The race for industry recognition is officially underway as SBC unveils the shortlist for the 2026 SBC Awards Americas, highlighting the standout performers across the region’s gaming landscape.
The ceremony will take place on June 10 at the Broward County Convention Center as part of SBC Summit Americas 2026, bringing together 600 industry professionals to celebrate excellence across North and Latin America. This year’s edition features 34 categories recognizing outstanding achievements from operators, affiliates, industry leaders, and a wide range of suppliers, including platform providers, payment specialists, game studios, and more.
Leading this year’s shortlist is Rush Street Interactive with eight nominations, followed by Betting Hero with six. Close behind are Optimove, Wazdan, and Betsson Group with five nominations each.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, stated that the SBC Awards Americas continue to grow in prominence as competition across the region intensifies. He noted that this year’s shortlist brings together companies that not only perform at a high level but also drive progress across operations, technology, marketing, payments, compliance, and player engagement. He also emphasized that being shortlisted is a significant achievement and a strong recognition of industry impact.
In the North American operator categories, FanDuel will look to defend its 2025 Sportsbook Operator of the Year title, facing competition from BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, and Hard Rock Bet. In the casino category, BetMGM will aim to retain its title against a competitive field including Caesars Entertainment, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet Casino, and Rush Street Interactive.
In Latin America, notable names such as Betsson Group, Kaizen Gaming, Megapari, and Rush Street Interactive have been shortlisted across key categories, highlighting their continued growth and influence in the region.
In the affiliate categories, Flashscore Network will aim to defend its Sports Affiliate of the Year LATAM title against competitors such as Better Collective, Betting Hero, and MediaTroopers, who are also nominated in the North American category.
Across supplier categories, Optimove and Wazdan lead with five nominations each, while Sportradar, SoftConstruct, and OpticOdds also stand out, underlining the increasing importance of data, platforms, and content in supporting operators across the Americas.
Alea will look to build on last year’s success in the Employer of the Year category, competing against Betsson Group, Rush Street Interactive, and BetMGM in what is expected to be a highly competitive field.
In the payments and compliance categories, OKTO will aim to retain its Payment Solution of the Year LATAM title, while Trustly will seek to defend its North American equivalent. Meanwhile, companies including GeoComply, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), and OpenBet are among the contenders for Compliance Solution of the Year.
The awards will also spotlight emerging brands making an impact across the industry, with companies such as Octoplay, BETER, OpticOdds, and WagerWire featured in the Rising Star categories for casino and sports betting.
The full shortlist is available on the official SBC Awards Americas website.
Please note that a separate ticket is required to attend the ceremony, and table and ticket options are now available.
For SBC Summit Americas, attendees can choose from several access options:
• Expo Pass (Free): Access to the exhibition floor and basic SBC Connect access
• Conference Pass ($399): Expo access plus the full two-day conference program with 250+ speakers
• Networking Pass ($399): Expo access plus full networking program and official events
• Business Pass ($549): Full access to expo, conference, and networking, with enhanced SBC Connect features
• VIP Event Pass ($799): All-access experience including premium benefits, exclusive areas, and Food Festival entry
