Press Releases
Shaping the Future of Betting: SBC Summit North America Announces ‘Sports Betting’ Track
The ‘Sports Betting’ conference track at SBC Summit North America will gather some of the top luminaries in the industry to share their thoughts on the latest sports betting trends, innovative technologies, and the evolving North American sports betting landscape.
The dedicated track will unfold on May 8th-9th, the two core days of the leading iGaming & sports betting event in North America, which is set to host 5,000 attendees at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey
The comprehensive track will provide delegates with the opportunity to bolster their educational prowess on key topics such as forging successful operator-league partnerships, exploring the emerging technology set to innovate the sports betting market, the intricate world of media partnerships, and much more.
Opening the first day of the conference track is the panel titled “The Bright Side of Betting: Product Innovation Incoming,” which will explore the expansion strategies employed by operators through new cutting-edge technology. Expert speakers David Senior (Head of Sportsbook, Betsson), Tomer Imber (Senior Director of Sales, Optimove), Joey Levy (CEO, Betr), Scot McClintic (Chief Product Officer, Fanatics Betting and Gaming) and Tim Whitehead (Head of Sportsbook, Rush Street Interactive), will discuss how player-focused augmented experiences can attract new audiences and will explore methods operators can adopt to maintain relevance in this rapidly evolving industry landscape.
The female-led panel, titled “Women’s World Cup in the Spotlight: How Operators Seized Opportunities From the Rising Popularity of Women’s Sports in 2023”, aims to dissect the notable surge in sports betting on women’s sports over the past year. Experts Nicole Pawlak (Senior Director, Special Projects, Athletes Unlimited), Meghan Chayka (Co-Founder, Stathletes), Nancy Hensley (Founding Member, Mercury13), and Jennifer Matthews (Vice President, Brand Strategy, FanDuel), will delve into the strategies employed by operators to capitalize on the growing interest in women’s sports and will examine the essential factors surrounding audience engagement in betting on women’s sports.
The conference’s track’s second day opens with the panel titled “DFS 2.0 – Skill Game or Just Sports Betting With Another Name? How Regulators are Responding,” which will delve into the ongoing debate over whether daily fantasy sports (DFS) primarily involve skill or luck. Esteemed figures Julie Brown (Vice Chairman and Inaugural Chairman, Florida Gaming Control Commission), Derek Schmidt (Partner, Husch Blackwell), Nick Green (General Counsel at Underdog Fantasy), and panel moderator Daniel Wallach (Partner, Wallach Legal) will examine diverse perspectives on the skill versus luck argument, evaluate the future trajectory of DFS regulation, and analyze its broader implications for the industry.
The panel “What Does Regulated Betting on Video Games Look Like?” will focus on the intricacies of regulating virtual gameplay across North America. Industry experts Brett Abarbanel (Ph.D., Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute), Michelle Sadaf-Pena (Executive Director of PMO and Gaming Operations, Wondr Nation), Barbara Demarco (Vice President, Porzio Governmental Affairs, LLC), Seth Schorr (CEO, Fifth Street Gaming), Michele Fischer (Vice President, SIS Content Services, Inc.) and panel moderator Anthony Gaud (Founder, Esports Illustrated) will explore the potential for increased revenue as new audiences are reached. They will also consider the compliance measures necessary to ensure continued healthy, legal growth for stakeholders.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “Since the regulation of sports betting in 2018, an impressive 38 states now offer sports betting in some form, which is an amazing achievement. Couple that with the emergence of new sports betting technologies, products, and services, the sports betting track provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative strategies, regulatory updates, and market trends shaping the future of sports wagering.
We believe that by hosting the sports betting conference track across both core days of the event, we will be able to provide delegates with comprehensive discussions encompassing every major development within the sports betting landscape, ensuring they are equipped to capitalize on one of the most exciting verticals in the market.”
Alongside the ‘Sports Betting’ track, delegates will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the North American market through the dedicated conference tracks such as the ‘Leaders’, ‘iGaming’, ‘Affiliates & Marketing’, ‘Tribal Symposium’, ‘Payments & Tech’ and the ‘Compliance & Regulation’ conference tracks.
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.
Endorphina
Endorphina releases Zalatar online slot with Hold and Win jackpots
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.
Feature-wise, Endorphina said the title includes a Mystery Pick ‘Em feature, three Hold And Win Bonus Games, and Scatter and Wild mechanics. During Hold And Win, the company said “colorful orbs” can award Collector and Multiplier functions, plus Min, Mid, Max, and Ultra Jackpots.
The game also includes Endorphina’s Risk Game, where the company said players can double wins up to 10 times by beating the dealer’s card.
Endorphina said Zalatar is available across mobile, tablet and desktop. The Prague-based supplier also reiterated that its portfolio includes “210+” slots and partnerships with “6,000+” operators worldwide.
The post Endorphina releases Zalatar online slot with Hold and Win jackpots appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
creator-economy
DuelBits says its Justin Gaethje UFC campaign drove 122m verified views
DuelBits says its JUSTIN2026 campaign with UFC fighter Justin Gaethje generated more than 122 million verified clip views and contributed to “one of DuelBits’ strongest UFC betting events in recent memory.” The operator said the campaign exceeded its KPI target of 100 million impressions and was distributed through a network of more than 140 creators.
The campaign was framed by DuelBits as a challenge to the industry’s common approach to athlete and influencer partnerships, arguing that many operators wait until an athlete’s commercial value peaks.
Jasper Hoekert, Chief Marketing Officer at DuelBits, said: “Too many operators approach ambassador partnerships as sponsorship deals. They wait until someone has already become one of the biggest names in sport before trying to work with them. At that point, everyone is competing for the same audience, the same inventory and the same headlines.”
Hoekert added: “The real opportunity is identifying athletes who perfectly align with your audience before they’re the obvious choice. If you genuinely believe in someone, you can build something together rather than simply renting their reputation once they’ve already made it.”
DuelBits said the JUSTIN2026 activation was built around a “premium hero film” supported by six short-form edits, behind-the-scenes videos and photography, with creator-led distribution across social media and MMA communities. The operator also said the flagship content was integrated into Gaethje’s “Art of Violence” YouTube series to extend the campaign beyond a single event window.
The company positioned distribution strategy as a key lever alongside content production. Hoekert said: “A brilliant piece of creative means very little if nobody sees it. We’ve reached a point where distribution deserves just as much strategic attention as the content itself. Working with creators, community pages, and trusted media partners allows campaigns to travel much further than relying on your own social channels alone.”
DuelBits also argued that modern KOL and ambassador campaigns should be assessed beyond top-line reach. “Views are an important benchmark because they show you’ve earned attention, but attention isn’t the finish line,” Hoekert said. “What matters is whether that attention drives action. In our case, we saw strong promotional code engagement alongside one of our best-performing UFC betting nights. That’s when you know the creative has delivered genuine business value rather than just impressive headline numbers.”
The post DuelBits says its Justin Gaethje UFC campaign drove 122m verified views appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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