Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Announces Winners for 8th Annual EKG Slot Awards Show
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Announces Winners for 8th Annual EKG Slot Awards Show
Event held on February 26th at the Palms Casino Resort of Las Vegas
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, March 3, 2026 — Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) is proud to announce the individual category winners for the 8th Annual EKG Slot Awards. This event was produced by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC and is designed to recognize excellence in slot machine game development within the land-based casino gaming industry, iGaming and social casino sector. All category winners for the 2025 calendar year were announced last Thursday, February 26th at the Palms Casino Resort of Las Vegas.
“On behalf of everyone at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, I would like to congratulate all of the individual award winners, as well as this year’s Hall of Fame Class,” said Todd Eilers, Principal at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC. “I would also like to thank our Board of Advisors, official voters, VIPs, and our event sponsors. It was an amazing night celebrating the industry’s top games and people.”
The land-based category winners for the 8th annual EKG Slot Awards were determined by the official voting from over 120 qualified slot directors representing over 320 casinos across the U.S. and Canadian markets and representing roughly 330,000 total slot machines. For the iGaming and Social Casino segments, winners were determined by voting from a distinguished panel of industry experts. A complete listing of the winners for the 8th annual EKG Slot Awards is provided below.
Land-based Awards
Top Performing NEW Core Video Game
- Hi-Score – Alarm On The Farm, Everi
- Super Hot Flaming Pots – Mr Lee, Light & Wonder
- Crazy Stuffed Coins – Goat, Konami
- Railroad Riches – Outlaw, Sega Sammy
- Fortune Frenzy – Festival Frenzy, AGS
- Wolf Run – Wild Moon, IGT
- Five Fortunes – Panda, Ainsworth
- Devils Lock – Slice N Dice, Bluberi
- Boost Blast – Dynamite Daisy, Incredible Technologies
- Cash Master Blaster – Treasure Hunt, Aruze
- Spooky Link – Yo Yeti, Aristocrat
- Legendary Sword – Avalon, Zitro
- Wild Temple – Panda, Gaming Arts
Top Performing NEW Core Mechanical Reel Game
- Smokin Hot Rubies, Everi
- Blazing 777 Triple Double Jackpot Wild – Nudging Stacks, Light & Wonder
- Top Notch – Clover, Everi
- Flaming Reels, AGS
- Jackpot Party – Make Some Noise, Light & Wonder
- Double Chilia Mania Extremo, IGT
- 5x 3x 2x Strike Deluxe, IGT
- Diamond Nudge, AGS
Top Performing NEW Premium Game
- Neons Bonus Blast – Geodia, Ainsworth
- Phoenix Link – Queen Chiu, Aristocrat
- Cash Express Legend – Buffalo, Aristocrat
- Honey Bomb, Bluberi
- Huff N Even More Puff Grand, Light & Wonder
- Ultimate Fire Link Triple Nova – Desert Nights, Light & Wonder
- Magic Treasures Gold – Emperor, IGT
- Lion Cash – Princess Pingyang, AGS
- Tiger & Dragon Super Bonus, IGT
- Bingo Frenzy Stampede Shark, Konami
Top Performing NEW Core Cabinet
-
- Baron Upright, Aristocrat
- Baron Portrait, Aristocrat
- Spectra SL75+, AGS
- Spectra SL49+, AGS
- Prism Skybox, Incredible Technologies
- Concept Prime, Zitro
- Muso Summit, Aruze
- Cosmic Upright, Light & Wonder
- Diamond RS Wheel, IGT
- Rise 55, IGT
- Revel, AGS
- Mod Ex J55, Gaming Arts/Merkur
- Player Classic Spin, Everi
Top Performing NEW Premium Cabinet
-
- Wheel of Fortune Trio, IGT
- Baron Upright, Aristocrat
- Spectra SL75+, AGS
- Spectra SL49+, AGS
- Baron Portrait, Aristocrat
- Rise 55, IGT
- Cosmic Upright, Light & Wonder
- Dynasty Luna, Everi
- Landmark 7000 Transparent Digital Wheel, Light & Wonder
- Diamond RS Wheel, IGT
Top Performing 3rd Party IP Branded Game
-
- Wheel of Fortune – Trio – Cash Link , IGT
- Monopoly Express Beijing Railroad, Light & Wonder
- Casper Triple Fright, Everi
- Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody, IGT
- Kong Skull Island, Light & Wonder
- House of the Dragon, Aristocrat
- NFL Touchdown Link, Aristocrat
Top Performing Electronic Table Game (ETG) Supplier
-
- Interblock
- Light & Wonder
- IGT
- Gaming Arts
- Alfastreet
Top Performing NEW Video Poker/Keno Game
-
- Five Card Plus Two Poker, IGT
- Wheel of Fortune Poker, IGT
- Major Multipliers Poker, IGT
- Wild Wild Wild Poker, IGT
- Winners World, Aristocrat
Top Performing NEW Game from an Emerging Supplier
-
- Legendary Sword – Avalon, Zitro
- Super Burst – Bouncing Lions, Sega Sammy
- Wild Temple – Panda, Gaming Arts
- Outback Adventure, Velvix
Top Performing Game – EMEA
-
- Money Gong – Emperor, IGT
- Bell Link 2, Euro Games Technology
- Wu Jin Pen – Panda, Light & Wonder
- Clash Link, Merkur
- Devils Link, Zitro
- Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Blast – Blue Treasures, Aristocrat
- Xtension Link 3, Novomatic
- Clover Link Elements, Apex
- Lian Lian Fa – Fortune Peach, Konami
- Triple Treasure Pot – Heavenly Wealth, Aruze
Top Performing Game – Latin America
-
- Mo Mo Mo Mummy – Midnight Treasures, Aristocrat
- Huff N Even More Puff, Light & Wonder
- King Fu Frog, Zitro
- Fruits General, Euro Games Technology
- Rising Rockets Emperor, IGT
- Triple Coin Treasures – Reign of Anubis, AGS
- Link Overdrive, Merkur
- San Fa Tiger, Ainsworth
- Superia Cash Connection 2, Novomatic
- Firestorm Lion, Aruze
- Lucky Honeycomb – Fortune Pots, Konami
- Bomb Crush, Dreidel
- Xing Fu Fortune Money Trees, FBM
Most Innovative Land-Based Game
-
- Hi-Score – Alarm on the Farm, Everi
- Wheel of Fortune – Trio – Cash Link – Big Money, IGT
- Wizard of Oz – I’ll Get You My Pretty, Light & Wonder
- Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Ignite – Red Prosperity, Aristocrat
- Triple Troves – Reigning Rhino, Ainsworth
- Fortune Frenzy – Festival Frenzy, AGS
- Money in the Bank Bacon Blvd, Konami
- Wild Temple – Panda, Gaming Arts
- Boost Blast – Dynamite Daisy, Incredible Technologies
- Devils Lock – Slice N Dice, Bluberi
- Legendary Sword, Zitro
Most Improved Supplier – Core
-
- All Suppliers considered – WINNER – AGS
Most Improved Supplier – Premium
-
- All Suppliers considered – WINNER – Light & Wonder
Best Overall Supplier of Slot Content
-
- All Suppliers considered – WINNER – Aristocrat
Social Casino Awards
- Social Slots Game of The Year
- 88 Fortunes – SciPlay (Light & Wonder)
- Cash Rally – Bole Games (Netmarble)
- Lightning Link Casino – Product Madness (Aristocrat)
- Mighty Fu Casino – Product Madness (Aristocrat)
- Quick Hit Casino – SciPlay (Light & Wonder)
- Retail-Branded Social Casino of The Year
- Bally Play – Bally’s Corporation & Ruby Seven Studios
- FoxPlay Casino – Foxwoods Resort Casino & Ruby Seven Studios
- Hard Rock Neverland Casino – Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment
- Stardust Social – Boyd Gaming
- STN Play by Station Casinos – Red Rock Resorts & GAN
Social Casino Operator of The Year
- IGS
- KamaGames
- Product Madness
- SciPlay
- Vertex Games
iGaming Awards (Real-Money Online Gaming)
Top Performing NEW Online Slot Game
-
- 7s Fire Blitz Hot Stepper, White Hat Studios
- Mo Mummy Mighty Pyramid, Aristocrat
- Huff N Even More Puff, Light & Wonder
- Straight Cash, AGS
- Bigger Piggy Bank, Inspired
- 3 Hot Chilli Peppers, 1×2 Network
- Gates of Olympus Super Scatter, Pragmatic Play
- Diamond Cash Mighty Elephant Win Ways, Greentube
- Megajackpots Cash Eruption, IGT
- 333 Boom Banks Power Combo, Games Global
Top Performing NEW Online Table Game
-
- 10c Roulette, Aristocrat
- Go Craps, Play’n GO
- Casino Hold Em, Pragmatic Play
- Jinzi Roulette, Everi
- Blackjack Single Deck, AGS
Top Performing NEW Online Live Casino Game
-
- Family Feud Live, Playtech
- Fortune Roulette, Pragmatic Play
- Race Track, Evolution
- Red Door Roulette, Evolution
- Money Time Live, Pragmatic Play
Most Innovative Online Game
-
- Dolla Dolla Bill, 1×2 Network
- Dolphin Thunder Ways, Light and Wonder
- Almighty Pegasus Connect and Collect, Bragg Gaming Group
- Jack Hammer 4 Chasing the Dragon, Evolution
- Deco Diamonds Elite, Games Global
- Wolf It Up Again, Inspired
- 7s Fire Blitz Power 5 Jackpot Royale Express, White Hat Studios
- Atlantis 10k Ways, Reel Play
Best Overall Supplier of Online Content
-
- All Suppliers considered – WINNER – White Hat Studios
Most Improved Supplier of Online Content
- All Suppliers considered – WINNER – Aristocrat
Top Performing Omni-Channel Slot Game (Retail & Online)
- Huff N Even More Puff, Light & Wonder
- Mystery of the Lamp Enchanted Palace, IGT
- Rakin Bacon Jackpots Bonus Board, AGS
- Gold Standard Jackpots, Everi
- Buffalo and Friends, Aristocrat
- Dragons Law Fortune Bags, Konami
- Triple Troves Rhino, Ainsworth
- Mega Money Catch Multipliers Jackpots Extra Picks, Incredible Technologies
Hall of Fame
The EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame Inductees to be announced in the coming weeks.
- Hall of Fame Inductee – Game Development
- Dan Marks – 2026
- Hall of Fame Inductee – Slot Operations
- Bruce Rowe – 2026
The EKG Slot Awards Advisory Board
Todd Eilers – Principal at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming
Rick Eckert – Managing Director – Game Performance & Analytics at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming
Skyelar Perkins – Corporate Senior Director of Slot Operations for the Choctaw Casinos
Daron Dorsey – Executive Director, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM)
Ron Nesbitt – Executive VP of Gaming at Wind Creek Hospitality
Mike Gatten – Senior Vice President Slot Strategy – MGM Resorts International
Gavin Issacs – Chairman at Games Global
Debra Nutton – Executive Coach and Previous EVP of Casino Operations at Wynn Las Vegas
Troy Hall – Sr. Director of Slot Optimization & Strategy for Gaming Analytics
Chris Colwell – VP of Gaming Analytics and Strategy at Boyd Gaming
Frank Legato – Editor of Global Gaming Business Magazine
Dan Ingster – VP of Gaming Operations at Seminole Hard Rock Support Services
Brett Nowak – Founder & CEO of Liquid & Grit
Lloyd Melnick – GM Chumba Casino at VGW
Adam Krejcik – Principal at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming
Matt Kaufman – Managing Director of Digital & Interactive Gaming at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC
Jeet Niyogi – Game/App Marking Executive, Growth Advisor and Investor at multiple companies.
David Jumper – Managing Partner at Hyper Digital Partners
Dan Cherry – Vice President of Gaming Operations at Bally’s Corporation
Thank you to our Sponsors –
Platinum Sponsor
Cocktail Reception
After Party
Hall of Fame
Silver
Single Award Sponsors
Media Sponsor
About Eilers & Krejcik Gaming:
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC is a boutique market research and consulting firm focused on servicing the gaming equipment, interactive gaming, and sports betting sectors within the global gaming industry. Our products and services primarily include market research, company research, and consulting and advisory services designed specifically for land based & online casino operators, equipment & technology suppliers, social gaming operators & suppliers, gaming regulators, and institutional investors. Additional information regarding our research products and advisory services can be obtained by calling Todd Eilers at (949) 887-7726, or visiting our website at www.ekgamingllc.com.
