Casino Guru
Nominations now open for Casino Guru Awards 2026: Celebrating fairness, responsibility, and innovation in iGaming
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Casino Guru is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 4th annual Casino Guru Awards 2026, recognizing fairness, transparency, social responsibility, and innovation that push the iGaming industry forward.
After three successful editions, the Casino Guru Awards continue to honor organizations and individuals making a meaningful difference in online gambling. The 2026 edition will culminate in an exclusive live ceremony on May 25, 2026, at the stunning The Xara Lodge in Malta, held in partnership with NEXT.io during NEXT Valletta (May 27–28).
New Categories for 2026
Reflecting Casino Guru’s ongoing mission to promote integrity, innovation, and responsible growth, this year’s awards introduce four new categories:
Woman Leader of the Year
Honoring an exceptional female leader whose vision and influence have meaningfully shaped her company and the wider industry.
Rising Star in Responsible Gambling
Recognizing organizations that show outstanding early progress in promoting safer gambling practices.
Young Changemaker Award
Celebrating a professional under 30 whose forward-thinking ideas and ethical innovation have already made a visible impact in 2025, setting new standards for iGaming integrity and progress.
Industry Culture Shaper
Acknowledging companies that foster positive, transparent, and growth-oriented workplaces.
Alongside the new additions, the 2026 Awards continue to celebrate excellence across established categories that reflect Casino Guru’s core values of fairness, transparency, and responsibility:
- The Fairest Bonus Policy
- The Fairest General Terms & Conditions
- The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative
- The Best Implementation of Responsible Gambling Tools
- The Most Transparent Casino
- The Most Effective Handling of Complaints
- Players’ Choice
- iGaming Changemaker of the Year
- Voice of the People
Key Dates: Casino Guru Awards 2026 Timeline
- Nominations open: October 2025
- Nominations close: February 15, 2026
- Shortlisted nominees announced: March 1, 2026
- Public voting begins: March 1, 2026
- Judges’ evaluations: April 30 – May 7, 2026
- Public voting ends: May 7, 2026
- Winners announced: May 25, 2026 — The Xara Lodge, Malta
A Celebration of Integrity and Innovation
The Casino Guru Awards 2026 Ceremony will once again bring together shortlisted nominees, esteemed judges, sponsors and media partners, and industry leaders for an unforgettable evening of recognition and connection.
This invite-only live event will celebrate not only the winners but also the spirit of collaboration and innovation driving positive change in iGaming. The evening at The Xara Lodge, surrounded by the charm of the Maltese countryside, will be followed by the NEXT Summit Valletta 2026 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Project Director at Casino Guru and leader of the Awards project, shared her excitement: “Each year, the Casino Guru Awards grow stronger, not just in scale, but in purpose. The 2026 edition expands our mission to celebrate those who challenge the industry to be better through innovation, transparency, and responsible practices. Hosting the ceremony at The Xara Lodge in partnership with NEXT.io is the perfect way to honor the people and companies shaping a fairer, safer iGaming world.”
The post Nominations now open for Casino Guru Awards 2026: Celebrating fairness, responsibility, and innovation in iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Casino Guru
Casino Guru Awards partner with Ethical Gambling Forum to champion transparency and player protection
Casino Guru is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with the Ethical Gambling Forum (EGF), a leading industry event focused on responsible gambling, sustainability, and ethical business practices. This partnership represents a major step forward in promoting ethics, transparency, and player protection across the iGaming sector.
As part of the initiative, the Casino Guru Awards will take a prominent role during the upcoming EGF conference, bringing the awards process directly into a space where industry stakeholders are united in their commitment to raising standards and safeguarding players.
From April 30 to May 1, Casino Guru will host an exclusive judges’ session during the conference week. This hands-on gathering will allow the Awards jury to actively review shortlisted nominees, conducting direct calls with candidates to gain deeper insight into their operations, values, and dedication to responsible gambling. This approach ensures that the Awards remain rigorous, transparent, and merit-based.
Additionally, Casino Guru will lead a panel discussion at the conference, featuring Awards judges and industry experts. The session will explore the significance of independent evaluation, ethical standards in iGaming, and how initiatives like the Casino Guru Awards contribute to a safer, more transparent gambling environment.
Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director at Casino Guru, said:
“This partnership with the Ethical Gambling Forum is a natural fit. We share core values around ethics, transparency, responsible gambling, and player protection. By enabling judges to engage directly with shortlisted candidates, we add an extra layer of integrity and depth to the evaluation process, which truly sets the Casino Guru Awards apart.”
Jo Abergel, Co-Founder of the Ethical Gambling Forum, added:
“Partnering with Casino Guru for the Leeds event reinforces the message that accountability must be at the heart of our industry’s future. Together, we are creating a space for honest dialogue and meaningful progress, celebrating those who lead by example in player protection and industry integrity.”
This collaboration underscores the shared mission of Casino Guru and EGF: to elevate industry standards, support responsible operators, and recognize organizations that prioritize player well-being. By embedding the Awards judging process within the Ethical Gambling Forum, both organizations aim to foster transparency, encourage accountability, and celebrate ethical leadership in iGaming.
The post Casino Guru Awards partner with Ethical Gambling Forum to champion transparency and player protection appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino Guru
Casino Guru Academy hits 5,000-user milestone
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Casino Guru Academy has officially crossed the 5,000-user mark, which clearly demonstrates a growing interest in accessible and meaningful education for iGaming professionals.
As an extension of Casino Guru, the world’s biggest source of information about online casinos and player advocacy, the Academy offers free practical courses that help raise as well as improve iGaming industry standards.
Five thousand users who joined Casino Guru Academy demonstrate how useful education can be, particularly when produced in partnership with industry experts. Courses that the Academy provides focus on real-world tools and skills required in customer support, anti-money laundering, affiliate management, safer gambling, and more.
“The fact that we now have over 5,000 users is a huge success for us, as it shows how many people value this kind of learning. Having companies use our courses for onboarding is one of the key reasons we have reached this milestone. It proves there’s genuine demand for our work and supports the impact we aim to create,” said Šimon Vincze, Sustainable & Safer Gambling Lead and the person behind the Casino Guru Academy.
This accomplishment follows the Academy’s first-ever appearance at SiGMA Malta in September 2025, when the team behind the Academy introduced its mission to a larger audience. The event exceeded all expectations and was a key step toward developing direct connections with its audience.
Additionally, Casino Guru Academy has introduced an upgraded version of its website to make course navigation easier, increase accessibility, and provide a more engaging experience. The new layout also creates a path for future development as the Academy broadens its course library.
With that said, a new course on responses to self-harm and suicide threats is in the works and should be released by the end of the year. It’s intended for customer support agents and responsible gambling representatives to recognize players in distress, respond to potential self-harm threats, and take action.
With the 5,000-user milestone achieved and new design improvements completed, the Casino Guru Academy continues to grow, making a positive impact on the iGaming community.
The post Casino Guru Academy hits 5,000-user milestone appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
2025 Global Regulatory Awards
Casino Guru wins Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling at 2025 Global Regulatory Awards
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Casino Guru is proud and pleased to have been awarded the “Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling” at the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards, celebrating the company’s longstanding tradition in bringing a safe, transparent, and responsible experience to players.
The distinction marks the latest accolade Casino Guru has won in the Responsible Gambling field, further highlighting the company’s ethos and philosophy for nurturing a sustainable and accountable industry where players are protected.
Commenting on the achievement, Šimon Vincze, the Sustainable & Safer Gambling Lead at Casino Guru, said: “Speaking on behalf of our entire team, I am humbled to accept this award, which is the latest distinction in Casino Guru’s unflagging efforts to make gambling safer and more transparent. Receiving this distinction from Vixio’s 2025 Global Regulatory Awards, and against a field of more companies that have dedicated efforts to making the industry more responsible, is an honor that motivates us to work harder and contribute to the collective effort.”
Casino Guru’s RG and fair efforts are captured in the very essence of what the company does. The company’s Safety Index has become a carefully curated benchmark that reviews and assigns casino ratings based on player preferences and interactions, prioritizing transparency above all else.
Casino Guru has launched multiple projects to this end, including the Casino Guru Academy, designed to educate industry professionals about the pillars of responsible, fair, and sustainable gambling. Apart from these, the company has also launched the Complaint Resolution Center, similarly intended to help players on their journey in iGaming.
The center has returned over $52 million as of today. Vincze himself has played a crucial role in the promotion of RG and raising awareness about the terminology associated with this, helping it become a more widely understood phenomenon in the industry rather than a tick box companies ought to complete, an effort he has spearheaded through the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative and the Safer Gambling Talks podcast.
Not least, Casino Guru has launched the Casino Guru Awards, a project centered around recognizing and celebrating the most successful and responsible companies in iGaming. The project has grown and is heading into its fourth year with new categories, sponsors, judges, and an expanding format.
All of these achievements have collectively served as the basis of Casino Guru winning this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling distinction.
The post Casino Guru wins Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling at 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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