BetBlocker received the prestigious Jim Wuelfing Annual Award for Prevention at this year’s National Council on Problem Gambling Awards on Friday the 19^th of July, which was received by the charity’s Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, Pedro Romero.

The award, which was named after a famed trainer and advocate for the prevention of problem gambling in the United States, recognises people or organisations who have advocated for the inclusion of prevention strategies in the spectrum of problem gambling services, developed effective prevention programs and who have worked to help problem gambling prevention programs reached underserved and at-risk groups.

This award comes off of the back of years of work by the BetBlocker team to deliver an effect and free blocking software that can be used anonymously by anyone, anywhere in the world. As well as a traditional blocking software product, intended for use after a crisis, BetBlocker is the only blocking software to offer a Calendaring feature, allowing users to plan ahead and set the block to switch on during known periods of vulnerability.

Alongside these features, BetBlocker has translated its services into 6 non-English languages with many more to come, to help minority communities access support that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

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Founder of the charity, Duncan Garvie, had this to say about the award: “Recognition of BetBlocker’s work within the problem gambling space by the NCPG, one of the most influential voices within the sector, is amongst the highest possible accolades our organisation could receive.

I speak for the entire BetBlocker team when I say how deeply honoured we are to receive this award.”

Pedro Romero added the following: “It was incredibly humbling at the NCPG conference this year to speak to so many of the harm minimisation organisation in the USA that are already referring there service users to BetBlocker. Running an anonymous service and we don’t interact with our used frequently it’s easy to lose sight of just how many people are positively impacted by the support we offer.”

Zitro is proud to announce its recent win of the EKG Top Performing Game – Latin America award for Epic Kingdom. This prestigious recognition reaffirms Zitro’s position as key player in the Latin American gaming scene, further corroborated by the LatAm Game Performance Report 2024 by Eilers & Krejcik – Fantini, which positioned Epic Kingdom as the number-one performing game in the region.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this award and see Epic Kingdom recognized as the number-one performing game in Latin America,” the founder of Zitro, Johnny Viveiros Ortiz, said. “This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team and it reinforces our commitment to developing innovative and engaging games that resonate with players across the region. I also want to express my gratitude to all our clients in Latin America, who support us not only by purchasing our products but also with their affection, knowing that we stand by them.”

Zitro’s remarkable success in Latin America can be attributed to several key factors including the consistent high quality and appeal of Zitro’s game offerings, which have contributed significantly to its long-standing positive reputation. This, coupled with its dedication to building strong relationships with its clients in Latin America, has positioned Zitro as a trusted leader in the region’s gaming market. This dedication is further underscored by the recent reception of the EKG Top Performing Game award, which solidifies the company’s position as the leading supplier in the market.

SBC Summit North America is gearing up for another edition, set to gather 5,000 senior decision-makers for a dynamic event filled with learning, networking and business opportunities.

The leading iGaming and sports betting event in North America will return to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey (May 8-9). Preceding the core event, a pre-day conference (May 7) will unfold in New York City and showcase the well-regarded Player Protection Symposium and Compliance & Leadership conferences as well as the newly-established Earnings+More: Capital Markets Forum, organized in collaboration with +More Media.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC said: “The goal is to leverage the momentum we gained last year when we gathered the key operators, affiliates, suppliers, regulators, and media from the North American region. We anticipate a 66% surge in delegate numbers and are focused on attracting both industry newcomers and those who missed out on the opportunity to attend last year. The early numbers are promising, and the exhibition floor is approaching full capacity, even though we had added 15 extra booths this year to meet the demand.”

The exhibition floor is set to showcase a diverse lineup, with over 75 prominent companies taking the spotlight. Standout exhibitors include leading game providers like White Hat Gaming and Relax Gaming, alongside notable affiliates such as Better Collective, MediaTroopers, Spotlight Sports Group, and KeyAffiliates. Key payment providers like Trustly, PayNearMe, TransUnion, PXP Financial, and PayBrokers, operators like Betsson, risk management platforms like Kinectify, real-time content and data providers such as SportsDataIO and hosting providers like Internet Vikings will further enhance the comprehensive range of offerings, making the exhibition a must-visit for industry enthusiasts seeking the latest innovations.

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The conference, spanning five stages and featuring over 300 expert speakers, will showcase a diverse selection of tracks: Leaders, Sports Betting, iGaming, Affiliates & Marketing, Payments & Tech, and Compliance & Regulation.”

In terms of themes, the conference will delve into several crucial topics shaping the multifaceted nature of the industry, highlighting its intersection with technological advancements, regulatory considerations and the critical balance between innovation and responsibility. These include the recent trend of revising existing sports betting bills instead of introducing new ones, the strategic considerations for second movers within the saturated sector, the influential role of social media personalities, and the challenge of interpreting extensive big data to gain insights into customer behavior across diverse channels. Furthermore, discussions will center around the role of artificial intelligence in promoting responsible gaming practices, the ongoing expansion of iGaming in new states, the evolving dynamics of sports integrity, and the ongoing regulatory deliberations in regions such as California and Canada.

Some of the speakers that will grace the stage include Kim Barker Lee (EVP & Chief Legal Officer, Bally’s Corporation), David Denenberg (SVP, Global Media Distribution & Business Affairs, NBA), Matthew Sunderland (SVP of iGaming, Caesars Digital), Dave Rivers (SVP Marketing, PointsBet Canada), Sarah Brennan (Senior Director-Compliance, BetMGM), Justin Barrett (Treasurer, Eastern Shawnee Tribe), Noam Klivitzky (VP US Marketing, 888 Holdings), Jon Steinbrecher (Commissioner, Mid-American Conference), Michael Golub (Deputy Attorney General, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement), Catherine Meade (VP Community, Sustainability & Social Responsibility, OLG), Jacob Coin (Director of Public Affairs, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians) and more.

Alongside other notable event features, the SBC Awards North America* ceremony will be back on the final day, celebrating outstanding industry talent across various categories and verticals. Additionally, the third annual SBC First Pitch competition will be a key highlight, providing a platform for five industry startups to showcase their innovative ideas to a panel of judges specializing in investment and innovation. Another addition to this year’s roster will be the so-called Tribal Symposium—a series of conference panels dedicated to exploring the intricate landscape of tribal gaming. One session will focus on the regulatory roadblocks in California and another one offering advice on identifying and effectively addressing signs of human trafficking in land-based casinos.

In the evenings, attendees can seize the chance to network before the main event by attending the Pre-Registration & Networking Drinks at Slate NYC on May 7. Furthermore, they can shift discussions away from the exhibition floor to a more laid-back setting at the Official Networking Party and Sports Betting Hall of Fame on May 8, followed by the Official Closing Party on May 9.

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