Significant ambitions were recently laid bare by slots studio Thunderkick as Svante Sahlström was named Chief Commercial Officer just last month.
The “fantastic addition” came a short time before the group’s entry into the competitive Ontario market was announced, with “substantial growth worldwide” expected to follow.
With all of this in mind, CasinoBeats spoke to the new addition to get the lowdown on what we can expect following the appointment, ambitions that the aforementioned Ontarian province provides, and just where we can expect Thunderkick to grow on a global scale.
CasinoBeats: Congratulations on the new role at Thunderkick. What was it that attracted you to this position?
Svante Sahlström: Thank you! I’m thrilled to be joining the Thunderkick team. After many years in the industry, I’m particularly excited to be contributing to and shaping a new story. I’ve always admired Thunderkick’s status as an independent, completely in-house studio in Stockholm.
I think it fosters camaraderie and collaboration, enabling us to deliver best-in-class products and services. We have a very talented marketing team, knowledgeable account managers, and successful salespeople here, not to mention those who actually make the games.
Those teams take a genuinely partner-focused approach with operators. Thanks to our personal touch and stellar products, I know we can now build stronger and longer lasting relationships in this industry.
CB: What do you hope to achieve as Chief Commercial Officer? What major ambitions do yourself and the studio hold?
SS: My main goal is to establish Thunderkick as a true partner and trusted advisor to operators, not just another supplier. While expanding our global footprint is important, especially into new markets across the Atlantic, I’m equally focused on deepening relationships with existing partners.
We also want to explore key European markets in which we are yet to go live. More broadly, Thunderkick aims to create entertaining slot content that stands the test of time. We don’t just want to produce games: we want to make classics that leave a legacy.
Our studio is filled with creative and passionate talent, devoted to delivering best-in-class entertainment. I firmly believe we have what it takes to create titles that will be player favourites for years to come.
CB: Thunderkick has not been shy in detailing its ambitions for Ontario. What possibilities does this bring for the company? How important could this region become for yourselves and in the wider context of the industry?
SS: Simply put, Ontario represents a huge opportunity for us. Access to this market could be a game-changer; giving us the means to invest further in top quality content. Conquering Ontario would help us to cement our position as a leading global studio.
Operating in such a highly regulated landscape requires having robust internal processes and platform capabilities. Earning certification and licensing in Ontario proves we have what it takes on the back end to scale up responsibly.
This gives us confidence that major expansion is not only possible, but smart business. Success here would accelerate our studio’s growth and allow us to keep raising the bar on game quality. Most importantly, it opens the door to new player communities that can inspire fresh ideas and innovations in our content.
Thunderkick establishing itself in Ontario signals to the industry that independent studios can compete and thrive in newly regulated markets. We’re up for the challenge of tailoring our offering to new parameters, while still delivering the distinctive entertainment experience players expect from us.
CB: In disclosing your appointment at the company, it was said that Thunderkick was also gearing up for entry into “other regulated markets”. Could you offer a little detail into which other regions are on your radar? And why?
SS: While I can’t go into too many specifics just yet, I can say Thunderkick has big plans to expand into additional regulated markets across Europe and beyond this year. There are still a number of regulated jurisdictions we have yet to enter, even within our home continent.
Establishing ourselves in these new territories is a major priority. More broadly, we are actively exploring regulated markets across the globe that we believe represent good fits for the Thunderkick brand and portfolio.
As always, we are strategic in selecting markets where we feel we can make a meaningful impact with our premium content. While I can’t name names just yet, the studio is gearing up for some very exciting global growth. Keep an eye out for some big announcements soon!
CB: You stated that “this year is set to be full of substantial growth and success for Thunderkick”. On the game development front, what can we expect to help achieve this ambition?
SS: Despite only joining Thunderkick recently, I’m very excited by what I’ve seen so far from our development team. We have some fantastic new features and mechanics in the works that I think will really resonate with players. The game I’m most eager to see personally is a third version of Esqueleto Explosivo.
The first two titles in that series are absolute classics, adored by players worldwide – and me included. I can’t wait to see what our team has in store as the franchise continues to evolve. Beyond that, we plan to increase our output this year and deliver even more top-quality originals.
Thunderkick has always stood for quality; we don’t rush games just to meet quotas. So, while we’ll bump up our release count, every title will still meet our sky-high standards. It’s clear this team has a huge creative spirit and drive to keep raising the bar. My goal is to support that process and execute effective plans to elevate the experience, for both operators and players.
