Introduction

For the third time in a row, SlotCatalog partners with the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards to celebrate the most prominent teams in the industry, who keep breaking new ground and pushing the boundaries of slot gaming. This year, we present seven different special data-driven awards nominations based on various analytical information, such as presence in casino lobbies, performance in different markets, and real-time statistics received from a broad network of our data partners.

SlotCatalog Awards have always been a one-of-a-kind milestone in iGaming, a truly unique accolade that is based solely on analytical data rather than subjective judgment. Traditionally, these awards have been determined by analyzing the presence of games in casino lobbies – an approach that offers a clear, quantifiable measure of a title's popularity and reach. This year, we have expanded our methodology also to include spin statistics sourced from our data partners, which allows us to capture a more detailed and dynamic picture of the gaming landscape, providing an even richer basis for our awards.

While the winners will be announced on Thursday 23rd May during the official ceremony, here’s a sneak peek at the shortlist of nominees across all SlotCatalog Awards categories:

SBC SlotCatalog Awards Shortlists

Like previous events, this year’s SlotCatalog Awards categories include Rookie of the Year where we celebrate emerging talent and honor the most promising industry newcomers, and Game Studio of the Year, split into three sub-categories to maintain healthy competition. These are Small, Medium, and Large, all based on the pure ‘size’ of the studios’ portfolios.

SlotCatalog’s Rookie of the Year

This category honors new studios established in the past two years, from 2022 or later, recognizing those who have achieved notable success early in their existence. This is, however, often possible only through major partnerships, which is why the featured nominees are mainly studios working under the wings of industry giants like Games Global or Bragg.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2023	11
	2022	27
	2022	9
	2022	12
	2022	52
	2022	39
	2022	46

Game Studio of the Year

Game Studio of the Year (Large / Medium / Small)

SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Large)

Recognizing the titans of the gaming world, this category honors large companies with expansive teams and portfolios boasting over 120 games. While previously we have counted major companies separately from their subsidiaries and exclusive studios, we’ve refined our methodology this year. Now, for instance, Evolution Gaming is accounted alongside NetEnt, Pragmatic Play together with Reel Kingdom, and Games Global is recognized as one with its whole network of over 30 development studios. This change allows us to more accurately reflect the collective achievements and market impact of these major players.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2001	340
	2006	193+
	1994	560+
	1997	384
	1999	699+
	2015	621+
	2010	143

SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Medium)

This category remains perhaps the most competitive, celebrating medium-sized studios with game portfolios ranging from 40 to 120 titles or more than 50 employees. This award spotlights those companies that do not have a significant volume of games yet but also demonstrate innovation and high quality in their offerings, reflecting their hard work and dedication. Due to such fierce competition, we have included ten nominees for this award category.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Employees	Games	Link
	2011	20	84
	2012	111	105
	2016	28	46
	2018	50	152
	2008	132	100
	2018	198	70
	1998	50	283
	2014	34	312
	2020	10+	56
	2018	150	15

SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Small)

Recognizing smaller studios with fewer than 40 games, this category is also especially competitive, as gaining recognition and making a name in the early stages of development is indeed challenging. Therefore, the nominees for the award are mostly studios that have access to wider distribution channels and marketing through partnerships with major companies, though, not to understate their merits.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2019	20
	2018	21
	2019	40
	2014	18
	2020	16
	2020	23
	2018	39

New Nominations CasinoBeats SlotCatalog Game Developer Awards

New Geo Nominations

This year, our SlotCatalog Awards feature another twist. For the first time, we introduce three new award categories based on geographic markets, celebrating outstanding game development across distinct regions. Despite producing content that performs exceptionally well across various markets, some developers have historically not made it to the winners' list. To address this, we present these nominations dedicated to specific geographical regions, ensuring that superior slot game development in every corner of the globe is acknowledged and celebrated. These include North America, Central Europe, and countries with developing markets – jurisdictions under the MGA and Curacao licenses.

SlotCatalog’s Best Game Development Company North America

Highlighting the rapid growth and importance of the North American market, this award evaluates companies based on their performance in licensed casinos across key jurisdictions. To determine the winners, we have analyzed the presence of the providers in licensed casinos operating under the regulations of New Jersey and Ontario.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2010	57
	1953	70
	1994	560+
	1995	319
	1990	314
	1997	54
	1999	699+

SlotCatalog’s Best Game Development Company Central Europe

Central Europe remains a pivotal market with regulated jurisdictions like Germany, Romania, Spain, the Czech Republic, and many others. This category celebrates true leaders of the industry, who are most popular in the region. The nominees for this award have been determined by analyzing their lobby presence in licensed casinos and, most importantly, the number of spins their games attract.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2010	288
	1950	55
	2001	340
	2008	155
	1998	480
	2005	243
	1980	161

SlotCatalog’s Best Game Studio in Development Countries

Targeting companies operating under MGA and Curacao licenses in regions like LATAM and the Middle East, this award acknowledges studios that perform the best in these markets and have the highest presence in local casino lobbies. We are also pleased to see several of our Data Partners among the nominees, reflecting their hard work and dedication to quality, which deserves recognition in these competitive environments.

Logo	Game Provider	Year	Games Q-ty	Link
	2015	92
	2012	199
	2012	172
	2020	60
	2020	79
	2015	145
	2012	175
	2018	113
	2014	584
	2011	584

Good luck to all the incredible SlotCatalog Awards nominees! Join us at the official ceremony at the Game Developer Awards where we will announce the winners live. Until now, don’t hesitate to drop your feedback and ideas in the comments section below !