Industry Awards
Rootz is on an unstoppable path, earning the title of Best Online Casino Operator of the Year
Rootz continues on an unstoppable trajectory, securing the title of Best Online Casino Operator of the Year in the coveted Malta iGaming Excellence Awards (MiGEA) 2024. The awards ceremony, which took place at The Hilton, St Julian’s, Malta, saw Rootz joining industry leaders on the podium once again, underpinning the company’s mission to become one of the world’s leading provider of entertainment experiences.
Rootz was nominated in four categories, including Best Workplace of the Year, Best Employer Brand of the Year, Best Online Casino Operator of the Year, and Best Gaming Company of the Year, demonstrating its versatility as an online gaming all-rounder and a great place to work.
Hitting all the right notes
Earlier in 2024, Rootz not only celebrated five years of offering world-class products and services but also picked up the accolade of Mobile Operator of the Year at the International Gaming Awards in February. The relatively young company has proven itself capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the industry’s biggest and oldest brands.
Rootz is better known as the parent company to online casino brands Wildz, Wheelz, Spinz, Caxino and Chipz, offering seamless entertainment via proprietorial software as well as striking brand differentiation, including the Wildz Granny and the notable presence of Wheelz ambassador The Hoff. Spinz continues to break new ground in the world of online streaming while Caxino and Chipz offer popular experiences in their respective markets.
The company has stated that its goal is to “deliver a ground-breaking experience that exceeds expectations, inspiring new standards as creators of the go-to digital playground, where simplicity meets adrenaline”.
Making an impact
Rootz team members represented the company at the event, which showcases organisations and individuals that continue to drive iGaming as one of the country’s leading business sectors. In recent years, Malta has maintained a premier position globally in the industry, owing largely to the Malta Gaming Authority’s reputation as a best-practice regulatory authority.
Despite Malta’s size geographically, the country is a dominant player in regional and international gambling, with many major companies maintaining either headquarters or large regional offices on the island. The MiGEA awards, recognising excellence in this competitive environment, typically honour companies that are challenging competitors on the world stage.
Rootz CEO Sam Brown says of this latest accolade: “We’re delighted to have won the title of Best Online Casino Operator; it’s a reminder that our peers recognise us as capable of making an impact in Malta and the global markets. As a company, we feel that we’re laying the foundation for long-term success, and we rely on our exceptional teams to bring those goals to life”.
The company has previously stated that it has its sights set on ambitious targets for the remainder of the year; the achievement of two impressive awards showcases its commitment to securing its leadership position.
The post Rootz is on an unstoppable path, earning the title of Best Online Casino Operator of the Year appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The supplier is nominated for Game Aggregator of the Year and Employer of the Year ahead of SBC Summit Malta on April 29.
Alea has been named a finalist in two categories at the upcoming SBC Awards Europe: Game Aggregator of the Year and Employer of the Year. The company announced the nominations on April 28 from Barcelona.
Founder Alexandre Tomic said the double shortlisting reflects a link between product delivery and company culture. “If people don’t care about what they’re building, it shows immediately. In the product, in the details, everywhere. Reliability can’t be bolted on later, it’s a consequence of that care.”
“We’ve spent years building a team that takes ownership and holds a certain standard. Seeing both nominations together just tells me we’re doing something right.” Tomic added.
The news comes ahead of SBC Summit Malta, where Alea said Tomic and COO Ramon Glieneke will take part in conference sessions on April 29. Tomic is scheduled to appear on “Casino vs Sports: Can Gamification Truly Cross Over?” while Glieneke is due to join “The COO Horizon: Challenges and Opportunities in 2026/27.”
Alea said its wider team will be onsite throughout the summit at Booth D22.
More relevand data as follows:
- SBC Awards: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-awards/ Primary source for the awards programme, categories and shortlisted companies.
- SBC Summit Malta: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-malta/ Event page for agenda context and verification of sessions and timing.
- Alea: https://alea.com/ Company website for background on the supplier and its product offering.
The post Alea shortlisted for two SBC Awards Europe categories appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino Guru has started its final evaluation phase for the Casino Guru Awards 2026, with winners set to be announced on May 25 at Xara Lodge in Malta, ahead of the NEXT Valletta conference.
The company said nominations have closed and shortlists are finalized, with the Casino Guru team now reviewing shortlisted nominees’ track records through judge discussions and meetings with candidates. Winners are selected using what Casino Guru describes as a mix of data-led evaluation and expert assessment, drawing on its Safety Index and Complaint Resolution Center.
Public voting remains open for the Player’s Choice and Voice of the People categories, giving players and industry stakeholders a direct vote alongside the judging process.
“The Casino Guru Awards are not about who is the biggest or most visible,” said Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director from Casino Guru. “They are about who is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
Casino Guru expects around 150 guests at the Malta event, which it positioned as an industry networking evening alongside the awards announcements.
The post Casino Guru Awards 2026 set for May 25 in Malta as final evaluations begin appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ELA Games’ Managing Director Marharyta Yerina
ELA Games Scoops Up Triple Nominations at the European iGaming Awards 2026
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The studio picks up three major nominations going into 2026
ELA Games is proud to announce that it has received three major nominations at the European iGaming Awards 2026, reflecting the studio’s creative direction, performance-driven development, and leadership in innovation.
The nominations include:
- Most Innovative Slot Game — Joker Winpot
- Slot Game of the Year — Joker Winpot
- Rising Star — Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games
Joker Winpot Shines
Joker Winpot has continued to perform spectacularly, quickly becoming one of the studio’s standout titles. Its strong visual identity, simple-to-understand mechanics, and innovative format with the Winpot feature make it a game that gives players agency with high replayability.
Operators who have connected to the ELA Games catalogue have reported significant increases in key metrics following the adoption of Joker Winpot in their casino lobbies, including a GGR increase of +1128%, Actives: +878%, and Turnover: +1517%. These impressive results have helped the game gain recognition among peers, with it being shortlisted for two major categories at the upcoming European iGaming Awards.
Value in Creativity
ELA Games’ core operational philosophy of blending bold creativity with user- and operator-focused performance has propelled the studio to become a significant newcomer in the industry. Players recognise ELA Games’ signature visually rich art style and actively seek the studio’s games out in casino lobbies, as evidenced by impressive year-on-year growth.
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director, was also nominated for the “Rising Star” individual award. Her contributions to the iGaming space and leadership in managing ELA Games as one of the fastest-growing studios have garnered her acclaim amongst her peers.
Marharyta commented on the nominations, “Receiving three nominations at an award ceremony reflects every one of our team members’ excellence and commitment to setting new standards in the industry. Joker Winpot continued to exceed our expectations and shows what’s possible when you develop a game with intention, user experiences, and operator performance in mind. I’m also honoured to receive the Rising Star nomination: we will continue delivering content that truly matters for players and partners alike.”
The post ELA Games Scoops Up Triple Nominations at the European iGaming Awards 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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