Gaming Awards
National Council on Problem Gambling Announces Recipients of 2025 Awards
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the recipients of the 2025 National Awards. Each year, NCPG honors individuals and organizations from around the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling. The awards ceremony, exclusively sponsored by Scientific Games, took place on Friday, July 18, in Columbus, Ohio, during the National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling 2025.
The 2025 NCPG National Awards Recipients include:
• Lifetime Award for Research: Dr. Michael Wohl, Carleton University
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Oregon Lottery
• Jeffrey M. Beck Recovery Ambassador Award: Peggy Brown
• Service Award: Susan Diamond, Responsible Gambling Program Manager with the Ohio Lottery
• Joanna Franklin Award for Direct Service: Jeremy Eberle, Co-Owner and Therapist, Alternative Avenues
• Jim Wuelfing Award for Prevention: Claire Spada, Director of Workforce Development, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
• Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence: Stacy Shaw, Vice President of Product & Program Marketing, Oregon Lottery
• Don Hulen Award for Advocacy & Awareness: Megan Poliquin, LPCC-S, LICDC-GAMB, Zepf Center3
• Dr. Durand Jacobs Dissertation Award: Dr. Jackie Stanmyre, Rutgers University for Gambling Studies
• Denise Phillips Community Outreach and Multicultural Wellness Award: Shandra Parks, PhD, LMSW, CFSW, CCGSO, Maryland Council on Problem Gambling
• Media Award: The Ohio Newsroom for their story on the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network, reported by Erin Gottsacker
• Affiliate Public Awareness Award: The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
• Corporate Public Awareness Award: Oregon Lottery for their “Safer Play” PSA Campaign
• Affiliate Multicultural Communications Award: Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling for “It Takes Community to Overcome Problem Gambling”
• Corporate Multicultural Communications Award: Oregon Lottery for “Multi-cultural Digital/Print Media Marketing Campaign”
• Affiliate Awareness Campaign Impact Award: The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling for the “ECPG Gift Responsibly Winter Campaign”
• Corporate Awareness Campaign Impact Award: The Virginia Lottery for “Scratchers for Kids? Scratch That Idea”
• Affiliate People’s Choice Award: Illinois Council on Problem Gambling for “Are You Really Winning?”
• Corporate People’s Choice Award: Ohio for Responsible Gambling for their “More Than A Bet” Campaign
NCPG has congratulated this year’s award recipients and thanked them for their dedication to advancing prevention, treatment, research, recovery, and responsible gambling.
The post National Council on Problem Gambling Announces Recipients of 2025 Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
EGR B2B Awards 2026
ELA Games lands two nominations on EGR B2B Awards 2026 shortlist
Supplier is shortlisted in Slot Supplier – Under 5 years and Casino Software Supplier – Under 5 years ahead of the 3 June ceremony in London.
ELA Games has been shortlisted in two categories for the EGR B2B Awards 2026: Slot Supplier – Under 5 years and Casino Software Supplier – Under 5 years.
The EGR B2B Awards recognise service providers and software developers across iGaming. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at City Central at the HAC in London on 3 June 2026.
In its announcement, ELA Games pointed to recent product development and partner-focused delivery, including work to expand across regulated territories and a focus on “technical reliability and smooth integration.”
The supplier also highlighted product features it says differentiate its content, including the Winpot mechanic and a shooter format. It cited the release of Shoot Happens as an example, describing it as using a bespoke game engine to combine narrative progression with betting systems.
The post ELA Games lands two nominations on EGR B2B Awards 2026 shortlist appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth
The ex-Wasserman and former Excel Esports partnerships lead joins the London-based group behind the Esports Awards and MOBIES.
The Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance (MEGA) has appointed Patrick Collins as Vice President of Growth, the company said on April 15, 2026. Collins will lead growth strategy, including commercial partnerships and new business development, from London.
Collins joins from boutique agency Leapfox, which he founded in early 2022. Prior to that, he led commercial partnerships at UK esports organisation Excel Esports, securing deals with brands including BT, Sony, JD Sports, Neosurf and Chupa Chups, alongside partners such as HyperX, Anda Seat, Belong Gaming Arenas and Chillblast PCs.
Earlier in his career, Collins worked at sports marketing agency Wasserman, where MEGA said he helped secure EE’s six-year partnership with Wembley Stadium and advised brands including American Express, Vodafone and PepsiCo. The company also cited experience working with Premier League football clubs and brands including Barclays, Santander, Under Armour and Puma.
“I’m pleased to officially join MEGA at such an important time for esports and gaming,” said Patrick Collins, VP of Growth at MEGA. “Having worked across traditional sport, esports, and commercial partnerships, and founding Leapfox to bridge these worlds and guide my clients, I’m looking forward to applying my experience to support MEGA and our properties as we continue to grow.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Patrick to MEGA as our new Vice President of Growth,” said Michael Ashford, Co-Founder of MEGA. “His extensive experience, including founding Leapfox, uniquely positions him to shape the future of our company. With Patrick on board, MEGA is determined to accelerate our growth, embark on transformative partnerships, and deliver world-class experiences that will define the next era of esports entertainment.”
Relevant data as follows:
- MEGA (Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance): https://themega.global/ Official company site to support the appointment and provide background on MEGA.
- Esports Awards: https://esportsawards.com/ Official site for one of the properties referenced in connection with MEGA.
- MOBIES: https://mobies.com/ Official site for the Mobile Gaming Awards referenced alongside MEGA.
The post MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betsson Group
Betsson Group Secures Ace of Innovation at the Evolution Awards 2026 – Colombian Market Edition
At this year’s GAT Expo in Cartagena, Betsson Group was honoured with the Ace of Innovation award during an exclusive event hosted by Evolution LATAM, dedicated to the Colombian market.
As part of the program of the event, Evolution LATAM shared valuable insights drawn from more than two decades of industry experience. The session explored key performance drivers and strategic triggers that consistently deliver strong revenue growth across the region.
The evening culminated in the Evolution Awards 2026 – Colombian Market Edition, a ceremony recognising the outstanding achievements, commitment, and performance of operators throughout 2025. Winners were selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of their operational excellence and business results across the year. The awards featured six categories, each celebrating a distinct area of industry leadership.
Betsson Group received the Ace of Innovation award in recognition of its continuous efforts to challenge the status quo through forward-thinking strategies across product, user experience, and operations – driving meaningful competitive advantage in the market.
This award specifically highlighted Betsson’s bold and creative activation featuring its brand ambassador and legendary Colombian goalkeeper, René Higuita. This standout campaign set a new industry benchmark by seamlessly integrating traditionally separate verticals into a cohesive and engaging Live Casino experience.
This recognition reinforces Betsson Group’s commitment to innovation and its ability to deliver impactful, locally relevant experiences that resonate with audiences while raising the bar for industry standards in Colombia and beyond.
The post Betsson Group Secures Ace of Innovation at the Evolution Awards 2026 – Colombian Market Edition appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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