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Winners Announced for SBC Awards 2026: A Comprehensive Guide to the Industry’s Top Honors

By jili tutorial · October 3, 2026

Winners Announced for SBC Awards 2026: A Comprehensive Guide to the Industry’s Top Honors

Overview: The 13th Edition of the SBC Awards

The SBC Awards 2026, held on Thursday, 1 October, at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, marked the grand finale of the SBC Summit. This 13th edition celebrated excellence across the global betting and gaming industry, recognizing outstanding achievements among operators, suppliers, and individuals. With 39 award categories spanning company leadership, player protection, payments, product innovation, and more, the ceremony was hosted by Dutch football legend Edgar Davids and broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, highlighted the human element of the awards: “One of my favourite parts of these awards is seeing the teams behind the achievements get their moment on stage. We know how much work goes into building a successful business or bringing a new product to market, and tonight was an opportunity to celebrate that together. Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists.”

This guide provides a deeper dive into the winners, the context behind their achievements, and what each category signifies for the industry. All facts from the original announcement have been preserved, with added explanation and illustrative examples.

Operator Awards: Consistency and Market Leadership

Kaizen Gaming Retains Top Honors

Kaizen Gaming (parent company of the Betano brand) once again dominated the operator categories, retaining both Operator of the Year – Large and Sportsbook Operator of the Year. This double victory underscores Kaizen’s sustained excellence in operational scale, user experience, and sportsbook innovation. For context, Kaizen has been a consistent frontrunner in these categories for multiple years, reflecting its ability to adapt to changing regulations and player preferences.

Betsson Group and Other Category Winners

Example: The “Marketing Campaign of the Year” award often goes to operators who leverage data-driven creative strategies—1xBET’s repeat win suggests a powerful mix of localised content and digital outreach.

Supplier Awards: Pragmatic Play, BetConstruct AI, and Sportradar Shine

Pragmatic Play: A Third Successive Win

Pragmatic Play was a standout supplier, securing Casino / Slots Developer of the Year – Large for the third consecutive year and adding Live Casino Supplier to its honors. This consistency reflects the company’s ability to maintain high-quality game output, strong R&D, and partnerships with major operators. The Live Casino award recognizes its expansion into live dealer games, a rapidly growing segment.

BetConstruct AI Wins Double

BetConstruct AI celebrated two awards: Sportsbook Supplier of the Year and Land-Based Betting & Gaming Product. These wins highlight the company’s dual strength in both online sportsbook technology and physical retail solutions. Their AI-driven tools for odds management and player engagement are increasingly vital in modern sportsbooks.

Sportradar Reclaims Key Category

Sportradar collected Marketing & Services Provider of the Year and reclaimed Live Betting Product, an award it previously won in 2024. The return to this category speaks to Sportradar’s ongoing innovation in live in-play data, tracking, and betting solutions—critical for today’s fast-paced betting environment.

Other Supplier Category Highlights

Context: These supplier categories highlight the industry’s dependency on cutting‑edge technology, from data feeds to game mechanics. Repeating winners like Pragmatic Play and Soft2Bet show that continuous innovation is the key to staying ahead.

Payments, Compliance, and Social Responsibility

Payment Solutions Take Center Stage

With the global shift toward faster, more secure transactions, payments are a critical focus area:

Fraud & Compliance and Social Responsibility

Example: EPIC Global Solutions often partners with operators to deliver real‑life harm minimisation training—a vital component in the industry’s move toward safer gambling practices.

Rising Star Categories: Emerging Businesses to Watch

The Rising Star awards shine a spotlight on new entrants that show exceptional potential:

These awards signal the next wave of industry disruptors, often leveraging novel technology (AI, gamification) or targeting underserved niches.

Leadership and Workplace Culture Awards

Employer of the Year and Leadership Honors

Recognizing that business success starts with people:

The Leader of the Year awards went to Vladimir Dokov (CEO, EGT Digital) and Alina Mihaela Popa (CCO, ICONIC21), highlighting excellence in executive leadership and commercial growth.

The Nico Jansen Vision to Reality Award—named after the late industry pioneer—was presented to David Natroshvili, honoring his ability to turn visionary ideas into operational products.

Context: These categories underscore that the betting and gaming industry values not only commercial success but also strong corporate culture and visionary leadership—especially important as the sector faces heightened scrutiny over ethics and governance.

Conclusion: A Landmark Night for the Global Betting Community

The SBC Awards 2026 concluded three days of intense networking, business discussions, and education at the SBC Summit in Lisbon. Winners across all categories represent the best in innovation, player protection, and operational excellence. The full list of winners is available on the SBC website, providing a valuable reference for industry professionals tracking trends and benchmarks.

As the sector continues to mature, recognitions like these serve as both a celebration and a roadmap for what the future of betting and gaming looks like—balancing growth with responsibility, and tradition with technology.