PokerStars and Unibet walked away with some of the top honors at the recent 8th International Gaming Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London.
It’s a little far fetched to say that 2014 was annus horribilis for PokerStars. After all, they were subject to the most exciting and interesting iGaming takeover in recent times. But they lost some customer love; of that there is no doubt. This is what makes winning awards so much sweeter.
The 8th International Gaming Awards were held at the Savoy Hotel in London. There was music, dance, champagne and trumpets. The fanfare blew for PokerStars as they picked up the award for Online Poker Operator of the Year. It was the third successive year that the largest online poker room in the world had picked up the award.
‘We are Poker’
I guess you are.
The only other two previous winners of this award have been partypoker (2012) and PKR (2010 & 2011).
PokerStars also had its manicured nails in various other pearl soaked oysters. Rational Group picked up the award for Socially Responsible Operator of the Year Online, and two casinos that contain PokerStars branded poker rooms also won top awards: The City of Dreams in Manila won the Casino/Integrated Resort of the Year award, and The Hippodrome won the Casino Operator of the Year Europe award.
In Nov 2014, PokerStars also picked up the Best Poker Operator and Mobile Poker Operator accolades at the eGaming Review awards.
It was also a good showing for Unibet. And why shouldn’t it have been? The online gambling operator recently saw full year revenue rise 16% to £312m. Sports betting accounted for 39% of this growth and perhaps that’s why they won the Online Sportsbook Operator of the Year for the second successive year. They also picked up the award for In-Play Sports Operator of the Year.
Once again the iGaming sector had charity at the forefront of their interests. Charity auctions raised funds for Care International, Children with Leukemia, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Responsible Gambling Trust
Here is the full roster of winners:
Casino/Integrated Resort of the Year – City of Dreams – Manila
Casino Operator of the Year Americas – Wynn Las Vegas
Casino Operator of the Year Asia/Australia – Galaxy Entertainment
Casino Operator of the Year Europe – Hippodrome Casino
Casino VIP Room of the Year – Galaxy Macau
Casino Equipment Supplied – TCS John Huxley
Corporate Services Supplier of the Year – Optimal Payment
IGaming Software Supplier – Playtech
Innovator of the Year – Bet Construct
In-Play Sports Operator of the Year – Unibet
Lottery Operator of the Year – Scientific Games
Mobile Operator of the Year – 7Red
Mobile Product of the Year – Play’n Go
Online Bingo Operator of the Year – Mecca Bingo
Online Casino Operator of the Year – Mr Green
Online Gaming Operator of the Year – Cherry Casino
Online Poker Operator of the Year – PokerStars
Online Sportsbook Operator of the Year – Unibet
Payment Solutions Provider Company of the Year – EMP Corp
Socially Responsible Land Operator of the Year – Rank Group
Socially Responsible Operator of the Year Online – Rational Group
Slot Provider/Supplier Product of the Year – Net Entertainment
Slots Operator of the Year (Online) – Leo Vegas
Technology Provider/Supplier of the Year – SafeCharge
