Johnny Ortiz, founder of gaming technology provider Zitro, has secured his fourth ‘Businessman of the Year’ award from AZAR Magazine. He’s the only figure in the sector to claim the honour four times. The achievement underscores Ortiz’s sustained influence on the global gaming supply landscape and Zitro’s trajectory as a force in slots and video bingo technology.

Industry Recognition Reflects Strategic Momentum

Presenting the award, AZAR Magazine editor Manolo Ortega praised Ortiz’s track record of innovation and market expansion. “We’re proud to present our most cherished award to Johnny Ortiz, for his talent, constant innovation, and larger-than-life personality,” Ortega said during the ceremony. “As I predicted years ago, I still believe he is destined for global leadership.”

For Ortiz, the recognition reflects broader team performance rather than individual accolade.

“I sincerely thank AZAR Magazine, and especially Manolo Ortega, for this recognition, which I receive with great honor,” he said. “I dedicate this award to the entire Zitro team, whose talent, dedication, and commitment allow us to keep raising the bar in our industry.”

Strong Month for Awards and Market Performance

The AZAR honour caps a notable March for Zitro. Earlier in the month, the company claimed the Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Award for Top-Performing Game in Latin America for the third consecutive year, this time for its Kung Fu Frog title. The game’s regional traction highlights Zitro’s ability to tailor content to diverse markets while maintaining consistent performance metrics.

Zitro has also maintained leading positions in monthly Eilers & Krejcik reports, regularly topping multiple categories in the closely watched supplier rankings.

The sustained performance across both accolades and commercial data points suggests the company’s product strategy is resonating with operators and players alike.

With four ‘Businessman of the Year’ awards now under his belt, Ortiz has cemented his status as one of the industry’s most decorated executives. Whether Zitro can translate that momentum into further market share gains, particularly in newly regulated jurisdictions, will be worth watching in the quarters ahead.

What the team thinks

Baz Hartley says:

Four awards is certainly impressive recognition for Ortiz and speaks to Zitro’s consistent delivery in the B2B space, but what really matters from a player perspective is how that innovation filters down to actual game quality and bonus potential. I’d be keen to see if Zitro’s technological advancements are translating into more transparent RTP displays and fairer wagering mechanics in their products, because business accolades mean little if the end user experience isn’t keeping pace. Credit where it’s due though, sustained industry recognition usually indicates they’re doing something right on the operator side at minimum.