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.
Powered by WPeMatico
2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel Named #1 Best Overall Casino Outside of Las Vegas and #1 Best Native American Casino in 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel has announced that it has earned top honors in the prestigious 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards, securing the titles of Best Overall Casino Outside of Las Vegas and Best Native American Casino. These dual awards mark the resort’s first-ever #1 ranking in the annual readers’ poll, further solidifying its position as a premier destination for gaming, entertainment and hospitality.
“We are delighted to add Newsweek to Yaamava’s growing list of national recognitions for 2024. These awards are a testament to our best-in-class service and to the leadership of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians who make this all possible. The Tribe’s commitment to hospitality is truly unmatched,” said Kenji Hall, General Manager of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.
Thousands of voters participated in the Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards, and their votes placed Yaamava’ at the forefront of the highly competitive casino and hospitality categories.
Earlier this year, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino was also named 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas and the Best Casino Restaurant for its acclaimed Pines Modern Steakhouse. Additionally, Yaamava’s sister property, Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, was named Best Casino in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year.
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino has consistently set the gold standard for gaming, dining, entertainment, and hospitality since opening in 2021. Known for its luxurious facilities, diverse gaming options, and commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences, the resort is a must-visit destination in Southern California. The gaming floor now features over 7400 slot machines, the most of any casino in the West.
Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award
Rush Street Interactive’s Laura McAllister Cox Named Chief Compliance Officer of the Year at Vixio Global Regulatory Awards
Rush Street Interactive, Inc. is proud to announce that Laura McAllister Cox, RSI’s Chief Compliance Officer, has been awarded the highly coveted Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award at the prestigious Vixio Global Regulatory Awards in London. This recognition celebrates Laura’s exceptional leadership, her instrumental role in navigating the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, and her unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of compliance and responsible gaming at RSI.
The Chief Compliance Officer of the Year award highlights compliance leaders who go beyond the call of duty, leading their departments through the complexities of regulatory change while significantly elevating compliance standards across their organizations. Laura’s nomination reflects her steadfast dedication to these principles and her unmatched contributions to the gaming industry.
“Laura McAllister Cox exemplifies the qualities of a transformative compliance leader,” said Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Rush Street Interactive. “Her vision, expertise, and unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence have not only positioned RSI as a pioneer in responsible gaming practices but also ensured that RSI consistently sets the industry standard for compliance and innovation. This award is a testament to her extraordinary impact on our company and the broader gaming landscape.”
Laura’s achievements include leading RSI to become the first U.S. operator to receive the Responsible Gaming Council’s RG Check Accreditation, an honor that underscores the company’s dedication to the safety and well-being of its customers while fostering a sustainable gaming environment. Under her guidance, RSI has also achieved market-leading profitability and strategic expansion into new jurisdictions, all while navigating complex regulatory frameworks with precision.
As Chief Compliance Officer of publicly traded Rush Street Interactive, Laura oversees the company’s compliance strategy across a range of critical areas, including regulatory, licensing, anti-money laundering, technical compliance, and responsible gaming. Her leadership has been instrumental in building RSI’s compliance department into a world-class operation with specialized subject matter experts across these domains.
Beyond her achievements at RSI, Laura is widely regarded as one of the most respected voices in the global gaming industry. Her distinguished career spans nearly four decades and includes serving as President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) from 2017 to 2018, as well as legal and compliance leadership roles at esteemed organizations such as Rush Street Gaming, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Gaming Partners International Corporation. Her expertise in gaming law and corporate compliance has solidified her reputation as a trusted authority in the field.
Laura’s ability to identify and cultivate exceptional talent, foster collaborative relationships with regulators, and implement forward-thinking compliance strategies has made her an unparalleled leader in the gaming industry. Her initiatives, such as yearly team summits and ongoing training programs, ensure RSI’s compliance team remains agile and equipped to address the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
“I am deeply honored to be named the Chief Compliance Officer of the Year,” said Laura McAllister Cox. “This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work of my team and RSI’s unwavering commitment to compliance excellence and responsible gaming. At RSI, we strive to lead by example and set the standard for innovation, integrity, and collaboration in the gaming industry. I am grateful to be part of a company that values these principles and to work alongside such talented professionals every day.”
The Vixio Global Regulatory Awards celebrate achievements and innovation in compliance and responsible gaming across the global gambling industry.
2024 Torch Award for Ethics
Bally’s Chicago Casino Wins Better Business Bureau’s 2024 Torch Award for Ethics
Bally’s Chicago Casino has won a 2024 Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago and Northern Illinois. The award recognizes Bally’s Chicago’s commitment to fair, honest and ethical business practices.
“It is an honor for Bally’s Chicago Casino to be recognized by the Better Business Bureau as an organization that exemplifies excellent business ethics in our very first year of operations in Chicago,” said George Papanier, President of Bally’s Corporation.
The BBB’s Torch Award honors companies that demonstrate the highest level of ethical standards and trust with customers, business partners, shareholders and the communities in which they do business. This year, the award was presented to only seven businesses in the Chicago region. An independent panel of reviewers assessed applicants in four areas: character, culture, customer and community.
Bally’s Chicago Casino earned the Torch Award for Ethics in the “500-1,499 employees” category by demonstrating how it operates with integrity, care and trustworthiness.
Since the September 2023 opening of the temporary casino at the Medinah Temple in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Bally’s Chicago Casino has welcomed over 1.4 million visitors, trained more than 200 students in its dealer school, hosted job and vendor fairs, and contributed to the community through charitable giving and volunteerism.
Bally’s Chicago Casino has also largely exceeded hiring goals at the temporary casino:
Total jobs: 655 (91% full-time)
Minority: 535 (82% – exceeds 60% target)
Women: 309 (47% – exceeds 45% target)
Veterans: 12 (2% – below 5% target)
Persons with disabilities: 59 (9% – exceeds 5% target)
Chicago residents: 460 (70% – exceeds 50% target)
Bally’s Chicago Casino has also built strong relationships with its vendors and partners, including those involved in the demolition and construction of the future casino, hotel and entertainment destination on the former site of the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center.
Since opening its temporary location at the Medinah Temple in Chicago’s River North neighborhood in September 2023, Bally’s Chicago Casino has organized community engagement events, worked with workforce development organizations, hosted vendor fairs – including a diversity vendor fair – and begun demolition in preparation for a Fall 2026 opening.
“This recognition would not be possible without the dedication of our entire team and our collective commitment to our Bally’s values,” said Papanier.
-
Asia7 days agoGovernment support, medals, and global recognition define a landmark year for Indian esports and video gaming in 2024
-
AGCO7 days ago
Jackpot Digital Receives Approval from AGCO as a Registered Gaming Supplier
-
Australia5 days ago
AUSTRAC Takes Ladbrokes and Neds’ Operator – Entain – to Federal Court Over Serious Non-compliance with Australia’s Money Laundering Laws
-
Australia7 days ago
Regulating the Game 2025 adds masterclass on safer gambling training and customer care
-
Balkans7 days ago
EGT is a “True Leader” again, according to ICAP CRIF
-
Africa6 days ago
Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa
-
Australia6 days ago
Christine Howlett Appointed as New Commissioner of NSW Independent Casino Commission
-
Balkans7 days ago
Spinomenal strikes partnership with Admiral Croatia
