Izabela Slodkowska-Popiel, Head of Account Management for North America and Latin America at Wazdan, unveils Bumba Meu Boi Coin, the supplier’s latest title clebrating Brazil’s festive and theatrical culture.
Ahead of SBC Summit Rio, Slodkowska-Popiel explains why this game is ready to take the Brazil market by storm and how the game was designed.
Firstly, please outline what Bumba Meu Boi Coin is and explain some of the themes.
Bumba Meu Boi is one of Brazil’s most recognisable cultural celebrations – a mix of music, dance, theatre and stunning costumes that brings entire communities together. It’s pure energy, rhythm and colour.
For us, it was important to go beyond just putting Brazilian visuals on a slot. Working closely with operators in Latin America, we know their players connect with content that feels genuinely local – not just themed, but rooted in something real. So the team focused on capturing the rhythm and energy of the festival, not just its look. The result is a game that feels authentic to Brazilian players while still being fun and accessible for anyone else.
Walk us through some of the features and mechanics of the game and explain why you decided to include them in this particular title.
Bumba Meu Boi Coin™ is part of our Coins™ series, which has a strong track record with operators – players know the format, they trust it, and it performs consistently across regulated markets. So we kept that proven foundation and built something fresh on top of it.
What makes this title stand out is the reel layout. You have one main reel in the centre and bonus mini reels around it, so the gameplay unfolds in layers – players can actually see their progress building. Magic Coin symbols unlock additional reel columns, which creates this natural rhythm of anticipation that fits perfectly with the Bumba Meu Boi theme.
The bonus round is where it all comes together. Extra Lives keep players in the Boi Da Fortuna Bonus Game longer, and the Hold the Jackpot™ mechanic means all collected values stay visible throughout – no guessing, no hidden math. From what I hear from our partners, that kind of clarity is exactly what keeps players engaged.
How have you designed this game with audio and visuals to appeal to Brazilian and Latin American audiences?
This is where the Bumba Meu Boi inspiration really comes through. The colours are bold and warm – think deep reds, golds, greens – and the animations have this energetic, almost danceable quality that reflects the spirit of Brazilian festivities.
But we were careful not to let the visuals overwhelm the gameplay. Everything stays clean and readable, so even players who have never heard of Bumba Meu Boi can jump right in. The sound design follows the same logic – it’s not just background music, it punctuates key moments and builds momentum as you play. When a bonus triggers or reels expand, you feel it.
Brazilian and Latin American players notice when cultural content is done with care versus when it’s just a coat of paint. That matters to us and to our operator partners in the region.
What is it about the gameplay that will particularly appeal to Brazilian casino players? Is it a fast, simple game or does it have more complexity?
I’d say it hits a sweet spot – it’s easy to pick up, but there’s enough depth to keep players coming back. Brazilian players tend to enjoy games with a strong rhythm and a clear sense of progression, and that’s exactly how this one plays out.
The Boi Da Fortuna respin bonus round is the heart of the experience. It’s built on our Hold the Jackpot™ mechanic, so everything you collect stays visible on the grid – no hidden multipliers, no guessing. Players can see exactly where they stand at every moment, and from our experience in the region, that transparency is something Latin American audiences really respond to.
Features like Extra Lives extend the bonus without resetting anything, so there’s this natural momentum that builds up and keeps you in the game longer. It feels continuous, not stop-and-start. Simple enough that anyone can enjoy it from the first spin, layered enough that it stays interesting.
A year into the regulated Brazilian market, how would you assess the consumer preferences and has it aligned with Wazdan’s expectations?
Honestly, the first year has been encouraging. What we’re seeing is a market that’s maturing fast – players are getting more familiar with different game formats, they understand mechanics better, and they’re gravitating towards games where they can clearly follow what’s happening.
That plays directly into our strengths. The Coins™ series has always been built around transparency and clear structure, so when we talk to operators in Brazil, there’s a natural fit. They’re telling us their players want trusted formats – not necessarily simple, but predictable in a good way.
I’d say the market is tracking close to what we expected, maybe even a bit ahead in terms of how quickly player preferences are shaping up. It gives us confidence that titles like Bumba Meu Boi Coin™ are landing at the right time.
