Troy Zurawski

Born into the Casino Business

Troy was born into a family whose ties to the gaming world stretch back more than 70 years. His grandfather was involved in the Las Vegas casino industry in the 1940s, marking the beginning of a multigenerational legacy. Growing up, Troy had an insider’s view of the casino floor and an early education in the mechanics of entertainment, risk, and reward.

As the third generation of his family involved in gaming, he didn’t just observe the industry, he absorbed it. That lifelong immersion would eventually shape his values as a game designer and business leader.

Before launching his own company, Troy worked in the slot manufacturing sector. There, he saw firsthand how the corporate environment often placed business concerns above player experience. Bureaucracy, sales pressure, and outsourced development processes left little room for innovation or creative control. These frustrations laid the groundwork for what would eventually become his core mission: to build a studio that prioritizes gameplay and originality.

Founding Design Works Gaming

In 2005, Troy founded Design Works Gaming in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a clear vision—to create a company where games come first. His goal wasn’t just to make slots; it was to rethink how slot games were made. From the outset, DWG has operated with a strict in-house development model, giving the team full creative control and allowing for faster iteration, better quality, and more original ideas.

DWG started by producing games for land-based casino giants like Scientific Games, IGT, Aristocrat, and Novomatic. But Troy saw the opportunity in emerging verticals and successfully guided the company into social casinos and real-money iGaming. Today, DWG titles are available on major platforms such as William Hill, Betfred, and Kindred.

A Philosophy Built on Simplicity and Player Experience

Troy’s leadership style is passionate, hands-on, and unshakably focused on the player. He believes that a great game doesn’t need to be complex—it needs to be intuitive, fun, and rewarding. This philosophy has driven the development of DWG’s most innovative titles, including their now-popular LuckyTap™ series, which strips down the slot experience to its most engaging elements.

He is also highly attuned to changing player demographics. Troy recognizes that modern audiences, especially Gen Z, want quick gratification and clean, digestible gameplay. By designing with these insights in mind, he ensures DWG’s relevance in an increasingly competitive and crowded market.

Achievements and Milestones

Under Troy’s leadership, DWG has released over 200 original games and built a global player base in the millions. The company’s social casino platforms have logged billions of spins, and its reputation for innovation continues to grow.

Highlights of Troy’s achievements include:

• Leading DWG’s expansion from land-based to online and social gaming markets.

• Creating proprietary game mechanics that differentiate DWG titles from the industry norm.

• Building long-term partnerships with major industry players like Scientific Games and Kindred Group.

• Establishing DWG as a studio that consistently resists industry cloning trends in favor of originality and player value.

Legacy in the Making

Troy Zurawski’s journey from casino family heir to studio founder is marked by a refusal to compromise on quality or creativity. He combines old-school industry knowledge with a progressive outlook, and his influence is evident in every game DWG releases.

As the iGaming landscape continues to evolve, Troy remains focused on the same principle that guided him from the beginning: make a great game first. Everything else will follow.