Industry Awards
Casino Guru Awards 2025 welcomes two esteemed judges: Duncan Garvie and Monica Shafaq
Casino Guru is proud to announce the addition of two distinguished industry professionals, Duncan Garvie and Monica Shafaq, to the panel of judges for the upcoming Casino Guru Awards 2025.
The Casino Guru Awards 2025, now in their third edition, celebrate excellence, transparency, and social responsibility in the iGaming industry. With Duncan and Monica joining the judging panel, the awards continue to uphold their commitment to fairness and integrity.
Meet the New Judges
Duncan Garvie – Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker
Duncan Garvie has been a leading advocate for consumer protection in the gambling industry for over a decade. As the founder of ThePOGG, the first affiliate-based complaint service approved as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider, Duncan has pioneered initiatives to improve player safety and resolve disputes fairly. In 2017, he founded BetBlocker, a registered charity offering free tools to help individuals manage their gambling habits. Today, he continues to champion responsible gambling as Chair of the Board of Trustees for BetBlocker.
Duncan shared his enthusiasm for the role, stating:
“I’m thrilled to participate as a judge for the Casino Guru Awards 2025. Casino Guru has been setting the bar for the affiliate sector with their player protection initiatives for years now, which have significantly improved the dialogue around several key areas in the safer gambling space. Being invited to take part in the judging process is an honour in itself.”
Monica Shafaq – CEO of Gordon Moody
Monica Shafaq brings a wealth of experience from the charity sector, with a focus on mental health and gambling addiction. Since January 2024, Monica has served as CEO of Gordon Moody, an international charity addressing gambling addiction and raising awareness. Previously, as CEO of the Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Monica led the organisation to multiple accolades, including inclusion in The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For.
Beyond her charity work, Monica is a recognised leader in promoting equality, diversity, and social justice through various non-executive roles in football and public health. Her dedication has earned her recognition as one of Europe’s Top 50 most influential Muslims.
Monica expressed her excitement, saying:
“I’m thrilled to join the panel of judges for the Casino Guru Awards 2025, an initiative that celebrates excellence and innovation in the gambling industry. This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the individuals and organisations driving positive change and promoting responsible practices. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow judges and contributing to the selection of outstanding nominees and winners.”
About the Casino Guru Awards 2025
The Casino Guru Awards continue to set high standards in the iGaming industry by recognising achievements across categories such as fairness, responsible gambling, and social responsibility. This year’s event introduces two new categories:
- Players’ Choice: Empowering players to vote for their favorite game provider.
- iGaming Changemaker of the Year: Honouring individuals whose leadership and projects have significantly influenced the online gambling sector.
The awards will culminate in a live ceremony on June 6, 2025, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in St. Julian’s, Malta. This invite-only gala promises an unforgettable evening of recognition, networking, and celebration.
The Casino Guru Awards 2025 welcomes nominations until February 28, 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be announced in March, with the public voting for select categories opening soon after.
The post Casino Guru Awards 2025 welcomes two esteemed judges: Duncan Garvie and Monica Shafaq appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The studio is shortlisted for the “Brand of the Year – B2B” category
ELA Games, an innovative game development studio, has been shortlisted for the “Brand of the Year – B2B” category at the upcoming EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards 2025.
The EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards is an event that celebrates key figures and innovative brands within the iGaming industry. The ceremony recognises companies that demonstrate commercial success through game-changing creativity and contributions to the improvement of the industry. It gathers the brightest and most influential minds to reward those who have helped the online gaming sector grow.
ELA Games’ nomination for the “Brand of the Year – B2B” category highlights the company’s efforts in creating a portfolio that balances operator-centric growth with player-friendly gaming experiences. The studio has demonstrated a commitment to helping operators improve player acquisition and retention metrics through data-backed performance, making it a beneficial partner.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the nomination, “The ELA Games team is proud to receive a nomination for a significant category at a prestigious event. We’ve made considerable strides in 2025 to develop our portfolio and create games that both help operators grow and provide fun for players. We look forward to networking with all our peers at the ceremony, and congratulations to all nominees!”
The EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards 2025 will take place on June 19, 2025, at The Mermaid, London. The ELA Games team will attend the ceremony for a night of excitement, networking, and celebration.
The post ELA Games Receives Key Nomination at EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BETER is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in nine categories at the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming (BSG) Awards 2025, organized by HIPTHER. This recognition highlights our continued commitment to delivering top-tier esports, sports betting content and solutions across key European markets.
Our nominations reflect excellence in both Baltic and Nordic categories:
Baltic Categories:
- Best Esports Service Provider in the Baltics
- Rising Star in Baltic Sports Betting Technology
- Best Virtual Sports Provider in the Baltics
- Rising Star in Baltic Virtual Sports
Nordic Categories:
- Best Esports Service Provider in the Nordics
- Best Sports Betting Provider in the Nordics
- Rising Star in Nordic Sports Betting Technology
- Best Virtual Sports Provider in the Nordics
- Rising Star in Nordic Virtual Sports
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us during the voting process. Your trust and recognition inspire us to keep innovating and delivering outstanding content and solutions tailored to the needs of operators and players in these dynamic regions.
The winners will be revealed on 27 May 2025 during the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in Vilnius — stay tuned!
The post BETER Shortlisted in Nine Categories at the Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio in the iGaming industry, has been shortlisted for the “Innovator” category at the upcoming 2025 Women in Gaming Diversity Awards.
The studio’s founding philosophy of “For Players, By Players” has directed its production approach, creating titles that balance player experiences and casino-centric performance. By understanding the core needs of modern gamers, ELA Games has curated a portfolio of visually appealing, innovative games that assist with operator growth.
The WiG Diversity Awards are a prestigious event that recognises employers for their contributions to the industry and efforts in well-being and diversity. The “Innovator” category ELA Games prides itself on its contributions to the industry, championing a diverse workforce while creating memorable games that have a lasting impact.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director,commented on the shortlisting, “Since our inception in 2021, we’ve made a concerted effort to create an inclusive and aspirational work environment, allowing us to produce trademark games. Being shortlisted for the ‘Innovator’ category at the 2025 WiG Diversity Awards reflects our commitment to diversity, excellence, and well-being, and we pledge to continue investing in our workplace culture to foster innovation at every level of the company.”
Final voting for the winner of the “Innovator” category, among others, will commence on the 5th of June, 2025, at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The post Celebrating Innovation: ELA Games Finalists at 2025 WiG Diversity Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
partnerships4 weeks agoOctoplay accelerates UK and Irish growth with strategic BoyleSports partnership
-
Latin America4 weeks ago
SOFTSWISS Ignites Brazil with ‘Race Like a Legend’ Experience
-
Asia2 weeks ago
Jetapult Strengthens AI Expertise: Onboards Industry Leaders, Oz Silahtar and Dr. Arjun Jain
-
Balkans4 weeks ago
Playson tightens grip on Croatian market with landmark Hrvatska Lutrija deal
-
Africa4 weeks ago
INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER
-
Press Releases2 weeks ago
Colour the world your way in Supa Crew by Swintt’s Elysium Studios
-
Cancún2 weeks ago
CONCEPT AND NEW GAMES REVOLUTIONIZE PALACE BINGO & SPORTS BETS IN CANCÚN
-
Latin America4 weeks ago
SCCG Becomes Sponsor of SFT Combat
