We continue our 2025 wrap-up together with top managers and experts from the games industry. Up next is an interview with Ivan Leshkevich, Founder and CEO at EasyWin.
How was 2025 for your team? What did you manage to achieve, what are you proud of, and what, on the contrary, didn’t you have time for?
Ivan Leshkevich: 2025 turned out to be a breakthrough year for our team at EasyWin. We launched the platform earlier this year, built everything from scratch with a small team of just eight people, and by December, we closed our first seed round at a $15.5 million valuation, backed by great investors like Vladimir Nikolsky and Velo Partners’ Angel Fund. I’m incredibly proud of how quickly we validated the product: strong early metrics in Tier-1 markets, high engagement, and real confirmation of product-market fit in skill-based puzzles with cash prizes.
What we didn’t manage? Probably scaling even more aggressively in some regions. Regulation in real-money gaming is always a moving target, so we focused on solid, compliant growth first. But overall, no regrets; it was a fantastic year.
What conclusions did you draw by the end of 2025 as a development studio?
Ivan Leshkevich: My main takeaway is that small, focused teams can outpace giants in this space. We’ve proven that you don’t need hundreds of people to build a competitive platform in skill-based gaming, because efficiency and smart tech decisions matter more than ever. Also, real-money skill gaming on mobile is still massively underexplored, especially in regulated Tier-1 markets. Players want fair, transparent competition where skill actually wins, not just luck. And finally, regulation isn’t a barrier; it’s rather a constant you have to navigate proactively.
Have practices for interacting with publishers/investors changed? Has it become easier/harder to work with them?
Ivan Leshkevich: Since EasyWin is our independent startup after leaving Mamboo, we’ve shifted focus more toward investors than traditional publishers. Raising a seed round felt straightforward for us in 2025. The metrics spoke for themselves, and investors in the real-money gaming space are hungry for strong teams with proven track records. It’s definitely gotten more professional and data-driven now: everyone wants clear Product-Market Fit evidence upfront. It’s not harder or easier overall, just more selective, so good projects with real traction get attention quickly.
What kind of year was it for the niche/genre you’re working in?
Ivan Leshkevich: Skill-based real-money gaming had a solid, maturing year in 2025. The market kept growing steadily (projections show a double-digit compound annual growth rate), with more players shifting toward games where skill matters over pure chance. Mobile platforms saw strong adoption in casual puzzles and tournaments with cash prizes. Regulations tightened in some places, but they also brought more legitimacy and trust. Overall, it was a year of consolidation. Less explosive hype, more healthy, sustainable progress with better player retention and monetization in fair-play formats.
What trends in your niche/genre (strengthening or emerging) do you expect in 2026?
Ivan Leshkevich: In 2026, I expect even stronger integration of AI for personalized tournaments and matchmaking. Multiplayer real-time competitions will boom, especially on mobile. We’ll see more cross-platform play and deeper social features. Regulation will continue evolving, opening new markets while demanding more transparency. And overall, the shift away from pure chance games toward skill/reward models will accelerate, and it’s what players increasingly demand for long-term engagement.
What are the team’s plans for 2026?
Ivan Leshkevich: We’re doing a big scaling push in 2026. We expand globally in key regulated markets, add more puzzle titles and tournament formats, and grow the team thoughtfully while keeping it lean. One of our top priorities is also rolling out a robust two-step KYC process (ID verification + live photo/selfie check). This will seriously cut down on fraud and dramatically reduce future chargebacks. More importantly, it shows we take player funds seriously, fight money laundering proactively, and build long-term trust as an ethical operator in the space. We’re fully equipped now with the funding and early traction, so the focus is on becoming one of the top players in mobile skill-based real-money gaming while staying fully compliant and responsible. Excited for what’s ahead, it’s going to be another intense, rewarding year!