Industry Awards
Casino Guru Awards 2025: Winners decided, spotlight turns to the Live Gala in Malta

A Celebration of Fairness, Responsibility, and Innovation in iGaming
The countdown is on for the Casino Guru Awards 2025, where the most impactful and forward-thinking figures in the online gambling space will be honored. After an intensive evaluation period, the panel of expert judges has already cast their votes. The winners are now known—though kept under tight wraps—awaiting their official reveal during the gala evening.
The Gala Ceremony, taking place on June 6, 2025, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in St. Julian’s, Malta, will bring together key stakeholders from across the industry to celebrate excellence in transparency, fairness, and player protection. This year’s event continues to spotlight initiatives that drive real change, showcasing responsibility and innovation at the heart of iGaming.
In addition to the categories evaluated by the judges, the Players’ Choice and Voice of the People awards have engaged the wider public—highlighting community involvement. Notably, the Voice of the People category attracted over 150,000 public votes, underscoring the growing influence and reach of the Awards.
“It’s truly inspiring to witness such a strong response from the global community. The number of nominations and public votes speaks volumes about how well-known and meaningful these projects have become,” said Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director at Casino Guru.
Since the launch of the 2025 edition, the Awards have attracted nearly 600,000 visitors, generated hundreds of nominations, and reflected a growing movement toward greater accountability in the industry.
The shortlist represents a diverse mix of organizations pushing boundaries and raising standards in responsible gambling—including notable names such as EveryMatrix, DraftKings, Pragmatic Play, BGaming, Soft2Bet and more. The evaluation phase involved detailed questionnaires, evaluation calls with shortlisted companies, and a transparent scoring framework. To preserve credibility and impartiality, judges disclosed all potential conflicts of interest before the review process began.
Gala highlights
Hosted by renowned presenter Martin Sepiano, the evening promises an engaging blend of insight and entertainment:
- Panel Discussion with Judges – A rare behind-the-scenes look into the evaluation process and the values driving the Awards.
- Live Performances by Jessica Micallef & Band
- Special Dance Act by The Snake Venom Project Dancers
- Afterparty at Tiffany Lounge with DJ Luke Panza
With anticipation building, the Casino Guru Awards 2025 Gala promises not only to reveal the industry’s top performers, but also to foster meaningful dialogue about the future of fair and responsible gambling. Whether judged by a panel of experts or chosen by the public, each nominee has contributed to shaping a more transparent and ethical iGaming landscape.
The post Casino Guru Awards 2025: Winners decided, spotlight turns to the Live Gala in Malta appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Vixio Announces the Finalists for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, has unveiled its 2025 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) shortlist.
Now in their ninth year, the GRAs continue to recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry that have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling. This year’s awards shortlist features 21 award categories, over 190 finalists and more than 100 unique organisations represented. “Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists. Achieving a place on the shortlist is no small feat, especially in our most competitive year yet. The continued growth of the GRAs reflects how seriously the industry takes compliance and the ongoing drive for excellence in this field,” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio. Woolfrey added: “Our thanks go to the judging panel for their diligent and independent evaluation, which ensures the integrity of these awards. We look forward to celebrating with so many of you in November.”
The 2025 GRA presentation will take place on November 19, 2025, at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Due to the event’s popularity, the remaining tables will sell out fast. Vixio strongly advises booking now to ensure you don’t miss out. You can now secure your table online in minutes using Vixio’s quick and easy booking portal. Additional information on table bookings can be found here.
The GRAs 2025 shortlist is as follows:
AML or MLR Professional of the Year | |
1 | Carlos Suárez, Catena Media |
2 | Cecile O’Connell, LeoVegas |
3 | Dave Foppert, DraftKings |
4 | Eleni Panagiotopoulou, SOFTSWISS |
5 | Georgi Iliev, Delasport |
8 | Kate Faulkner, BoyleSports |
Award for Commitment to Compliance by a Supplier | |
1 | BETBY |
2 | Digitain |
3 | Docaposte |
4 | GBG |
5 | GeoComply |
6 | GeoLocs by mkodo |
7 | Kambi |
8 | OpenBet |
9 | Play’n GO |
10 | Pragmatic Solutions |
11 | Soft2Bet |
12 | Wazdan |
Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator Sponsored by: Gaming Associates | |
1 | Betinia |
2 | CampoBet |
3 | DraftKings |
4 | Genting Casinos |
5 | LeoVegas |
6 | Tipico Games |
Chief Compliance Officer of the Year Sponsored by: eCOGRA |
|
1 | Abby Cosgrave, LeoVegas |
2 | Anton Sikström, Catena Media |
3 | Corinne Valletta, Betsson Group |
4 | Ed Bedrosian, Xpoint |
5 | Filippo Ferri, Delasport |
6 | Jennifer Aguiar, DraftKings |
7 | Lloyd Lemmon, Pragmatic Solutions |
8 | Ray Dunkle, Virginia Lottery |
9 | Sara Cass, IFX Payments |
10 | Sophie Bowler, Zodia Custody |
11 | Steve Richardson, Scientific Games |
12 | Tommaso Di Chio, Bragg Gaming |
Compliance Innovator of the Year | |
1 | BetComply |
2 | BizAcuity Solutions |
3 | GeoComply |
4 | Mindway AI |
5 | OneComply |
6 | OpenBet |
7 | Rightlander |
8 | Sharp Vision |
9 | Soft2Bet |
10 | Xpoint |
Compliance Professional of the Year | |
1 | Andrew Poole, Light & Wonder |
2 | Ardie Manuel, Virginia Lottery |
3 | Arshak Muradyan, Digitain |
4 | Bill Curtis, DraftKings |
5 | Christopher Lottering, Pragmatic Solutions |
6 | Denzil Mason, Genting Casinos |
7 | Jeremie Kanter, Continent 8 |
8 | Jessica Feil, OpenBet |
9 | Juan Jose Daruich, Daruich |
10 | Martin Crowe, NexaCompliance |
11 | Ryan Farrah, LeoVegas |
12 | Tatevik Grigoryan, BetConstruct |
Compliance Rising Star Special Award | |
1 | Attila Hunter, Betika |
2 | Birgit Strauszberger, Greentube |
3 | Jasmine Yasin, Delasport |
4 | Kate Faulkner, BoyleSports |
5 | Kevin Kostreci, GLI |
6 | Kizzie Fenner, Evoke |
7 | Maša Tičar, Pragmatic Solutions |
8 | Medisha Moodley, Games Global |
9 | Robert Lo Giudice, BetMGM |
10 | Shacke Manukyan, BetConstruct |
11 | Sheena Patel, DraftKings |
12 | Vanessa Hurt, Paysafe |
Compliance Team of the Year
Sponsored by: Docaposte |
|
1 | AGS |
2 | BetConstruct |
3 | Bragg Gaming |
4 | Continent 8 |
5 | Delasport |
6 | Digitain |
7 | DraftKings |
8 | OpenBet |
9 | Playtech |
10 | San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission |
11 | Scientific Games |
12 | Wazdan |
Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year | |
1 | Carl Brincat, LeoVegas |
2 | Devon Dalbock, GLI |
3 | Emeline d’Ollone, Catena Media |
4 | Emőke Péter, Worldline |
5 | Filippo Ferri, Delasport |
6 | Hartwig Gerhartinger, Paysafe |
7 | Michael Karloutsos, Hard Rock International |
8 | Travis Foley, BMM Innovation Group |
Legal Team of the Year | |
1 | Alea |
2 | Altenar |
3 | Betika |
4 | Betsson Group |
5 | Bragg Gaming |
6 | Catena Media |
7 | Kambi |
8 | LeoVegas |
9 | Light & Wonder |
10 | OKTO |
11 | Paysafe |
12 | Virginia Lottery |
Marketing Compliance Team of the Year
Sponsored by: White Bullet |
|
1 | BetMGM |
2 | Better Collective |
3 | Catena Media |
4 | Gentoo Media |
5 | LeoVegas |
Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling | |
1 | AiR HUB – UNLV International Gaming Institute |
2 | Betting and Gaming Council |
3 | Casino Guru |
4 | EPIC Global Solutions |
5 | Flutter Entertainment |
6 | GamProtect |
7 | Genting Casinos |
The post Vixio Announces the Finalists for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
ReferOn Earns Dual Nominations for Innovation and Marketing Excellence at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025

The company continues its growth in 2025 with key industry recognition
ReferOn, a next-gen affiliate management platform has been shortlisted for the “Affiliate Product Innovation” and “Best Marketing Solution Provider” categories at the upcoming SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025.
These nominations come after an important year for the company, defined by strong market traction, continuous product development, and an increased demand from operators and affiliate managers looking to transition from outdated legacy platforms to a more agile, transparent, and scalable solution.
Since its launch, the ReferOn team has demonstrated its commitment to solving real problems for affiliate teams. At the core of its value propositions is creating a simple and accessible platform that’s built for modern needs. Core developments like full-cycle automation, customisable dashboards, instant postbacks, and real-time data visibility help to reduce chaos and boost performance. Additionally, tools like the Sub-Affiliate System, No Bundling Model, and dynamic variables assist with increased operational control.
Vlad Bondarenko, ReferOn’s Head of Product, commented on the nominations, “We didn’t build ReferOn to compete with legacy platforms — we built it to replace them. Every development, addition, and decision is guided by the goal of empowering our users to move faster, make more insightful decisions, and scale efficiently. These nominations have shown us that we’re moving in the right direction and that our incredible team is working towards something truly impactful.”
ReferOn’s roadmap remains ambitious and future-focused, with numerous investments in product developments, customer-facing services, and initiatives that help affiliate teams act faster and move smarter.
Voting for the SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025 is now open.
The post ReferOn Earns Dual Nominations for Innovation and Marketing Excellence at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
Meet the First-Ever Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025 Shortlist and Cast Your Vote!

SBC has announced the debut shortlist for the inaugural Affiliate Leaders Awards – a new ceremony spotlighting the companies shaping affiliate marketing’s next chapter. This time, it’s the public who holds the power, with open voting deciding which nominees will be celebrated on stage in Lisbon this September.
The ceremony will welcome 600 industry leaders to Lisbon’s MEO Arena, located just steps away from the main event venue, Feira Internacional de Lisboa, on Wednesday, 17 September. The evening will celebrate the standout companies shortlisted across 22 fiercely contested categories, and ultimately, honour the winners.
While the shortlist was selected by an independent panel of experts, the final decision lies with the public, who can now cast their vote online for the company they believe deserves the spotlight.
Speaking on the launch of the awards, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “Last year’s launch of the Affiliate Leaders Summit was a huge step forward for us, but this year we wanted to go even further and recognise the vital role that affiliates, operator programmes, and the suppliers that power them play in the industry’s growth by giving them their very own ceremony.
“By putting the final decision in the public’s hands, we’re able to honour the companies that truly resonate with the community and celebrate the ones people genuinely believe in.”
Leading the way for nominations at the Affiliate Leaders Awards are BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations, who boast seven nominations each across both company-wide and individual categories. Boomerang Partners follow closely with six, while Game Lounge and Gentoo Media have each earned five, reflecting their strong performance and visibility across the affiliate industry.
Both BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations will go head-to-head for Best Affiliate Network as well as Affiliate Campaign of the Year, but face stiff competition from the likes of KR3W and Gentoo Media.
Meanwhile, the hotly contested Sports Affiliate of the Year category features some of the industry’s most recognised names, including Better Collective, Catena Media, Oddschecker, and Flashscore Network.
The shortlist for Affiliate Traffic Source of the Year sees BetAffiliation pick up another nod, alongside the likes of Clever Advertising and Oddschecker.
Workplace culture takes centre stage in Affiliate Employer of the Year, with BetAffiliation, Hub Affiliations, Clever Advertising, and Game Lounge recognised for their efforts in building positive team environments.
On the casino front, Catena Media, Game Lounge Ltd, Casino Guru, and Betting Hero are all in contention for Casino Affiliate of the Year.
In the operator categories, bet365 Partners is aiming for a third consecutive win in Best Affiliate Programme (Operator), having previously claimed the title at the SBC Awards. This year, they face competition from Betsson Group Affiliates, Boomerang Partners, and Kaizen Gaming. The Affiliate Programme of the Year – Large category will also feature major operators, with 1w, BetMGM, Betsson Group Affiliates, and PIN-UP Partners all in contention for the gong.
The awards also spotlight the tech providers underpinning affiliate growth. Aff.Tech, ReferOn, and other leading platforms have secured nominations in both Affiliate Management Platform of the Year and Affiliate Technology of the Year.
Other categories on the night include Casino Title of the Year and Marketing Agency of the Year, rounding out a comprehensive celebration of affiliate marketing excellence.
Individual leadership in the industry will also be recognised, with awards for Affiliate Leader of the Year, Affiliate Content Manager of the Year, and Affiliate Account/Community Manager of the Year, underscoring the critical role individuals play in elevating brand performance.
The post Meet the First-Ever Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025 Shortlist and Cast Your Vote! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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