SBC reveals shortlist for North America Awards ceremony

SBC has announced the shortlist for the upcoming SBC Awards North America ceremony, part of SBC Summit North America.

The shortlist recognizes the remarkable achievements and exemplary contributions of both regional and globally recognized operators, affiliates, suppliers, and tribes, who are driving innovation and pushing the industry forward in the North American market, the company said in a statement.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on the evening of Thursday, May 9, 2024, the closing day of the summit, at the Hilton Hotel, Midtown, New York City.

OpenBet who lead the way with 8 nominations, return to the ceremony to defend their titles in the ‘Land-Based Betting & Gaming Product’ and ‘Platform Provider of the Year’ categories. Following closely are Betting Hero and Sportradar, both garnering 5 company nominations. Additionally, FanDuel, Better Collective, and FeedConstruct each receive 4 nominations.

The 2024 edition of the industry ceremony received a record number of nominations, with an independent panel of judges narrowing down contenders across 29 categories.

In the Affiliate categories, Better Collective will aim to uphold its reign as ‘Sports Affiliate of the Year’, whilst also competing for the ‘Sports Media Company of the Year’ award. Meanwhile, Gambling.com will be looking to maintain the coveted title of ‘Casino Affiliate of the Year’ amid tough competition from the likes of Key Affiliates, Game Lounge Limited and 2023 runners-up MediaTroopers Inc.

The Operator categories will see multi-award winner FanDuel return to defend its title as ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year’ and ‘Marketing Campaign & Sponsorship of the Year’. FanDuel will also compete with reigning winner BetMGM for the ‘Casino Operator of the Year’ award.

Hard Rock Games, Choctaw Casinos Resorts, and Rush Street Interactive, among others, will attempt to dethrone SciPlay and claim the ‘Social Gaming Operator of the Year’ award.

The Operator & Supplier categories will see a battle between Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG), IGT, Entain Foundation, and EPIC Global Solutions for the ‘Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year’ award.

The Supplier categories will witness Low6, Evolution, Bragg Gaming, OpenBet, Sportradar, Scientific Games, Chalkline, EPIC Global Solutions, and IGT PlaySports, all seeking to uphold their respective titles.

Furthermore, in the supplier categories, nominees Oddin.gg, Genius Sports, Optimove, BetConstruct, and SUZOHAPP have been recognized across multiple award categories.

In the Payment & Compliance categories, contenders like Radar, Mindway AI, and Vixio, among others, will compete against reigning champions Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) for the title of ‘Compliance Solution & Partner of the Year’. Additionally, nominees such as Paramount Commerce, Trustly, and Nuvei are vying for the esteemed ‘Payment Solution & Innovation of the Year’ award.

The ceremony will also play host to three Rising Star Awards, honoring the remarkable accomplishments of emerging and innovative brands that are making significant strides in their respective verticals. These categories encompass Rising Star in Casino, Rising Star in Sports Betting, and the distinguished Rising Star of the Year award.

The Tribal categories, a staple of the SBC Summit North America Awards, will see the likes of Notawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Gaming Commission, Comanche Nation, Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission, and Snoqualmie Casino battle for the Tribal Gaming Operator of the Year and Tribal Regulator of the Year awards. 

The Leader of the Year award, recognizing inspiring, industry-defining leadership, will be fought between 14 nominated leaders from notable organizations such as Fast Track, Playtech, Wazdan, Light & Wonder, and Entain. Additionally, 13 industry heavyweights will seek to lift the esteemed Employer of the Year award.