Gaming research and consulting firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) on Tuesday announced the official award category nominees for the 5th Annual EKG Slot Awards, an event that aims to recognize excellence in slot machine game development within the casino gaming industry. The event will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas.
"We are very excited to announce the official nominees for the 5th annual EKG Slot Awards," said Todd Eilers, Principal at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC. "The list of nominees is very impressive and includes some amazing new games. We look forward to hosting a fun and exciting event to honor and recognize the winners in each category."
The EKG Slot Award categories are determined by EKG principals and the EKG Slot Awards Board of Advisors. Individual award winners will be determined by utilizing a data-driven approach to include both proprietary game performance data as well as a survey of qualified slot managers for land-based categories.
For award categories where proprietary data is not available, the award winner will be solely determined by the survey responses. For the Social Casino and iGaming segments, winners will be determined by a panel of industry experts combined with EKG proprietary data.
The complete listing of the EKG Slot Awards categories is the following:
Land-based Awards
1. Top Performing NEW Video Reel Core Game
- Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Red Festival - Aristocrat
- China Shores Boosted Great Stacks - Konami
- Devil’s Lock - Bluberi
- Gold Hills Prospector Pete - Everi
- Monkey Legends - AGS
- Rich Little Piggies Meal Ticket - Light & Wonder
- Wolf Run Eclipse - IGT
- X Wheel Supreme Dragon - Aruze
2. Top Performing NEW Mechanical Reel Core Game
- Blazin' Gems Deluxe - Everi
- Blazing 777 Triple Double Jackpot Wild - Light & Wonder
- Buffalo Instant Hit - Aristocrat
- Pinball Double Gold – IGT
3. Top Performing NEW Premium Game
- Golden Pots - Golden Dragon - AGS
- Lightning Dollar Link - Kung Fu Master - Aristocrat
- Lucky Envelope - Plum Riches - Konami
- Prosperity Link Wan Shi Ru Yi - IGT
- Smokin Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel Ice - Everi
- Ultimate Fire Link Explosion - Light & Wonder
4. Top Performing NEW Cabinet – Core
- A Star Dual - Ainsworth
- Kascada Dual Screen - Light & Wonder
- Muso Curve 55 - Aruze• Neptune Single - Aristocrat
- Prism VXP - Incredible Technologies
5. Top Performing NEW Mechanical Reel Cabinet – Core
- DiamondRS - IGT
- Landmark 7000 - Light & Wonder
- Player Classic Signature - Everi
6. Top Performing NEW Cabinet – Premium
- A Star Curve XL - Ainsworth
- Dimension 75C - Konami
- Kascada Dual Screen - Light & Wonder
- Peak65 - IGT
7. Top Performing Proprietary Branded Game
- All Aboard - Konami
- Dragon Link - Aristocrat
- Prosperity Link - IGT
- Rakin Bacon - AGS
- Super Charged 7s - Ainsworth
- Ultimate Fire Link - Light & Wonder
- Ultra Rush - Incredible Technologies
- Wicked Wheel - Everi
- X Wheel - Aruze
8. Top Performing 3rd Party IP Branded Game
- Conan – Aristocrat
- Farmville Golden Harvest - Aristocrat
- Monopoly Lunar New Year - Light & Wonder
- Press Your Luck Whammy Wilds – Everi
- Shark Week – Feeding Frenzy – Everi
- Wheel of Fortune – 4D Collectors Edition – IGT
- Wheel of Fortune - High Roller – IGT
- Willy Wonka – Dreamers of Dreams – Light & Wonder
9. Top Electronic Table Game (ETG) Supplier
- Alfastreet
- Aruze
- Gaming Arts
- IGT
- Interblock
- Light & Wonder
10. Top Performing Video Poker Game
- All Star Poker 3 - IGT
- Game King X - IGT
- Super Star Poker - IGT
- Ultimate X Poker - IGT
- Winners World Multigame – Aristocrat
11. Top Performing Game from an Emerging Supplier
- 88 Wild Duels - Monkey vs Dark Warrior - Zitro
- Brian Christopher’s Pop N Pays More - Gaming Arts
- Devils Lock - Bluberi
- House Of The Dead Scarlet Dawn - Sega Sammy
- Jackpot Multiplier - Play Synergy
- Red Hot Burning Clover Link Edition - Apogee
- Screaming Links Great Balls of Fire - Lightning
- Thunder Cash Link Voodoo Magic - Novomatic
12. Most Innovative Game
- Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Red Festival - Aristocrat
- Dragon Rush Fei Nu - Incredible Technologies
- Fu Bamboo - Bluberi
- Fu Gui Hao Men Splendid Fortunes - IGT
- Go Go Claw Cash Grab – Aruze
- Huff N More Puff - Light & Wonder
- Kung Fu Empress - Gaming Arts
- Money Line - Everi
- Treasure Spirits – Dragon – Ainswort
13. Most Improved Supplier – Core
14. Most Improved Supplier – Premium
15. Best Overall Supplier of Slot Content
Social Casino Awards
16. Best Social Slots Game
- DoubleDown Casino - DoubleU Games
- Jackpot Party Casino - SciPlay
- Lightning Link Casino - Pixel United
- Lotsa Slots - Netmarble
- Slotomania - Playtika
17. Best New Social Casino Game
- Choctaw Slots - The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Grand Cash Casino - Gamehaus Network
- MGM Slots Live - PlayStudios
- Poker Chase - C-bet Inc.
- Vegas Keno - PLAYDOG
18. Top Social Casino Company
- Netmarble
- Pixel United
- PlayStudios
- Playtika
- SciPlay
19. Special Award for Overcoming Adversity (Social Casino)
iGaming Awards (Real-Money Online Gaming)
20. Top Performing NEW Online Slot
- 10,000 Wonders 10k Ways - Reel Play
- 10k Fortunes - Design Works Gaming
- Almighty Buffalo Megaways - White Hat Studios
- Big Fishing Fortune - Inspired
- Carnival Cow Coin Combo - Light & Wonder
- Golden Wins Deluxe - AGS
- Lone Star Jackpots - Greentube
- Megajackpots Wolf Run - IGT
- Primate King - Evolution
- Slingo Shark Week - Gaming Realms
- Triple Jackpot Gems - Everi
21. Top Performing NEW Online Table Game
- 21+3 Progressive Blackjack - Bragg Gaming Group
- Bet the Set 21 - Light & Wonder
- Free Bet Blackjack - Evolution
- Multihand Blackjack Perfect Pairs 21+3 - IGT
- Space Invaders Roulette - Inspired
22. Top Performing Online Live Casino Game
- Blackjack Unlimited - Playtech
- Live Dealer Blackjack - Evolution
- Live Dealer Craps - Evolution
- Live Dealer Texas Hold Em - Evolution
- Live Roulette – Playtech
23. Most Innovative Online Game
- Big Spin Bonus - Inspired
- Break the Bounty LuckyTap - Design Works Gaming
- Doubleplay Super Bet HQ - Light & Wonder
- El Dorado Infinity Reels - Reel Play
- Extra Chilli Megaways - Evolution
- Lightning Blackjack - Evolution
- Slingo Shark Week - Gaming Realms
24. Best Overall Supplier of Online Content
All Suppliers Considered
25. Top Performing Omni-Channel Slot (Retail & Online)
- 88 Fortunes - Light & Wonder
- Cleopatra - IGT
- Crazy Money Deluxe - Incredible Technologies
- Mustang Money - Ainsworth
- Rakin Bacon - AGS
- Triple Jackpot Gems - Everi
Hall of Fame
The EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame Inductees are to be announced in the coming weeks.
- Hall of Fame Inductee – Game Development
- Hall of Fame Inductee – Slot Operations