iGaming Needs Mavericks — And Here’s Why
In this Movers and Shakers column, we explore why igaming needs mavericks – bold thinkers willing to challenge repetition and push creative boundaries in a fast-evolving industry.
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, the series highlights the ideas and leadership shaping the future of online gaming.
By Danny Gordon, Head of Studio, DEGEN Studios
There’s a moment every creator hits where the safe option stops being an option at all. After nearly a decade in iGaming, building games across Microgaming, Entain, Vertical Games and Four Leaf Gaming, I reached that point myself. The reality is simple: igaming needs mavericks — and players feel it before anyone else does.
They’re the first to call out when something looks the same, spins the same and plays the same.
That’s why DEGEN caught my attention long before I stepped through the door.
DEGEN isn’t just another studio competing for market share. It’s a brand with a pulse — unfiltered, player-first and built around the belief that slot games can push further creatively than they currently do. The energy here is intentional. It refuses to follow the usual rules.
Joining DEGEN as Head of Studio wasn’t just a career move; it was a creative challenge. The studio already had momentum with titles that refused to sit quietly in a lobby. But what stood out most was the mission: disruption, not for shock value, but because igaming needs mavericks willing to challenge repetition.
Players today are more self-aware than ever. They know what’s recycled and what’s real. They want adrenaline, unpredictability and worlds with personality. Most importantly, they want to feel like the people building these games genuinely understand them.
At DEGEN, that’s the starting point.
We’re gamers first, developers second. We’ve lived inside games our entire lives, which means we instinctively understand what players look for before a mechanic is even built. Our process isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about designing from the inside out. How does it hit? How does it feel? What makes it worth returning to?
That question sits at the centre of every creative discussion.
My philosophy revolves around collaboration and freedom. Creativity rarely thrives inside rigid hierarchies. Some of the strongest ideas in my career have come from artists, analysts and testers — people willing to throw something risky on the table and defend it. DEGEN operates the same way. Everyone has a voice. Concepts evolve quickly, get stress-tested rigorously and emerge sharper.
It’s the ideal environment for innovation, particularly at a time when the sector is at a crossroads.
