ELA Games’ King and Flame has been named a finalist for Best New Game Release at the 2026 SiGMA Europe Awards. The awards are scheduled to take place at the Casino Maltese in Valletta, Malta, on May 27.

The company said the nomination reflects its approach of combining narrative design with slot math models. King and Flame is positioned as a medieval fantasy Hold and Win title built around a storyline that “flips classic fantasy tropes upside down,” with a prince unleashing a Dragon Queen.

According to ELA Games, the game includes coin symbols that pay their face value, Mystery Chests that can award instant prizes or trigger the Grand Jackpot, and a “Tamed by the Crown” feature where the Dragon Queen appears as an expanding Full Reel Wild. The studio also highlighted free spins with column-expanding coins and a Super Bonus Wheel that doubles rewards.

Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, said: “We’re very happy to see King and Flame get a nomination at the very well-regarded SiGMA Europe awards. I know the work everyone at the ELA team put into creating an intricate back story and graphic world for this slot. It is one of the most narrative-based titles we have released to date, and the care the team put into the design has really brought that story to life. It is wonderful to see that dedication noticed on such a prestigious stage.”

SiGMA has opened public voting for the category via its awards site.

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Betsson Group has secured “Employer of the Year” award at the SBC Awards Europe 2026, held on 30 April 2026 in Malta. The SBC Awards Europe celebrate excellence across the European sports betting and gaming sector, recognising top-performing operators, affiliates, suppliers, payments providers and game developers.

In addition to this honour, Betsson Group also received three silver awards: Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year, Casino Operator of the Year and Sportsbook Operator of the Year. These recognitions highlight Betsson’s commitment not only to delivering high-quality gaming experiences, but also to operating responsibly and sustainably while maintaining its strength in casino and sportsbook verticals.

These achievements reflect Betsson’s continued focus on employee engagement, sustainability and commercial success, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining high industry standards.

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Amusnet arrived at the inaugural iGaming Afrika Summit with a clear position: it was not there to follow Africa’s iGaming growth, but to help shape it. Reinforcing that commitment beyond the exhibition floor, Cameron Green, Country Director South Africa at Amusnet, also joined the conference agenda as a featured speaker, contributing to key discussions around the future development of Africa’s gaming industry.

The company’s strong presence at the event was further recognised with the Online Slot Supplier of the Year award at the iGA Summit Awards, acknowledging Amusnet’s strong performance and growing impact across the African iGaming market.

Beyond the product showcase, Amusnet positioned itself as an active participant in Africa’s regulatory and commercial evolution. Across key markets including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, the company worked alongside operators, regulators and industry bodies to support a more structured and sustainable ecosystem.

Green took part in the panel discussion “Developed Markets: Strategies for Growing Africa’s Gaming Industry” alongside Thomas Nsongka, Managing Partner at Lion Bets, David Moshi, Managing Director of Velex Advisory Ltd, and Musa Mngadi, CEO of the African Lotteries & Gaming Association. The session was moderated by Job Weku, Business Development Manager Africa at FAZI Company.

Speaking during the panel, Green highlighted the increasing importance of localisation within African gaming markets.

“In the last 12–18 months, we’ve seen a clear shift from generic global content to locally adapted experiences that actually resonate with African players. It’s no longer enough to just translate a game, you need to localise mechanics, themes, volatility, even how jackpots are presented. The suppliers that understand cultural nuance and player behaviour are the ones driving stronger engagement and better lifetime value,” he said.

Addressing the relationship between operators and suppliers, Green also emphasised the need for stronger strategic alignment across the industry.

“Too many supplier–operator relationships in Africa are still transactional when they should be strategic. The operators winning today are the ones treating suppliers as growth partners, not just content vendors. That means sharing data, aligning on player value, and co-investing in performance. The reality is simple, if both sides aren’t making money sustainably, the partnership will break under pressure,” he noted.

At this year’s showcase, the focus moved beyond volume of content to performance that matters. Amusnet’s portfolio was built to deliver stronger session times, higher engagement, and improved player retention across regulated African markets. Proven titles like Shining Crown and Ca$hybara Ski Edition continued to perform consistently, while newer releases such as Caramelo Sortudo Crash Edition and Crazy Red reflected a sharper alignment with evolving player behaviour.

The Golden Coins Link Jackpot series further reinforced this approach, combining familiar mechanics with scalable jackpot structures that drove repeat play and sustained engagement. But the strategy did not stop online.

In a continent where retail still plays a dominant role, Amusnet’s ability to operate seamlessly across Land-based, Online, and Live casino environments gave operators a tangible edge. From immersive live products like Candy Wheel and Showtime Roulette 500, to Land-based solutions including Type S cabinets and the Amusebox platform, the offering was designed to bridge channels and maximise player value across touchpoints.

This hybrid strength proved particularly relevant in African markets, where infrastructure, regulation, and player habits differ significantly from one jurisdiction to the next.

For operators facing increasing pressure from taxation, compliance and rising acquisition costs, the focus remained straightforward: improving yield per player without increasing risk.

“We see Africa as a long-term build, not a short-term opportunity. Our role is to support regulated growth, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver products that genuinely move the needle for operators in this market,” added Green.

That approach was backed by a commercial model built on alignment. Through data-led optimisation, tailored volatility and rapid localisation, Amusnet worked closely with partners to improve performance at a market level. Co-investment in campaigns and a shared focus on measurable outcomes positioned the company as more than a supplier, but as a contributor to operator growth.

As Africa’s iGaming landscape continued to mature and move towards greater regulation and consolidation, the direction remained clear. Amusnet positioned itself on the right side of that shift: performance-led, locally aligned and built for the long game.

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