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Betsson, bet365 and Betradar celebrate triple successes at SBC Awards 2021

Published

4 years ago

December 16, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Betsson Group, bet365, Evolution, Betradar and GoldenRace were among the 34 companies to celebrate victories at last night’s SBC Awards 2021 ceremony at Evolution London.

Hosted by Kirsty Gallacher and World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, the eighth edition of the SBC awards brought together an audience of betting and gaming industry professionals to recognise the achievements of the top-performing operators, affiliates and suppliers.

The glittering ceremony culminated in bet365 extending its dominance in the Sportsbook of the Year category by being named winner for the eighth consecutive time, having earlier collected the Best Affiliate Programme and Best Mobile Operator App prizes.

Betsson Group also scored a hat-trick of successes, landing the coveted Casino Operator of the Year title, along with the Socially Responsible Sportsbook and, for its RaceBets brand, the Racing Sportsbook trophies.

Joining the big brand operators in achieving three successes was Betradar, with victories in the Platform Provider of the Year, Live Streaming Product / Supplier, and Sports Data Product categories.

Golden Race doubled up with wins in the Land-Based Betting & Gaming Product and Virtual Sports Supplier categories, while Evolution enjoyed twin triumphs as it picked up the Innovation in Casino Entertainment and Live Casino Supplier gongs.

The event also honoured some of the CEOs who have been integral to the continuing success of the industry throughout the turbulent conditions of the past 12 months. Yolo Group’s Maarja Pärt, Sportradar’s Carsten Koerl, and Evoplay’s Ivan Kravchuk were presented with Leader of the Year awards.

Andrew McCarron, Managing Director at SBC, said: “Huge congratulations to all the winners selected by our independent judging panels. We had our largest ever number of entries this year and the overall quality highlighted that betting and gaming remains one of the world’s most forward-thinking industries.

“To succeed against that standard of competition required a truly outstanding performance and that is what the judges identified in every single winner. From operational excellence and outstanding commitment to customer service through to exceptional innovation and creativity in product development, all the SBC Awards winners demonstrated something special over the past year.”

The victors in the operator section of the awards also included Ladbrokes (Football Sportsbook of the Year), Betway Group (Esports Operator of the Year), Kaizen Gaming (Marketing Campaign of the Year) and 1xBet (Sponsorship of the Year).

Mr Green took the prize for Socially Responsible Casino of the Year, while Karamba landed the Innovation in Casino & Gaming Entertainment prize and Hero Gaming collected the Employer of the Year trophy.

In addition to recognising the achievements of the big names in the industry, the SBC Awards honoured some of the best challenger brands. The Rising Star prizes were presented to Virgin Bet (Sports Betting), Glitnor Group (Casino), Sports IQ Analytics (Sports Betting Innovation / Software) and Swintt (Casino Innovation / Software).

The affiliates section saw Better Collective named Sports Affiliate of the Year and Catena Media secure the equivalent Casino award, while Raketech Group triumphed in the Affiliate Product Innovation category.

In the supplier section of the awards, the fiercely contested Casino / Slots Developer of the Year title went to Pragmatic Play, while Mindway AI won Industry Innovation of the Year.

Pronet Gaming was named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year, Genius Sports collected the Living Betting Product prize, Highlight Games triumphed in the Virtual Sports Innovation category and Pinnacle Solution celebrated the Esports Supplier of the Year title.

There were also victories for Optimove (Acquisition & Retention Partner), Shape Games (Innovation in Mobile), Square in the Air (Marketing & Services Provider of the Year), BetConstruct (Multi-Channel Supplier) and White Hat Gaming (White Label Supplier).

Trustly was awarded the Payment Solution of the Year title, while Nuvei triumphed in the Payment Innovation category, 1account took the Fraud & Compliance Solution honour and OKTO won the Mobile Payment Solution trophy.

McCarron added: “The ceremony was a great night, with the awards, entertainment and hospitality combining to make it a fantastic end-of-year celebration for the betting and gaming industry.

“Events like this are made possible by the ongoing support of our sponsors and partners, so I’d like to thank BetConstruct, Kaizen Gaming, Digitain and GoldenRace for being headline sponsors for the SBC Awards and all the other companies that we continue to work with. And a special mention to our own SBC team who have done a phenomenal job over a very difficult year.”

The SBC Awards 2022 will move to Spain and are scheduled to take place on 22 September, the final day of SBC Summit Barcelona, the global betting and igaming conference and exhibition.

Arizona

Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026

Published

13 hours ago

January 8, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

arizona-department-of-gaming-reports-$44.9-million-in-tribal-gaming-contributions-for-the-second-quarter-of-fiscal-year-2026

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced today $44,891,270 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This represents an approximate 5.6 percent increase when compared to the same quarter of FY 2025.

“The financial support that tribal gaming provides the state of Arizona continues to power local and statewide needs that are vital to healthy and safe communities,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “With nearly $45 million in tribal gaming contributions in the most recent period, the Department is proud to ensure the continuation of important revenue streams that positively impact Arizonans.”

The Arizona Benefits Fund receives 88 percent of tribal gaming contributions, providing significant dollars to support instructional improvement for schools, trauma and emergency care, tourism, and wildlife conservation throughout the state. If interested in viewing the cumulative tribal gaming contributions by year, please visit our reports webpage: gaming.az.gov/resources/reports.

Tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of the State’s FY 2026 are as follows:

Instructional Improvement Fund/Education………………………………………………..$22,373,810

Trauma and Emergency Services Fund………………………………………………………..$11,186,905

Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs………………………………………….$4,040,214

Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund……………………………………………………………$3,196,258

Tourism Fund…………………………………………………………………………………………..$3,196,258

Problem Gambling Education, Treatment and Prevention……………………………..$897,825

Total: Tribal Gaming Contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund……………………..$44,891,270

Per the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, the remaining 12 percent is distributed by the tribes to the cities, towns, and counties of their choosing for community services and public safety programs for local governments. Since FY 2004, cumulative contributions have totaled approximately $2.5 billion, benefitting both the state and its cities, towns, and counties.

Currently, there are 26 Class III casinos in Arizona, which ADG regulates in partnership with Arizona tribes. For more information, view our tribal gaming webpage: gaming.az.gov/tribal-gaming-page.

The post Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

888.it

R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026

Published

23 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

r.-franco-digital-shortlisted-for-casino-platform-excellence-at-egr-europe-awards-2026

R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.

The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.

IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth

The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.

IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):

Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.

Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds

R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.

Metric	2025–2026 Achievement
Total Game Rounds	4 Billion+ across regulated markets
Revenue Growth	30% Increase during the judging period
New Content	20 New slot titles launched
Expansion	Debut in the Italian regulated market

Strategic Italian Market Entry

A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:

Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.

“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”

The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Big Hot Flaming Pots

Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

big-hot-flaming-pots:-tasty-treasures-–-lightning-box-brings-land-based-hit-online

Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.

The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.

The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations

At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.

Feature Mode	Gameplay Enhancement
Yummy Mode	Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life.
Spicy Mode	Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board.
Upsized Mode	Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential.
Combined Modes	Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers.

Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit Feature

Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit evolution.

Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.

Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth

Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.

Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.

“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”

The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.