Each year, iGB hosts the Most Influential Women campaign, a platform dedicated to recognizing the extensive contributions of women in the gaming industry while highlighting the ongoing advancements they foster.
Melanie Ellis, a partner at Northridge Law and one of the judges for this year’s awards, emphasizes the significance of acknowledging achievements in areas like compliance and product development, where diverse experiences can lead to impactful changes.
With two decades in the gaming space, Ellis has observed noteworthy cultural transformations, yet she notes that full gender parity is still on the horizon. She sees initiatives like Most Influential Women as vital for showcasing accomplishments and providing visible role models for newcomers in the sector.
“It’s very obvious at any of these conferences that the majority of attendees are still men in suits,” Ellis remarked. “But I think we’ve come a long way, and it’s really important to have initiatives like this to continue to recognize women in the sector and to provide role models for women who may be just starting out.”
Introducing the first four honorees from the Most Influential Women 2026 campaign:
**Anika Howard**
*President and CEO, Wondr Nation*
Anika Howard, the president and CEO of Wondr Nation, shared her delight at being recognized, saying, “It feels wonderful and unexpected.”
“I’ve been really heads down this year with so many amazing things that we’ve been working on. But it feels good because I love this industry. I feel like I’ve been interactive since birth in my career.”
Howard attributes much of her success to an early opportunity at Harrah’s Entertainment, now Caesars Entertainment, which provided her with unprecedented access and confidence.
“It planted the seed in my head that anything’s possible in this industry,” she stated.
As Caesars’ first interactive hire, Howard helped to develop the company’s early digital experiences and later transitioned through various roles, allowing her to construct new functions rather than taking on existing jobs.
“Every position that I’ve entered has been a new position created because of what the technology and the industry has done,” she explained. She now focuses on tribal gaming and innovation as head of Wondr Nation, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s interactive arm.
Howard identifies tribal gaming as an emerging sector bursting with potential. She is in the process of establishing a Wondr Nation innovation center, a facility set to open in November aimed at nurturing entrepreneurs and creators.
On the significance of representation, Howard sees initiatives like this as practical steps toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I think it’s really important,” she commented. “It gives people visibility into what other people are doing in the industry, especially women.”
Howard also emphasizes the value of mentorship and community support for career advancement.
“The same people you see on the way up are the same people you can see on the way down,” she notes. “So, I think there’s this point of being humble, being open, being fearless, and taking risks.”
**Brett Abarbanel**
*Executive Director, UNLV’s International Gaming Institute*
Brett Abarbanel has dedicated over 20 years to the gaming industry, rising from a role at Del Mar racetrack to directing the influential International Gaming Institute (IGI) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“It’s incredibly flattering,” she said regarding her recognition.
Born in California, Abarbanel’s career path was shaped by her proximity to horse racing and her academic pursuits in probability and statistics. Her introduction to online poker eventually led to a move to Las Vegas nearly 20 years ago.
After cold-calling a prominent academic in gaming, she pursued a PhD at UNLV and spent time at UCLA before returning to lead IGI for the past four years, marking her 10th year back at the university this year.
Under her leadership, IGI has expanded its research and educational offerings, focusing on responsible gambling and crisis management, and developing innovative gaming technologies.
Abarbanel is preparing for an academic sabbatical that includes participation in the UEFA Academy’s Fight the Fix program aimed at furthering sports integrity knowledge.
She views industry recognition as essential for creating visibility.
“Having platforms like this means giving visibility to what these accomplishments are,” Abarbanel mentioned, advocating for broader perspectives in the gaming sector.
Regarding diversity, she acknowledges progress but notes that further work is necessary.
“It takes time for change to happen,” she remarked, recognizing industry leaders who advance diversity initiatives.
**Brittany Dale**
*Director of Business Transformation and Programme Delivery, iGaming Ontario*
Brittany Dale is the director at iGaming Ontario (IGO), pivotal in managing Ontario’s regulated online gaming market.
“It’s an honor to be recognized, especially from an industry I’m proud to be part of,” she stated, highlighting her journey through government roles.
“This common thread throughout my career has really been about solving complex problems and uniting diverse stakeholders.”
Dale led the initiative for BetGuard, Ontario’s centralized self-exclusion system launched in May, which simplifies the process for players across operators.
“Centralized self-exclusion is an important advancement in terms of player protection,” she noted.
Looking ahead, she aims to build a robust data and analytics framework to modernize processes in Ontario’s gaming sector.
Dale believes awards like Most Influential Women play a vital role in broadening perceptions of leadership.
“Women need to be in the rooms where strategic decisions are made,” she asserted, adding that the industry can still improve in fostering diverse perspectives.
**Brooke Thomas**
*VP of People and Opportunities, Hard Rock International*
Brooke Thomas views her recognition as a reflection of those around her, emphasizing a collaborative environment.
“Creating opportunities for others to succeed is crucial,” she said, emphasizing the importance of community in her work.
Thomas, who transitioned from law to gaming, now co-leads LGBTQ+ in Gaming, aiming to build a network for LGBTQ+ professionals.
Her ambition includes expanding outreach to areas beyond major gaming centers, promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry.
Awards such as Most Influential Women can inspire others to take risks and innovate, while building connections remains vital, according to Thomas.
“I think we need to ensure that more people across gaming have the connections, support, and opportunities they need to thrive,” she concluded.
