EGR Operator Awards 2019
The EGR Operator Awards reward B2C operators for setting the standard in egaming excellence, with categories ranging from customer service to social responsibility, recognising achievements across all verticals.
The 2019 Awards will take place on the evening of Thursday 24 October at Grosvenor House, London.
We're looking for egaming's superheroes, whose extraordinary feats and daring innovations deserve the highest recognition and reward. With awards for operators and affiliates, as well as the return of Game of the Year, there's an abundance of categories to enter to showcase your amazing successes to the industry.
Entries close on Friday 26 July 2019.
Awards Schedule
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8th May, 2019 Entry Opening Date
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26th July, 2019 Entry Closing Date
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10th September, 2019 Shortlist Announced
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24th October, 2019 Awards Ceremony
REWARDING THE HEROES OF EGAMING
The Oscars of the egaming sector, the EGR Operator Awards is attended by more than 800 industry professionals and rewards B2C operators for setting the standard in categories ranging from customer service to social responsibility, and awards across all verticals.
The Awards take place on the evening of Thursday 24 October at Grosvenor House, London.
Entries for the Awards open on 9 May 2019. Please note that there is a NEW entry deadline for 2019 - Friday 26 July. All submissions for the 2019 awards must be made by that date in order to be considered for judging.
2019 CATEGORIES
The judges will reward the bingo affiliate that has provided significant traffic, player numbers and genuine ROI for operators. An ability to build strong partner relationships as well as innovation in terms of brand, marketing and player retention strategies will be key criteria for deciding a winner. This is not an award for the biggest affiliate site, but scale will be a factor in determining the winner. Entrants will need to provide evidence of scale of traffic and strong partnerships with operators as well as putting forward a clear case for differentiation and stand-out within their sector.
Key criteria include:
- Differentiation and quality of offering
- Quality and scale of traffic
- Growth
- Innovation
- Strong partner relationships
The judges will reward the casino affiliate that has provided significant traffic, player numbers and genuine ROI for operators. An ability to build strong partner relationships as well as innovation in terms of brand, marketing and player retention strategies will be key criteria for deciding a winner. This is not an award for the biggest affiliate site, but scale will be a factor in determining the winner. Entrants will need to provide evidence of scale of traffic and strong partnerships with operators as well as putting forward a clear case for differentiation and stand-out within their sector.
Key criteria include:
- Differentiation and quality of offering
- Quality and scale of traffic
- Growth
- Innovation
- Strong partner relationships
The judges will reward the sports betting affiliate that has provided significant traffic, player numbers and genuine ROI for operators. An ability to build strong partner relationships as well as innovation in terms of brand, marketing and player retention strategies will be key criteria for deciding a winner. This is not an award for the biggest affiliate site, but scale will be a factor in determining the winner. Entrants will need to provide evidence of scale of traffic and strong partnerships with operators as well as putting forward a clear case for differentiation and stand-out within their sector.
Key criteria include:
- Differentiation and quality of offering
- Quality and scale of traffic
- Growth
- Innovation
- Strong partner relationships
The Game of the Year category will recognise the game studio or operator that has produced the stand-alone game that has made the biggest impact during 2019.
To vote for the Game of the year category at the 2019 EGR Operator Awards, you must have been shortlisted for one of the Operator Awards. Please ensure that you have carefully read the information on each game and the entry criteria which can be found on the website.
This award will recognise the operator that can demonstrate its commitment to organisational performance improvement through investment in the recruitment, personal and skills development and motivation of every individual employee. Special consideration will be given to the operator that can show evidence of a clear plan towards integrating a strong company culture right across the business.
Key criteria include:
- Staff retention and employee engagement
- Positive leadership and management
- Incentive and benefit schemes
- Quality of training initiatives
The judges will reward the affiliate that has stood out from the pack in a competitive sector through innovation, traffic generation and growth, genuine ROI for operators and the ability to build strong partner relationships. This is not an award for the biggest affiliate site, but scale will be a factor in determining the winner. Entrants will need to provide evidence of growth, innovation, quality and scale of traffic and differentiation.
Key criteria include:
- Differentiation and quality of offering
- Quality and scale of traffic
- Growth
- Innovation
- Strong partner relationships
This award is for the bingo operator that has created a stand-out proposition in a competitive market through a combination of product, marketing and/or significant revenue growth. The winner will be a site operating strong product(s) with a significant customer base, an effective marketing strategy, and a lively online community. Operators demonstrating innovation and that are pushing the sector forward will be given special consideration. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Customer acquisition and retention strategies
The winner of this award will be the casino operator that has been able to dominate the sector through their global reach and quality of their product. Entrants will be judged on the originality of their product, the strength of the brand and product, and innovations helping set their offering apart from its competitors. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Customer acquisition and retention strategies
- Quality of brand and marketing
This award recognises the operator that has stood out from the pack within mobile and tablet real-money gambling. It is open to mobile-only operators or traditional egaming firms with a mobile product suite, but in either case the judges will be looking for evidence of innovation, growth, and the quality of product and service. Single product operators are welcome to enter, but special consideration will be given to operators with a well-integrated portfolio or products across iOS, Android and mobile web on both smartphone and tablet platforms.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of mobile products
- Player metrics
- Product quality and functionality
- Innovation and differentiation
- Cross-platform strategy
This award recognises the operator that has set the standards for others to follow over the past year. The judges will be looking for a company that has acted as a driving force for innovation across all areas of the business and the winning operator will need to demonstrate a market-leading proposition. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but rather operational excellence in the markets where the company has a presence. Judges will be looking for a company that has clearly differentiated itself from the chasing pack in its sector, through a mixture of growth, innovation and strong product performance in one or more of the key verticals. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Operational excellence
- Quality and diversity of product
- Innovation and differentiation
- Growth and commercial success
- Influence on wider egaming market
- Strength of brand and marketing
The poker operator of the year award will be given to the operator that has operated the most successful real-money poker offering over the past year. Judges will award the prize for originality, growth and marketing strategy, with special consideration given to innovation. Special consideration will be given to those operators who have shown growth in the current market and to operators that have been able to differentiate in a crowded sector. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Strength of brand and player acquisition strategies
- Quality of product
The Rising Star award rewards a company of up to three years in existence that, despite being new to the sector, is rapidly growing and establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with. Innovation will be a major factor in the judging process, however operational excellence and early signs of commercial success will also be taken into account.
Key criteria include:
- Greatest promise
- Innovation and differentiation
- Growth and commercial success
- Profitability
PLEASE NOTE: THIS CATEGORY IS ONLY OPEN TO COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THREE YEARS OR LESS AND HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY WON THIS CATEGORY.
Judges will award the prize to the operator that has done the most to implement procedures designed to protect their customers. The winner will be rewarded for age verification technology, problem gambling support, responsible gambling safeguards and comprehensive KYC procedures. Special consideration will be given to operators that have campaigned for wider industry controls to ensure socially responsible gambling.
Key criteria include:
- Age verification
- Problem gambling assistance
- Problem gambling safeguards
- CRM and problem gamblers
- KYC procedures
- Advancement of research in gambling
In the competitive sports betting field, the operator that has been able to differentiate itself from its key rivals through an excellent product offering, an effective marketing strategy and impressive global reach will be awarded this prize. Judges are looking for an operator that has enjoyed consistent growth over the past year and demonstrated operational excellence in the markets they operate within. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Scale and growth
- Geographical diversity
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of on and offline marketing
- Quality of product
This category rewards the operator affiliate team that can best demonstrate the use of innovative and effective marketing strategies to drive customers to their sites. Judges are looking for programmes that have used the full range of marketing tools available. In this highly competitive environment, evidence of strong affiliate partnerships and effective use of brand messaging will also play a vital role in selecting the winner.
Key criteria include:
- Innovation and creativity
- Brand messaging
- Acquisition or retention numbers
- Affiliate relationship management
This award will go to the operator that can best demonstrate that it truly has the customer at the heart of its business, and manages its resources to continuously improve its performance standards ensuring it can meet the needs of its entire customer base.
Key criteria include:
- Staff engagement in customer satisfaction strategy
- Continual training and development
- Continual measurement
- Competitive advantage
- Impact on retention
This award is for operators offering a B2C real-money betting product in the burgeoning eSports sector. The award will go to the operator that can demonstrate how it has found success in the field of eSports betting during the 12-mont period, with judges taking into consideration product differentiation, presentation and ability to attract a new demographic into the egaming sector.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Quality of brand and marketing
This award recognises the operator that has made the biggest impact within the fantasy sports space during the previous 12 months. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the mobile channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful cross-platform offering with strong functionality and growth.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Quality of brand and marketing
This award will recognise the operator that has stood out in the football betting space, through quality of product, customer centricity, differentiation and commercial success. Judges will be looking for an operator that offers a market leading product combined with an effective marketing strategy and CRM capabilities, as well as strong commercial performance.
Key criteria include:
- Quality and breadth of offering
- Scale and product diversity
- Growth and commercial success
- Quality of online and offline marketing
This award will recognise the operator that has stood out in the competitive horse race betting space, through quality of product, customer centricity, differentiation and commercial success. Judges will be looking for an operator that offers a market leading product combined with an effective marketing strategy and CRM capabilities, as well as strong commercial performance.
Key criteria include:
- Quality and breadth of offering
- Scale and product diversity
- Growth and commercial success
- Quality of online and offline marketing
This award will recognise the operator that can demonstrate it has developed the most effective in-house product or platform which helped it stand out from its competitors and offered the biggest commercial boost to its business during the past 12 months. Relevant products include – but are not limited to – betting and gaming platforms, game content, mobile and tablet apps, and marketing technology. Judges will be looking for the success of the product, both commercially and in terms of solving a business need, as well as the level of innovation demonstrated in its conception and development.
Key criteria include:
- Quality of product
- Evidence of positive commercial impact
- Innovation and differentiation
- Link to solving direct business need
The judging panel is looking to reward the operator that has developed a product that stands out from the crowd, and provided a significant boost to sportsbook revenue in this vitally important sector of the business. Innovation and strength in mobile and tablet will be a key criteria for assessment. The panel will also be looking at breadth of markets offered and the ability to offer in-play on multiple platforms.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Innovation and differentiation
- On and offline marketing strategy
- Breadth of markets and platforms offered
This award is for operators offering both lottery and bet-on-lottery products. The award will go to the operator that can demonstrate how it has found success in the lottery sector with judges paying particular attention to growth, product innovation and the ability to appeal to a new demographic, which includes the transition of retail players into the online and mobile environment.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Quality of brand and marketing
This award recognises the company that has run the most innovative, intelligent and creative marketing campaign over the past year. Judges will select a winner based on effective use of brand and contextual advertising along with other elements such as banner ads, affiliate programmes, use of SEO and viral marketing for a specific campaign. The award is not simply for the most effective campaign in terms of ROI, but the financial performance of the campaign or its success in recruiting new customers will be a factor in judging a winner.
Key criteria include:
- Innovation and originality
- Use of different channels
- Creativity
- ROI including growth in customer acquisition
This award recognises the operator that has made the biggest impact within the mobile and tablet space during the past 12 months. The award is open both to mobile-only operators and traditional egaming operators with a mobile bingo product. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the mobile channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful cross-platform offering with strong functionality and growth. It is not an award for the largest operator, but scale will be a consideration.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Player metrics
- Product quality and functionality
- Innovation and differentiation
- Cross-platform strategy
This award recognises the operator that has made the biggest impact within the mobile and tablet space during the previous 12 months. The award is open both to mobile-only operators and traditional egaming operators with a mobile casino product. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the mobile channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful cross-platform offering with strong functionality and growth.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Player metrics
- Product quality and functionality
- Innovation and differentiation
- Cross-platform strategy
This award recognises the operator that has made the biggest impact within the mobile and tablet space during the previous 12 months. The award is open both to mobile-only operators and traditional egaming operators with a mobile poker product. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the mobile channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful cross-platform offering with strong functionality and growth.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Player metrics
- Product quality and functionality
- Innovation and differentiation
- Cross-platform strategy
This award recognises the operator that has made the biggest impact within the mobile and tablet space during the previous 12 months. The award is open both to mobile-only operators and traditional egaming operators with a mobile sportsbook product. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the mobile channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful cross-platform offering with strong functionality and growth.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Player metrics
- Product quality and functionality
- Innovation and differentiation
- Cross-platform strategy
This award will go to the slots operator running the most successful and innovative offering. The judges will be looking for operators that have a strong product offering, brand identity and an effective marketing strategy. This is not an award for the largest operator, but scale, growth and revenue generation will be factor in determining the winner. Additional recognition will be given to operators with a strong regulated market business.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success of product
- Innovation and differentiation
- Strength of brand and player acquisition strategies
- Quality of product
This award recognises the social operator that has set the standards for others to follow over the past 12 months. Judges will look for a company that has dominated the social gaming space and acted as a driving force for innovation. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a major consideration.
Key criteria include:
- Operational excellence
- Scale and geographical diversity
- Innovation and differentiation
- Growth and commercial success
- Strength of brand and marketing
This award will recognise the operator that has achieved significant success in the field of financial and sports spread betting during the past 12 months. The category is open to standalone sports and financial spread betting operators but not egaming operators with a financial betting offering. The judges will be looking for evidence of growth, innovation in product and/or marketing as well as strong revenue generation and overall product offering.
Key criteria include:
- Growth and commercial success
- Innovation and differentiation
- Quality of product
- Customer acquisition and retention strategies
- Quality of brand and marketing
HOW TO ENTER
To enter the 2019 awards, simply complete and submit the official online entry form by Friday 26 July 2019.
In your entry:
- Provide a summary of your product/service offerings. The judges will be looking for examples of product development, innovation, flexibility, reliability, scalability, integration, delivery, the user interface and user experience.
- Describe your customer focus demonstrating your approach to customer service, understanding of customer needs, reaction to market challenges, back office, reporting and compliance requirements.
- Provide information on the commercial success of the product (we understand that these figures are sensitive and all will be held in the strictest confidence. The more you can provide, the easier it is for the judges to credit).
- Provide any additional detail in support of your application.
- Your entry statement can be up to a maximum of 1000 words.
The judging period is from 18 June 2018 to 17 June 2019.
Download our FREE How to Enter Guide. It provides a step by step guide on how to enter, as well as hints and tips on how to make your entry stand out to the judges and be a serious contender.
EVENT INFO
Timings
6.30pm - 8.00pm Reception Drinks
8.00pm - 9.30pm Dinner
9.30pm - 10.30pm Awards ceremony
10.30pm - late After party bar and networking
Venue Information
Grosvenor House
86-90 Park Lane
London
W1K 7TN
United Kingdom
Dress code
Black tie preferred.Map and directions to venue
This year's host
Edinburgh Festival Award Winner and Time Out Critic’s Choice, Mark's recent TV credits include Taskmaster (Dave) and Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island (Channel 4).
Mark has been the face of shows such as BBC Four’s We Need Answers and BBC Radio 4’s Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better. He has also appeared on Mock The Week, Celebrity Pointless, Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You?, Live At The Apollo and Channel 4’s Comedy Gala. He is currently recording another series of his hit Radio 4 show Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life.
In August 2016, Mark performed his latest show I’m Not Here at the Edinburgh Festival, and then went on to tour it around the UK from September – December 2016. The show has received 4 & 5 star reviews. Not only a Stand-Up, Mark has written six novels.
TICKETS
HOW TO ATTEND THE AWARDS
Tables at the 2019 Awards are available via three packages:
GOLD
* Access to the main pre-dinner drinks reception with branded meeting point for guests
* Table of 10
* Premium chocolates in individual presentation boxes for each of your guests
* A magnum of champagne on your table
* Three course dinner with coffee
* Upgraded wine
* Port and cheese
* Branded table number
* Photographer to provide a group photo of the table
* Open Bar
SILVER
* Access to the main pre-dinner drinks reception
* Table of 10
* Premium chocolates in individual presentation boxes for each of your
guests
* A bottle of champagne on your table
* Three course dinner with coffee
* Open bar
* Branded table number
BRONZE
* Access to the main pre-dinner drinks reception
* Table of 10
* Three course lunch with coffee
* Open bar
Clark Beecroft
c.beecroft@egr.global
+44 (0)20 7832 6596
If you win an award but are unable to attend the awards ceremony, the winners logo and trophy will be available after the event at £1000.
JUDGING
EGR Global is pleased to announce that the EGR Operator Awards 2019 voting process will once again be officiated by accountancy giant Deloitte. 
This is part of EGR’s pledge to make the judging process the most stringent and transparent in the industry.
HOW THE JUDGES ARE CHOSEN
EGR’s team of independent, external judges is updated each year and is selected to bring a diverse range of in-depth egaming expertise to the judging process. All judges are required to sign a disclaimer form to keep all submitted information and the winners confidential, and are obliged to declare that they have no conflicts of interest prior to judging.
The full list of judges will be published after the judging process has been completed so that there is no attempt to influence the judges as this would result in immediate disqualification from the awards.
HOW CATEGORIES ARE ALLOCATED TO THE JUDGES
Groups of judges are allocated categories, which are aligned to their specific market knowledge and avoid conflict of interest. Each group of judges have no access to the submissions or results of categories they are not involved in judging.
THE SHORTLISTING PROCESS
Awards will only be awarded in categories where two or more submissions have been received. A panel of independent, external judges decides on the shortlist prior to the submissions being sent to the final judges.
THE JUDGING PROCESS
(Headline Categories)
Download our guide to the 2019 Headline Categories and judging process:
All entrants shortlisted for the 2019 Headline Categories are invited to take part in a judging day on Thursday 26 September at The Athenaeum in London.
A representative from each shortlisted firm will have the opportunity to give a short presentation to the panel of judges, to go through their entry and convince the judges why they should win, as well as answer any questions they may have.
Although not compulsory, it is strongly recommended that a representative attends in person at the judging day, as this will enhance the judges understanding of your entry, which can help improve your chances of winning.
Once all presentations are complete, each judge allocates a score to each shortlister per category, as well as a brief summary of their thoughts.
The judges will also have the opportunity to discuss the presentations together, before making their final decision.
If there is no clear winner, the lead judge in each group will have the final casting vote to determine the winner. A Highly Commended may also be rewarded in this instance.
EGR does not contribute or have a vote within this process. All judging for the Headline Categories is done privately once the presentations are complete. No shortlisted firms will be present for the judges discussions and decision-making.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 24 October 2019.
THE JUDGING PROCESS
(non Headline Categories)
The judges read and analyse the submissions online. Each judge allocates a score to each individual criteria per category, as well as a brief summary of their thoughts
Once the above is complete, the judges submit their scores
Once the scores are submitted, the winners are then automatically calculated by our online judging platform. If there is no clear winner, the lead judge in each group will have the final casting vote to determine the winner. A Highly Commended may also be rewarded in this instance.
EGR does not contribute or have a vote within this process. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 24 October 2019.
THE JUDGING PROCESS
(Game of the Year)
The winner of the Game of the Year is judged by those operators shortlisted for the 2019 EGR Operator Awards.
Those who qualify to vote will be sent details about each of the shortslied games and an online poll to vote for their winner.
The voting is private and the winner will be announced at the EGR Opwrator Awrads 2019 on 24 October in London.
Once the above is complete, the judges submit their scores
EGR does not contribute or have a vote within this process.
SUBMISSION FEEDBACK
EGR do not share individual judges’ scores and comments, however explanations for the winner of each category will be provided online after the event.
SPONSOR THE 2019 AWARDS
Sponsoring the EGR Operator Awards 2019 is a unique opportunity to engage and network with key decision-makers, raise your company profile and position your brand as a leader in the market.
There are a whole range of sponsorship options available, including:
- Categories
- Drinks reception
- Dinner
- After party cocktail bar
- Poker tournament
- DJ
- Snow cone/ hot dog tricycle
- Chill out lounge
Got a sponsorship idea? Contact us to disucss how we can promote your brand to 800+ online gaming professionals this October.
Please contact Sam Compagnoni to discuss your sponsorship requirements and find the right opportunity for you:
Sam Compagnoni
Group Commercial Manager
s.compagnoni@egrmagazine.com
+44 (0)20 7832 6501
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SPONSORS 2019
2018 AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS & WINNERS
View the 2018 event photos (via Flickr):
2018 WINNERS
| Category | Company |
|---|---|
| Casino affiliate | Gambling.com Group |
| Sports affiliate | Skores |
| Affiliate programme | LeoVegas |
| Horse race betting operator | Paddy Power Betfair |
| Social operator | KamaGames |
| Esports operator | Pinnacle |
| Fantasy sports operator | Boom Fantasy |
| Customer services operator | Betsson Group |
| In-house product | BetVictor |
| Mobile bingo product | Jackpotjoy |
| Mobile casino product | Rank Group |
| Mobile sports product | bet365 |
| Football betting operator | Paddy Power Betfair |
| In-play sports operator | Sky Betting & Gaming |
| Marketing campaign | tombola |
| Slots operator | William Hill |
| Lottery operator | Lottoland |
| Employer of the year | Sky Betting & Gaming |
| Rising star | SuprNation |
| Poker operator | partypoker (GVC Holdings) |
| Bingo operator | tombola |
| Sports betting operator | bet365 |
| Casino operator | GVC Holdings |
| Mobile operator | William Hill |
| Affiliate of the year | Gambling.com Group |
| Socially reponsible operator | Sky Betting & Gaming |
| Game of the year | Lightning Roulette (Evolution Gaming) |
| Operator of the year | GVC Holdings |
Watch the 2018 highlights video (via YouTube):
Watch 2018 winners interviews (via YouTube):
CONTACT US
General queries
Katie Renton
Event Manager
k.renton@egr.global
+44 (0)20 7832 6579
Sponsorship
Sam Compagnoni
Group Commercial Manager
sam.compagnoni@egr.global
+44 (0)20 7832 6501
Entries & awards tables
Clark Beecroft
clark.beecroft@egr.global
+44 (0)20 7832 6596
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