Bet365 came out on top of its industry peers last night to take the SBC Bookmaker of the Year Award for the third year running. The Stoke-based outfit beat Unibet, Sky Bet, Pinnacle and 10bet to take the award, sponsored by Oddslife, which was voted on by industry professionals.
Bet365 also picked up the gong for best Live Betting Product in a very successful night for the bookmaker.
Yorkshire -based Sky Bet also had a successful evening, winning the Best Football Bookmaker Awards, being highly commended in another two categories, and seeing sister brand Oddschecker retain the Affiliate of the Year Award.
400 industry professionals attended the awards at the exclusive Under The Bridge nightclub at Stamford Bridge and were given a Christmas welcome with snow, mulled wine and mince pies. Inside entertainment came in the form of a 138.com sponsored selfie competition – the entries of which can be seen here – and the Slots Million VR casino.
The evening, sponsored by OPTIMA, was hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen, thanks to sponsorship from BetOnBrazil, who announced the winners and highly commended entries in seven innovation award categories and seven overall award categories.
The innovation awards winners were chosen by a panel of 30 judges, most of whom are leading CEOs in the business, while the overall awards were voted for by people who attended SBC’s two conferences, Betting on Football and Betting on Sports, or who receive the daily Betting Bulletin from SBC News.
The evening also saw the launch of the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame, with Howard Chisholm of Chisholm Bookmakers, Carsten Koerl of Sportradar and FSB Technology chairman Mark Blandford inducted as inaugural members.
The night ended with a set from Kellie Acreman, voted one of the world’s sexiest DJs, sponsored by EnergyBet.
SBC managing director Andrew McCarron said: ““Congratulations to Bet365 on winning Best Bookmaker again and all our winners. Thanks to everyone who made it to our Awards ceremony with a difference. And particular thanks to our sponsors OPTIMA, LeoVegas, Ganapati plc, Oddslife, InPlay Sports Data, BetBrain, Digital Fuel, SlotsMillion, Sportito, BetonBrazil, BetConstruct, Vermantia, 138.com, SBTech, Sportradar, Energybet, Mr Green and Golden Race.”
Winners of the SBC Awards 2016:
Bookmaker of the Year – Sponsored by Oddslife
Bet365 – Winner
Sky Bet – Highly Commended
Unibet
Pinnacle
10bet
Affiliate of the Year – Sponsored by 138.com
Oddschecker – Winner
Bettingexpert – Highly Commended
The FlashScore Network
At The Races
Superscommesse
Rising Star in Sports Betting – Sponsored by Golden Race
EnergyBet – Winner
BetOnBrazil – Highly Commended
LeoVegas Sports
Mr Green
Tipbet
Football Bookmaker of the Year – Sponsored by InPlay Sports Data
SkyBet – Winner
Pinnacle – Highly Commended
Unibet
10Bet
138.com
VBet
Football Affiliate of the Year – Sponsored by EnergyBet
BetBrain – Winner
Footballtips.com – Highly Commended
Free Super Tips
Bookmakers Review
Weekend Football
Esports Bookmaker of the Year – Sponsored by Betradar
Pinnacle – Winner
SkyBet – Highly Commended
Unikrn
Danske Spil
Vitalbet
Marketing Campaign of the Year – Sponsored by Vermantia
LeoVegas – LeoVegas Sports launch – Winner
Marathonbet – Non-League Challenge – Highly Commended
SkyBet – Making Betting Better
Ladbrokes – Betstation rebranding
Unibet – Unibet Affiliates
Innovation in Football Betting – Best Football Betting Product
BetBright – Winner
TXODDS – Highly Commended
SBTech
Betgenius
BetBrain 4 Business
Colossus Bets
Innovation in Sports Betting – Best Sports Betting Product – Sponsored by Mr Green
BetConstruct – Winner
Metric Gaming – Highly Commended
ArenaCube
Openbet
Betradar
FSBTech
Innovation in Live Betting – Best Live Betting Product
Bet365 – Winner
SBTech – Highly Commended
InPlay Sports Data
Commologic
Metric Gaming
Optima
Innovation in Virtual Sports – Best New Virtual Sports Product
Golden Race – Winner
Vermantia
Inspired Gaming
VSoftCo
Betradar
SIS
Innovation in Fantasy Sports – Best Fantasy Sports Product
Oulala Games – Winner
Premier Punt – Highly Commended
Mondogoal.com
Brazil’s Fantasy Football
Sportito ASAP Italia
RunLastMan
Innovation in Affiliation – Best New Affiliate Product – Sponsored by LeoVegas
Better Collective – Winner
Bet IT Best – Highly Commended
Betcade
Fresh8 Gaming
At The Races
WantMyBet
Innovation in Retail Betting – Best Retail Betting Product
Optima – Winner
SIS – Highly Commended
Racing Post/BGT
Perform Group
Mediatech
BetConstruct
