Animation artist @Juliano Castro shares his insider view on iGaming: creative roles, freelance vs. in-house, ethical debates and why regulation is the industry's backbone.


What creative roles are most in demand right now in iGaming?

Artists are always in demand. Despite the impacts of AI at the entry-level roles, as it is happening in other parts of the industry as well, art directors and illustrators are still in demand. Other than that, game designers who can go beyond the constraints of a traditional slot game framework or help to create innovative mechanics and gameplay will always find the doors open.


How do freelance and in-house opportunities compare in iGaming? Does the sector support independent contractors or do studios prefer to build internal teams? 

Both are widely used, however, instead of individual freelancers, they prefer to use outsourcing companies that can provide a full set of tasks related to 2d imagery and/or animation. The choice to have in-house artists is more common in studios caring more about the quality and consistency of the art and sometimes to build a style that would be the studio's signature.


How does the company's commitment to "transparency" and "responsible gaming" influence the games’ core visual concepts?

I don't see a direct connection between the regulations and the transparency with the game concept ideas. I see these topics influencing more the team directly, consequently influencing the art quality and the creative flow inside the company, because the assurance that the company is a safe place to work, provides a good environment, that it is responsible with regulations and is not involved in shady schemes creates a healthy culture and maybe could influence the reputation of the company in the industry, facilitates the collaboration across team and nurture mental healthy company wide.

Is there ever a conversation about the ethical implications of the visual narratives we choose to build?
I believe, officially, as an industry, there is not. However, this is a constant conversation among the artist community, and these conversations must happen, because, as a relevant part of the production ecosystem, we, as artists, can help to shape the vision and collaborate to bring a unique perspective to these matters.


Are player retention and revenue the main measures of success or is there room for artistry and entertainment value?

There is, but it is not granted. In an industry that is worth billions, revenue and retention lead the business, but artistry and entertainment keep the studios in the spotlight. I believe this question could be asked for other industries as well. Cinema, music and traditional games. In the end, the lead positions for each one of them are disputed by the players who can keep themselves at the top, but, as much as they need the revenue to keep flying high, it might not come without a beautiful and functional product that needs the artistry and the entertainment potential to make it happen.


A common perception is that contributing to the iGaming industry causes moral dissonance for artists - what mechanisms are in place to prevent its predatory edge? From the art side, I don't see mechanisms built to prevent that. There is a moral dissonance feeling but there is also a lack of knowledge. What I see is that not many people know how the industry works, how it is highly regulated and how it can provide stability and growth. Usually, they stop to look at it very early, blocked by the superficial interpretation and backed by abuses from some providers. The artists who get to know better, usually through other artists already inside, have no problems with it and adapt very well. There is also the cultural aspect in countries that have no access to these kinds of productions, creating an even larger distance between the artist and the studios.


What constitutes a sustainable business in this industry and what role do regulations and safety measures play in its development?

Regulations are key to the health of a business in this industry, otherwise the company would be a time bomb. Inside the studios, compliance standards are very high, there are lots of mandatory regulations for every employee to go through training related to anti-money laundering, responsible gaming, gambling addiction and player protection. No matter if you are in game design, art, legal or IT, everyone is set to have training and the gaming authorities are very strict in giving and maintaining the licenses to operate in the industry. Probably, there are more regulations in iGaming than in any other field of the creative industry.

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