EGR Italy Awards 2026: Sisal Triumphs at Rome Gala

The festive atmosphere at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel on October 21, 2026, marked a significant milestone for the European gambling industry. The EGR Italy Awards 2026 brought together the sector's elite to honor outstanding achievements in innovation, player protection, and market growth. It was an evening of big names, where one company in particular cemented its dominance in the Italian market. Sisal beat out strong competition to take home the most important trophies of the night.

The jury, whose selection process was overseen by the auditing firm Deloitte, emphasized the high quality of the submissions. In a market environment characterized by strict advertising bans and high regulatory hurdles, the winners demonstrated how technological finesse and a clear focus on the customer can still achieve double-digit growth rates. Sisal was praised not only for its sheer scale but also for its growth across various vertical sectors.

Numbers and facts

Sisal secured a total of four major awards, including the coveted title of Operator of the Year. Innovations such as My Combo and Sisal Tipster were particularly highlighted, helping the company win in the Casino Operator and Sports Betting Operator categories as well. Additionally, Sisal received the new Operator Performance Award, presented in cooperation with H2 Capital. In the affiliate sector, Hub Affiliations was the big winner, being named both Affiliate of the Year and Casino Affiliate.

Another significant moment was the presentation of the Individual Achievement Award to Francesco Maddalena, CEO of Hub Affiliations. The jury honored his deep market expertise and leadership. Lottomatica was also recognized with a special award for its outstanding contribution to the Italian market. Among suppliers, there were also clear winners: Evolution won in the Casino Content Supplier category, while Pragmatic Play was named Software Supplier of the Year.

"Sisal emerged as a dominant force at the event, securing the coveted title of Operator of the Year after presenting the strongest all-round submission characterized by market-leading scale and multi-vertical growth." - Official EGR Jury statement

Background

The EGR Italy Awards are considered the Oscars of the Italian gambling world. Italy is the second-largest market in Europe after the UK and often serves as a testing ground for new regulations. The fact that companies like Sportradar won twice, once as Sports Betting Supplier and once as Compliance and KYC Partner, shows where the industry's priorities lie. Security and identity verification are no longer tedious duties but core components of the business model. Player protection was also not neglected: Betpoint was named Safer Gambling Operator, underlining the importance of evidence-based monitoring.

Technologically, the winners are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence. Mindway AI was recognized for the AI Development of the Year. Such systems help to identify problematic gaming behavior at an early stage, before financial damage occurs to the user. This is a trend seen throughout the European landscape and is particularly pushed in Italy by strict government requirements.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, such international awards are an important indicator of brand reliability. Many of the winners, such as PokerStars or Evolution, are also active in Germany and hold licenses from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). When a provider is recognized in Italy for its player protection or customer service (such as E-Play24), it allows conclusions to be drawn about internal quality standards that are often consistent across borders.

In Germany, very specific rules have been in place since the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). These include the cross-operator deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month and strict monitoring via the LUGAS system. The stake limit of 1 euro per spin on virtual slots is a German peculiarity that does not exist in Italy. Nevertheless, the success of Sisal and Lottomatica shows that regulated markets focusing on player protection are more stable in the long term than unregulated offers from overseas.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German GGL-licensed casinos face stiff competition from the black market. The innovations honored in Italy could serve as a blueprint for the German market. For example, tombola's success in the Innovation in Casino category with the Smorfia concept shows how local cultural characteristics can be used to legally engage players. German operators must find similar ways to remain attractive within the tight legal framework.

Awards for compliance partners like Sportradar also illustrate that the technical implementation of KYC (Know Your Customer) processes must function more and more smoothly. For casinos on the GGL whitelist, it is essential that identity verification does not become an obstacle but is perceived as a security feature. Only through this professionalism can the legal market compete against providers from Malta or Curacao, which often apply less stringent standards.