Kaizen Gaming named Operator of the Year — Large at SBC Awards 2026 in Lisbon

Kaizen Gaming was crowned Operator of the Year – Large for a third consecutive year at the SBC Awards 2026 in Lisbon on 1 October 2026. The company, parent of the Betano brand, also took home the Sportsbook Operator of the Year award for a second year running.

Kaizen Gaming wins: operator of the year and sportsbook operator of the year

The SBC Awards ceremony took place at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on the final day of SBC Summit, and recognised Kaizen Gaming’s product, technology and commercial footprint across multiple regions. Judges awarded Kaizen the highest distinction — Operator of the Year – Large — citing its customer experience focus and expanding operations in Europe, the Americas and Africa. The sportsbook accolade explicitly acknowledged Betano as a continuously enhanced platform and a visible global brand.

How Kaizen framed the win and its strategic priorities

Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer of Kaizen Gaming, framed the double victory as a validation of the company’s operational model and team. He said the firm does not take the recognition for granted and pledged continued improvement.

"Being named Operator of the Year for a third consecutive year might start feeling like a habit, but I can guarantee that we don’t take things for granted, and we are as proud and honoured as the first time we received this distinction," Julio Iglesias Hernando said.

Kaizen’s public materials and the SBC panel highlighted three operational pillars: technology, innovation and people. The company points to those pillars when explaining how it delivers products that entertain millions of customers while maintaining responsible gaming safeguards.

Betano’s sponsorships and the FIFA World Cup 2026 role

The judges pointed to Betano’s high-profile sports partnerships as part of the sportsbook award rationale. In 2026 Betano served as an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The brand also announced new landmark partnerships with Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and the Argentine National Football Team during the year.

These additions sit alongside an existing portfolio that includes the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, FC Bayern München, Club Atlético River Plate, Aston Villa F.C. and Portugal’s “Big Three.” Kaizen and Betano said they use club and federation relationships, Paralympic organisations and NGOs to link sport to social inclusion initiatives.

The SBC Awards context and ceremony details

Now in its thirteenth year, the SBC Awards celebrate achievements across operators, affiliates and suppliers. The 2026 ceremony drew industry audiences at the SBC Summit, where organisers reported over 40,000 industry professionals and 800 exhibitors present across the event. The awards evening was hosted by John Terry and Kirsty Gallacher.

What the recognition means for operators and suppliers

For operators, Kaizen’s repeat success signals continued emphasis on brand-building via sports sponsorship and product evolution. For B2B suppliers and platform vendors, the result reinforces demand for integrated technology that supports both sportsbook product feature development and the compliance and responsible gaming controls operators require.

Vendors that can support end-to-end sportsbook feature delivery and partner-activation mechanics are likely to attract interest from operators with global ambitions. Kaizen’s cited priorities — product, technology and people — map back to vendor capabilities in platform engineering, UX and data-driven personalisation.

Where Kaizen operates and its public positioning on responsibility

Kaizen Gaming is described by organisers as one of the world’s leading GameTech companies and the owner of the Betano premium online sports betting and gaming brand. The company has public operations across Europe, the Americas and Africa, and the SBC commentary underlined Kaizen’s insistence on coupling business growth with a social responsibility framework designed to create positive impact in local communities.

The company says responsible gaming standards are embedded in product development and customer journeys. On the commercial side, visible sports partnerships have been used both for brand recognition and for outreach tied to inclusion programmes with athletic clubs and NGOs.

Takeaways for dealmakers and commercial teams

The awards give a transactional read across. Repeat operator-level recognition supports Kaizen’s position when negotiating commercial deals, co-marketing agreements and sponsorship renewals. It also strengthens the company’s profile when recruiting talent for technology and product roles in new markets.

Commercial teams evaluating partnership targets should note two practical signals from Kaizen’s profile: the company is investing in high-visibility sponsorships tied to global tournaments such as FIFA World Cup 2026, and it emphasises platform development that supports continuous sportsbook feature rollouts.

Observations on the SBC Awards and sector visibility

The SBC Awards continue to function as a commercial showcase as well as an industry accolade. The MEO Arena ceremony, combined with the scale of SBC Summit attendance, underlines the event’s role in spotlighting market leaders and emerging deals across payments, marketing, platforms and data.

Kaizen’s double award in Lisbon — Operator of the Year – Large and Sportsbook Operator of the Year — is a concrete marker of sustained commercial and product execution in a competitive market.