Principal Game Designer - Casino & Gambling Games

At Bellota Labs, we're building the next generation of casino and gambling games for the U.S. market — and we need someone who genuinely loves this space. Not someone who studied it. Someone who lives it.

We're talking about a designer who has a favorite slot mechanic, has opinions about volatility curves, knows why certain bonus rounds create that electric moment of anticipation, and gets genuinely excited about what makes a player come back for just one more spin. With ClubWPT Gold already redefining online poker, we're expanding into new gambling experiences — and we need a creative leader who can make them feel as good as the real thing.

If you've spent time at the tables, know the thrill of a high-variance game, and have strong opinions about what separates a forgettable slot from an unforgettable one — keep reading.

We're also an AI-native studio, and this role takes full advantage of that. The best casino designers in the world work on instinct — and AI tools let you get more reps for that instinct than ever before. More math simulations run. More prototypes built. More bonus structures tested. More variants explored. The designer who pairs real gambler's intuition with an AI-accelerated workflow is going to outrun the one who doesn't.

What You'll Do

• Own the Game Vision — Define the design pillars that make our casino games distinct, addictive, and replayable. You know what creates a great session — now build it

• Design Core Systems & Mechanics — Lead the creation of gambling loops, volatility models, bonus structures, and reward systems that keep players engaged and coming back. Use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to accelerate math modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, and RTP/volatility analysis — so you can pressure-test more designs in a week than most studios do in a quarter

• Collaborate Across Disciplines — Partner with math designers, engineers, artists, and product leads to bring games from concept to polished, market-ready release. Use AI-assisted writing and visual tools to communicate your vision faster and more clearly across disciplines

• Prototype & Iterate — Rapidly test game feel, payout structures, and bonus features to find what hits, then refine until it's right. Use AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor, Claude, Replit Agent) to stand up playable prototypes quickly, and generative image tools (e.g., Midjourney, Firefly) to mock up themes, symbols, and bonus moments before a single pixel of art is commissioned

• Stay Sharp on the Market — Know what's dominating casino floors and online platforms. Understand what players are gravitating toward and why, and use that knowledge to stay ahead. Leverage AI research tools (e.g., Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude) to accelerate competitive teardowns, player sentiment analysis, and trend reports

• Mentor & Elevate — Help level up other designers and contribute to a culture where great gambling game instincts — and AI-accelerated design workflows — are developed and rewarded

• Champion AI in Game Design — Continuously evaluate new AI tools and techniques that elevate creative output, math modeling, or iteration speed, and share learnings with the broader team

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years in game design, with direct experience designing casino, gambling, or high-engagement games — slots, table games, poker, or similar

• A real passion for gambling and casino culture. You play these games. You understand them from the inside out

• Deep knowledge of volatility, RTP, bonus mechanics, and what makes a game feel rewarding vs. flat

• Strong instincts for the moment-to-moment player experience — the near miss, the anticipation, the big win reveal

• Hands-on fluency with AI tools in a professional design workflow — for math modeling, prototyping, research synthesis, and visual exploration — with clear judgment about where AI accelerates the work and where designer instinct must lead

• Experience working cross-functionally and mentoring other designers

• Analytical chops to back up your creative instincts with data

Why Join Bellota Labs:

• Creative Ownership — Shape the design direction of entirely new gambling experiences from the ground up

• Play to Your Passion — This is a role for someone who genuinely loves this space, not someone learning to like it

• Impactful Work — Your designs will directly drive the success of our next major titles in the U.S. market

• Passionate Team — Work with people building in an area they care deeply about, moving fast and thinking big

At Bellota Labs, we're not looking for someone who's neutral about gambling — we want someone who's into it. If that's you, we'd love to hear from you.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.