Marina Rodov, CEO of EdgeLabs, shares her secret sauce for game development and outlines the ways the company is supporting growth for its aggregation platform EdgeLabs Connect.
For those who may not be acquainted yet, please could you introduce yourself and EdgeLabs to our readers. What do you provide for the industry, and what markets do you serve?
Marina Rodov: EdgeLabs is a global game developer and aggregation platform focused on delivering end-to-end gaming solutions for operators — and ultimately, the players. We develop our own in-house slot content while also giving operators access to a broad network of third-party studios through our aggregation platform, EdgeLabs Connect.
What makes us unique is the ability to combine creative game development with efficient distribution under one ecosystem. We work across both free-to-play and real-money gaming markets, with a strong focus on North America, where we see enormous long-term growth ahead. Everything we build is designed to be scalable, commercially effective for operators, and genuinely entertaining for players. It’s been really rewarding to see that approach resonates, most recently with our nomination for Rising Star in Casino Supplier at the SBC Awards Americas.
Tell us about your product development strategy and why players love EdgeLabs games so much?
MR: At its heart, our games are about recreating an authentic feeling. I think we’ve genuinely struck something that players connect with; the way each game creates a fun, memorable experience every time they sit down to play.
A lot of studios front-load their games with inflated early wins to artificially hook in players. That’s not us. We stay true to what the gaming experience should actually feel like. It goes beyond a name and a logo — it’s the substance behind it, the values, the kind of player behavior we want to inspire.
What sets some of EdgeLabs’ games apart from the crowd in what are incredibly saturated markets?
MR: We don’t gamble on growth. We innovate it. That’s a philosophy we genuinely live in.
We’re a growing team, but we operate lean and commando-style; constantly communicating, doing our research on what players want, and bringing that into every new release. The lifecycle flows naturally, and we see the brand grow month after month.
I put the “edge” in our games down to two things: our incredible team and our amazing players. Our players are knowledgeable, loyal, and vocal. They know exactly what they want from EdgeLabs, and that pushes us to deliver authentically. That feedback loop is something we really treasure.
Some of your biggest games include Diamond 10x, Blue Bird Bonus, and Mark of Z. Could you explain what makes these titles so popular, and are there any underlying themes that run through them?
MR: This lets me expand on that last point because our players really are our greatest asset. Blue Bird Bonus launched at the end of last year, and over the following quarters, our players told us what they loved and what they wanted more of. We listened, adjusted the math for higher multipliers and more volatility, and now we’re dropping Blue Bird Bonus Extreme. We’re very excited because we know our players have been asking for this for a while.
Diamond 10x and Mark of Z are our other standout performers, and I think what they all have in common comes down to one thing: player stickiness. We’ve garnered a loyal player pool not just because we offer quality gaming experiences, but because we focus on the exclusive experiences. That’s what we’re always chasing.
Alongside your in-house games, EdgeLabs also has its aggregation platform EdgeLabs Connect. Why is it so important to have your own aggregator, and what sets you apart from others in the space?
MR: As I mentioned, our strategy is very much inspired by military commando units: stay lean, sharp, and focused. We build what clients actually need, not what looks good in a sales deck.
This year is very much about creating meaningful distribution by bringing together suppliers and operators through our platform. We’re also enabling reverse integration; helping gaming providers use our technology to build their own USPs.
What sets us apart comes down to speed and diversity. For studios, we remove the long pipelines and enable go-lives in a matter of weeks. For operators, we work hard to enrich our portfolio with a variety including crash, skill, instant, slots, and live, depending on the market.
But honestly, the biggest differentiator is the experience of working with us. It’s far more personal than what you’d get from your average aggregator, and that’s something our partners feel from day one.
What can we expect to see from EdgeLabs throughout the remainder of 2026 and beyond?
MR: This next chapter for EdgeLabs is a big one. We’re embarking on ambitious global expansion, not just entering new markets, but significantly increasing our game and product output. We’re not chasing stars. We’re building grounded, meaningful market share in every region we enter.
On the aggregation side, finding space in this market isn’t easy. Yet that’s exactly what drives us to hit the ground running. What’s exciting for our partners is that we’ll soon provide an extensive back office that makes onboarding, new game releases, and promotions seamless at the click of a button. We’re focused on creating an economy around us by connecting operators and suppliers through strategic partnerships, smart tech, and quality account management that genuinely enables growth. That personal touch is something we take real pride in.
