Тo Be A Leader In The Global Gaming Industry

Mr. Dokov, you are leading a company which is in the Top 5 in your industry on a global level. How do you view this achievement?

We don't think about it, we are focused on our main goal: to create good products and do our job in the best way. However, some of our competitors have been in the industry for more than half a century and can count on huge funds and lending, and we only turned two decades last year, so it’s not possible the fact of being in the Top 5 in the global market, not to make us feel proud.

How did you manage to make such a big breakthrough in the global market?

Our success on a global level is due to a lot of hard work and perseverance and the good team we have built over the years.

This achievement was noticed and received an award in the "Digitalization" category of the "Mr. and Mrs. Economics" competition for 2022, which "Economic" magazine organized together with CEIB. How does digitalization affect EGT's success?

EGT is a global corporation with 28 offices and a presence in over 100 markets worldwide. To ensure the smooth functioning of this large structure, the company is working with various CRM systems such as Salesforce EMEA, Jira, SAP ERP, which it has implemented in its international network of offices. In the last few years, EGT has also been actively developing its subsidiary EGT Digital, that offers innovative products for iGaming. This is how we manage to respond to the modern trends towards digitalization of business and to be one of the preferred providers of online gaming content.

What are the key moments that helped this Bulgarian company become a factor far beyond the borders of our country, in a creative industry where consumers around the world have different attitudes?

There are many factors that determine our leadership positions in the gaming industry. As most important among them, I would distinguish our desire to always be close to our customers, regardless of where they are - whether they are in Argentina, Mexico, or here in Bulgaria. This is also the reason why EGT has such a well-developed network of offices, as well as 24/7 technical support, a fact that is highly appreciated by our partners.

What is most important in your development strategy and how is your vision of global expansion becoming a reality?

Our strategy for the future development of the company includes a combination of vertical and horizontal diversification. We believe that this is the right path to achieving and strengthening even stronger positions on a global level.

Who is, figuratively speaking, this Christopher Columbus in the company who discovers the new possibilities and gives birth to the new ideas?

I wouldn't say it's just one person or just a certain group of people. Our whole team, all our employees contribute a lot to making the work run smoothly and creating our innovative products. At EGT, we provide each of our employees with the opportunity to freely share their ideas, and this is a great advantage of ours. We believe that every person faces different problems in their work every day and that is what makes them able to give original ideas for solving these problems.

What myths exist about the gaming industry? What does it look like "from the inside" - let's say to everyone who knows it simply as users or even just as bystanders?

Indeed, there are many myths and falsehoods that have been instilled in people from movies, books, and various stories they have heard. What is not known is that the gaming business is actually a highly regulated industry whose main goal is to provide entertainment to its users.

How have games generally changed in 20 years? How do you create a game that becomes a hit?

Just as the world is constantly evolving and changing, so too is the industry in which we operate. The wishes of the players change as the generations change and therefore we also try to be constantly close to the pulse, so to speak, so that we can feel the changes and offer products that meet the tastes and demands of the new age.

People are important to both small and large companies. How do you attract and retain them in your 28 offices?

People are the most valuable asset of any company and we at EGT are well aware of this fact. We are constantly striving to offer different opportunities for career development and growth to our employees, and it is worth noting that a large percentage of them work in the company for a very long time. We implement many social policies aimed at supporting our colleagues on a personal level as well. In this way, we help them find the right balance between work and personal time, which is among the most important conditions for a person to feel good, be creative and invent innovative solutions.

Successful companies clearly have the right approach to their people. What is EGT's key to creating good teams?

Many factors go into building a good team. I would say that the most important among them are motivation and attention.

And with all that said, what is the power of EGT - in just one sentence?

Passion for innovation.

Years ago, there were bold visions that Bulgaria would become a kind of Las Vegas in the Balkans, and then - a technological hub for the gaming industry. What prevents and what helps such dreams come true? What do you see potential in?

Bulgaria is a technological hub for the gaming industry, there are dozens of companies in the country that develop gaming products with high potential, which are successfully operated in many markets around the world. As for the idea of Las Vegas in the Balkans, it requires huge investments and this is the main reason why it has not been implemented until now.

What was the time of the pandemic for EGT, what new horizon did you see beyond its limitations?

Many companies hold onto their values and develop them, but during this crisis it was the time to prove them in practice. EGT was no exception. The pandemic made us realize the need to add new verticals in our business. Although it was difficult for us during these 2 years, we managed to keep all our employees and the good relations with our suppliers.

What brought you into the world of gaming 20 years ago?

I was tempted by the many opportunities that the gaming industry offered, especially since there were very few companies in the sector at the time.

Business can also be seen as a game. What "game" are you in?

Dynamic!

Do you have a favorite game?

The game of life.

How do you rest, do you have time for a hobby?

Although my schedule is busy, I always find time to spend with my family. I also love running.

What message do you have for those who think gaming is addictive? But also for those people for whom the games remained in their childhood...

We can be addicted to anything - sports, alcohol, food, love. Whether we allow the addiction to develop or not depends entirely on us and our individual qualities, attitudes and character traits.

Our goal in the gaming industry is to create products that don't make people addicted, but enable them to have experiences.

In numbers

• 20 years in which Euro Games Technology has been dynamically developing;
• 28 are the offices of EGT worldwide;
• 100+ are the markets where EGT has a presence.

Company profile

Euro Games Technology was founded in 2002 in Sofia and within a few years established itself as a leader in Bulgaria. 20 years later, it is among the leaders of the international market for casino equipment. The technological company is specialized in the development, production and distribution of hardware and software solutions for the gaming industry. These include everything from slot machines, accessories and gaming mixes to casino management systems, including technical support. In the last few years, Euro Games Technology has been intensively developing its subsidiary EGT Digital, which offers innovative products for iGaming. Thus, it manages to respond to the modern trends towards digitalization of business and to be one of the preferred providers of online gaming content. EGT has 28 offices and is present in over 100 markets worldwide.