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Casinomeister Awards 2021 Announced

Published

4 years ago

March 7, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This morning the online casino awards that matter, the 2021 Casinomeister Awards have been announced and there are some worthy winners, who no doubt will be popping the champagne corks, celebrating their recognition as some of the best operators in iGaming.

Released a little bit later in the year compared to years gone by, thanks in part to the conference season being put back due to the global pandemic, with the Casinomeister Awards usually having by now been announced just prior to the now rescheduled ICE London event, which is held in London usually every February.

Running since 2001, the annual Casinomeister Awards recognise the best and worst of online casinos and online gambling. Whereby these awards unlike many others out there in cyberspace are graciously received by operators and individuals alike, as they are not swayed by advertising dollars. In short, the Casinomeister Awards matter!

Best Casino 2021 – Bitstarz

The coveted Best Casino 2021 ‘gong’ goes to Bitstarz with Casinomeister Director Bryan Bailey stating: “Personally, it gives me great pleasure to give kudos to work well done. I have watched them grow over the years, and I have to admit that I was sceptical of any casino that was focused on bitcoins and cyber currencies a few years ago.”

Accredited back in 2018, Bitstarz have continued to receive solid reviews from the forum community on Casinomeister, which led them to receiving 2020’s ‘Best Customer Service’ award. The addition of the Best Casino 2021 award is a further demonstration of how far they have come since launching in the Spring of 2014.

You are Legends!

The Legend Group of Casinos which features the likes of CasinoMax and Roaring 21 have had bestowed on them the Best Casino Group 2021 award. With Bailey stating: “They are clearly the best casino group available to players.”

The award of Best Casino Group 2021 follows past Casinomeister awards made to the Legend Group of Casinos, who in 2018 were awarded the Best Affiliate Program.

Additionally, the casino management team headed up by Karolina were cited as being some of the best in the iGaming industry. With Karolina herself having won in the past the Best Casino Manager award back in 2014 and 2015.

Another feature of the Casinomeister Awards are those handed out to operators who fall markedly short of what is expected of them.

However, due to the current situation unfolding in Ukraine, Bailey took the decision to remove many of them from this year’s awards, due to many of their employees being directly affected by events there.

Bailey in explaining his reasoning behind this move, said: “I feel that it is inappropriate to be ragging on and poking fun at these entities due to the current situation there.”

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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