SBC Awards Americas Announces 2026 Shortlist

The race for industry recognition is on as SBC unveils the shortlist for the 2026 SBC Awards Americas, highlighting the standout performers across the Americas' gaming landscape.

Taking place on June 10 at the Broward County Convention Center, as part of SBC Summit Americas 2026, the ceremony will bring together 600 industry professionals to celebrate excellence across the North and Latin American gaming industries. This year's edition features 34 categories recognizing standout achievements from operators, affiliates, industry leaders, and a wide range of suppliers, from platform providers and payment specialists to game studios and beyond.

Leading the shortlist this year is Rush Street Interactive, with eight nominations, followed by Betting Hero with six. Optimove, Wazdan, and Betsson Group follow closely behind with five nominations each.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: "The SBC Awards Americas continue to grow in stature because the competition across the region keeps getting stronger. This year's shortlist brings together companies that are not only performing at a high level, but also pushing standards forward across operations, technology, marketing, payments, compliance, and player engagement. Being shortlisted is a real achievement, and every finalist should be proud of the recognition."

In the North American operator categories, FanDuel will look to defend its 2025 Sportsbook Operator of the Year title, with BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, and Hard Rock Bet among the challengers. In the casino category, BetMGM will aim to retain its crown against a competitive field that includes Caesars Entertainment, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet Casino, and Rush Street Interactive.

On the Latin American side, notable names such as Betsson Group, Kaizen Gaming, Megapari, and Rush Street Interactive have been shortlisted across key operator categories, underlining their continued growth and influence in the region.

In the affiliate categories, Flashscore Network will look to defend its Sports Affiliate of the Year – LATAM title against the likes of Better Collective, Betting Hero, and MediaTroopers, all of whom are also nominated in the Sports Affiliate of the Year – North America category. 

Across the supplier categories, companies such as Optimove and Wazdan lead the way with five nominations each, while Sportradar, SoftConstruct, and OpticOdds also feature prominently, highlighting the growing importance of data, platforms, and content in supporting operators across the Americas.

Alea will look to build on last year's Employer of the Year success. They face Betsson Group, Rush Street Interactive, and BetMGM in what is set to be a highly competitive category.

In the payments and compliance categories, OKTO will look to retain its Payment Solution of the Year – Latin America title, while Trustly aims to defend its North American equivalent. Meanwhile, companies including GeoComply, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), and OpenBet are among the contenders for the 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 in Casino and Rising Star in Sports Betting categories.

The complete list of shortlisted companies is available on the SBC Awards Americas website.

Please note that a separate ticket is required for attending the ceremony. Table and ticket options can be found here.

Get your ticket for SBC Summit Americas:

• Expo Pass (Free): Access to the exhibition floor, featuring hundreds of brands from across North and Latin America, and basic SBC Connect access.
• Conference Pass ($399): Expo access plus the full two-day conference program, featuring 250+ speakers across six stages, and entry to 'Inner Circle' sessions.
• Networking Pass ($399): Expo access plus the full SBC Connections program, including 'The Hive,' 'The Exchange,' 'The Briefings,' 'The Walk Around,' and 'The Inner Circle,' alongside official evening networking events.
• Business Pass ($549): A combined experience, including full access to the expo, the conference program and networking formats, alongside enhanced access to SBC Connect.
• VIP Event Pass ($799): The all-access experience, covering conference, networking, and exhibition, plus premium benefits including access to the Operator Platinum Lounge and complimentary entry to the Food Festival.