We speak to Ernie Lafky, the newly appointed Chief Product Officer at Black Cow Technology, about how the company is redefining online casino entertainment through multiplayer innovation.
Congratulations on your appointment as Chief Product Officer at Black Cow Technology. Tell us more about the role and your vision for the company.
“Thanks! As Chief Product Officer, I’m guiding the product direction for Black Cow Technology, particularly as we move from being a backend software provider to also becoming a creator of content. Specifically, Multiplayer content.
“Black Cow has an exceptional foundation: our Single Player RGS is well respected in the industry, our Jackpot RGS is robust and in demand, and most recently, we’ve launched a Multiplayer RGS that’s truly groundbreaking. My focus is on expanding what the Multiplayer RGS can do — we’re taking a powerful piece of tech and turning it into the engine behind a whole new wave of shared, social, online gambling experiences.
“This is something I’ve been passionate about for more than 20 years. I hold patents around Multiplayer gaming concepts and have been waiting for the right time, technology, and team to bring it all together. That time is now.”
How has your past experience prepared you for this challenge? Where do you bring the most value to Black Cow?
“I’ve been making online casino games since 2002. My first big project was helping design the original Wheel of Fortune online slot at WagerWorks, which was later acquired by IGT. Since then, I’ve led the design and production of hundreds of games in both real-money and social gaming, including at GSN and PlayStudios, where I built and refined popular social casino metagame features like card collection mechanics.
“Most recently, I was Senior Director at IGT’s PlayDigital Game Studios, overseeing global slot game development across multiple teams. Throughout my career, I’ve been obsessed with how we can push the boundaries of player engagement, entertainment, and retention.
“What makes this role at Black Cow so exciting is that it combines everything I’ve learned — in real-money and social — and gives me the platform to build something truly new with multiplayer. It’s a dream gig, honestly.”
Multiplayer is at the heart of your vision. Can you explain how Black Cow’s Multiplayer RGS works — and what makes it different?
“Our Multiplayer RGS is the first of its kind: a transactional Multiplayer game server that enables real-time shared experiences across virtually any game format — slots, table games, crash, bingo, live dealer, and beyond.
“From an operator’s point of view, Multiplayer changes the game. Right now, players have little emotional connection to an online casino brand. But when you introduce real-time, social interaction — groups of friends logging in together, celebrating wins, competing, collaborating — that dynamic changes. It fosters community, loyalty, and stickiness that goes beyond what traditional games can achieve.
“And for suppliers, our platform unlocks a new design space. You’re no longer limited to solo gameplay; you can create team-based events, co-op bonuses, communal jackpots — the kind of formats that generate buzz and keep players coming back. It’s the closest thing to recreating the energy of a live casino floor — online.”
What does that look like in practice? Can you share some live examples?
“We’re already seeing it in action. We’ve partnered with Playjeux Studios, Pixiu, and Light & Wonder to create new slot games using our Multiplayer RGS. In these games, players each play their own base games but when someone triggers a bonus, everyone joins in and benefits. It becomes a shared, live bonus experience where the better the group performs, the more everyone wins.
“We’ve also launched Multiplayer table games in collaboration with Playjeux Studios, and it’s clear how engaging these formats are when people are playing and reacting together. This is just the beginning. Think of formats like crash games, or even massively Multiplayer games — there’s huge potential here to innovate and expand.”
Is multiplayer really going to be the next big thing in online gambling?
“I believe it is. Just look at the broader entertainment landscape: today’s players, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are drawn to shared, social experiences. They’re used to playing with friends, watching others play, competing, reacting, publishing and connecting in real time. Traditional online casino games don’t currently meet that need.
“Multiplayer solves that. It gives operators and suppliers a way to evolve beyond the one-player-one-screen model and create something that feels alive, social, and engaging. With our Multiplayer RGS, we’re providing the platform to make that shift happen — not just at a technical level, but with real, creative possibilities built in.”
What can we expect from Black Cow Technology in the second half of the year?
“We’re launching four new Multiplayer slot titles in collaboration with Playjeux, Pixiu, and Light & Wonder, and we’re eager to see how the market responds. These games will help showcase what the Multiplayer RGS can do and open the door for others to get involved.
“At the same time, we’re conducting deep player and market research — identifying where Multiplayer has succeeded in other formats and translating those lessons into casino and slots. Most excitingly, we’ll be developing original games of our own, built from the ground up for Multiplayer engagement.
“We’re also continuing to support our core products — the Single Player RGS and Jackpot RGS — which remain essential to many operators. But the spotlight is definitely on Multiplayer. We’re inviting operators, suppliers, and creatives to join us and help define what the future of shared gaming experiences looks like.”
