The Casino Guru Awards 2026 concluded this week with a spectacular gala event that brought together some of the most influential minds and companies in the global iGaming industry for an evening filled with recognition, innovation, and celebration.
Hosted by Denisa Vydumska, the ceremony celebrated operators, providers, and professionals who continue to drive a more transparent, responsible, innovative, and player-focused iGaming industry. The event featured live performances, inspiring speeches, world-class entertainment, and emotional winner announcements that reflected the remarkable progress being made across the sector.
Held in collaboration with NEXT.io and supported by PayOp, 18Peaches, Bragg Gaming Group, RedCore, and SPRIBE, this year’s edition once again reinforced Casino Guru’s commitment to excellence and meaningful impact within the industry.
“The Casino Guru Awards are not only about recognizing commercial success,” said Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director at Casino Guru and one of the driving forces behind the initiative. “They also celebrate the companies and individuals who elevate the industry through transparency, responsibility, innovation, and integrity.”
Casino Guru Awards 2026 Winners
iGaming Changemaker of the Year
The award went to Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO of BGaming, for recognizing the industry’s shift toward casual and mobile-first gaming early on and successfully transforming the company into one of the sector’s most innovative and inclusive brands.
Rising Star in Responsible Gaming
GambleAware Nigeria was recognized for its extraordinary grassroots impact in a challenging market, building Africa’s largest gambling addiction recovery network and supporting more than 8,000 people in recovery.
Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative
Flutter UKI received the award for launching its Customer Safety Centre of Excellence in 2025, an initiative focused on embedding safer gambling practices across the organization.
Woman Leader of the Year
The award was presented to Valentina Bagniya, CMO of SOFTSWISS, for leading impactful marketing campaigns, driving business growth, and actively mentoring professionals across the industry.
Young Changemaker Award
Irina Veselkova, Head of Marketing at Endorphina, was recognized for successfully unifying the company’s global marketing operations during a major growth phase.
Industry Culture Shaper
SOFTSWISS earned this recognition for building one of the most inclusive and engaging workplace cultures within the iGaming industry.
Fairest Bonus Policy Award
iWild Casino was awarded for implementing a clearer, more transparent, and player-friendly bonus policy.
Fairest General Terms & Conditions Award
The prize went to LuckyHills for offering some of the clearest Terms & Conditions in the industry while integrating responsible gambling tools directly into player accounts.
Most Transparent Casino Award
Gamblezen Casino stood out for providing exceptional transparency regarding transactions, promotions, and responsible gambling tools available to players.
Most Effective Handling of Complaints
Once again, iWild Casino was recognized for its professional and highly efficient handling of player complaints through the Casino Guru Complaint Resolution Center.
Players’ Choice Award
Pragmatic Play secured the award after receiving the highest number of public votes, reinforcing its worldwide popularity for the fourth consecutive year.
Voice of the People Award
Finally, iWild Casino received the highest number of public votes among all nominees at the Casino Guru Awards 2026, strengthening its reputation as one of the industry’s most trusted and respected brands.
Celebrating the future of iGaming
The Casino Guru Awards 2026 highlighted not only commercial success, but also the growing importance of responsibility, transparency, player protection, and positive workplace culture as key pillars shaping the future of iGaming.
The evening concluded with applause, group celebrations, and a spectacular fireworks display, leaving one message clear: the industry continues to evolve, and the companies and individuals recognized this year are helping lead that transformation.
