Bacta utilized the platform offered by its premier EAG Expo to recognize three industry members who have excelled in their responsibilities. The 2026 Bacta Awards were awarded to Alan Claypole from Blueprint Operations (Supply Chain Champion), Alan Walker from Clacton Pier (Seaside Hero), and James Sturgess from Luxury Leisure (Community Champion).

Elaborating on the Awards initiative, Bacta President Joseph Cullis stated: “Our sector has numerous committed individuals who endlessly exert effort, making significant contributions to both Bacta and the wider community.

“The Bacta Awards honour individuals who have excelled, whether through outstanding community engagement or significant contributions to the industry. They also showcase the standards and values that define Bacta membership, including a commitment to professionalism and to operating in an ethical, sustainable, responsible, and transparent manner.”

“I was delighted that we could utilise EAG, which is the biggest annual concentration of Bacta members to recognise and celebrate the work of Alan Claypole, Alan Walker and James Sturgess – all extremely worthy recipients.

It was a great honour to welcome our Bacta Award Winners and to honour them in front of their peers.”

James Sturgess – Community Champion: James Sturgess, Regional Operations Director at Luxury Leisure which operate Admiral in the UK, has been at the forefront of the company’s partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to install a potentially life-saving defibrillator in every one of their AGC venues. Every year in the UK around 40,000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest, but less than one in ten survive. Immediate CPR and defibrillation can double a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest. The partnership between Luxury Leisure and the BHF will mean that life-saving defibrillators are readily available if a customer, or someone in the community suffers a cardiac arrest. Thanks to the generosity of Admiral customers and colleagues the partnership has raised an incredible £500,000 for the British Heart Foundation, providing essential support for thousands of people in communities across the country.

Alan Walker – Seaside Hero: Alan Walker recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and has spent half a century in the amusement industry including more than a decade working at Clacton Pier. Alan is the pier’s head of coin operation services and works with colleagues some of whom are 60 years his junior. Alan spent nine years in the Army before he took up a post as a service engineer at Music Hire Group in his native North East. From there he progressed into management with the firm. He moved on to join the Noble Organisation – both in the North East and Blackpool – before taking up a role running amusements for the resorts division of First Leisure. His next job was with Family Leisure in London, and he has worked with Connaught Leisure, J Holland and Sons before joining Billy and Elliot Ball at Clacton Pier. Alan said that he was very proud to have received the award from Bacta. Reflecting on the award he said: “I was shocked to be honest, but it is nice to be honoured in that way for something you love doing.”

Alan Claypole – Supply Chain Champion: The Blueprint Operations Director of Technical and Product Development has a distinguished history of overseeing the Bacta Standards and leading on Bacta’s engagement with the Gambling Commission on the critical issue relating to the review of Technical Standards. Alan has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the technology that delivers gambling entertainment and shares his knowledge and insight for the betterment of the industry and for Bacta member businesses. Bacta President Joseph Cullis said: “Alan brings the level of expertise that any amount of money simply could not buy. He leads on technical discussions for Bacta and is able to draw on an unbelievable depth of knowledge. It is absolutely essential that manufacturers are aligned and the work undertaken by Alan on behalf of Bacta has a significant impact on both manufacturers and operators.”

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Electrocoin founder and director John Stergides Snr has been recognised with an ICE Landmark Award at ICE Barcelona 2026, marking more than five decades of contribution to the international coin-op and amusement sector.

The Landmark Awards, presented annually at ICE, recognise individuals and organisations whose long-term impact has helped shape the global gambling and amusements industry.

Stergides was honoured in recognition of Electrocoin’s forthcoming 50th anniversary in 2026, reflecting both his personal career and the company’s enduring presence across the UK and European markets.

“It was a proud moment for us. I think my father really appreciated going up to collect the award and being recognised for his contribution,” said Electrocoin’s sales and marketing manager John A Stergides.

“It was a great honour to receive the award. I was at the first ICE in the 1990s and have attended every one since,” Stergides Snr said.

“The show is the greatest industry event in the world, and to be recognised on the international stage at this level is very special. I’m thrilled to have been a part of the ICE evolution from the very outset and I think the British industry should be proud of its role in having the vision to launch and create the foundations of the world’s landmark show.”

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Kongebonus, the premier provider of iGaming news and all things casino and betting in Norway, has revealed the winners of the Kongebonus Awards 2025, with this year’s outcomes disclosed alongside ICE Barcelona.

The Kongebonus Awards, the sole iGaming awards from Norway, are determined by a mix of votes from actual players nationwide and editorial assessments, with this year’s edition reflecting a noticeable change in both reach and participation. The awards garnered a total of 1,192 verified votes, reflecting a 25% rise from the previous year, highlighting their increasing significance for players and industry stakeholders.

Among those rejoicing in triumph this year, Print Studios earned the prestigious Best New Slot award for Uncle Profit. Filip Wargeus, Chief Commercial Officer at Print Studios, stated: “This is incredibly meaningful to us. It’s a genuine reflection of the entire team that our efforts are succeeding and are valued by fans, players, and communities.

ELK Studios was acknowledged as the Most Innovative Game Developer, obtaining 24.75% of the votes, with Jacob Nordwall, Head of Marketing at ELK Studios, stating: “Winning the Most Innovative Game Provider award in 2025 from the Kongebonus Awards is significant for us, particularly since it is solely determined by the Norwegian player community. This strongly shows that our efforts are valued and genuinely connect with players in Norway, and that our commitment to remaining innovative and advancing the industry is being acknowledged.”

Other significant winners featured Push Gaming, recognized as Best Game Developer 2025, while Pragmatic Play’s Gates of Olympus earned the Readers’ Hall of Fame accolade. In contrast to the other categories, the Hall of Fame honors games that have established enduring popularity and attained legendary status throughout time.

David Nilsen, Editor-in-Chief at Kongebonus, said: “The purpose of the Kongebonus Awards is to showcase which studios, games and suppliers have genuinely stood out over the past year. We are not only looking at commercial success, but at quality, innovation and how well experiences are delivered to players. Because the results are shaped by open voting from Norwegian players, the awards reflect what truly resonates with the community while still maintaining a strong industry perspective.”

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