ELA Games has picked up three nominations at the SBC Awards 2026, giving the young slot studio another strong moment in the spotlight.
The company has been shortlisted in three supplier categories: Rising Star in Casino Innovation / Software, Casino / Slots Developer of the Year – Medium Organisation, and Innovation in Casino Entertainment.
For a studio founded in 2022, that is a pretty solid run. The nominations show how quickly ELA Games has been growing in the online casino space, both through new business deals and through its approach to game design.
A big part of the Rising Star nomination comes from the company’s push across Europe. ELA Games says it now works with more than 150 partners, including operators and aggregators. Its games have been gaining more activity in regulated markets such as Romania, Greece, Sweden and Denmark.
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director at ELA Games, said the team is “deeply honoured” by the recognition. She added that being shortlisted in three different categories shows the studio’s dedication, flexibility and ability to perform across different parts of game creation.
The Developer of the Year nomination also points to how the studio works behind the scenes. ELA Games follows a “For Players, By Players” idea, giving its in-house artists and developers space to shape the games creatively. The company says its visuals are drawn from scratch, helping its titles stand out with a clear style.
Innovation is another major part of the story. Games and features such as Winpot and Shoot Happens are built to feel more interactive than standard slot releases. According to the studio, these mechanics have helped boost engagement and support performance for titles like Piñatas Festival and Joker Winpot.
Those two games have already helped ELA Games build awards momentum. Both were previously recognised in SBC Awards Europe shortlists, while Joker Winpot has been highlighted by the company as one of its key releases.
In a crowded slot market, that matters. Operators see new games every day, so studios need more than just a big release schedule. They need personality, sharp mechanics and strong commercial results.
The SBC Awards 2026 winners will be announced on 1 October 2026 at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, closing the SBC Summit 2026. The event is expected to welcome around 40,000 industry professionals.
