company’s near future plans.
We hope you’ll enjoy reading the interview with Rok as much as we enjoyed holding it.
AskGamblers: Hello, Rok, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us!
Rok Hribar: Hi! It's a pleasure for me as well to speak with you and introduce BF Games to your readers. I was looking forward to it, especially since a lot has happened in the last year, and we have been travelling quite a lot in the last weeks to ICE Barcelona, Enada Primavera, and visiting clients.
AG: To start this interview off, could you tell us more about BF Games and your current game portfolio? We have over 120 BF Games slots listed on AskGamblers, but they are not all traditional slot games.
RH: BF Games is a game provider specialising in premium online casino games. We oversee the entire game development process, designing titles from the ground up with stunning graphics and innovative mechanics.
As you mentioned, we have over 120 titles in our portfolio, covering a wide range of slot categories. We offer classic fruit-themed slots, high- and low-volatility games, and modern titles packed with unique features and engaging storylines, ensuring there's something for every type of player.
If I had to highlight specific categories, I'd start with our CashMesh games—our take on common jackpot features, which add an exciting dimension to gameplay.
Another standout category is our Dice Games, which was originally developed for the Belgian market but is now a massive success in other regions as well. These games simplify symbol recognition by incorporating dice elements, allowing for a seamless and intuitive gaming experience. Players can switch between games without needing to relearn symbol values, which enhances the overall experience.
AG: Could you describe the process of creating a new game from the commercial's perspective? How does your department contribute to creating new titles? What is your team's input in this process?
RH: The creation of a new game involves two key factors. The first is the visual appeal—if a game isn't visually striking, players won't choose it, and operators won't be interested in featuring it in their promotions. Even something as small as a thumbnail can have a huge impact on player engagement. Strong game assets are essential for making a good first impression.
The second crucial aspect is the math and gameplay mechanics.
Even if a game looks great, but the gameplay isn't engaging, players will leave after just a few spins and may never return.
Operators monitor these statistics closely, and underperforming games can be removed from their grids, potentially affecting our future collaborations.
From a business standpoint, we also have to balance creativity with efficiency. The lifespan of modern games can be quite short, so we need to create titles that are exciting while keeping production costs manageable. Our decisions are based on analytics, player preferences, and market trends.
Sometimes, even high-quality games won't work in certain regions because of their complexity or theme. For example, we've seen a growing trend among operators to request games specifically tailored to their local markets. This means we must carefully evaluate whether developing highly localised titles is worthwhile.
Additionally, the iGaming industry is dynamic—trends shift rapidly, and we need to stay agile, adapting our pipeline to capitalise on emerging opportunities before they fade.
We also look at the player's journey, their first contact with our game, and what motivates them to play the game. Next, players need to like the thumbnail, which needs to shine brighter than other games in a BF Games casino lobby.
Then, it moves further to technical aspects like loading, explaining the rules, and getting the player to press the first spin. Our focus in recent years has been to give players a frictionless experience, long gameplay, and excitement. We don't stop there; we think of players after they shut down their phones for a good night's sleep and a fresh new start the next day.
AG: We recently wrote about your entry into the Brazilian market; congrats, by the way! How do new markets influence the creation of new titles? Do you consider market research when creating new games? Also, do you indulge the tastes of local audiences or take a non-specific, general approach?
RH: Thank you! We are thrilled to enter this market and expand our presence in Latin America.
Each studio follows a different strategy when it comes to game design. For newer studios, the priority is to build a well-rounded portfolio that includes all the main themes operators expect—for example, classic fruit slots, Egyptian or ancient-themed games, spooky slots, candy-themed games, Wild West titles, and more. Once this foundation is set, it's important to incorporate popular features like jackpots and bonus-buy mechanics.
At BF Games, we are now at a stage where we have over 120 titles; we are covering almost every category of slots for an interesting modern player, which allows us to focus more on market-specific releases. Even within Europe, player preferences vary significantly from country to country.
When expanding into different regions, these differences become even more pronounced. Since game development takes time, we often start designing titles for specific markets before we even obtain the necessary licenses. Once we establish a strong foothold, we can take it a step further by creating fully localised games, even including titles with names in the local language.
We are not talking here only about BF games. We are also working closely with casinos to deliver third-party content that would fit the operator's needs. We are in the process of delivering several studios to help them reach big clients, like Betano, Superbet, Novibet, and so on.
We want to help our partners reach their goals, especially due to complications with certifications with many game providers. We are creating roadmaps and motivating game providers to enter these markets.
This year, we also delivered more titles; actually, we added additional games each quarter. We also improved roadmaps for dice and sweepstakes games or games for social casinos. We have also prepared several branded games for partners, and operators are extremely happy with their performances. Not the last, we also have a plan for each market to increase the number of games and provide top-performing titles.
AG: Speaking of new markets, can you share some of this year's plans for new market entries?
RH: After creating solid foundations in Europe, and even growing up here by receiving licences in the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Italy, the Netherlands, Georgia, and Ontario, this year we are setting our sights on two key regions: Latin America and Northern Europe.
Brazil marks the beginning of our Latin American expansion, with upcoming entries into Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Chile. Meanwhile, we are gearing up to launch in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, and Hungary in Europe.
If all goes as planned, we will successfully enter 11 new markets by the end of the year!
Finally, could you share your top 3 releases from BF Games with our players?
RH: It's tough to choose just three from our extensive portfolio, so I'll focus on standout releases from the past 12 months:
- Raiders of the North – A Viking-themed adventure with stunning graphics, multiple features, flying wilds, and a special treasure island mechanic with expanding wilds. It's one of our flagship titles, showcasing our capabilities.
- 777 Winter Hit – A completely different approach—a simple yet highly successful 3x3 slot that became a massive hit. Due to its popularity, we are currently working on a sequel, 777 Golden Hit.
- Blasting Rubies – Just when we thought 777 Winter Hit was our biggest success of the year, Blasting Rubies surpassed it! This game combines the appeal of classic fruit slots with exciting mechanics like expanding wilds and a Wheel of Fortune feature. It's a great example of how strong mathematical design can enhance player retention.
Thank you once again for your time, Rok, and we look forward to hearing more from BF Games!
RH: Thank you as well! It was a pleasure speaking with you.
