Nominations open for Casino Guru Awards 2027 with new Player Protection Advocate category

Casino Guru has officially launched the Casino Guru Awards 2027. Nominations are now open, and this year introduces a new category focused on professionals improving player protection. Nominations will remain open until February 15, 2027.

The Player Protection Advocate of the Year award

The fifth edition follows a very successful 2026 season that introduced several new categories, including Woman Leader of the Year, Rising Star in Responsible Gambling, Young Changemaker Award and Company Culture Shaper.

For 2027, Casino Guru is adding another category to the line-up. Player Protection Advocate of the Year recognizes individuals who make a real contribution to player safety around reducing gambling-related harm.

Simon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at Casino Guru, said:

"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."

Casino Guru Awards 2027 categories

The Casino Guru Awards 2027 include 13 categories:

• 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

How nominations work

Companies and individuals can nominate themselves or someone else by choosing the relevant category and completing the official nomination form. They can also submit a more detailed nomination letter and supporting evidence to help judges assess the nomination.

How winners are selected

The judging panel combines Casino Guru specialists with external industry professionals. The evaluation process includes reviewing submitted materials and conducting online interviews with shortlisted candidates.

Public voting also remains part of the Casino Guru Awards. While expert judges decide most categories, the Players’ Choice and Voice of the People awards are determined entirely through public voting.

Casino Guru Awards return to Malta in May

The Casino Guru Awards 2027 will conclude with a live, invite-only ceremony in Malta on May 26, 2027. The event will take place during NEXT Summit Valletta 2027.

Shortlisted nominees, judges, partners, and other industry professionals will come together for the ceremony, where the winners will be announced.

Key dates

• 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, Casino Maltese, Malta

Nominations for the Casino Guru Awards 2027 are now open and can be submitted through the official Casino Guru Awards website.

Image credit: Casino Guru News