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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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Boston
Global Experts to Gather in Boston for First US Symposium on Online Gambling and Public Health
A major international discussion on the future of online gambling regulation is set to take place in the United States later this month, as the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) prepares to host its first global symposium dedicated to the sector’s public health impact.
The event, titled “Online Gambling and the Public Health Movement,” will be held on April 24, 2026, at Northeastern University in Boston, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry observers from across the US, Europe, and Australia.
The symposium comes at a time of rapid expansion in online betting markets, particularly in the United States, following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that opened the door to state-level sports betting regulation. Since then, mobile-first platforms, micro-betting features, and AI-driven betting tools have significantly reshaped the landscape.
Focus on Regulation and Risk
According to the organisers, the event will focus on the growing calls for stronger consumer protections, as well as the broader societal impact of digital gambling products.
Discussions are expected to cover:
- The rise of micro-betting and real-time wagering
- The role of AI and data-driven betting systems
- The effectiveness of current responsible gambling frameworks
- The need for federal and state-level safety standards
Recent legislative proposals in the US, including the SAFE Bet Act and similar initiatives across multiple states, signal increasing political attention on the issue.
Global Experts and Policymakers to Attend
The speaker lineup includes a mix of academic, clinical, and political voices, such as:
- Public health researchers from Monash University and the University of Bath
- Representatives from the US federal and state governments
- Specialists in gambling addiction and behavioural research
The goal, according to PHAI, is to explore evidence-based approaches to regulation and harm reduction.
Industry Under Increasing Scrutiny
The symposium also follows a series of legal actions initiated by PHAI targeting major industry stakeholders, highlighting growing scrutiny around business practices and consumer protection.
As online gambling continues to scale globally, events like this reflect a broader shift toward cross-sector dialogue between regulators, public health experts, and industry participants.
The post Global Experts to Gather in Boston for First US Symposium on Online Gambling and Public Health appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
betting platforms
US Public Health Debate Intensifies as Boston Hosts Landmark Online Gambling Symposium
As scrutiny around online gambling intensifies in the United States, a landmark symposium in Boston is set to bring the issue of public health and regulation into sharper focus.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has announced it will host the country’s first international symposium dedicated to the public health impact of online gambling on April 24, 2026, at Northeastern University.
The event comes amid growing concern over the speed at which digital betting has expanded across the US, particularly in the years following the legalization of sports betting in multiple states.
From Market Growth to Public Health Debate
What began as a state-driven expansion of sports wagering has evolved into a broader ecosystem that now includes:
- Mobile-first betting platforms
- Micro-betting and in-play wagering
- Algorithm-driven and AI-supported betting tools
Public health experts argue that these developments have outpaced regulation, raising concerns about addiction risks, accessibility, and consumer safeguards.
Survey data continues to reflect mixed public sentiment, with a significant portion of Americans expressing concerns over the integrity of sports and the social impact of betting.
Policy Momentum Building Across States
The symposium will also highlight a wave of legislative efforts aimed at tightening controls on the industry. Proposals such as the SAFE Bet Act, alongside state-level initiatives in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio, indicate a shift toward stricter oversight, including potential limits on high-risk betting formats like micro-betting.
Bringing Together Key Stakeholders
The Boston event will gather a broad coalition of stakeholders, including:
- US lawmakers and regulators
- Public health professionals
- Academic researchers specialising in gambling behaviour
- Policy advocates and legal experts
Key discussion points will include the limitations of current responsible gaming models, the need for federal safety standards, and strategies to reduce gambling-related harm.
Legal Pressure Adds to Industry Tensions
The symposium follows recent legal action involving major operators and sports stakeholders, underlining the increasingly complex relationship between rapid market growth and regulatory accountability in the US gambling sector.
As the conversation evolves, the Boston gathering is expected to play a role in shaping how policymakers and stakeholders approach the next phase of online gambling regulation in America.
The post US Public Health Debate Intensifies as Boston Hosts Landmark Online Gambling Symposium appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
AI in gaming
ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement
ZingBrain AI Drives Hondubet Growth with Real-Time Personalisation
ZingBrain AI is reshaping the iGaming landscape by delivering measurable performance gains for Hondubet through advanced real-time personalization technology.
By replacing its manually curated casino lobby with a fully automated, API-driven solution, Hondubet has unlocked a new level of player engagement and operational efficiency. The AI-powered system dynamically adapts content to individual player behaviors, ensuring that each user encounters games tailored to their unique preferences.
Significant Performance Gains Across Player Segments
Data from a controlled A/B test comparing the legacy manual lobby with the new personalized system highlights substantial improvements:
- A 25% increase in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and turnover among newly registered players
- A 10% rise in total bets placed by returning users
- A 25% boost in the number of unique games explored across the player base
These results underscore the effectiveness of AI-driven personalization in enhancing both user engagement and revenue generation.
From Manual Management to Intelligent Automation
Previously, Hondubet relied heavily on manual processes to manage its casino lobby, requiring constant updates and resource-intensive oversight. According to Julian Pareja Garcia of Hondubet, the shift to ZingBrain AI has been transformative.
The automated system continuously learns from player interactions, refining game recommendations and lobby sections without human intervention. This allows the operator’s team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.
Smarter Player Experiences Through AI Innovation
Oleg Smolerov emphasized the collaborative approach between the two companies, highlighting a shared commitment to innovation and product excellence.
Rather than static content placement, the AI engine ensures that every element of the lobby evolves in response to real-time data. This creates a more intuitive and engaging user experience, where players are presented with content that feels both relevant and natural.
Aligning Commercial Goals with User Experience
Beyond engagement metrics, the integration also supports Hondubet’s commercial strategy. Through ZingBrain AI’s Game Promotion tool, priority titles can be strategically surfaced within personalized sections.
Crucially, the system evaluates performance continuously. Games that fail to resonate with players are automatically deprioritized and replaced with more relevant options. This ensures a balance between promotional objectives and player satisfaction, maximizing both retention and monetization.
A New Standard for iGaming Personalisation
The success of this integration signals a broader shift within the iGaming industry toward intelligent automation and data-driven experiences. By leveraging AI to personalize every touchpoint, operators like Hondubet are setting new benchmarks for engagement, efficiency, and revenue growth.
As competition intensifies, solutions like ZingBrain AI are poised to become essential tools for operators seeking to deliver meaningful, high-performing user experiences at scale.
The post ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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