Habanero Brings an Expanded Portfolio and New Mechanics to Lisbon

With SBC Summit Lisbon taking centre stage, what key innovations, new game mechanics, or strategic portfolio highlights is Habanero showcasing at this year's event?

"Lisbon is always one of the biggest events for us  and this year we are going in with a lot to talk about. Our portfolio has expanded significantly over the past twelve months and the releases we have been putting out reflect a real breadth of mechanics and themes. We’ve been a bit more experimental with features, from the duel-driven Wild system in Battle The Beast to the radar strike mechanic in Battleship Strike and the plinko-inspired bonus round in Steampunk Plinko.

Alongside the content, Jackpot Race™ continues to be a central part of the conversation. It is a must-drop progressive jackpot that guarantees a payout within every race window which creates a level of tension that keeps players engaged for longer. Operators who have integrated it are seeing the results in session times and retention and that story keeps getting stronger. Lisbon gives us a great platform to show operators what it can do for their specific markets"

Understanding Operators and Evolving Player Expectations

What specific conversations are you hoping to have in Lisbon with operators and what does a successful show look like for Habanero?

"The conversations I find most valuable at events like this are those that go beyond the portfolio. Any supplier can walk you through their games. What I am really interested in is understanding what operators are facing in their markets right now, what their players are responding to, where the commercial pressure is coming from and what kind of partner they need to navigate it all.

For us, a successful show is one where we leave Lisbon with a clearer picture of where we can add value for the operators we meet, whether through content, Jackpot Race™, or our market insights and real-time player data. Being a long-term partner is important to Habanero and Lisbon is where a lot of these relationships start."

As player demographics and engagement patterns continue to evolve, what distinct player profiles or trends are you catering to today and how are these insights influencing your game design philosophy?

"One of the clearest things we have seen is that the transition from retail to online is still very much playing out across a lot of the markets we operate in, particularly in LatAm and parts of Europe. That creates a specific type of player who wants something familiar, rooted in the psychology of a casino game rather than a video game. Our games are built on strong mathematics and designed to feel natural to that player which is a large part of why our content performs across markets with a land-based heritage.

At the same time, players are becoming more demanding across the board. They want games that build momentum, offer clear progression and give them something to work towards. That is why mechanics like our progressive multiplier systems and the element collection in Nuwa Deluxe resonate so well. Jackpot Race™ fits that same thinking too, giving players a shared experience with a clear beginning and end that changes how they engage with a session.

We pay close attention to what is coming back from operators in different markets and that data feeds directly into how we develop content. Localisation is a big part of this. It is about themes and visual references that feel native to a specific market and designed specifically for that player". 

Why Gamification Must Enhance the Slot Experience

From advanced gamification and retention features to localised content, what major trends do you see driving the iGaming landscape through the rest of 2026 and into 2027?

"Gamification was talked about for years as the next big thing in iGaming but I think a lot of what was built under that banner missed the point. Suppliers developed tools that sounded impressive but did not really connect with what players want from an online casino experience. People play slots for a reason. They want excitement, the possibility of a win and an experience that feels true to what a casino game should be. When you layer mechanics on top of that without asking whether they add to the experience, you end up with something that does not resonate.

Habanero has always been careful about this. Even in game development, there has been a clear principle around not building something that a slot simply is not. That same thinking is at the heart of Jackpot Race™. It is a retention tool that makes complete sense within the context of what a player is already doing. The must-drop element, the shared race window, the tension that builds as the clock runs down – all of this is native to a slot experience while adding something new on top of that. It works because it taps into the same psychology that makes slots compelling in the first place.

I think that is where the industry needs to go. Gamification tools have to be built with slot players in mind and respect what it is they came for in the first place".

Brazil, Peru and New Markets on Habanero’s Roadmap

Beyond SBC Summit Lisbon, what are Habanero's primary strategic goals, key market expansions or milestones for the upcoming year?

"There is a lot in the pipeline that I cannot go into detail just yet but we’re very excited about what's to come. We are deepening our presence in markets where we have strong foundations with Brazil and Peru as two major priorities. We are also having serious conversations about new market entries which we'll announce in the coming months.

Our portfolio roadmap is strong too. We have titles coming that continue to push what we are doing mechanically and we’re continuing to evolve with changing player tastes.

What I am most excited about is that everything we have been building over the past several years is starting to pay off at the same time. The appetite for our content is higher than it has ever been and the wonderful world of Habanero is reaching more players across more markets than at any point in our history. The next twelve months could be our best yet and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds."