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ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS FOR 2023 CEREMONY
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- The Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas to celebrate its ninth year, with the main ceremony taking place at the Best of Las Vegas 2022: Best Nightclub awardee, Zouk
- 5GRV, the award-winning reality show, has partnered with the Esports Awards to celebrate diversity in the gaming industry and beyond
- Last year’s Esports Awards campaign saw 17M total viewership and over 10M votes counted
- This year, nominees are nominated by industry professionals–learn more about the nomination process at https://bit.ly/3MusrDt
The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to kick off its 2023 campaign by announcing its return to Las Vegas. Alongside the iconic ceremony, the Esports Awards will feature networking opportunities and the return of the popular Lifetime Achievement Mixer providing brands, organisations and industry thought-leaders the opportunity to debate and network.
After an incredible turnout in 2022, which featured outstanding talent such as legendary hosts Eefje ‘Sjokz” Depoortere and Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez, the Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas for its 2023 ceremony. Set to take place on the 29th and 30th of November, the Esports Awards will be broadcast live across all major and linear platforms from Zouk, one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world.
The Esports Awards are also glad to welcome 5GRV: Gamers on the Road in a partnership that will see them present the Esports Host of the Year Award as they embark on season two of their award-winning reality show. Season two will follow fierce, Black Female Streamers BarefootTasha, DefinedbyKy, LeeshCapeesh, and comedian GloZell as they journey to the 2023 Esports Awards to celebrate diversity within gaming and beyond.
This year, the Esports Awards will provide equal chances to organisations, brands, and individuals, irrespective of the size of their communities, to put their hat in the ring for an Esports Award. The 2023 Esports Awards will feature a self-nomination format, open to B2B professionals alongside select media outlets in the esports industry. The new format will allow nominees to provide support information for their nomination, and directly involve media outlets whose knowledge of the esports scene, products, games, and individuals who make it, is highly valued and respected.
Nominations must be completed by an official representative of the company, product or talent, and must be completed before July 7th. Learn more about the nomination process at: https://bit.ly/3MusrDt.
In addition to the Esports Awards ceremony, Las Vegas will see the inaugural Scholars on the 28th of November. The Scholars are the collegiate gaming awards ceremony ran by the organisers of the Esports Awards. Stay tuned for more details around the Scholars.
The categories for this year’s Esports Awards have been announced as follows:
- Esports Cosplay of the Year
- Esports Creative of the Year
- Esports Creative Team of the Year
- Esports Content of the Year
- Esports Content Creator of the Year
- Esports Personality of the Year
- Streamer of the Year
- Esports Broadcast/Production Team of the Year
- Esports Commercial Partner of the Year
- Esports Coverage Platform of the Year
- Esports Hardware Piece of the Year
- Esports Journalist of the Year
- Esports Publisher of the Year
- Esports Supporting Service of the Year
- Esports Game of the Year
- Esports Mobile Game of the Year
- Esports Colour Caster of the Year
- Esports Desk Analyst of the Year
- Collegiate Program of the Year
- Esports Host of the Year presented by 5GRV
- Esports Play By Play Caster of the Year
- Esports Coach of the Year
- Esports Controller Player of the Year
- Esports Mobile Player of the Year
- Esports Organisation of the Year
- Esports PC Player of the Year
- Esports Team of the Year
- Breakthrough Player of the Year
- Esports Play of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement in Esports
- Panel’s Choice Award
Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, commented “We could not be more excited to continue our legacy of recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry, and honouring the industry that has made many a dream come true, including ours. Having recognised the potential of the collegiate scene, we’ve introduced the Scholars as a way to provide players, individuals, and organisations in the collegiate their own platform. We look forward to seeing talented individuals from across the world join us for some well deserved celebrations in November.”
Last year’s Esports Awards saw a spectacular ceremony at Resorts World Las Vegas. A milestone and star-studded event, the awards hosted some of the biggest faces from esports and beyond with the likes of PUBG MOBILE, LOUD and Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag all picking up awards. The 2022 Esports Awards campaign also saw over 17 million total viewership, 115M impressions and 10M votes cast.
Blueprint Gaming
Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
Spinomenal has released 3 Fuego Chillies, a new 5×3 video slot themed around a Mexican street fiesta. The game ships with a feature-led Bonus Game and a top prize billed as a Grand Jackpot of x3,000 the total bet.

CT Interactive has released its latest slot game, 40 Mega Star. As the night sky comes alive with countless shimmering lights, only a select few stars have the power to capture attention and become true Mega Stars.

TaDa Gaming has expanded its popular Unlimited Fortune mechanic with the launch of Joker Coins Unlimited Fortune. Combining Lock & Respin, progressive bonus expansion, jackpots, multipliers and the signature Unlimited Fortune feature, this compact three-reel release delivers layered gameplay and win potential of up to 5000x.

Blueprint Gaming is releasing an upgraded version of Super Graphics Upside Down exclusively on Lottomart, giving Lottomart’s UK players early access to the title. Originally launched in 2021, Super Graphics Upside Down is being re-released with a new bonus wheel feature and an increased max win potential, rising from 250X to 3000X, according to the companies.

ICONIC21 has released Wild Gold Mine 2, a high-volatility sequel to its Wild Gold Mine slot. The game is played across 243 ways and launches with multiple RTP configurations, with a stated top prize of 10,000x.

Games Global has launched Rumble Kong CASHINGO
, a new jungle-themed online slot developed with exclusive studio partner Alchemy Gaming. The title went live on 23rd July 2026. Rumble Kong CASHINGO
is a 5×5, 3,125 ways-to-win game built around an expanding CASHINGO
collection grid.

Swintt has released a new slot from its Elysium Studios label, titled Odyssey Hold & Win. The supplier said the game is built around a Hold & Win collection mechanic and features a stated maximum win of 3,317x. Odyssey Hold & Win runs on a 4×4 grid that can expand to 4×8 when Athena appears, according to the company.

ELA Games has released a new slot, Age of Cleopatra, adding another ancient-Egypt theme title to its portfolio. The studio positions the game as a medium-volatility release and says it is available to demo now. Age of Cleopatra runs on a 5×3 reel set-up with 25 paylines.

Endorphina has launched Zalatar, a new myths-and-legends themed online slot, expanding its recent run of fantasy-leaning releases. The supplier said Zalatar is a 5-reel, 3-row game with 25 fixed paylines, 96.03% RTP and high volatility.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Awards
Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers
Slotsoo is proud to announce the winners of the Slotsoo Awards 2026, recognising the online casinos and game providers that have delivered the best player experiences over the past year. Now firmly established as an annual celebration of excellence, the awards continue to recognise the companies setting new standards for quality and innovation across the iGaming industry.
Spotlighting the Best Game Providers of 2026
Following last year’s successful debut, the Slotsoo Game Provider Awards returned for a second year to recognise the studios pushing online slots forward through original ideas, engaging gameplay, and consistently high-quality releases. This year’s winners are:
- The Machine MVP – Pragmatic Play
- Bonus Buyer – Eurasian Gaming
- Volatility Virtuoso – 1spin4win
- Jackpot Jumbo – Platipus Gaming
- Symphony Spinner – Peter & Sons
- Reel Renegade – TaDa Gaming
- Promising Prodigy – EXCO Game Studio
Pragmatic Play retained the prestigious Machine MVP award for a second consecutive year, while every other category crowned a new winner, highlighting the emergence of fresh talent and new ideas among game providers.
Casino Awards Return for a Fourth Year
Since their debut in 2023, the Slotsoo Casino Awards have celebrated the operators raising the standard for online casino experiences. This year’s winners continue that tradition, earning recognition for excellence across bonuses, withdrawals, gamification, and overall quality. The seven winners for 2026 are:
- The Gambling GOAT – Lunar Spins
- The Bonus Buff – Go4Casino
- The Loyalty Lord – Valhalla Wins
- The Withdrawal Wizard – Taste Vegas
- The Gamification Guru – Lucky Fuel
- The Payout Professor – Stupid Casino
- The Noisy Newcomer – Kudos Bet
While the Game Provider Awards saw several first-time winners, the Casino Awards reflected the continued strength of a few established operators. C24 Partners enjoyed a particularly successful year, with four awards going to brands from its portfolio, including the main trophy The Gambling GOAT.
Recognition That Goes Beyond Popularity
Unlike many industry awards, the Slotsoo Awards are not decided by public voting. Winners are selected by the Slotsoo team after evaluating casino operators and game providers throughout the year. Each nominee is assessed on factors such as player value and innovation.
This approach ensures that both established industry leaders and ambitious newcomers have an equal opportunity to be recognised. Whether it’s a casino redefining loyalty rewards or a game studio introducing fresh mechanics, the awards highlight companies that genuinely move the industry forward.
Other News from Slotsoo.com This Summer
The Slotsoo Awards weren’t the only milestone for the company this summer. In June, the team attended the HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics Gaming Conference in Tallinn, connecting with industry professionals, exploring the latest developments in iGaming, and returning home with plenty of inspiration.
July marked the publication of Slotsoo’s first book, The Casino Player’s ABC, written by Markus Björk, Head of Content. This tongue-in-cheek ABC book for adults takes a humorous look at the ups and downs in slot gaming. Markus Björk comments:
“The awards and the book may seem like very different projects, but they share the same goal. Both are about celebrating what makes this industry unique and helping players navigate it with a sense of humour.”
With another successful awards season, the publication of their first book, and an active presence at industry events, 2026 has been one of Slotsoo’s busiest and most exciting years to date.
The post Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETBY
BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth
BETBY, the Tier 1 sportsbook supplier, has continued its strong start to 2026, delivering solid year-on-year growth across its business during the first half of the year. Building on the positive Q1 results reported in April, the supplier’s performance was supported by continued market expansion, product innovation, and strong activity across its operator partnerships.
During the first half of 2026, BETBY’s sportsbook Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) increased by 42.7% compared to H1 2025. The number of active players across the provider’s partner network grew by 47%, while the total number of bets placed rose by 21.2%, reflecting sustained growth across both new and existing operator partnerships.
The period also saw BETBY further expand its product ecosystem through several key launches and developments. Among them was BETBY Predictions, the industry’s first fixed-odds prediction markets feed, opening a new betting vertical for operators. The supplier also introduced Stories, an engagement feature built around a familiar, interactive content format and delivered directly within the sportsbook experience.
The FIFA World Cup provided an additional boost during the last three weeks of June, generating high levels of betting activity across BETBY’s partner network and demonstrating the scalability and reliability of its sportsbook during the world’s largest sporting event.
BETBY’s proprietary esports feed, Betby Games, also delivered continued growth during H1 2026, recording a 28% year-on-year increase in Gross Gaming Revenue. Active players grew by 46%, while the number of bets placed rose by 14.8%. These figures reinforce Betby Games’ importance within BETBY’s broader product portfolio.
Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer at BETBY, said: “After a strong first quarter, we are pleased to see that the positive trend continued throughout the first half of the year. These results reflect the strength of our long-term strategy, combining continued market expansion with a clear focus on product innovation and helping our partners grow.
“The launch of products such as BETBY Predictions and features like Stories, alongside the continued evolution of Betby Games, demonstrate our commitment to delivering solutions and technology that create measurable value for operators. We are proud of what we have achieved so far this year and remain focused on continuing this progress throughout H2.”
The post BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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