Stars Group outshines rivals in 2018 Gambling Awards

Canada online games host collects bevy of 2018 gambling industry awards.

The most famous online gaming group in Canada, The Stars Group (formerly Amaya), showed off its superiority last week in London. The ICE Totally Gaming conference attracts anyone and everyone with a vested interest in the land-based and online gambling industry. It also sets the scene for a trio of major gambling industry awards.

The ExCel London played host to ICE and all three awards galas, including:

- 2018 Global Gaming Awards (GGA)
- 2018 International Gaming Awards (IGA)
- 2018 Gaming Intelligence Awards (GIA) + GIA Hot 50 of 2018

Canada Online Games Firm Takes 5

The Stars Group outshines the competition in 2018, collecting a total of 5 awards, plus 3 spots on the GIA’s Hot 50. The parent company of PokerStars, it’s little surprise that the company continues to collect trophies. But this year’s categories weren’t all typical takings for the Canadian gaming firm.

PokerStars earned the GGA Poker Operator of the Year Award, swiping the honor back from 2017 winner, PartyPoker. It was a celebratory moment for the company, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The company also took home the IGA award for 2018 Gaming Operator of the Year – Americas. That honor was bestowed upon Stars Group for its PokerStars NJ (New Jersey) platform. Again, a great honor, but no big surprise.

Over at the GIAs, The Stars Group scooped three awards, tying Scientific Games and Playtech for the most. This is where the company shined so brightly, earning the following titles:

2018 Poker Operator of the Year – PokerStars
2018 Casino Operator of the Year – PokerStars Casino
2018 Operator Innovation of the Year – Stars Rewards

PokerStars Casino Soars to Stardom

For more than a decade, PokerStars has been the top online poker room in the industry, by leaps and bounds. When the operator entered the online casino vertical a few years back, it was a slow start. Now, PokerStars Casino isn’t just a viable operation, but a proven, award-worthy entity.

The Stars Group has taken great strides to increase the viability of its casino offering. The company now employs a throng of the industry’s most respected software brands, including Microgaming, NetEnt, NextGen, PlayTech, and many others, with Evolution Gaming‘s elite Live Casino in the mix.

Stars Rewards Recognized for Best Innovation

The icing on the cake this year is Stars Group’s recognition for best Operator Innovation. This category is among the most diverse, as any new concept is worthy of notice. This year, the GIA judges felt the company’s new Stars Rewards customer loyalty program was the most notable innovation of all.

“I am proud to see the industry recognition of our company and particularly for our Stars Rewards customer loyalty program which we just launched last July,” said Stars Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi.

Stars Rewards “has quickly become popular with our customers as one of the most innovative loyalty programs in online gaming.”

Trio of Stars Group Execs make GIA Hot 50

The Gaming Intelligence Awards go one step further than most ceremonies, honoring the managerial staff members who work so hard to for each gaming company. This year, the Canada online games development firm saw three of their esteemed colleagues make the list.

Robin Chhabra – Chief Corporate Development Officer, The Stars Group
Jerry Bowskill – Chief Technology Officer, The Stars Group
David Carrion – Director of Poker Marketing, PokerStars

Ashkenazi was “delighted to see members of our senior management team on this year’s Hot 50”. The CEO lauded the team’s honors, “as it shows that people are watching for the potential innovation and inspiration that we can bring not only to our customers but to the industry as a whole.”