The EMEA Global Gaming Awards are a comparatively young award ceremony. However, due to their strong focus on Europe, they are already one of the most prestigious events in the gaming industry. They took place for the second time at the end of January 2025, with many companies from the German market receiving awards. Who is doing particularly well? It may be worthwhile for players to take a closer look here.

When it comes to awards, many people first think of media events such as the Oscars, the MTV Video Music Awards or the German Television Awards. However, the gaming industry also has its own awards. And as in every industry, there are small, more internal awards that only really interest connoisseurs - and there are the really big trophies that provide exciting insights not only for insiders, but also for players. The EMEA Global Gaming Awards definitely belong to the second category.

On January 20, 2025, the time had come again: the coveted awards were presented for the second time at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via - and not just anywhere, but on the first day of the ICE trade fair. For those unfamiliar with ICE, it's where the "who's who" of the gaming business meets - one of the most important trade fairs in the world, where everything revolves around pioneering technologies, new trends and business deals.

But back to the prizes: What is particularly exciting for the German market is that this time around, a number of names that are also very well known here are at the top of the list. For example, PokerStars made it to third place in the "Online Casino of the Year" category with its "Vegas" offer (the first two ranks are unfortunately not available in Germany). Paysafe was named "Payment Solution of the Year". And when it comes to sports betting, Bet365 remains the measure of all things - the British brand took the title of "Online Sports Betting Operator of the Year".

Ultimately, these awards also signal a certain quality to us players and also highlight interesting trends. It could therefore be worth considering the offers of the award-winning brands that are active in Germany. Let's take a closer look.

What are the EMEA Global Gaming Awards and what makes them so important?

Imagine the glamorous world of award ceremonies meets the vibrant, innovation-driven gaming business - that's exactly what the EMEA Global Gaming Awards are. But what is behind this illustrious name - and why are they so important in the industry?

What does "EMEA" stand for?

"EMEA" is an acronym for "Europe, Middle East and Africa". This geographical designation summarizes the three regions to which the awards refer. Although they therefore have an international reach, they are not globally oriented. There are also special events under the Global Gaming Awards banner for the "Asia-Pacific" and "Americas" regions, but these only take place later in the year.

Who is behind the awards?

The Global Gaming Awards are organized by the trade magazine Gambling Insider and overseen by KPMG, one of the world's leading auditing firms. This combination gives the awards a high degree of authenticity and credibility.

How are the winners determined?

The award winners are selected by a jury made up of leading figures from the gaming industry. These include representatives from global brands such as Games Global, Play'n GO, LeoVegas, Yggdrasil, Betsson, Swintt, Pragmatic Solutions and many more.

Interesting: This year, SOFTSWISS and Delasport, which recently attracted attention due to negative headlines in connection with black market activities, are also part of the jury. Journalists from Bavarian Broadcasting suspected SOFTSWISS of having links to illegal online casinos and Delasport is at the center of the sensitive "Casino Papers", which reveal the explosive structures of illegal gaming platforms.

Who can be nominated?

The awards are open to companies that operate in the EMEA region and have achieved outstanding results in the past year: According to the official website. The categories cover a broad spectrum, from "Retail Operator of the Year" to "Executive of the Year", recognizing both operators and service providers.

Of course, not all categories are of interest to end consumers. For example, most people probably don't care who offers the best affiliate program for affiliates. And some of the award-winning sites are not even accessible from Germany because they do not have a license from the GGL. Where there are good conditions for deposits and withdrawals or which slot is considered particularly noteworthy, on the other hand, is likely to interest some (even if it's just to see their own experiences confirmed or refuted).

Why are the awards so important?

The EMEA Global Gaming Awards have quickly established themselves as one of the most important awards in the gaming industry. 2025 was only the second edition and the iGaming industry is already watching the awards ceremony with great interest. One reason for this is probably the strong focus on the European market, which plays a central role in the global gaming industry. Germany occupies a key position here, as gambling is particularly popular in this country. According to Statista, turnover in the German online gaming market is expected to grow from around 5.55 billion euros at present to an impressive 6.57 billion euros by 2029, not even including the huge stationary market, which the awards also take into account.

The EMEA Global Gaming Awards are a kind of indicator of success in the industry and at the same time a reflection of current trends and developments in the European gaming market, which can of course also be of interest to end consumers.

The winners of the EMEA Global Gaming Awards 2025: These winners are also relevant for German players

The list of award winners is long, but not every award is equally exciting for the German market. Anyone wondering which brand offers the best stationary sports betting in Romania (spoiler: Superbet), for example, will unfortunately not find what they are looking for here.

Instead, we take a look at the companies that are either active in Germany or have an increased interest in this market. Because, of course, winners whose offers cannot even be used in this country are of little use to us.

Best betting providers and online casinos

Retail Operator of the Year (Best stationary betting shops)

  • Third place: Tipico

First and second place are not represented in Germany, but Tipico took bronze. Another sign of the company's growth: it was recently announced that Tipico has taken over Admiral Austria.

Online Sports Betting Operator of the Year (Best Sports Betting Operator)

  • bet365 (1st place)
  • Betano (2nd place)

It's no surprise that Bet365 secured the title here - the British company has dominated the international sports betting market for years. And Betano, which secured silver, has also become a real global player.

Online Casino of the Year (Best Online Casino)

  • 3rd place for PokerStars Casino

First place went to BetMGM, which is currently taking off in Europe(more on this here). PokerStars, whose "Vegas" slot offering is also available in Germany, was at least able to secure third place. However, the jury probably assessed the international offer - the restrictions that apply in Germany are, as we know, not without their drawbacks. Nevertheless, a strong signal for the quality of the brand.

Best games (technology)

Online Casino Supplier of the Year (Best Games Provider)

  1. Pragmatic Play
  2. Evolution
  3. Spribe & Playtech (joint 3rd place)

These names are worth remembering - they deliver first-class games and are always good for innovation. Interesting fact for German players: Online table games from private providers such as Evolution or Playtech have been legal in Schleswig-Holstein since 2024.

Online Slot of the Year (Best online slot machine)

  1. Light & Wonder - Squid Game: One Lucky Day
  2. Greentube - Piggy Prizes Wish of Riches
  3. Relax Gaming - Ancient Tumble

Exciting titles that could potentially also be released in Germany. However, the release is likely to take a while due to local regulations.

Breakthrough Company of the Year

  • First place for Games Global (formerly Microgaming)

The name Microgaming is probably familiar to many players. The company is still one of the biggest in the business, even though it now operates under the name Games Global.

Payment methods and social responsibility

Payment Solution of the Year (Best Payment Service)

  1. Paysafe
  2. OKTO
  3. Trustly

Paysafe and Trustly remain a constant in payment transactions, while OKTO is slowly establishing itself. As recently as November, we reported that Interwetten had introduced cash-to-digital payments via OKTO.CASH, making it one of the first providers in Germany to do so.

Social Responsibility of the Year (Best Social Responsibility)

  • 3rd place for Kaizen Gaming (parent company of Betano)

Among other things, this is about responsible gaming - an area that is becoming increasingly important. However, other social commitment is also likely to be included, such as betting for charitable projects. Incidentally, Kaizen Gaming really cleaned up at the EGR Operator Awards 2024, where it went home with no fewer than 7 awards.

Not all of the winners of the Global Gaming Awards 2025 are directly active in this country. However, there is a certain trend. Many big names are involved in the German market - be it in sports betting, online casinos or payment solutions. No wonder, given the revenue opportunities. If you want to know which brands and technologies are currently setting the tone in the gaming industry (ultimately also for Germany), you can obtain relevant information from such award ceremonies. We will of course be happy to keep you up to date.

Source of the image: Screenshot from https://www.globalgamingawards.com/emea/2025/

Central text source: https://www.globalgamingawards.com/emea/2025/

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