International operators vie for Sportsbook of the Year prize at SBC Awards

Industry powerhouse bet365 will be hoping to make it six in a row when the winner of the Sportsbook of the Year prize is announced at the SBC Awards 2019, but it must see off strong international competition to do so.

The victors of all 41 SBC Awards will be unveiled in front of an audience of more than 700 sports betting and igaming industry professionals in a lavish ceremony at Battersea Evolution, London on Tuesday 3 December 2019.

Having been triumphant in the marquee category for the past five years, bet365 is taking on the highest-quality shortlist ever assembled for the honour this time round.

It includes William Hill, Sky Betting & Gaming and Betsson Group, who all also take on bet365 for the Football Sportsbook and Racing Sportsbook awards. Rounding out the Sportsbook of the Year shortlist are FanDuel Group, FavBet, GVC, Pinnacle, Sportsbet.io, STS and Vbet. 

Andrew McCarron, Managing Director of SBC, said: “The entries for this year’s Sportsbook of the Year prize are of an exceptionally high standard, showcasing the growth, innovation and commitment to social responsibility of the sports betting industry’s leading operators.

“We’ve given voters a lot to think about and it will be fascinating to see whether the industry decides to recognise the continuing excellence of bet365 again, or if one of the challengers can take the crown.”

Meanwhile, the five-strong shortlist for the prestigious Leader of the Year award features professionals drawn from right across the gambling industry. 

Joining operator CEOs Jesper Svensson (Betsson Group) and Alexander Stevendahl (Videoslots) are Khalid Ali, who is recognised for his work as Secretary General of the International Betting Integrity Association, Charles Gillespie of leading affiliate Gambling.com Group and Martin Wachter of virtual sports supplier Golden Race.

And in the supplier section of the awards, one of the most eagerly-awaited categories sees virtual NBA games, a fully-integrated gamification platform, an AI-powered personalisation platform, a live lottery and a voice-activated gaming assistant among the products battling it out for the Innovation of the Year (Sports & Casino) prize.

The shortlist includes Bet Invest LTD, BetConstruct, GeoComply, Golden Race, Helio Gaming, Highlight Games, NSoft, Optima, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Sportradar and Vaix. 

The winners of the Operator and Affiliate Awards will be chosen by the industry, with everyone who attended this year’s Betting on Football, Betting on Sports and CasinoBeats Summit conferences eligible to vote. However, the Supplier Awards will be decided by a panel of judges, who have been handpicked for their ability to identify the potentially industry-changing innovations among the entries. 

To view the shortlists for each of the awards, please click HERE.

Tickets for the SBC Awards 2019 are now on sale. In addition to the ceremony and entertainment, all attendees will enjoy a champagne and cocktail reception, three-course dinner and complimentary drinks, while businesses booking VIP tables will also benefit from company branding, five extra bottles of champagne and a dedicated table waiter.

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