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.
Industry Awards
Million Games and Partners Shortlisted for MiGEA 2025 Awards

Million Games has been shortlisted in the Best Crash Game category at the Malta Gaming Excellence Awards (MiGEA) 2025 for its popular title Chicken X, launched earlier this year. The announcement marks a major milestone for the studio, known for its bold, player-first approach to game development.
Hosted on 19 June at the InterContinental in St. Julian, the MiGEA Awards celebrate the most impactful and original contributions to the gaming industry, spotlighting excellence in game development, technology, and innovation.
Chicken X, developed in-house by Million Games, invites players to guide a fearless chicken across a fast-moving highway in a high-volatility crash format. With its vibrant design, suspenseful pacing and sharp risk-reward balance, the game has quickly become a favourite among crash game enthusiasts.
In addition to its own nomination, Million Games is also celebrating two of its Million Stars partner studios,
both shortlisted in the Best Slot Game category:
Thorfinn’s Journey by Yugo Workshop – a visually rich, Norse-inspired slot featuring dynamic mechanics and narrative-driven gameplay.
Captain’s Curse by Black Cat Games – aa dark maritime adventure where a cursed fisherman transforms into a werewolf under the full moon, with free spins and collect features.
Notably, both studios have been shortlisted for their debut releases developed on the Million Games platform, making the recognition all the more significant.
“We launched the Million Stars programme to help brilliant developers bring bold ideas to life,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO for Million Games. “Seeing Yugo Workshop and Black Cat Games earn nominations for their very first games is a proud moment for us — and a strong endorsement of the creative talent driving the Million Stars partners.”
Million Games will attend the MiGEA Awards ceremony on 19 June, joining a field of industry leaders and rising stars.
The post Million Games and Partners Shortlisted for MiGEA 2025 Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025

Betsson Group has been nominated in 14 categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards 2025, hosted by Clever Duck Media. These include five company-wide nominations and nine individual nominations for eight of its employees.
These annual awards celebrate excellence in equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing across the global gaming industry. Since its launch in 2010, the event has solidified its position as one of the global gaming industry’s most respected diversity accolades.
The categories in which Betsson Group and its employees have been shortlisted include:
Company Category Nominations:
Best Diverse Place to Work
Community Engagement
Company of the Year (Operator)
Diversity & Inclusion
Great Place to Work Award
Individual Category Nominations:
Affiliate Leader – Shakyra Jonsson
Employee of the Year (Operator) – Lisa Mifsud
Excellence in Customer Service – Gabriella Larsson
HR Champion (Operator) – Tamara Klibadze
Innovator – Lena Nordin
Inspiration of the Year (Operator) – Lena Nordin
Positive Role Model of the Year (Operator) – Lara Lombardi
Star of the Future (Operator) – Jessica Carrillo Miranda
Young Leader of the Year (Operator) – Chellyanne Cassar
These nominations reflect the company’s ongoing dedication to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed. At Betsson Group, diversity, equity and inclusion are more than buzzwords; they are embedded in the company’s culture, values and daily actions. In previous years, Betsson has been recognised at the WiG Diversity Awards for Best Diverse Place to Work (2022 and 2024), Company of the Year (2019 and 2022) and for Diversity & Inclusion (2021). For the individual categories, Betsson employees have previously won Excellence in Customer Service, Star of the Future and Young Leader of the Year.
The post Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Reelsoft Recognised as Industry Innovator with Dual Award Nominations

Reelsoft, the iGaming technology company behind the Vision platform, has been nominated for two prestigious awards:
Best iGaming Technology Company at the MiGEA Awards and Rising Star in Casino – Supplier at the SBC Europe Awards. Both nominations celebrate the innovation, scalability, and comprehensive capabilities of the company’s proprietary Vision platform.
At the heart of Reelsoft’s offering is a unique combination: Vision RGS (Remote Gaming Server) and Vision Link, a game aggregation platform. Reelsoft is currently the only company in the market delivering both technologies under a single ecosystem. This dual-platform synergy offers partners unrivalled flexibility, speed-to-market, and control—whether they are launching their own titles or aggregating content from third-party studios.
The Vision platform is further enhanced by powerful modular features. Vision RGS supports slots, crash games, RNG table games, and multiplayer experiences, while Vision Link seamlessly connects game providers to operators across global markets. Embedded within both is Vision Promotions, a full suite of engagement tools including tournaments, feature bets, and the distinctive Vision Mega Jackpot, which can be deployed across both proprietary and aggregated content on Vision Link—a rare capability in the industry.
Reelsoft’s proprietary multiplayer engine, jackpot engine, and real-time back office provide a full-service infrastructure for studios and operators looking to grow with confidence. The platform has demonstrated its scalability with over 3.4 billion transactions processed to date and strong expansion into regulated and emerging markets, including Europe, Africa and North America.
“Being recognised in both categories is a clear signal that the market values the depth and ambition of what we’re building,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Reelsoft.
“Vision is more than a platform—it’s an engine for sustainable, partner-led growth. These nominations are a credit to our team’s dedication and to our partners who choose flexibility and innovation to grow their business.”
As Reelsoft continues to push the boundaries of platform ownership, game distribution, and player engagement, these shortlistings reaffirm the company’s position as a driving force within the iGaming landscape.
The post Reelsoft Recognised as Industry Innovator with Dual Award Nominations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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