Entertainment
The Casino Guru Awards 2026 concluded in spectacular fashion this week, bringing together some of the brightest minds and most influential companies in the global iGaming industry for an unforgettable evening of recognition, entertainment, and celebration.
Hosted by Denisa Vydumska, the gala honored operators, providers, and individuals who are actively shaping a more transparent, innovative, responsible, and player-focused future for iGaming. The event featured dazzling live performances, powerful speeches, world-class entertainment, and emotional winner announcements that highlighted the incredible progress being made across the industry.
Held in collaboration with NEXT.io and supported by sponsors PayOp, 18Peaches, Bragg Gaming Group, RedCore, and SPRIBE, this year’s ceremony once again reinforced Casino Guru’s commitment to raising standards and rewarding meaningful impact.
Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director at Casino Guru and the driving force behind the initiative, said:
The Casino Guru Awards are not only about recognizing success. They are about honoring companies and individuals who elevate the industry through fairness, responsibility, innovation, and integrity.
Casino Guru Awards 2026 – Winners
iGaming Changemaker of the Year
Winner: Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming
Marina Ostrovtsova received this prestigious award for recognizing the industry’s shift toward casual and mobile-first gaming early on and successfully transforming BGaming into one of the sector’s most innovative and inclusive brands. Her leadership has helped redefine how modern gaming experiences are built and delivered.
Rising Star in Responsible Gaming
Winner: GambleAware Nigeria
GambleAware Nigeria was recognized for its extraordinary grassroots impact in a challenging and under-resourced market. The organization has built Africa’s largest gambling addiction recovery network, supporting more than 8,000 people in active recovery and handling approximately 300 help calls every week.
Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative
Winner: Flutter UKI
Flutter UKI won for launching its Customer Safety Centre of Excellence in 2025, a proactive initiative focused on embedding safer gambling principles into every level of the organization and championing sustainable play beyond regulatory requirements.
Woman Leader of the Year
Winner: Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS
Valentina Bagniya earned the award for driving acclaimed marketing campaigns, measurable business growth, and active mentorship across the industry, helping position SOFTSWISS among the most recognized global iGaming brands of the year.
Young Changemaker Award
Winner: Irina Veselkova, Head of Marketing at Endorphina
Irina Veselkova was recognized for successfully unifying Endorphina’s global marketing operations during a key growth stage and for delivering impactful brand initiatives that continue to position her as one of the industry’s most promising young leaders.
Industry Culture Shaper
Winner: SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS received the award for building one of the industry’s strongest and most inclusive workplace cultures, supported by measurable improvements in employee engagement, participation, and satisfaction throughout 2025.
Fairest Bonus Policy Award
Winner: iWild Casino
iWild Casino impressed the judges with significant improvements to its bonus policy, introducing clearer terms, automated rule enforcement, and maintaining a very low number of bonus-related player complaints.
Fairest General Terms & Conditions Award
Winner: LuckyHills
LuckyHills was recognized for having some of the clearest and most transparent Terms & Conditions in the industry, while also integrating responsible gambling tools directly into player accounts to further support player safety.
Most Transparent Casino Award
Winner: Gamblezen Casino
Gamblezen Casino stood out for its exceptional transparency toward players, including detailed overviews of transactions, gameplay, promotions, and responsible gambling tools available within player accounts.
Most Effective Handling of Complaints
Winner: iWild Casino
This award recognized iWild Casino’s highly professional and efficient handling of player complaints through the Casino Guru Complaint Resolution Center, demonstrating excellent communication, fairness, and a proactive approach to dispute resolution.
Players’ Choice Award
Winner: Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play once again proved its popularity among players worldwide, earning the highest number of public votes and securing the Players’ Choice Award for the fourth consecutive year.
Voice of the People Award
Winner: iWild Casino
Chosen from all shortlisted nominees across the 2026 Awards, iWild Casino received the highest number of public votes overall, solidifying its reputation as one of the most respected and trusted brands among players and industry audiences alike.
A Celebration of Industry Progress
The Casino Guru Awards 2026 highlighted not only excellence and commercial success, but also the importance of responsibility, transparency, player protection, and positive workplace culture in shaping the future of iGaming.
As the evening concluded with a standing ovation, a celebratory group photo, and fireworks lighting up the night sky, one message remained clear: the industry continues to evolve, and the people and companies recognized at this year’s Casino Guru Awards are helping lead that transformation.
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Milena Yeghiazaryan