(AsiaGameHub) –   The 2026 SBC Awards Europe marked the conclusion of SBC Summit Malta, with Kaizen Gaming emerging as the top-winning organization after securing three accolades.

Held on April 30 at Xara Lodge in Malta, the ceremony brought together industry stakeholders to recognize the individuals and companies driving advancement and setting new benchmarks for the sports betting and gaming sector across Europe.

The evening was hosted by well-known sports broadcaster Alison Bender, who presented 36 awards honoring the industry’s leading operators, affiliates, and suppliers.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, stated: “Every year, the industry raises its standards, and this year is no exception. The winners are the people, teams, and products that have not only kept pace with ongoing changes, but adapted quickly and continued to push those standards even higher.”

It was a standout evening for Kaizen Gaming, which took home the Sportsbook Operator of the Year, Casino Operator of the Year, and Operator Innovation in Gaming awards, in recognition of its strong operational performance and consistent growth.

In the affiliate categories, Flashscore kept hold of its Sports Affiliate of the Year title, while Gentoo Media claimed the Casino Affiliate of the Year award. Meanwhile, 1xBet earned recognition for its partner scheme, taking home the Best Affiliate Programme prize.

For the supplier categories, Delasport was named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year, while BGaming secured the Casino Supplier of the Year title. EveryMatrix was recognized as Platform Provider of the Year, while Sportradar and Fast Track were honored with the Sports Data Product and Industry Innovation of the Year awards, respectively.

Highlighting excellence in leadership and workplace culture, Betsson Group was named Employer of the Year, while the Leader of the Year award was presented to Alexandre Tomic (CEO, Alea) and Elena Rousseva (CEO, Playtech). Yaroslav Soloshenko (Business Development Team Lead, ELA Games) also received recognition as Manager of the Year.

Excellence in game design, which has long been a core focus of the SBC Awards Europe, was once again celebrated during the event: Peter & Sons won Game Studio of the Year (Small) alongside the Best Game Soundtrack award. Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming also received honors across the Game Studio of the Year categories, while Play’n GO secured Game of the Year for its title Reactoonz 100. Additional awards went to Creedroomz for Game Design & Art Direction, and TaDa Gaming for Game Feature/Mechanic of the Year.

In the payments and compliance categories, Yaspa was named Payment Solution of the Year, while GBG secured the Compliance & KYC Partner of the Year award. Gaming1 was also recognized for its commitment to safer gambling practices, taking home the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year prize.

The night also included a range of Rising Star categories, designed to recognize emerging companies that are making a notable impact across the industry. 18Peaches was named Rising Star in Casino, while Odds88 secured the Rising Star in Sports Betting award on the supplier side. Among operators, 247Bet (by Casimba Gaming) received recognition in the sports betting segment, while Impressario Casino took home the equivalent casino category award.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our headline sponsors 1xBet and Spribe, as well as our Official Partner Gaming Malta, alongside all our supporting sponsors. Their support has made it possible to deliver this memorable celebration of the industry’s key achievements,” said Sojmark.

The awards ceremony wrapped up the final night of SBC Summit Malta, which saw 6,000 industry stakeholders gather at the InterContinental Hotel, Malta, between April 28 and 30.

View the full list of winners here.