Esports betting platform Thunderpick has been named the Presenting Partner and Official iGaming Partner of the 2026 Esports Awards.
The 12-month commercial agreement will see Thunderpick headline the annual industry gala, scheduled to take place in Miami on 17 November 2026, with the partnership extending through to 2027.
Additionally, digital media brand Hotspawn has been designated as Presenting Partner for the event’s business and competitive side-events: the PWR UP B2B Conference, the Lifetime Achievement Mixer, and the Esports Awards Invitational. Hotspawn will also serve as an official media partner for the ceremony.
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Under the terms of the deal, Thunderpick will hold presenting rights across key individual award categories, including Esports Play of the Month, Esports Play of the Year, and Streamer of the Year. The bookmaker will also present original content assets, including the Esports Play of the Month content series and the Origins Podcast, which highlights the careers of prominent professional players.
Public voting for the awards remains open until 10 November, featuring a “Turbo Week” double-weighted voting mechanic from 3 to 10 November.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Thunderpick as the Presenting Partner of the 2026 Esports Awards,” stated Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “This partnership goes far beyond the awards ceremony, with Thunderpick supporting key moments across our events, content, and business programming.”
Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick, added: “There’s so much happening outside of the games that deserves a bigger spotlight, and we’re excited to help bring those stories to life.”
The agreement highlights Thunderpick’s aggressive expansion across tier-one esports inventory. The operator recently announced the return of the Thunderpick World Championship (TWC) 2026 in Malta, a $1 million Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament produced in partnership with data platform GRID and Hotspawn. Through integrated event presentation and digital storytelling, Thunderpick continues to solidify its commercial presence at the intersection of regulated wagering, media production, and competitive gaming.
The sponsorship rollout follows recent corporate movements by event owner MEGA Advanced Ltd., the owner of Esports Awards, which appointed agency and media group GameSquare Holdings to support global commercial sales across its events. However, The Esports Radar could not confirm whether the deal was brokered by GameSquare or secured by MEGA directly. The Esports Radar has reached out to the parties involved for clarification. [Update 24 September 2026: parts have confirmed that this deal was not brokered by GameSquare Holdings]
In addition to Thunderpick and Hotspawn, other prominent partners of the Esports Awards include the Esports World Cup (EWC), organised by the Esports Foundation, and eyewear brand Oakley. The commercial expansion follows key executive movements at MEGA, which appointed Patrick Collins as Vice President of Growth in April to oversee its business development and scale the commercial footprint of its flagship properties.
