Watch: MegaFair’s Yan Shif on skill games, future of iGaming  

Jenny Ortiz February 5, 2025
Watch: MegaFair’s Yan Shif on skill games, future of iGaming  

The Fortune Business Insights said that the global skill gaming market is projected to grow from $35.61 billion in 2023 to $85.34 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3 percent during the forecast period.  

Incognia, meanwhile, defines skill-based games as dependent on a player’s skill rather than chance, with pure skill games having no randomness and hybrids combining strategy with some luck, like poker. Ranging from chess to arcade-style games, they don’t always involve money, but betting on them has created new opportunities. Unlike traditional gambling, which is regulated due to chance, skill games often bypass these restrictions, making them a growing niche in online gaming.  

In an interview with SiGMA TV, Yan Shif, founder and CEO of MegaFair, discussed the company’s journey and its place in the iGaming industry. “MegaFair is a game provider, but we’re creating skill games, which is a new niche in the iGaming industry,” he explained.    

Yan Shif, Founder & CEO of MegaFair, B2B game provider on the future of iGaming(Source: SiGMA.World)

Challenges in developing a new product  

Building a new category of games brought unique challenges. “We built a new product; it’s not a regular slot. It’s P2P, it’s matchmaking,” Shif said. The development process involved overcoming technical difficulties and educating the market about this emerging category. “We have clients and early adopters, and they’re happy,” he added, highlighting the growing acceptance of skill games.  

Enhancing user experience through innovation  

MegaFair’s CEO shared they focus on user experience by closely collaborating with clients and end users. “We’re working closely with end users. We’re also testing everything,” Shif said. The company integrates elements from casual gaming, drawing on the expertise of team members who have worked on products like Slotomania. “We believe it will help to retain people but also attract a new audience and monetise the existing audience.”  

Leveraging technology and AI in iGaming  

Shif also stressed how technology is central to MegaFair’s operations. “We’re more technologically advanced than most companies because there’s a lot of challenges in matchmaking,” Shif stated. MegaFair enables global matchmaking, allowing players from different casinos to compete against each other. “We’re using advanced topologies in cloud and service-side technology while also leveraging AI for matchmaking. Our game is P2P, so players compete against each other, and we use AI models to ensure the best matches.”   

The future of iGaming 

This year, Shif said he anticipates a shift towards new products in iGaming. “There’s an inflation of casinos offering the same games. In 2025, there will be more game adoption for new products,” he predicted. He also expects the rise of crypto casinos. “There are new crypto and blockchain-based casinos, including fully decentralised casinos.” Additionally, he sees a greater emphasis on retention. “Casinos struggle with retention due to competition, so they will adopt more retention tools. Skill games can play a role in this by offering new engagement features.” 

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