Ahead of May’s SBC Summit North America in New Jersey, SBC has unveiled the shortlist for the 2024 SBC Awards North America.

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

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 9, the closing day of the summit, at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown, New York City.

Who’s nominated?

The 2024 edition of the annual industry ceremony received a record number of nominations across 29 categories.

OpenBet leads the way with eight nominations this year after it won the Land-Based Betting & Gaming Product and Platform Provider of the Year awards last year. Betting Hero and Sportradar both have five nominations, while FanDuel, Better Collective and FeedConstruct each have four nods.

In the Affiliate categories, Better Collective will aim to continue its reign as Sports Affiliate of the Year and also compete for the Sports Media Company of the Year award. Meanwhile, Gambling.com will be hoping to maintain the title of Casino Affiliate of the Year amid tough competition from the likes of Key Affiliates, Game Lounge Limited and 2023 runner-up MediaTroopers Inc.

The Operator categories include multi-award winner FanDuel returning to defend its title as Sportsbook Operator of the Year and Marketing Campaign & Sponsorship of the Year. Additionally, FanDuel will compete with 2023 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.

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

The Supplier categories include Low6, Evolution, Bragg Gaming, OpenBet, Sportradar, Scientific Games, Chalkline, EPIC Global Solutions and IGT PlaySports, who will all seek to uphold their respective titles. In the supplier categories, Oddin.gg, Genius Sports, Optimove, BetConstruct and SUZOHAPP have been nominated in 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 up for the Payment Solution & Innovation of the Year award.

The ceremony will also hand out three Rising Star Awards that honour the accomplishments of emerging and innovative brands that are making significant strides in their respective verticals. These categories are 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 contested by 14 nominated leaders from 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.

The complete list of shortlisted companies is available on the SBC Summit North America Website.

About SBC Summit North America

SBC Summit North America will take place between May 7 – 9, at the Meadowlands Exposition Centre, New Jersey.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, speakers and exhibitor additions and conference content by subscribing to the bi-weekly SBC Summit North America LinkedIn Newsletter.

For groups of three or more, you can purchase your full-access event pass for the discounted price of $895 per ticket here.

Please note that a separate ticket is required for attending the SBC Awards North America ceremony. Details regarding available table and ticket options can be found here.