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Responsible gambling starts with conscious choices, and also with quitting. With the “Get your life back on track, stop gambling” campaign, the Netherlands Gambling Authority, in collaboration with FCB Amsterdam, won the Bronze Effie Award in the social category.

In a growing market for online gambling, the Netherlands Gambling Authority made it clear with its “Get your life back on track, stop gambling” that responsible gambling starts with conscious choices – and sometimes even with stopping.

The campaign focused on three target groups: frequent gamblers, problem gamblers and their loved ones. Instead of highlighting the misery of gambling problems, the Netherlands Gambling Authority opted for hope. Their insight was razor-sharp: people who lose control want to take back their lives. And that perspective was made tangible in relatable, short stories—a guitar, a party, football and Christmas. Simply life itself, back in their own hands.

With a cleverly targeted digital approach and a modest budget of just over €100,000, a huge impact was achieved in eight weeks. Brand awareness of Gokstop rose among frequent gamblers from 17% to 29% and among problem gamblers from 41% to 50%. The willingness to sign up almost doubled and over 3600 people actually took the step to unsubscribe – in addition to the usual influx.

The jury praised the simplicity and effectiveness of the action plan: “With sharp insight, a respectful tone, and limited resources, a major social problem was tackled in a practical way. Well done.”

The post “Get Your Life Back, Stop Gambling” Campaign Wins Bronze Effie Worldwide Award appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2025 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.

More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.

The ninth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 22 categories.
Notable winners on the evening included Playtech, Casino Guru, and Kambi.

Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Bill Curtis of DraftKings, named Compliance Professional of the Year, Corinne Valletta of Betsson Group, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year, and Wes Himes, who was recognised with the Special Award for Compliance Lifetime Achievement.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us at last night’s Global Regulatory Awards in London,” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio. “This year has seen significant regulatory change across the industry, making the quality of entries even more impressive. Our independent judges did a fantastic job in selecting the winners, who truly represent the highest standards in regulatory compliance. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 10th annual Global Regulatory Awards next year!”

Awards were presented by category sponsors: Docaposte, DraftKings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates and White Bullet.

The award evening was associate-sponsored by: Greentube, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission, Scientific Games, and Soft2Bet.

The 2026 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will celebrate the 10th annual GRA event and is set to take place on November 18th, returning to the historic Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London.

The official 2025 winners are as follows:

AML or MLR Professional of the Year
Eleni Panagiotopoulou, SOFTSWISS

Award for Commitment to Compliance by a Supplier
GeoComply

Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator
Tipico Games

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year
Corinne Valletta, Betsson Group

Compliance Innovator of the Year
Sharp Vision

Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award
Wes Himes

Compliance Professional of the Year
Bill Curtis, DraftKings

Compliance Rising Star Special Award
Medisha Moodley, Games Global

Compliance Team of the Year
Playtech

Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year
Devon Dalbock, GLI

Legal Team of the Year
Kambi

Marketing Compliance Team of the Year
Catena Media

Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling
Casino Guru

Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity
ALTENAR

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling
Dr. Michael Auer, Neccton

Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year
Paysafe

RegTech Provider of the Year
Mindway AI

Regulatory Initiative of the Year
Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH SK)

Regulatory Law Firm of the Year
Bird & Bird

Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year
Behnam Dayanim, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BetBlocker

Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BMM Innovation Group

The post Vixio Announces Winners for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Casino Guru proudly unveils four new award categories for the upcoming Casino Guru Awards 2026, further expanding its mission to recognize individuals and organizations shaping a fairer, safer, and more forward-thinking iGaming industry.

Following three years of continued growth and rising influence, the Casino Guru Awards remain the only industry awards focused primarily on fairness, transparency, integrity, and responsible innovation. The 2026 ceremony, scheduled for May 25, 2026, at The Xara Lodge in Malta, in partnership with NEXT.io during NEXT Valletta, will spotlight outstanding achievements from across the global iGaming landscape.

This year’s newly introduced categories reflect Casino Guru’s commitment to acknowledging emerging talent, ethical leadership, and positive workplace culture.

New Award Categories for 2026

Woman Leader of the Year

This category celebrates an exceptional female leader whose vision, resilience, and strategic influence have helped transform her company and the industry as a whole.

Judges will look for measurable achievements in 2024–2025, including business growth, crisis management, innovation in user experience, safety, transparency, and responsible gambling.
The award is open to women driving meaningful impact while championing diversity, mentorship, and collaborative progress within iGaming.

Rising Star in Responsible Gambling

Designed to recognize organizations making remarkable early strides in safer gambling initiatives, this category highlights innovation and genuine commitment from companies of all sizes.
Whether through impactful tools, awareness campaigns, or fresh approaches to player protection, nominees must demonstrate provable results that contribute to higher standards of responsibility and safety across the industry.

Young Changemaker Award

Honoring an individual under 30, the Young Changemaker Award shines a spotlight on rising professionals whose ethical innovation, creativity, and forward-thinking actions have made a visible impact in 2025.

Judges will consider originality, leadership ability, and tangible contributions that set a new benchmark for integrity and progress in iGaming.

Industry Culture Shaper

Recognizing that true industry progress starts within organizations, this award honors companies that cultivate positive, transparent, and supportive workplace cultures.

Nominees will be assessed based on measurable outcomes such as employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity, alongside initiatives that support wellbeing, mental health, professional development, and ethical HR practices.

Additional weight will be given to organizations whose efforts inspire better standards beyond their walls through partnerships, advocacy, or shared knowledge.

A broader vision for industry progress

“The addition of these categories marks an important evolution for the Casino Guru Awards,” said Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Project Director at Casino Guru and leader of the Awards project.
“By spotlighting leadership, emerging talent, responsible innovation, and culture, we are amplifying the people and values that will define the future of iGaming. These awards aim to inspire positive change at every level, from individual contributors to global operators.”

The new categories will stand alongside Casino Guru’s established awards, including The Fairest Bonus Policy, The Most Transparent Casino, The Best Implementation of Responsible Gambling Tools, and others that reflect Casino Guru’s core values.

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