Colombo closes out SPiCE South Asia 2026 with big wins and bigger signals

By Nishel Fernando 

The 7th Annual SPiCE South Asia 2026 concluded in Colombo this week, bringing together regional and global gaming industry leaders for a series of high-level discussions, networking engagements, and an awards ceremony recognising top performers shaping South Asia’s evolving gaming and entertainment landscape.

The event opened on Monday with the SP’iCE’ Breaker Welcoming Evening and the SPiCE South Asia Eventus Awards Ceremony, recognizing key players shaping the region’s gaming and entertainment landscape.

​The Eventus Awards Ceremony acknowledged pioneers redefining the digital infrastructure of the South Asian market, setting benchmarks for leadership, market influence, and technological advancement. In the Operator of the Year category, Casino Marina International emerged victorious against a shortlist that included Bally’s Casino Colombo, Bellagio Colombo, BETSS, Casino Marina Colombo, City of Dreams Sri Lanka, and Majestic Pride Lanka. Similarly, Inplay Matrix secured the Technology Provider of the Year Award, standing out among fellow nominees BetConstruct, Blask, Gaia Information Technology, DATA.BET, and Pronet Gaming.

​In the platform and innovation categories, BetConstruct AI secured the Best Platform Provider Award. Meanwhile, K36 was named the winner of the Best B2B Digital Platform Award, triumphing over a competitive shortlist that included BetConstruct, Digitain, Inplay Matrix, QTech Games, and SA Gaming. Highlighting targeted advancements in gaming technology, QTech Games captured the Innovation of the Year Award, competing alongside Choice Gaming, CreedRoomz, Imagine Live, DSTGAMING, and Netwallet.

​Further celebrating software and partnership excellence, DSTGAMING took home the Developer of the Year Award, edging out Choice Gaming. The Affiliate Platform of the Year Award went to Dhanu Global Affiliate Agency, bypassing nominees 1win Partners, Affilka by SOFTSWISS, MelBet Partners Affiliates, Royal Partners, and Wynta.

​Recognizing specialized professional services within the sector, Mahesh Madan Bhat, Founder of MMB Legal, was named Legal Adviser of the Year. 

Additional accolades, including the SPiCE South Asia Speaker of the Year, will be announced at the close of the event on March 25.

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana