Habanero Interview: Slots, Markets and Crypto Players

Crypto Lists originally interviewed Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, when the supplier was promoting Rainbow Mania and expanding its regulated-market footprint. The interview is still useful because it gives direct insight into how a casino-game studio thinks about maths, mobile play, localisation, game trends and crypto payments.

Editor’s note for 2026: Some game-launch references in this interview are historical, especially Rainbow Mania and the 2022–2023 performance comments. Habanero has continued releasing games since then, and its official site now describes the studio as having 150+ HTML5 games, support for 34 languages, “any currency including crypto”, and certification across 24 markets. Habanero’s games certification list currently includes markets such as Brazil, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

We have kept the interview format, but updated the framing so it does not read like an old supplier promo. The main value is not “new slot coming next month”. The main value is understanding what Habanero believes makes a slot work: mathematics, mechanics, mobile usability, localisation and regulated-market access.

Why this Habanero interview is still relevant

Game-provider interviews can easily become too promotional. A supplier naturally wants to talk about strong graphics, exciting features and successful launches. For Crypto Lists readers, the more useful questions are different: does the provider understand regulated markets, do the games work well on mobile, are the titles certified, and how do crypto players fit into the picture?

Habanero is not a crypto-only studio. That actually makes the interview more useful. Many crypto casinos rely on mainstream providers, not only crypto-native studios. If a developer supports many currencies, multiple regulated markets and mobile-first game design, it can still matter for crypto casino players even if crypto is not the studio’s main audience.

Crypto Lists view: The strongest part of Habanero’s positioning is not one individual slot. It is the combination of a large HTML5 catalogue, multilingual support, regulated-market certifications and mobile compatibility. That is exactly what casino operators look for when choosing content that can work across countries and devices.

What is Habanero doing different from its competitors?

Toni Karapetrov: In my view, what truly separates us is our world-class mathematics and fine-tuned mechanics. Once you get these right, you’re halfway there to delivering a really fantastic game. With every one of our titles, we want to ensure that players are satisfied with a product that optimises their playing experience.

Toni continued: With a Habanero game, you can be confident that you’re getting an action-packed title that delivers immersive features enhanced by strong audio-visuals. Our slots offer the full package, and we’ve found a winning recipe when it comes to guaranteeing a successful launch.

Crypto Lists comment: The “maths first” answer is important. Nice graphics may attract a player once, but volatility, hit frequency, bonus design, feature pacing and mobile usability are what determine whether people keep playing. In casino-game development, strong maths is not a boring technical detail. It is the skeleton of the game.

Are there any particular game trends you expect to become popular in 2023?

Toni Karapetrov: We’ve seen live streaming grow in recent years, with the phenomenon having a positive impact on engagement. In some ways, live streaming has become a necessity as it can showcase entertainment, showmanship and, more importantly, socialisation.

Toni continued: Younger demographics have different preferences from traditional ones, as they were raised on multiplayer video games. This is why modern audiences are proving to be a key driving force in pushing current and future trends. With more companies looking to grab the attention of younger players, we can expect trends like live streaming to grow.

2026 update: The broader idea has aged well. Casino content has become more entertainment-driven, more mobile-led and more influenced by streaming culture. However, this should not be confused with making gambling “look like gaming” to unsuitable audiences. Responsible operators need clear age controls, safer-gambling tools and transparent game information.

Which game is your team most proud of to date?

Toni Karapetrov: We adore all of our releases, but if I had to mention a few that stand out, it would be Hot Hot Fruit, Return to the Feature, Techno Tumble, Marvelous Furlongs, Scopa, Disco Beats and Nine Tails.

Toni continued: Hot Hot Fruit is an all-time classic in our portfolio and definitely a fan favourite. Scopa was designed with Italy in mind, but the title managed to find success across Europe. Titles like Techno Tumble, Return to the Feature and Marvelous Furlongs have gained popularity due to their dynamics and features, including rewind and calendar mechanics.

Toni added: Nine Tails and Disco Beats were two of our more recent releases at the time, and they demonstrated the progress we had made in game design and graphics.

Crypto Lists note: This section is useful because it shows how a supplier thinks about different types of success. Some games become classics because they are simple and familiar. Others stand out because of a unique mechanic, theme or local-market fit.

If you could personally recommend only one of your games, which would it be?

Toni Karapetrov: It’s extremely difficult to cherry-pick one title when we have so many games on offer. While I’ve mentioned a few key titles above, I don’t think I can single out one from such a diverse portfolio. Every player that encounters our portfolio may have a different favourite, and there is a lot to choose from.

Crypto Lists view: This is probably the safest answer from a supplier, but it also reflects how slots are actually consumed. One player wants classic fruit symbols and simple gameplay. Another wants bonus mechanics, expanding wilds, Asian themes, horse-racing themes or table games. A large supplier needs breadth, not just one flagship title.

Are there any exciting plans for the coming year that you’re able to share with us?

Toni Karapetrov: We’re set to launch Rainbow Mania, an Irish-themed slot spreading the magic of Saint Patrick’s Day.

Toni continued: This slot contains colourful visuals and features such as Pot of Gold symbols that dish out high-paying Expanding Wilds. From a commercial point of view, we’re also set to announce an agreement with one of the biggest names in the industry. I can’t share too much right now, but we’re excited about it.

2026 update: Rainbow Mania should now be treated as a historical release reference rather than upcoming news. The better takeaway is that Habanero regularly uses seasonal themes, local-market ideas and simple feature hooks to keep its catalogue fresh.

Habanero are RNG certified for 22 markets. Any other regions that you wish to add to that long list?

Toni Karapetrov: As of now, there isn’t a specific market that stands out, however we do have some exciting plans and ideas in mind. As a supplier with global ambitions, expanding in key markets and growing across continents is something we take seriously.

Toni continued: Like everyone else, we’ve considered the North American markets, with the US and Canada showing promise. But we are also trying not to neglect what South America can offer, with Colombia and Argentina reporting strong financial growth. We’ve been popular there since launching on the continent a couple of years ago.

Crypto Lists 2026 context: Habanero’s official certification page now lists RNG/game certification across 24 markets, including several European and Latin American jurisdictions. Its official site also lists supplier licences or registrations connected to Malta, Romania, Panama, Sweden, Buenos Aires and Peru. For operators, this matters because regulated-market access often determines whether a provider can be used at all.

Habanero also went live in Greece with its full catalogue in 2026 after being granted a supplier licence by the Hellenic Gaming Supervision and Control Commission. That shows the regulated-market expansion theme from the interview was not just a one-off talking point.

Which slot or video poker game was most popular among players in 2022?

Toni Karapetrov: Hot Hot Fruit managed to captivate more players and sat at the number-one spot for best-performing slots leading into January 2023.

Toni continued: Mystic Fortune Deluxe, Mighty Medusa, Candy Tower and Soju Bomb made up the rest of the top five. In regard to our table games, American Blackjack, Blackjack 3 Hand and Baccarat Zero Commission were the titles that took the top three spots for best-performing table titles in 2022.

Crypto Lists note: Historical performance data still has value, especially when it shows the mix between classic slots, regional themes and table games. However, players should not assume that a 2022 best-performing game is automatically the best choice today. New releases, market preferences and casino placement can change over time.

From the Crypto Lists team: Markus liked Tuk Tuk Thailand, Tom enjoyed Dragon Tiger Gate, and Marcus was drawn to Golden Unicorn Deluxe because of its jackpot style. Personal taste matters with slots. A game can be technically strong and still not be the right fit for every player.

Have you noticed any changes in the currency or cryptocurrencies that players use that last year?

Toni Karapetrov: We haven’t really seen any significant changes in regard to cryptocurrency. It’s something that’s been around for a while now and has become quite refined and established. We offer cryptocurrencies on our platform, but we’ve found that it’s not extremely popular with our player base, as they prefer to use more traditional methods of payment.

Crypto Lists view: This answer is interesting because it is more honest than the usual crypto-casino hype. Not every supplier sees crypto as the main player demand. In many casinos, the operator handles payments while the game provider focuses on game delivery, localisation, certification and performance.

For crypto casino players, the practical question is usually not whether Habanero itself is “crypto-first”. The practical question is whether the casino offering Habanero games supports reliable crypto deposits and withdrawals, fair terms and proper regional access.

Final note from Crypto Lists: Thanks to Toni Karapetrov from Habanero for taking the time to answer our questions. Readers who want to explore where Habanero games are available can visit our toplist of casinos with games from Habanero. As always, check the casino’s licence, payment options, bonus terms and responsible-gambling tools before playing.

FAQ: Habanero games and crypto casinos

What is Habanero?

Habanero is an online casino game developer known for HTML5 slots, table games and video poker titles used by operators across multiple regulated markets.

Are Habanero games certified?

Yes. Habanero says its games are certified across 24 markets, and its official certification list includes jurisdictions such as Brazil, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Does Habanero support crypto?

Habanero’s official site says its platform supports any currency including crypto. In practice, players usually depend on the casino operator’s payment system rather than Habanero directly.

Which Habanero games were popular in the interview?

Hot Hot Fruit, Mystic Fortune Deluxe, Mighty Medusa, Candy Tower, Soju Bomb, American Blackjack, Blackjack 3 Hand and Baccarat Zero Commission were mentioned as strong performers around the original interview period.

Are Habanero games good for mobile?

Habanero games are built in HTML5 and are designed to work across devices. The original interview also highlighted mobile play in portrait and landscape mode.