Regulating the Game has today announced the finalists for the inaugural RTG Global Awards, following an exceptional level of interest, nominations and engagement in the first year of the program.

The Global Awards were established to recognise regulatory and sector leadership, stewardship, and excellence across gambling policy and regulation, safer gambling, compliance, technology, and community outcomes – acknowledging the role these disciplines play in underpinning integrity, public confidence, and sustainable sector development. The breadth and quality of submissions received in the inaugural year has confirmed a strong appetite for recognition that is rigorous, independent, and grounded in demonstrable, real-world impact.

Among the finalists confirmed this year are a number of individuals and organisations recognised for leadership and impact within their respective categories, including Dr Eugenia Chidhakwa (Lotteries and Gaming Board, Zimbabwe), Rob Annable (Picklebet) and Duncan Garvie (BetBlocker) for community impact; Dominic Monti (Wests Illawarra), Nathan Hinde (PointsBet) and Sue Pemberton (Parramatta Leagues Club) for compliance excellence; Michael Simone (Bankstown District Sports Club) and Vicki Le (Cabravale Club Resort) as emerging leaders; Chris Dimou (Parramatta Leagues Club), Gaming Laboratories International and Danny Munk (Wests Illawarra) for leadership voice; and CherryHub and KONAMI Australia recognised in the RegTech category as well as Crown PlaySafe, Parq Casino and The Star Entertainment Group for safer gambling champion.

Finalists have now been confirmed across all six categories. The full list of finalists will be available on the Regulating the Game Global Awards website.

Finalists were shortlisted across six award categories following independent assessment by a judging panel comprising senior leaders with deep expertise spanning regulation, law, integrity, governance and responsible gambling:

• Don Hammond, Chief Executive Officer, Leagues Clubs Australia
  
• Jamie Nettleton, Former President, International Masters of Gaming Law and Partner, Addisons
  
• Khalid Ali, Chief Executive Officer, International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA)
  
• Tracy Parker, Senior Vice-President – Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council (Canada)

The composition of the panel reflects the cross-sector perspective required to assess excellence in a complex and increasingly scrutinised regulatory environment, bringing together domestic and international insight across public policy, legal frameworks, integrity assurance and harm prevention.

RTG Founder and Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, Paul Newson, said the inaugural Global Awards reflected a growing appetite for recognition grounded in substance and sector contribution:

“The response to the first year of the Global Awards shows there is a clear place for recognition that goes beyond profile or promotion. These Awards are about surfacing leadership and stewardship – the people, organisations and solutions that are lifting standards, shaping practice and contributing to better sector and community outcomes.”

“The independence and calibre of the judging panel has been central to that credibility.”

The RTG Global Awards Gala Dinner will be held as a flagship networking event within the Regulating the Game program. Tickets are available separately, enabling colleagues, finalist teams, and sector stakeholders who may not be attending the full conference to join the Awards evening. Further information on conference registration and Global Awards Gala Dinner tickets is available via the Regulating the Game website.