Adrian Sladdin: “More companies are putting player protection at the heart of their business”

Adrian Sladdin is a judge in The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative and The Best Implementation of RG Tools categories for the upcoming Casino Guru Awards. In today’s conversation, we catch up with Sladdin and his expectations for the forthcoming awards ceremony, why it matters, and what the impact of the live event could be.

Q: Adrian, your career has focused on guiding corporations toward ethical gambling practices. How does this expertise influence your approach to evaluating applicants for the Casino Guru Awards? Are there particular criteria you emphasize when judging?

My view when judging these awards is that there is a lot of good practice in ethical gambling practices but also a lot tick-box behaviour which is still going on. It’s important for me to see that there is a sincerity in an organisation’s practices which goes across all areas and all personnel. In terms of criteria, I think it’s being able to show that you can measure the success of implementation of RG tools or show where you’ve had real impact.

Q: As the Casino Guru Awards enters its third year, do you feel it has effectively spotlighted companies prioritizing social responsibility and implementing responsible gambling tools? Are there areas where the awards could further enhance this focus?

I think we have made a fantastic start but it’s also important to outline why the Casino Guru awards are different from all the other awards for the gambling industry. What makes CG unique? From my own point of view, it might be good to see an award for something shaped around the ESG agenda, given that safer gambling sits at the heart of organizational accountability and culture..

Q: This year marks the switch to a live ceremony hosted at a physical venue, reuniting judges and shortlists. In your opinion, how does this change affect the awards' ability to highlight and promote responsible gambling values? Does it add to the impact of individual categories?

Live events can be much more impactful, especially for those in receipt of awards. It allows for a shared experience, good networking and the highlighting of best practice in real time. From a judging point of view it makes it easier to discuss categories and contestants in real time, so lots of benefits all round.

Q: While the Casino Guru Awards continue to grow, what improvements do you think could be made to better serve the industry, its stakeholders, and, most importantly, the players? Are there new categories or initiatives you would suggest?

There may be room for consideration of individuals as well as organisations in the sphere of safer gambling in terms of ethical leadership and positive role models. It may also be that this could focus on emerging talent rather than simply recycling the names with which we might be more familiar in this industry.

Q: Communicating the importance of player protection is crucial. How can we convey to industry stakeholders that it should be central to their business decisions? Do you see the awards as a symbolic gesture, or are they genuinely helping drive meaningful change in the gambling sector?

It’s quite instructive to look at the level of entries which the CG awards attract, as with other awards. My view is that more and more companies are embracing the idea of putting player protection at the heart of their business operations, though there’s certainly still plenty of room for improvement, especially in educating their customers.

Q: For companies hesitant to apply for the Casino Guru Awards, what would you say to encourage them? How can participating benefit them beyond recognition?

Join and listen to those companies who have participated before. Harness expertise in the room and share in best practice. What’s not to like?

Q: What are your expectations for this year’s awards? Do you feel that past editions have set clear standards for new and returning applicants to follow? Are there any particular qualities you hope to see in this year’s candidates?

My expectations are high for this in-person event and each year sees an increase in quality of entry. However, I would like to see a stronger focus on the actual delivery of the information rather than a reliance on text-heavy power point slides. It’s easier to find the passion and enthusiasm for safer gambling when you’re in the room with people so fingers crossed our candidates can deliver on that!

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