SBC Summit, Lisbon 5 October 2026 – Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s leading GameTech companies and owner of the Betano premium online sports betting and gaming brand, has been crowned “Operator of the Year – Large” for a third consecutive year at the prestigious SBC Awards 2026, held in Lisbon on Thursday, 1 October. Alongside the awards’ highest distinction, Kaizen Gaming also claimed the “Sportsbook Operator of the Year” award for a second year in a row.
The three-year run as “Operator of the Year – Large” underlines Kaizen Gaming’s continued focus on superior customer experiences, as well as its ever-increasing operational footprint across Europe, the Americas and Africa, placing it among the world’s biggest companies in iGaming. With technology, innovation and its people being at the forefront of its operations, the company has succeeded in creating a product that entertains millions of customers across all its markets, while upholding the highest standards of responsible gaming. At the same time, business growth for Kaizen Gaming is always combined with a strong social responsibility framework focused on creating positive impact within the communities where the company operates.
The “Sportsbook Operator of the Year” award recognises Betano not only as a superior sportsbook platform, continuously enhanced with new features and functionalities, but also as one of the most recognisable brands in world sport. In 2026, Betano was an Official Supporter of the biggest tournament of the year, the FIFA World Cup 2026™, while also announcing new landmark partnerships with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and the Argentine National Football Team. These additions joined an already comprehensive portfolio of sports sponsorships, including the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League, FC Bayern München, Club Atlético River Plate, Aston Villa F.C., Portugal’s “Big Three,” and more. Additionally, Kaizen Gaming and Betano, use their partnerships with athletic clubs, federations, Paralympic organisations and NGOs to leverage sport as a platform for social inclusion.
Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer, Kaizen Gaming, commented:
“Being named Operator of the Year for a third consecutive year might start feeling like a habit, but I can guarantee that we don’t take things for granted and we are as proud and honoured as the first time we received this distinction. Our commitment is to keep building upon what we have achieved so far and to become better every day. The path is not an easy one, there are obstacles along the way, but we have navigated them in the past and we will keep emerging stronger. Congratulations must always go to our people, who are the backbone of all our achievements, along with a big thank you to our customers for their trust and our partners for their invaluable support”.
Now in their thirteenth year, the coveted SBC Awards celebrate the very best in the betting and gaming industry, recognising the achievements of operators, affiliates, and suppliers from across all the major disciplines, including payments, marketing, platform providers, and data.
The 2026 ceremony took place at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on the final day of SBC Summit, with over 40,000 industry professionals and 800 exhibitors gathering to showcase the latest innovations in gaming and betting. The awards were hosted by former English football legend John Terry and broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher.
Editorial Commentary
The sportsbook category is where Betano’s commercial model shows most clearly. The 2026 additions of Tottenham Hotspur and the Argentine national team sit on top of UEFA, Bundesliga, Premier League and Argentine club deals, plus an Official Supporter role at the FIFA World Cup. In the Americas, that football presence backs Betano’s position in Brazil’s regulated market, where it competes with the largest local and international brands.
The test for 2027 is regulatory. Sponsorship-led brands face tighter advertising rules across Europe, from Spain’s tobacco-style warning labels to higher gaming duties in several markets. In a European market worth €123.4bn in GGR in 2024, how Kaizen keeps its brand reach under those rules will shape how far its footprint grows from here.
