The Spanish sports betting technology company Optima has been enjoying growing attention to its innovative retail betting products this year and was recognised in two categories at this week’s SBC Bookmaker of the Year award ceremony.
The company topped the list in the Innovation in Retail Betting – Best Retail Betting Product class, besting respected rivals like SIS, Perform Group and BetConstruct, and was among the finalists in the Innovation in Live Betting – Best Live Betting Product category, again in some impressive company that included winner Bet365 and SB Tech.
Optima’s CEO, Jacob Curciel said he was delighted with the awards, which he said reflected the hard work and expert creative participation of the entire Optima team. He went on to compliment suppliers and Optima clients who had believed in the company and trusted it and its products to improve their businesses.
“They all have betting blood running through their veins,” he said, adding that his customers’ extensive industry and operational knowledge had given Optima opportunities to work in diverse markets, adapting its offering in order to localise and meet client requirements.
The SBC Bookmaker of the Year awards night was attended by around 400 industry people, who gathered at the Under The Bridge nightclub at Stamford Bridge and were given a Christmas welcome with snow, mulled wine and mince pies.
The evening was hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen, who announced the winners and highly commended entries in seven innovation award categories and seven overall award categories.
The awards are decided by an independent panel of 30 industry professionals.
For the third year running Bet365 received the Bookmaker of the Year award despite tough competition from Unibet, Sky Bet, Pinnacle and 10bet; the company also won the Best Live Betting Product.
Skybet won the Best Football Bookmaker Award, and was highly commended in two other categories.
The evening also saw the launch of the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame, with Howard Chisholm of Chisholm Bookmakers, Carsten Koerl of Sportradar and FSB Technology chairman Mark Blandford inducted as inaugural members.
SBC managing director Kellie Acreman ended the evening by congratulating all the winners and thanking sponsors Optima, LeoVegas, Ganapati plc, Oddslife, InPlay Sports Data, BetBrain, Digital Fuel, SlotsMillion, Sportito, BetonBrazil, BetConstruct, Vermantia, 138.com, SBTech, Sportradar, Energybet, Mr Green and Golden Race.
See the full awards list at: