Gaming Awards
The winners of the 2023 Game Developer Awards are in
Relax Gaming, AvatarUX, BGaming, NetEnt and streamer Brian Christopher were amongst some of the winners at the 2023 edition of the Game Developer Awards, which took place last night at the InterContinental Hotel in Malta.
Closing the final day of what was a record-breaking CasinoBeats Summit, the coveted awards ceremony was presented by Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva and returning host Trudy Kerr, who handed out 23 awards aimed at celebrating the best companies, casino titles and people in the following category groups: Game Performance, Game Creation, Game Marketing, Game People and SlotCatalog.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “ Last night’ awards were phenomenal, especially with the addition of our new categories, dedicated to individual achievements in the industry. I would like to extend a huge congratulations to all our winners for innovatively pushing the boundaries of excellence and helping redefine the industry.”
Relax Gaming continued their winning streak this year by collecting the Slot of the Year award for Money Train 3, and SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year – medium award, whilst BGaming took home both the Slot to Watch award for Potion Spells and Game Music/Soundtrack award for Elvis Frog TRUEWAYS.
Other winners in the game performance categories included Barbara Bang who picked up the Slot Debut award for Mustang Freedom and NetEnt who were awarded the highly regarded Slot Legacy Title for Gonzo’s Quest.
It was a successful night for casino streamer Brian Christopher who was awarded Streamer of the Year, whilst also picking up Slot Collaboration of the Year award alongside Gaming Arts for their collaborative effort Brian Christopher’s Pop’N Pays More!
The game creation categories saw Wazdan awarded Game Feature of the Year, for their work on Mystery Drop and Playtech receiving the award for Game Licensed Content, for the game Cash Collect: Gold Rush. Amusnet picked up the award for Game Retro-style with Fruits & Gold, whilst ELK Studios were awarded the Game Design & Art Direction for the stylish Nitropolis 4.
AvatarUX were big winners on the night, collecting Game Mechanic of the Year for their innovative PopWins Mechanic, whilst AvatarUX’s very own Hannah Farrugia took home the Product Manager award for her contributions to the company and wider industry.
Other titans of industry that were recognised for their individual contributions were Iris Wallner of GAMOMAT who collected the Game Composer award and Justin Chamberlain who collected the Game Designer award for his contributions to HungryBear Gaming.
SlotCatalog presented a selection of data-based game studio awards. Print Studios were awarded the SlotCatalog’s Rookie of the Year award, Push Gaming collected the SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year – Small award, whilst the SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year – Large award, was presented to Play’n GO.
In the Outperforming Game Studio Categories, Snowborn Games were winners of the SlotCatalog’s Outperforming Game Studio of the Year – Small award, whilst Hacksaw Gaming were awarded SlotCatalog’s Outperforming Game Studio of the Year – Medium and Pragmatic Play took home the SlotCatalog’s Outperforming Game Studio of the Year – Large award.
Decided by a live audience vote throughout Thursday afternoon, the winner of the esteemed Game Innovation Spotlight award was Nailed It! Games for their groundbreaking and forward thinking contributions over the course of the past year.
“Last night was truly unforgettable, a special thank you to our headline sponsors BetConstruct, Evoplay, SBC Advisory Partners and SYNOT, as well as all supporting sponsors, for helping us commemorate the special achievements accomplished by these Game Developer studios and the talented individuals behind the most successful titles,” Said Sojmark.
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Gaming Awards
Soft2Bet shortlisted in three categories at SBC Awards Europe
Soft2Bet has been shortlisted in three categories at the SBC Awards Europe, highlighting the strength of its platform, gamification suite, and ongoing product innovation across key European markets. The recognition follows a year of strong performance and sustained business growth.
The company is nominated in the Acquisition & Retention Partner category for its proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), as well as for Platform Provider of the Year. In addition, MEGA Clawee—a nostalgic claw-machine concept reimagined for online play—has been shortlisted for Industry Innovation of the Year.
Driving Performance Through Innovation
Soft2Bet’s recent results underline its strategy, with notable EBITDA growth, increased sportsbook revenue, and strong overall brand performance over the past 12 months. These achievements reflect the effectiveness of its performance-focused B2B model, which combines product innovation, MEGA-driven gamification, localisation, and regulatory compliance to support growth in highly competitive markets.
The Platform Provider of the Year nomination recognises the company’s all-in-one platform, integrating player account management, payments, CRM, segmentation, bonus and loyalty tools, risk management, and gamification into a single, mobile-first system. This unified approach enables operators to launch quickly, adapt to local requirements, and scale efficiently across both casino and sportsbook verticals.
Gamification at the Core
At the heart of Soft2Bet’s engagement strategy is MEGA Clawee, which brings a remote-controlled claw machine into the digital space. By blending skill-based gameplay with instant rewards, it creates a compelling retention loop designed to boost player engagement and long-term value.
Harrison Barrett, VP of Business Development at Soft2Bet, said:
“Being shortlisted in three categories at SBC Awards Europe is a strong endorsement of our vision. We focus on delivering high-performing platforms, meaningful localisation, and engaging product experiences that keep players coming back. MEGA plays a central role in that strategy, transforming engagement into long-term retention and value.”
For Soft2Bet, the nominations mark another milestone in a period of continued commercial growth, product expansion, and industry recognition, as it supports operators in launching, localising, and scaling through advanced platform technology and engagement-driven solutions.
The post Soft2Bet shortlisted in three categories at SBC Awards Europe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betsson Group
Betsson Group shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026
Betsson Group has been shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, taking place in Rome on 14 April as part of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (IGE) 2026, held on 14–15 April.
The awards celebrate excellence across the Italian gaming industry, recognising best practices, innovation and leadership. Winners are selected through an independent evaluation by a jury of industry experts via a dedicated voting process.
Betsson Group nominations include:
• Best Betting Operator – Betsson Group
• Best Casino Games Operator – StarCasinò
• Best Executive Leadership – Stefano Tino, Managing Director Southern Europe at Betsson Group
• Best Marketing Campaign – Betsson.Sport
• Best Mobile Operator – Betsson Group
• Customer Care – Betsson Group
• Diversity & Inclusion Award – Betsson Group
• ESG Compliance Award – Betsson Group
• HR Award: Employer of the Year – Betsson Group
• Operator of the Year – Betsson Group
• Responsible Gaming – Betsson Group
These nominations highlight Betsson Group’s continued focus on innovation, operational excellence and delivering a high-quality customer experience.
IGE 2026 brings together key stakeholders from across the Italian gaming ecosystem to explore the future of the industry, with a focus on technological innovation, sustainability and responsible growth.
Across two days, the conference will feature panels, discussions and networking opportunities involving representatives from institutions, ADM (Customs and Monopolies Agency), licensees, technology providers, associations and academia.
The post Betsson Group shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ELA Games
2026 SiGMA Americas Awards Features ELA Games in Two Major Categories
ELA Games, the innovative slot developer, has secured nominations in two prominent categories at the upcoming SiGMA Americas Awards, one of the most prestigious events on the Latin American iGaming calendar.
The awards celebrate creativity, technical excellence, and market impact among the industry’s leading suppliers and operators. These nominations highlight ELA Games’ growing influence and its ability to create engaging slot content that resonates with players across Latin America and beyond.
ELA Games’ Nominations:
- Delegate Vote: Best Game Studio 2026
ELA Games is in the running for Best Game Studio, recognizing studios that make a significant impact on their local industry through innovative design, technical expertise, and creative excellence. - Public Vote: Most Played Game – Joker Winpot
The studio’s fan-favorite slot, Joker Winpot, has been nominated for Most Played Game. Departing from classic themes, Joker Winpot delivers high-energy gameplay, featuring a strikingly animated Joker and the strategic, interactive Winpot feature that has captivated players worldwide.
“It’s always an honor to be recognized by SiGMA, particularly in a region where we’ve focused so much effort,” said Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director at ELA Games. “Being nominated for Best Game Studio in Latin America shows that our games are resonating with local operators. Joker Winpot’s public vote nomination further proves that the interactivity of Winpot is appreciated globally, exactly as we intended.”
The winners will be revealed at the BiS SiGMA South America Expo, hosted at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 6 to 9, 2026. The official awards night will take place on April 6.
Voting is open until March 30, and players and iGaming enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the official SiGMA website to cast their votes for ELA Games and Joker Winpot.
The post 2026 SiGMA Americas Awards Features ELA Games in Two Major Categories appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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