Here at Lucky Mobile Slots, we focus on game news and casino promotions. But sometimes, rumours spring out, and we must look deeper into our favourite casino game providers. With fines, huge management changes, and a drop in game quality, should we still play on Yggdrasil slot games?
Let’s unpack what’s been happening. Because once you look past the rumours and into the details, the truth left over is a lot more boring than you might think.
Don’t worry, we’ve kept this article short and sweet.
Yggdrasil Exodus: What’s Behind the Departures?
No one knows. Of course, they don’t. Smolarek and McGinley want to be employed elsewhere,
Maciej Smolarek, the now-former Chief Technology Officer at Yggdrasil, has bid farewell to the company. In his LinkedIn announcement, Smolarek, who joined just last year, cited the end of an exciting chapter and the start of a new mission.
His departure follows closely on the heels of Mark McGinley, the former Chief Product Officer, who also recently left the company after only a brief 6 months.
While both Smolarek and McGinley have kept their exits a secret, their departures have definitely raised eyebrows.
New Leadership at Yggdrasil: Can James Curwen Steer the Ship?
With Smolarek and McGinley out, the spotlight now falls on James Curwen, who took over as CEO last year (August 2023). This, we would say, is the starting point of ‘the troubles’.
We should point out that Curwen brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles. But any new CEO brings change, which is always a rocky road. Smolarek and McGinley were hired this year in 2024. Could they not have fit the new CEO’s vision?
The question remains: will his leadership be enough to steady the ship amidst these departures? Probably. The game developers are still creating even if the top brass are still trying to figure out how to manage their affairs.
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Yggdrasil’s Recent Setback With Regulatory Fines
Adding to the mix, Yggdrasil recently found itself on the wrong side of the Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen.
The company was fined for supplying content to an unlicensed website operating in the Swedish market. While Yggdrasil quickly rectified the issue, the incident felt bigger than it was. Any time a fine is issued, it feels big.
But let’s look at the details, shall we? The fine totalled SEK300,000 (£22,062/€25,670/$27,783). It may seem like a huge gambling budget to us, but it’s pennies to a big company like Yggdrasil. In other words, it was a slap on the wrist for what appeared to be a genuine mistake.
In other words, this is nothing in compared to the fines experienced by the likes of William Hill or 888. And they are still very much in business.
What’s Next for Yggdrasil Studios and Its Players?
So, what does all this mean for Yggdrasil and its customers? While the recent departures and regulatory hiccups might raise concerns, it’s important to remember that change is a natural part of any industry.
With James Curwen at the helm and a renewed focus on transparency and operational efficiency, Yggdrasil seems poised to weather the storm.
For us, the players, it’s business as usual. Whether spinning the reels or chasing that jackpot, the slots are still there, waiting to be enjoyed. We could happily name you 3 new Yggdrasil slots that have come out in the last year alone:
Best New Yggdrasil slots
- Nice Catch slot: 5 reels, 243 ways to win and a top win 23,972.8x your bet in the free spins
- Vampire Riches DoubleMax: 5 reels, 243 ways to win and a top win of 25,000x your bet.
- Nice Catch 2 Double Max: 6 reels, 729 ways to win game and a top win of 10,000x your bet.
- Rock Star Santa MultiMax: 6 reels, all ways pays and a top win of 10,000x your bet.
- Ragnawolves Wild Energy: 5 reels, 243 ways to win and a top win of 10,000x your bet.
In the ever-evolving world of online gambling, one thing’s for sure: the show must go on, and players must play. For now, we can happily say that as far as we are concerned, it’s business as usual at Yggdrasil Gaming.
We will continue to play and write slot reviews, and the only reason you should avoid their games is if you don’t like the style, gameplay, or what we say in our review.
