Industry Awards
Judging the shortlisted: Casino Guru Awards 2025 evaluation phase begins
The Casino Guru Awards 2025 have reached an exciting milestone: evaluation time. On April 22 and 23, our esteemed panel of judges will begin conducting online evaluation calls with all shortlisted candidates across various award categories. These 30-minute sessions offer a unique opportunity for nominees to present their work, explain the vision behind their nominations, and engage in open dialogue with our expert judges.
Interactive, insightful, impactful
The evaluation calls, now a signature part of the Casino Guru Awards process, go far beyond reviewing nomination forms. They bring the human element to the forefront, giving judges the chance to hear directly from the people behind the innovations, initiatives, and platforms.
This year’s process again brings together two panels of judges, featuring both internal Casino Guru experts and external professionals from across the iGaming space. While the written nominations set the stage, it’s these calls that allow judges to ask questions, explore specific areas in more detail, and truly assess how well each nominee embodies the values of the Casino Guru Awards: fairness, transparency, innovation, and social responsibility.
“This part of the process is where the nominations come alive,” says Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Project Director at Casino Guru and the visionary behind the Awards. “We’re looking for more than good intentions—we want to see passion, preparation, and a deep understanding of what makes an impact in this industry. These conversations are often eye-opening for both sides, and sometimes a call can change the whole perception of a nomination.”
A fair and rigorous selection
All shortlisted candidates will be evaluated through these live sessions, which are a vital piece of the final voting process. After the calls, judges are given time to reflect and reassess, using both written materials and insights gained from the interviews before anonymously casting their votes.
As in previous years, each judge receives three points to distribute among the candidates in each category. The winner is then determined through a transparent point-counting process.
It’s worth noting that even nominees who are unable to attend the calls are still eligible to win—though participating gives them a powerful chance to make their case directly and stand out. The process is intentionally designed to reward engagement, readiness, and integrity.
Looking toward Malta
The anticipation is building toward the Casino Guru Awards 2025 Gala Ceremony, taking place for the first time as a live, invite-only event at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in St. Julian’s, Malta, on June 6, 2025. Here, winners across all categories will be revealed in what promises to be a grand celebration of responsibility and achievement in iGaming.
In addition to the judge-assessed categories, the Players’ Choice and Voice of the People are already open for public voting—further reinforcing the Awards’ mission to reflect both industry expertise and real-world impact.
As the evaluation calls commence, we at Casino Guru celebrate every shortlisted nominee who has made it this far. Your innovation, effort, and commitment to a better gambling environment have already earned you a place among the industry’s elite.
The post Judging the shortlisted: Casino Guru Awards 2025 evaluation phase begins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Soft2Bet has won the Innovation in Casino Entertainment award at the SBC Awards 2025 for its MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) solution, recognising the product’s impact on player experience.
Soft2Bet is continuously reshaping the industry through its cutting-edge technologies, bridging the gap between casino and casual gaming. Rather than relying on bonus-heavy acquisition, Soft2Bet unites rigorous compliance and AML policies with fast-moving product innovation and a start-up spirit, bringing leadership and talent together behind MEGA to deliver compliant growth and stronger retention.
iGaming Powered by Entertainment
In 2024, Soft2Bet was recognised for innovation across its platform, including its casino and sportsbook products. This year, Soft2Bet has demonstrated that gamification is entertainment, offering players meaningful progression, real choice and localised experiences. In challenging European markets, Soft2Bet’s brands act as a proof of concept with their successes, demonstrating higher retention, stronger engagement, and sustainable performance, achieved responsibly and without having to rely on excessive bonus offers.
One gamified system for market growth
Gamification in iGaming has evolved from a simple marketing add-on to a core design philosophy that shapes the entire player journey. The Innovation in Casino Entertainment Award recognises this industry-wide shift and sets a clearer standard for the sector. Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification engine transforms this concept into a unified engagement layer across the casino, fully configurable by market and grounded in missions, seasonal events, and transparent rewards. The result is not only better entertainment and stronger loyalty among players, but also a sustainable model that aligns with local licensing requirements and supports long-term growth.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, commented: “Soft2Bet is a shining example of innovation in action, so massive congratulations on winning the Innovation in Casino Entertainment award. Their MEGA product is a true benchmark for innovation, and their role in leading the Gamification Academy, which we introduced this year at SBC Summit, shows that they are not only innovators but also knowledge leaders who willingly share their expertise with the entire industry. Their work continues to raise the standard for what entertainment can and should be, so big kudos to the team.”
Oksana Tsyhankova, CCO at Soft2Bet, said: “Soft2Bet team accepts the challenge of delivering the best customer experience and bringing new entertainment to the iGaming industry. We are proving it by aligning leaders and talent across product, compliance and B2B, and by applying strong design, localisation and brand-building expertise”.
Beyond its award-winning product innovations, Soft2Bet also supported the Legends Charity Game, helped to facilitate the Gamification Academy that managed to gather the full audience hall of operators, and judged the inaugural First Pitch competition to bring a fresh layer of interactivity to the event and create something greater, contributing to the industry.
The post Soft2Bet recognised as Innovator in iGaming Entertainment by SBC Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Successful participation highlighted by strong visibility, new launches, and industry recognition
DATA.BET, a trusted sportsbook solution supplier, delivered a strong performance and showcased an extended product range in Lisbon last week. The company’s stand became one of the most striking in the hall, and as the exhibition concluded, DATA.BET was recognized with the Rising Star in Sports Betting Innovation / Software nomination at the SBC Awards 2025.
From September 16–18, DATA.BET presented its updated portfolio covering sports, esports, and virtual sports to operators and platform providers. The stand attracted steady attention, with visitors exploring the company’s latest product updates — including creatively designed Widgets, Bet Builder, and Hot Bundles for optimized express betting.
This year, DATA.BET brought its largest on-site team to date, representing multiple areas of expertise. The expanded presence enabled the company to give visitors a comprehensive view of its end-to-end solutions and detailed technical and business insights tailored to operator needs. Throughout the summit, the team engaged in productive meetings with partners and industry experts, participated in media interviews, and facilitated valuable networking opportunities.
The company’s participation culminated in recognition at the prestigious SBC Awards 2025, where DATA.BET was honored as the Rising Star in Sports Betting Innovation / Software. Securing this category highlights DATA.BET’s rapid growth and validates its strategic expansion from esports foundations into a fully integrated sportsbook portfolio.
“SBC Summit in Lisbon was a milestone for DATA.BET — our first event where we officially presented our sportsbook solution and expanded portfolio,” said Natalie Loshatynska, Head of PR & Marketing at DATA.BET. “It was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate our finalized product range, integration capabilities, and powerful Widgets. Closing the event with a nomination for the Rising Star in Sports Betting Innovation / Software was a proud moment for our team — a recognition of our continuous focus on technology and commitment to enhancing the product.”
The post DATA.BET Makes a Mark at SBC Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
GR8 Tech landed heavyweight wins on all fronts at SBC Summit 2025, taking home the prestigious Platform Provider of the Year award and drawing record-breaking crowds with its Heavyweight Club activation with Ready to Fight, which brought undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk to the summit floor.
Heavyweight Presence: Super Stage Panel and iGaming Influencers at GR8 Tech Booth
On the Super Stage, GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight held “The Heavyweight Playbook: Building Businesses That Perform When It Matters Most” panel discussion. Oleksandr Usyk opened up about discipline and trust in his team, while Kyrylo Korobka, Executive Director at Ready to Fight, emphasized the importance of data-driven preparation. Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, showed how the same principles apply to iGaming, where platforms must perform flawlessly under pressure.
“Whether it’s preparing for a championship fight or building an iGaming platform, excellence comes from systematic discipline, not just talent,” Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, said during the discussion.
Following the panel discussion, the punch machine challenge at GR8 Tech’s stand brought together influential industry leaders, creating one of the most talked-about activations of the entire Summit.
GR8 Tech’s CEO Oleksandr Feshchenko claimed the top score and Usyk’s signed gloves. However, given GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready to Fight, the prize was never meant to stay in-house—instead going to the next highest scorer, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC Gaming, capturing the core of the Heavyweight Club philosophy: champions create champions.
Usyk’s appearance drew massive attention, driving a fivefold increase in traffic to the GR8 Tech stand—igniting new sales opportunities and sparking a surge of meaningful engagement with prospects and partners.
Platform for Champions: GR8 Tech Named Platform Provider of the Year
GR8 Tech capped off its heavyweight presence at SBC Summit 2025 by being named “Platform Provider of the Year” at the SBC Awards ceremony.
This prestigious recognition confirms what GR8 Tech has built: a true Platform for Champions that provides the unmatched performance, flexibility, and global infrastructure required for operators who refuse to settle for second place. The validation was echoed by exceptional demand and operator interest witnessed throughout the summit, with 200+ meetings demonstrating the industry’s appetite for champion-level solutions.
“The Heavyweight Club is built on performance, not promises. At SBC Summit, we showed that operators with the ambition to lead will find in GR8 Tech a partner that pushes them further, faster, and stronger—and winning Platform Provider of the Year proves it,” Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech, summed up.
GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions
GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and a proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.
With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of Platform Provider of the Year by SBC Awards 2025.
The post GR8 Tech Champions Every Round at SBC Summit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
ACMA5 days agoACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites
-
ABSG4 days ago
UK Gambling Commission to close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
-
ArenaPlus3 days ago
DigiPlus Announces Partnership with PhilFirst
-
Asia3 days ago
Gamban Now Available in Japanese
-
Baltics3 days ago
HIPTHER Baltics 2026: Powering iGaming & Tech Connections Through 3 Premier Events
-
BETBY5 days ago
BETBY CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT SBC SUMMIT LISBON 2025 WITH ESPORTS SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
-
Johann Schembri5 days ago
National Lottery of Malta Joins ULIS
-
Latest News4 days ago
FROM PIXELS TO POLICY – THE ULTIMATE SHOWCASE OF EUROPE’S VIDEO GAMES SECTOR
