Yugan Naik: Something big started during lockdown
In this exclusive interview with Yugan Naik, the founder and CEO of EasyGames, we uncover the inspiring story behind the company’s inception and the challenges faced along the way. Yugan Naik shares his passion for the iGaming industry, discusses technological innovations, and explains how EasyGames is transforming the African market. Discover how the pandemic became a catalyst for a new era in online gaming and what trends might shape its future.
What inspired you to enter the iGaming industry and could you share the story behind founding EasyGames?
I was first exposed to the iGaming industry when I joined HollywoodBets in 2012 as a software developer who worked on their core gaming platform. Working for Hollywoodbets gave me exposure to other operators, platforms, game providers and it opened my eyes to the rapid pace at which this industry progressed. I quickly fell in love with this industry because I found it was always pushing the boundaries of technology and gaming companies drove innovation to come up with the next best game, of course I was exposed to financial benefits of the industry as well.
The idea of EasyGames came to me during the Covid Lockdown around April 2020 and after much deliberation EasyGames was officially opened in August 2020, during the Lockdown it became obvious that online gaming was the future because all sporting events came to a halt and land based casinos closed down which brought about a shift in the South African market because regulators opened up Live dealer games and RNG games online which worked favour because while I was bored at home during Lockdown I started building Games and Platforms, I employed my first developer in October 2020 which has now grown to team of close to 30 extremely talented individuals who keep our vision alive by serving the iGaming world with amazing products.
What are some of the biggest challenges you faced while establishing EasyGames?
I was fortunate that my tenure at Hollywoodbets helped me build a small network and build solid reputation in the industry, this network gave EasyGames exposure into the world of iGaming. The biggest challenge would be sales and marketing because it wasn’t something I was familiar it and we were a startup company that was a few months old, but learnt about sales with help from colleagues of mine who guided me in exhibitions and summits to attend. At those exhibitions, our network grew because people heard that we were doing great things in the industry for a little company based in Durban, South Africa. We have obviously grown from then and today we have sales teams pushing products and you can find our team at most Exhibits and Conferences across the world.
Yugan Naik, the founder and CEO of EasyGames
How does EasyGames differentiate itself from other online gaming platforms in the African market?
It’s simple, WE ARE AFRICAN, our roots are embedded deep in this continent. We understand this Market better than most because we are from Africa, we know the problems Africans face, we know the games and sports Africans love. We understand the struggles Africans have with data costs and poor infrastructure. This allows us to build Platforms, Games, Payment solutions or any iGaming solution that is tailor made for a specific Country because we have a thorough understanding of the nuances that exist in each country on this continent. We also work closely with regulatory boards to be prepared for any changes to regulation.
Can you discuss the role of technological innovation in EasyGames and how it impacts your competitive edge in the iGaming industry?
There are a few key items that EasyGames focuses on with regards to technology specifically for the African Market, speed, performance, minimal data usage and mobile first. Speed and performance allow us to build products that gives players the best users experience. Data light products are imperative for the African market, we have products that can work with 2G cellular technology because we understand that there are people living in rural areas of Africa that don’t have access to the latest technology.
The products that we build for other Markets are built on the cutting-edge frameworks and tech stacks because they have the infrastructure and technology that can handle it.
How has EasyGames leveraged mobile technology to enhance user experience and accessibility in regions with limited internet infrastructure?
We build products that are data light, we make use of USSD for some of products like Lotteries, Lucky Numbers, Horse Racing and Sport Betting. Limited infrastructure and the high cost of data is a serious problem in Africa, but we have built solutions which will allow operators to reach out to individuals in these areas.
How do you see the future of the iGaming industry in Africa, and what trends do you think will shape its development?
The future of iGaming is very exciting there are brilliant individuals coming up with innovative products almost every day, which I think is awesome. Innovation and out of the box thinking will drive the next generation gaming products. Every day people come to me with new ideas for a game or a new idea on how to change the industry which I find is very exciting because we are at the forefront of these changes.
The popularity of crash games which has grown over the years it’s definitely a trend to look out for, it shows that players want to have more control and have more interaction with the games they play, unlike slot games where you clock a button and wait for a result. I feel that games which engage with the player and games that require some levels of skill are the games that will grow in popularity in the future.
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