Industry Awards
SBC Awards Europe: Meet the 2025 Winners
Betsson, Soft2Bet, and Novibet were among the standout winners at last night’s inaugural SBC Awards Europe ceremony.
The prestigious ceremony took place on the evening of Thursday, 12th June at the Hilton Malta in Saint Julian’s. The evening brought the industry together to recognise the people and companies driving progress and setting new standards in sports betting and gaming across Europe.
The evening was hosted by globally recognised sports broadcaster and football presenter, Alison Bender, who presented 34 distinct awards honouring the industry’s leading operators, affiliates, and suppliers, in front of an audience of 400 industry stakeholders.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “We launched SBC Summit Malta to better reflect the innovations and achievements shaping Europe’s entire gaming ecosystem. SBC Awards Europe builds on that mission, offering a platform to spotlight the industry’s best across all verticals.
“While casino operators and game studios continue to be recognised for their outstanding achievements, the introduction of new categories—covering key sectors such as sportsbook and payments—has enabled us to honour the full spectrum of talent driving progress across the industry.”
It was a standout night for Novibet, which secured two awards: ‘Operator Innovation in Gaming’ and ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year’. Meanwhile, Betsson Group was named ‘Casino Operator of the Year’, Betsson Group Affiliates won ‘Best Affiliate Program‘, and 1xBet took home the ‘Marketing Campaign and Sponsorship of the Year’ award.
In the Operator & Supplier categories, Bragg Gaming was recognised for its commitment to safer gambling with the ‘Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year’ award. Additionally, BGaming picked up the ‘Best Exclusive Game Partnership’ award, and Alea took home the prestigious ‘Employer of the Year’ award.
Exceptional leadership across the industry was recognised through the coveted ‘Leader of the Year’ award, which was jointly awarded to Bilyan Balinoff (Co-Founder, Vegas Legends) and Jovana Popovic Canaki (CEO, iGP). The ‘Manager of the Year’ accolade was presented to Pierre Pulis (Head of Marketing, BETBY).
In the supplier categories, Soft2Bet walked away with two awards on the night: ‘Acquisition & Retention Partner‘ and ‘Industry Innovation of the Year’. Games Global was named ‘Casino Supplier of the Year’ while OpenBet secured the title of ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’.
Other winners in the supplier categories included Oddin.gg, which won the ‘Live Betting Product‘ award; Sportradar, which was awarded ‘Sports Data Product’; and BetConstruct, which was named ‘Platform Provider of the Year’
The evening also featured a number of ‘Rising Star’ categories, highlighting the achievements of emerging European operators and suppliers. In the operator categories, Casumo Services Limited secured the ‘Rising Star in Casino’ award, whilst BETANDYOU was named ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’.
In the supplier categories, Octoplay was honoured with the ‘Rising Star in Casino’ and BETER won ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’.
In the affiliate categories, Casino Guru was recognised as ‘Casino Affiliate of the Year’, while Flashscore was awarded ‘Sports Affiliate of the Year’.
Mindway AI and Payhound were celebrated for innovations in payments and compliance, taking home the ‘Compliance & KYC Partner of the Year’ and ‘Payment Solution of the Year’, respectively.
Continuing its predecessor’s commitment to celebrating advancements in gaming, the night also featured a number of ‘Game Developer’ categories. Relax Gaming was honoured with the ‘Game Aggregator of the Year‘ award, and Evoplay took home the ‘Game Design & Art Direction’ award. Meanwhile, Omnigame was awarded ‘Game Mechanic/Feature of the Year‘, and Mascot Gaming won ‘Game Music / Soundtrack’.
The coveted ‘Game of the Year’ award was claimed by Relax Gaming for their title ‘Ancient Tumble‘, in a category newly opened to public voting for the 2025 edition.
Highlighting the outstanding work of European game studios were the ‘SlotCatalog’ awards. Pragmatic Play won the ‘Game Studio of the Year – Large’, Hacksaw Gaming took home the ‘Game Studio of the Year – Medium’ and Reel Studio was named ‘Game Studio of the Year – Small’. The ‘Rookie of the Year‘ award went to Backseat Gaming.
“I would like to take the chance to thank our platinum headline sponsor, BetConstruct, along with all our premium and supporting sponsors, whose generous support allowed us to celebrate the industry’s accomplishments in a truly meaningful way,” said Sojmark.
The awards ceremony concluded the final night of SBC Summit Malta, which saw 6,000 industry stakeholders convene at the InterContinental Hotel, Malta, from June 10-12.
The post SBC Awards Europe: Meet the 2025 Winners appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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