Malta has been a leading regulatory jurisdiction since the inception of online casino gaming. In keeping with its refurbished image, the Malta Gaming Authority has instituted industry awards in 2016. The third edition of the Malta Gaming Awards took place on the 27th of November at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali. Many leading names in the iGaming industry took home an elite prize across 28 categories. The awards were the main highlight of the SiGMA 2018 conference. One thousand of the most innovative influencers in the business gathered for a decadent night to celebrate the year’s achievements of online gaming.

The awards covered all aspects of online gaming, including payments, affiliates, media, legal and corporate responsibility. The greater interest was in the awards categories directly associated with the gaming. LeoVegas was the best online casino. Play n Go won the award for the best games supplier. Its recent titles like Street Magic, Gunslinger Reloaded and Dragon Maiden have been a big hit at online casinos. Bet365 was awarded the best iGaming brand. Betsoft was the best mobile provider. NetEnt was the best RNG casino provider. Microgaming was the best slots provider. With is strategy of independent but exclusive studios, Microgaming has been able to launch a large number and variety of slots.

The single most exciting award of the occasion went to Pragmatic Play. It was awarded the best slot game for Wolf Gold. The slot game transports players into the heart of the American desert, providing them with unique and innovative like Blazin’ Reels free spins and towering paid scatter symbols. Melissa Summerfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Pragmatic Play, said, “We are delighted to have won Best Slot Game at this year’s Malta Gaming Awards, and I want to congratulate the entire Pragmatic Play team on their hard work in helping to make this possible. Pragmatic Play’s portfolio contains more than 100 proven video slots.

There was more action that evening. The entertainment offered to the delegates was second to none. The highlight was a performance by the world-renowned tenor, Joseph Calleja. The evening ended with a unique art auction from Polish artist, Sylwia Pacura. The art work titled “Sophia meets Uma” went for an impressive €18,000. It was inspired by AI sensation Sophia, after her appearance at Malta Blockchain Summit. A special award was bestowed on the industry kingpin, Ivan Filletti, for his outstanding contribution to gaming.