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Recognising excellence in game development: Nominations open for CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards
SBC is excited to announce that nominations for the Game Creation and Game People categories of the prestigious Game Developer Awards, returning to Malta for their third edition in May, are now open. The nomination period will last until 24 February.
The awards ceremony, which is part of the CasinoBeats Summit conference and exhibition, will take place at the InterContinental Hotel on 25 May. The lavish event that recognises and celebrates the creative and innovative game development teams behind the industry’s most successful titles will be attended by 400 guests.
The CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards will feature 19 categories that honour the top game studios, individual casino games, streamers and game elements as well as innovation and the people who have contributed to the success of the best casino titles of the year. The categories are divided into five main groups:
- Game Performance (Slot of the Year, Slot to Watch, Slot Debut, Slot Legacy Title, Slot Collaboration of the Year)
- Game Creation (Game Mechanic of the Year, Game Feature of the Year, Game Licensed Content, Game Retro-style, Game Design & Art Direction, Game Music/Soundtrack)
- Game Marketing (Streamer of the Year, Innovation in Marketing)
- Game People (Product Manager, Game Designer, Game Composer).
SBC has also once again teamed up with SlotCatalog, a casino game ranking and insights platform, to create three data-driven categories for the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards 2023.
These categories include Outperforming Game Studio of the Year, which will be presented to the three game studios (small, medium, large) whose slot rank has increased the most compared to their position a year ago; Game Studio of the Year, which will be given to three game studios with the highest slot rank over the last 12 months; and Rookie of the Year, which will be awarded to the new game studio that went from having no distribution last year to achieving the biggest impact over the past year
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of the event organiser SBC, said: “The CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards are a truly special occasion in my eyes. This ceremony is an opportunity to honour the often overlooked elements of game development, such as the best soundtrack, innovative game mechanics, unexpected success, and the individuals who made it all happen. It’s an event that recognises and celebrates the creativity, fun, and entertainment that make our industry a great place to work.”
The shortlists for the Game Performance and Game Marketing categories of the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards will be selected by SBC’s independent panel of judges, and the winners will be chosen through audience live voting at the CasinoBeats Summit conference and trade show.
The Game Creation and Game People categories will be open for nominations from 12 January to 24 February and the winners will be decided by the independent panel of judges. The Game People category is a new addition to the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards that aims to recognise and celebrate individuals who have actively contributed to the success of a top casino product.
The SlotCatalog categories, which are purely data-driven, will not require nominations or go through a judging process.
Last year’s winners of the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards included companies such as Blueprint Gaming, Habanero, Peter & Sons, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming and Stakelogic.
This year’s ceremony at the luxurious InterContinental Hotel will feature a welcome drinks reception and a lavish three-course dinner with complimentary beer, wine, and spirits. Tables and individual tickets are available to purchase here.
The shortlists will be announced on 21 March. Nominate here.
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Altenar Joins Alberta’s New Regulated iGaming Market
Today marks the official launch of Alberta’s regulated online gaming market, a significant milestone for the Canadian iGaming industry and an important step in Altenar’s continued expansion across North America.
Having secured approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), Altenar is fully prepared to support licensed operators entering Canada’s newest regulated jurisdiction with its award-winning sportsbook technology.
The opening of Alberta’s market establishes Canada’s second regulated online gaming province after Ontario, creating fresh opportunities for operators seeking sustainable growth within a regulated framework.
With a strong track record across regulated markets worldwide, Altenar is well positioned to help partners launch competitive sportsbook offerings that prioritize player engagement, operational flexibility and long-term success.
As competition intensifies from day one, operators will be focused on delivering high-quality betting experiences capable of attracting playersAltenar’s scalable sportsbook solution, extensive customization capabilities and regulatory expertise provide operators with the tools needed to compete effectively in this evolving market.
Matthew Ferrara, Sales Manager at Altenar, said:
“The launch of Alberta’s regulated market is an important moment not only for the province but for the wider Canadian industry. Regulation creates opportunities for operators to build trusted brands while giving players access to safer, more transparent betting environments.
“We’re excited to support our partners as they enter this new market. Success in Alberta will depend on offering a premium player experience from the very beginning – fast, reliable technology, competitive betting content and the flexibility to adapt as the market evolves. Those are exactly the areas where Altenar delivers value, and we look forward to helping operators grow sustainably in one of North America’s most promising new jurisdictions.”
Alberta represents another important milestone in Altenar’s North American growth strategy as the company continues to expand its presence in regulated markets, providing operators with the technology and expertise needed to succeed in increasingly competitive environments.
The post Altenar Joins Alberta’s New Regulated iGaming Market appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Financial
Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million
Playtech PLC on Thursday said it expects 2026 results to beat market expectations, with its first half supported by an “excellent performance in the US”.
Playtech shares jumped 18% to 378.60 pence each in London on Thursday morning. It is up around 3% over the past 12 months but had been around 10% lower prior to Thursday’s surge.
The Douglas, Isle of Man-based gambling software firm now expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of EUR270 million, “significantly above the current analyst consensus”. It puts the current consensus range at EUR205 million to EUR225 million.
Playtech’s current forecast represents a 37% rise from the EUR197.0 million achieved in 2025.
“Playtech’s trading has delivered results significantly ahead of market expectations, driven by excellent performance in the US and continued strength in Mexico, Colombia and certain European markets. The performance in the Americas, as consistently flagged since the start of the year, continued to accelerate through May and June,” the firm said.
It expects a first half adjusted Ebitda of over EUR155 million, rising at least 69% from EUR91.6 million a year prior.
Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer said: “We achieved an excellent performance in the first half of 2026, reflecting continued momentum in regulated markets, notably the Americas and certain European markets. Performance in the US, driven by our partnership with Hard Rock Digital, has been exceptionally strong, and we are delighted to see returns on our investments over recent years accelerate and contribute significantly to profitability and cash flow.
“Playtech continues to further establish itself in regulated and regulating markets going into the second half of the year, and we are pleased with the progress towards our medium-term targets.”
Playtech releases half-year results on September 10.
Looking ahead, it expects second half earnings to decline from the first, with UK regulatory measures partly to blame.
“Hard Rock Digital has become one of Playtech’s largest customers and is expected to remain so going forward, albeit Playtech’s revenue with the operator is likely to continue at a lower but more sustainable level in H2 2026 and into 2027. Elsewhere, the company has been investing into a significant partnership in Brazil, ahead of expected signing and launch, which is likely to begin contributing to growth in 2027. In addition, in H2 2026 Playtech will also absorb the full impact of increased remote gaming duty in the UK, which became effective in April 2026,” the firm explained.
From April 2026 there was an increase in UK remote gaming duty 40% from 21%. Remote gaming duty is a levy applied on online casino offerings, poker and slots.
The post Playtech Raises its Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast to €270 Million appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Balkans
Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans
Imagine Live, the live casino provider, has partnered with MaxBet, one of the leading sports betting and gaming operators in the Balkans.
The partnership extends Imagine Live’s presence across regulated markets, bringing its live dealer games and game show content to MaxBet’s player base.
Now agreed and rolling out, the collaboration will go live first in Montenegro, followed by Serbia and then Bosnia & Herzegovina.
MaxBet serves around 95,000 online players each month, holding a leading position in its core Serbian market. The business has been majority-owned by Flutter Entertainment – the global operator behind brands including Paddy Power and Betfair – since 2023.
Its players will gain access to Imagine Live’s portfolio of live dealer tables and game shows, streamed from the provider’s studios in Armenia, Romania and Spain.
Launched in 2022, Imagine Live operates more than 200 tables and holds licences with the UKGC, MGA, ONJN, HGC and other regulators, extending its footprint in a region where regulated online play continues to grow.
Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer at Imagine Live, said: “Going live with MaxBet reflects the strength of our content and our focus on partnering with established operators across regulated markets.
“MaxBet is one of the most respected names in the Balkans, and starting in Montenegro before expanding into Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina gives us a strong platform in a region we know well.”
Tornike Tordia, Head of Gaming at MaxBet, said: “Bringing Imagine Live’s live casino content to our players reflects our commitment to offering a varied, high-quality gaming experience.
“Their live dealer games and game shows add real depth to our offering, and we look forward to rolling them out across our markets as the partnership grows.”
The post Imagine Live Goes Live with MaxBet Bringing Live Casino to the Balkans appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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