

Canada
THE ESPORTS AWARDS NAME RIOT GAMES, CS:GO AND RED BULL AS INDUSTRY FINALISTS
Returning to the Esports Stadium Arlington on November 20th, the Esports Awards will celebrate and honour every corner of the industry in the biggest night in the esports calendar
www.esportsawards.com/vote
The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to reveal the finalists for this year’s industry categories which showcase individuals and companies who are driving the industry forward. Announced during the 3rd Spotlight Show of the year and hosted by Thom ‘F.’ Badinger, this year’s nominees include the likes of VALORANT, Dexerto, PUBG MOBILE and Activision Blizzard.
The 3rd Spotlight Show also played host to an epic quiz challenge between hosts James “Dash” Patterson and Frankie Ward, an interview by Loviel “Velly” Cardwell with the Sentinels’ VALORANT team, and Nyvi Estephan sat down with LOUD_Coringa to discuss his Esports Awards Streamer of the Year nomination. The Esports Awards also showcased its third Creative Corner segment with George Nowack interviewing AARON CREATE from OpTic Gaming, cementing its goal of celebrating those who would otherwise go unrecognised and putting a spotlight on creatives.
The industry category at the Esports Awards aims to honour those individuals and businesses at the centre of the industry who innovate, support and showcase. The industry section of the Esports Awards includes Esports Broadcast/Production Team of the Year, Esports Commercial Partner of the Year, Esports Coverage Platform of the Year in association with Sizzle Creative, Esports Game of the Year in association with The Koyo Store, Esports Hardware Provider of the Year, Esports Journalist of the Year, Esports Publisher of the Year and Esports Supporting Agency of the Year.
The full list of industry awards finalists are:
Esports Broadcast/Production Team of the Year
- Riot Games
- ESL Gaming
- Nerd Street Gamers
- Psyonix
- Esports Engine
- Activision Blizzard
- Beyond the Summit
- BLAST Premier
- Garena
- FACEIT
Esports Commercial Partner of the Year
- Intel
- Red Bull
- BMW
- State Farm
- Logitech G
- Mountain Dew
- HyperX
- Alienware
- Verizon
- FTX
- Cash App
- KITKAT
Esports Hardware Provider of the Year
- Logitech G
- Razer
- Elgato
- HyperX
- NVIDIA
- Intel
- AMD
- Alienware
- Secretlab
- Corsair
- SteelSeries
- ASUS ROG
Esports Supporting Service of the Year
- ESG LAW
- Paper Crowns
- Aftershock Media Group
- Hitmarker
- Discord
- The Story Mob
- ESEA
- Creative Artists Agency
- Character Select Agency
- Prodigy Agency
- Mobalytics
Esports Coverage Platform of the Year in association with Sizzle Creative
- Dexerto
- The Esports Observer
- Esports Insider
- Dot Esports
- HLTV.org
- Liquipedia
- Esportmaníacos
- Inven Global
- SiegeGG
- Upcomer
Esports Game of the Year in association with The Koyo Store
- League of Legends
- VALORANT
- Free Fire
- CS:GO
- Call of Duty
- Rocket League
- Rainbow Six Siege
- Dota 2
- PUBG Mobile
- Overwatch
Esports Journalist of the Year
- Jacob Wolf
- Richard Lewis
- Adam Fitch
- Ashley Kang
- FionnOnFire
- Kevin Hitt
- Liz Richardson
- Wasif Ahmed
- Pablo ‘Bloop’ Suárez
- H.B. Duran
Esports Publisher of the Year
- Riot Games
- Tencent
- Garena
- Ubisoft
- Psyonix
- EA
- Activision Blizzard
- Epic Games
- Valve
“This year’s industry finalists provide a true showcase of the resilience and growth of the esports industry in the last 12 months and it’s such an honour to be able to provide a platform for them to receive the recognition that they deserve. As we sit in our sixth year I couldn’t be more proud of how the awards continue to reach new heights and I know that this year’s awards will be our best yet,” said Michael Ashford, Managing Director, Esports Awards.
Esports Awards 2021 key campaign dates for the rest of the year are:
- July: Finalists for Creative Awards
- September: Finalists for the Pro & On-Air Talent Awards
- October: The Go-Home Show building up to the main event
- Saturday 20th November: The Esports Awards 2021 Ceremony
Sponsors for the Esports Awards 2021 include The Koyo Store, Sizzle Creative, Touch of Ginger, SCUF, Arlington CVB, SecretLab, Matrix Keyboards and Verizon.
Nominations for Creative Awards and Pro & On-Air Talent Awards are still open over at www.esportsawards.com/nominate. Creative Awards close in July and Pro & On-Air Talent Awards nominations conclude in September.
Betty
Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.
Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.
Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.
Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.
Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.
Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.
“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”
Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.
“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”
The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BCLC
Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026

BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.
Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available
New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].
Registration and program details will be released later this fall.
The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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