Casino Guru Awards 2027: nominations are now open

Nominations for the 2027 Casino Guru Awards officially opened on October 15, marking the start of the fifth edition of the initiative. Following a record year that saw nominations increase by approximately one-third and more than 150,000 votes cast in public voting categories, the awards will introduce further developments, including a stronger emphasis on player protection and a new project yet to be announced.

Casino Guru Awards Mark Five Years of Industry Recognition

The fifth edition of the Casino Guru Awards officially opened for nominations on October 15. The initiative continues to recognize companies, projects, and individuals working to improve fairness, transparency, and innovation across the iGaming sector.

Organized by Casino Guru, the awards focus on achievements that may not be fully reflected by conventional business metrics, such as company size or revenue. Instead, they highlight the impact businesses and individuals have on players, industry standards, and the broader gambling environment.

Over the past four editions, the awards have recognized contributions across several areas, including fair terms and conditions, bonus policies, responsible gambling, complaint handling, transparency, social responsibility, leadership, and innovation.

Strong Results from the 2026 Edition

The opening of nominations follows one of the strongest editions in the awards' history. In 2026, the total number of nominations increased by approximately one-third compared with the previous year, with newly introduced categories attracting particularly strong interest.

Public participation was also significant, with more than 150,000 votes recorded across the Players' Choice and Voice of the People categories.

The 2026 season concluded with an in-person ceremony at The Xara Lodge in Malta, attended by nearly 150 iGaming professionals, highlighting the industry's engagement with initiatives that recognize responsible practices and meaningful contributions to the sector.

Player Protection and New Initiatives Planned for 2027

Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Project Director at Casino Guru and leader of the Casino Guru Awards project, highlighted the growing participation and outlined the direction for the upcoming edition.

"We have seen participation grow, we have seen new categories receive a very strong response, and we have seen how much interest there is in recognizing work that genuinely improves the industry.

"This year, we want to build on that. Player protection is one area where we believe even more good work deserves recognition, but we have been developing something else as well. We are keeping that part to ourselves for a little longer."

The 2027 edition will build on the momentum of previous years, placing greater emphasis on player protection while introducing an additional initiative beyond the awards' established category structure.

Further details about the 2027 categories, nomination process, and key dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.