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.

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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.

Digicode is pleased to announce that Itai Zak, Executive Director of iGaming at Digicode, will participate as a speaker at the highly anticipated NEXT.io Summit in Valletta 2025, taking place from May 5 to 8.

Itai Zak will contribute to the panel discussion titled “Blood or Business?”, part of the summit’s dedicated Personal Development Hub, which focuses on leadership, mental wellbeing, and workplace culture across the iGaming industry.

Moderated by Emily Leeb, CEO of Saroca, the panel will address the complexities of professional relationships within the sector, examining how genuine leadership can foster healthy environments while maintaining essential boundaries. Zak will be joined by other prominent industry figures, including Peter Grech (CEO & Founder, BRND WGN), Claire Adamou (VP of Development, Saroca), and Fiona Ewins Brown (Executive Coach, Mondial Coaching).

Itai Zak will share insights into how evolving leadership styles can shape a safer, more sustainable industry, while promoting genuine care without compromising professionalism.

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“The iGaming industry moves quickly, and leadership needs to keep pace – not just with innovation, but also with how we support our people. It’s time for real conversations about what a healthy, high-performing workplace looks like. I’m excited to be part of this important discussion at NEXT.io”, Zak added.

This year’s NEXT.io Summit is expected to attract over 6,000 participants, making it one of the largest and most impactful events on the global iGaming calendar. The event will feature open discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, bringing together the industry’s top minds to tackle its most pressing challenges.

Digicode’s involvement in the summit underlines the company’s commitment to industry leadership, innovation, and the advancement of positive workplace practices.

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In a bold move set to shift the foundation of iGaming, the creators behind some of the industry’s most advanced AI tools are preparing to unveil a next-generation platform — and they’re doing it with style.

On Tuesday, May 6th at 20:30 CET, Valletta’s iconic 200 Old Merchants Street will be transformed for one night only into a live, immersive showcase of what’s next. The strictly invite-only gathering will bring together top-tier media, industry leaders, developers, and innovators for the debut of a powerful new end-to-end AI system built specifically to reshape how games are imagined, created, and brought to market.

“This isn’t just another tool — it’s a paradigm shift in how we think about building games,” said Mark Flores Martin, CEO of XGENIA. “Everything from speed to quality to who gets to create and what — it’s all about to change.”

Designed to radically streamline the development pipeline, the system bridges the gap between creative vision and execution. It eliminates inefficiencies, replacing outdated workflows with a unified platform for concepting, building, and refining games with AI, at unprecedented speed — all while enhancing creative freedom and control.

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Those interested in attending the event or receiving early access details can join a waitlist at https://lu.ma/7le61lye 

Space is limited.