Industry veterans launch slots-focused Big Daddy Gaming

A new Malta-based studio, Big Daddy Gaming, has officially launched, founded by three industry executives aiming to reintroduce creativity and commercial value to the online slots sector.

The company is led by Erland Hellstrom, formerly of Evolution, who takes on the role of CEO. He is joined by Simon Hammon, ex-CEO of Relax Gaming, and Daniel Eskola, former executive at Relax and Kindred. Together, the trio bring a combined track record of leading major product, commercial and operational growth across some of iGaming’s biggest brands.

Backed by gaming investment fund Castech, Big Daddy Gaming plans to roll out its first titles in Q4 2025, describing its approach as a balance between creative design and commercial performance.

The studio’s concept, built around what it calls “Game DNA”, aims to combine proven mechanics with a distinctive visual style and humour while delivering measurable value for operators.

“Our collective experience across game development and tier-one operator relations ensures that every title we build is engineered for peak performance and designed with real operator challenges in mind,” said CEO Erland Hellstrom.

Co-founder Simon Hammon added that the studio’s goal is to become a “reliable and highly profitable asset” for operator partners by focusing on lasting engagement and “technical maturity”.

Daniel Eskola noted that Big Daddy Gaming’s mission is to deliver “consistent, high-quality content that secures long-term player loyalty.”

Big Daddy Gaming’s founders say the studio’s approach is already generating interest from major operators ahead of its commercial rollout later this year.