Casino Guru has kicked off the process for the Casino Guru Awards 2027, with nominations officially open now. This year sees the introduction of a new category dedicated to recognizing individuals who advocate for player protection. The nomination period will last until February 15, 2027.
The Player Protection Advocate of the Year award honors those making significant strides in enhancing player safety by addressing gambling-related harm.
Simon Vincze, the Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at Casino Guru, commented on the importance of player protection within the awards framework, stating, "Player protection has always been closely connected to the Casino Guru Awards. With this new category, we want to give more visibility to the people across the industry who influence policy, develop better practices and bring organizations together around player protection."
In total, the Casino Guru Awards 2027 will feature 13 categories, which include:
– The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative
– The Best Implementation of RG Tools
– Player Protection Advocate of the Year
– iGaming Changemaker of the Year
– Woman Leader of the Year
– Rising Star in Responsible Gambling
– Young Changemaker Award
– Company Culture Shaper
– The Most Transparent Casino
– The Fairest T&Cs
– The Most Effective Handling of Complaints
– Players’ Choice
– Voice of the People
Nominations can be submitted by companies or individuals either for themselves or on behalf of others by selecting the appropriate category and completing the nomination form. A detailed nomination letter and supporting material can also be submitted to assist judges in evaluating the nominations.
Winners will be determined by a judging panel that includes Casino Guru specialists and external industry experts. The assessment involves reviewing submitted nominations and conducting online interviews with shortlisted candidates. Public voting plays a role as well, with the Players’ Choice and Voice of the People awards entirely reliant on public votes, while most categories will be decided by expert judges.
The Casino Guru Awards 2027 will culminate in a live ceremony scheduled for May 26, 2027, in Malta during the NEXT Summit Valletta 2027, where winners will be announced in front of shortlisted nominees, judges, partners, and other industry professionals.
Key dates related to the awards include:
– Nominations open: October 2026
– Nominations close: February 15, 2027
– Shortlisted nominees announced: March 1, 2027
– Public voting begins: March 1, 2027
– Judging period: April 30 to May 7, 2027
– Public voting closes: May 7, 2027
– Winners announced: May 26, 2027, at Casino Maltese, Malta.
