Stream the ceremony on YouTube to see who took home the trophy, and subscribe to our News to make sure you don't miss out on any important information about the Awards in the future!
Information about Casino Guru Awards 2025 will be provided soon.
![Maris Catania](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331586/Maris-Catania.png?imageDataId=386951×tamp=1665400564000)
At Kindred, Maris led its overall RG strategy, as well as several RG research projects and coordinated university and treatment centre collaborations. She was also instrumental in the concept of behavioural detection system at Kindred known as PS-EDS (Player Safety – Early Detection System) alongside Karim Chikh, who together later formed Integrity Analytics.
Maris is an instrumental player in the SG:certified team. She leads and develops up-to-date and effective content for SG:certified on safer gambling issues. In addition, she supports our clients with their safer gambling needs using the SG:certified platform.
Maris has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, Msc in Psychology and has a PhD focusing on consumer protection, markers of harm, and responsible gambling, at Nottingham Trent University under the guidance of the leading distinguished Professor Mark Griffiths.
She has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
Read our interview with Maris here.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Kevin O'Neill](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331593/Kevin O'Neill.png?imageDataId=386964×tamp=1665400720000)
Kevin spent 13 years in the Telecoms industry where through his various roles within the operations department, he experienced all customer touch-points first-hand through which he developed a keen customer-centric philosophy. The move into the gaming industry happened in 2014 where he joined the Maltese Regulator, the then Lotteries and Gaming Authority, today the Malta Gaming Authority, where he headed the Authority's Player Support Unit for several years. In this role, Kevin brought a new sense of respect towards players as consumers and also developed a keen interest in promulgating responsibility during gambling activity to both player and operator, seeking to ensure that gambling remains a valid recreational activity and not become a source of harm to participants. Indeed, it is only through achieving this equilibrium that the future of the gaming industry can remain truly sustainable.
Mr O'Neill graduated from Dublin City University with an MSc in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour.
Read our interview with Kevin here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Ewa Bakun](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331594/Ewa Bakun.png?imageDataId=386965×tamp=1665400769000)
In her current role in charge of insights, she is focusing on maximising research and insight drawn from both the external and internal sources to drive product improvement and development for the Clarion Gaming brands, such as ICE and iGB.
Read our interview with Ewa here.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Matthew Hickey](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331622/Matthew-Hickey.jpg?imageDataId=387000×tamp=1665405824000)
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Melissa Etherington](https://static.casino.guru/pict/350688/Melissa-Etherington.png?imageDataId=409147×tamp=1669106348000)
Read our interview with Melissa here.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Tracy Parker](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331626/Tracy-Parker.jpg?imageDataId=387004×tamp=1665406085000)
Prior to RGC, Tracy held several positions with the Social Responsibility team at Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) where she worked collaboratively to develop, deliver, monitor and evaluate responsible gambling policies and programs for four lines of business (Gaming, Lottery, Charitable Gaming and Internet Gaming). Central to the work was developing and executing strategy related to culture building, player education and responsible gambling policy.
Previous positions included Senior Associate, Interpraxis Consulting, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy, and Values Programs Manager, The Body Shop Canada.
She has developed and led seminars and workshops on CSR reporting and communications, international business ethics and ethical decision-making. Tracy holds a Master Business Administration degree with a specialization in Sustainability and Strategy from the Schulich School of Business at York University. She has also completed a Bachelor of Public Administration at Carleton University.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Eduards Jakubovs](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331627/Eduards Jakubovs.jpg?imageDataId=387005×tamp=1665406114000)
Read our interview with Eduards here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Dan Iliovici](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331630/Dan Iliovici.jpg?imageDataId=387008×tamp=1665406384000)
Dan has started his career in the fascinating world of the gambling industry more than ten years ago, and since then he is committed to the transformation of this industry into a consolidated and transparent one, permanently involved in responsible gambling projects. Dan Iliovici is former President of the Romanian gambling regulator ONJN (2017-2018), where he continued to focus on player protection. During his mandate at the National Gambling Office, he published ‘The Ethical Code on Advertising in Gambling', an important invitation for self-regulation and responsibility of the gambling industry.
Read our interview with Dan here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Martin Lycka](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331631/Martin Lycka.jpg?imageDataId=387009×tamp=1665406414000)
Martin also serves on the boards of the Entain Foundation, the Entain Foundation US and the American Gaming Association as well as the Advisory Boards to the National Council on Problem Gambling, Seton Hall Law School Gambling Compliance program and My Wager Score. In the past, Martin has been a board member of the European Gaming and Betting Association, JDigital and the European Sports Security Association.
In total, Martin has been a senior legal, regulatory and RG advisor to listed gambling businesses for over 12 years. He is a regular conference speaker and has (co-)authored more than 80 academic articles and three books on gambling law and other legal matters.
He is the 2019 Global Regulatory Awards Head of Regulatory Affairs of the Year as well as a member of the 2020/2021 Emerging Gambling Leaders 40 Under 40 Class (a Judge's Choice). He leads the Entain team that has been awarded the 2021 SBC North America Socially Responsible Operator of the Year as well as the 2022 EGR North America Safer Gambling Provider of the Year awards. He also hosts the Safe Bet Show podcast.
Read our interview with Martin here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Jo Abergel](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331632/Jo Abergel.jpeg?imageDataId=387010×tamp=1665406440000)
In her spare time Jo has been Chairperson for Childline Gibraltar and Treasurer for the local CIPD branch.
Read our interview with Jo here.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![James Mpiirwe](https://static.casino.guru/pict/456942/James Mpiirwe.png?imageDataId=515714×tamp=1684124894000)
While working under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda, James pioneered the revision of the then laws regulating gaming and pool betting and was part of the core team that revised all laws regulating gaming, betting, casino and lotteries in Uganda and resulted in the current Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016 and all regulations under it.
James participated in the establishment of the current regulatory out fit of Lotteries and Gaming Board Secretariat in Uganda by developing the organizational structure, recruitment of staff, training of recruits and Board members and establishment of the different departments there under.
His efforts as Head of compliance culminated into unprecedented growth in legal compliance in the gaming industry and substantial growth of the gaming tax base and government tax collection from the sector. His passion for player protection and responsible gaming led to the establishment of the Responsible gaming Department under which he pioneered the National Responsible Gaming Policy of Uganda.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Jody Bechtold](https://static.casino.guru/pict/335375/Jody-Bechtold.jpg?imageDataId=391120×tamp=1666169398000)
Jody holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work and has certifications as a Board-Approved Clinical Consultant (BACC), Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor Level II (ICGC-II). When Jody isn't working, you can find her providing pet therapy with her dog, Hanna.
Read our interview with Jody here.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Matt Smith](https://static.casino.guru/pict/335376/Matt-Smith.jpg?imageDataId=391121×tamp=1666169429000)
During the latter part of his time there was when his gambling became problematic. Matt is passionate about the work we do to provide support and training services that prevent and address personal and societal harms caused by gambling.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Pieter Remmers](https://static.casino.guru/pict/335884/Pieter-Remmers.jpg?imageDataId=391741×tamp=1666270014000)
Pieter's company works on responsible gaming policies and programs in a number of countries, and he is also a registered MI trainer with years of experience. Pieter is also a worldwide consultant for the gambling and betting industry, and he lends his services to land based and online casinos, slot machine halls, lotteries, and regulators or other governmental bodies.
Having been working for governments and regulators in a number of countries (Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, etc.), Pieter's current focus lies on projects dealing with the problem of match fixing and AML, as well as e-learning modules in different languages (English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch). He is a member of the Executive Committee and serves as Secretary General of the European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG) since 1997.
Since 2004, Pieter is the Chair of the Board of G4 (Global Gambling Guidance Group). He is a member several organizations, such as the Responsible Gaming Committee of IMGL, Responsible Gambling Committee of AGEM, Spielerschutzkommission (Responsible Gaming Commission) of the Gauselmann/Merkur Group (Germany), advisory board of Merkur UK, and the Advisory Council of the AWI in Germany. Pieter is a regular speaker at many conferences all over the world and a freelance correspondent for a number of gambling industry magazines.
Read our interview with Pieter here.
You can also find on LinkedIn.
![Jennifer Shatley](https://static.casino.guru/pict/340411/Jennifer-Shatley.png?imageDataId=396696×tamp=1667205459000)
Dr. Jennifer Shatley is the founder and principal consultant for Logan Avenue Consulting, LLC, which provides consulting to a multitude of organizations, including gambling operators, trade organizations, problem gambling councils, and more. She also currently provides consulting services at UNLV's International Gaming Institute (IGI). In this role, she leads the initiative to establish a Center of Excellence in Responsible Gaming (subject to final university approvals), oversees the organization's consulting and training efforts, and conducts policy sessions through the International Center for Gaming Regulations.
Dr. Shatley is a recognized expert in the field and works closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils, and gaming industry representatives. Jennifer holds a Doctorate of Public Policy from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, a Master's Degree in Communication from the University of Tennessee, and a Bachelor's Degree in English from Christian Brothers University.
In addition, she serves as President for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and as a member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. She previously served on the Nevada Governor's Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, serving as the Chair for the Sub-Committee on Problem Gambling Prevention, as well as serving on the board of directors of the International Center for Responsible Gaming.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
![Adrian Sladdin](https://static.casino.guru/pict/340413/Adrian-Sladdin.png?imageDataId=396698×tamp=1667205497000)
His work includes safeguarding qualifications, high-level presentation and communication skills as well as a range of leadership and management programmes. Adrian has delivered training around the world including China, Pakistan, Nigeria and most of Europe. He is also part of a United Nations group, writing and discussing responsible leadership.
Read our interview with Adrian here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Paul Dent](https://static.casino.guru/pict/343619/Paul-Dent.png?imageDataId=400095×tamp=1667928904000)
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Svend Aage](https://static.casino.guru/pict/344752/Svend-Aage.png?imageDataId=401265×tamp=1668172469000)
Read our interview with Svend here.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Martin Calvert](https://static.casino.guru/pict/462942/Martin-Calvert.png?imageDataId=527786×tamp=1685020417000)
ICS-digital works with casino and betting brands in over 100 languages and dozens of markets. Martin draws on his experience in the industry as an objective judge, and has previously judged awards for EGR and SBC among others in the sector.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Dmitry Belianin](https://static.casino.guru/pict/495987/Dmitry Belianin.png?imageDataId=529638×tamp=1685363662000)
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![James Bennett](https://static.casino.guru/pict/499261/James Bennett.png?imageDataId=533208×tamp=1685959523000)
Formerly a journalist and editor, he has worked in the gaming sector since 2010 as editor of eGaming Review, Head of Communications at Playtech and has been a Director and board member at two specialist PR, communications and digital marketing agencies.
![Shane Stafford](https://static.casino.guru/pict/499263/Shane Stafford.png?imageDataId=533210×tamp=1685959646000)
![Dennis Algreen](https://static.casino.guru/pict/521959/Dennis Algreen.png?imageDataId=561316×tamp=1689319459000)
With over seven years at SBC, he has developed a deep understanding of the intricacies of the betting and gaming industry. His contributions have played a pivotal role in propelling the company from its humble beginnings as a startup to becoming a renowned global event organiser and media powerhouse in the gambling sector.
His approach is marked by a genuine curiosity and a strategic mindset, which allows him to navigate the ever-evolving dynamics of the industry with a forward-thinking approach.
His comprehensive grasp of the motivations driving various stakeholders, enables him to come up with and drive marketing strategies that resonate with diverse audiences.
Throughout his career, he has successfully executed a wide range of marketing initiatives and delivered impactful results across multiple channels.
Leading an ever-growing team of dynamic professionals, he has adeptly managed digital marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, content, and PR initiatives within the events division of the company.
His management style is characterised by inclusivity, emphasising the value of each team member’s unique contributions. With a results-driven mindset, he motivates and guides his team towards achieving tangible goals. However, he firmly believes in cultivating a creative atmosphere that encourages innovative thinking and out-of-the-box strategies.
![Peter-Jesko](https://static.casino.guru/pict/332036/Peter-Jesko.jpg?imageDataId=387426×tamp=1665474994000)
Peter found his way into the casino industry through his love of games and mathematics - especially combinatorics. This fascination sustained his ten-year-long professional poker career before he joined our ranks.
![Marcos](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331635/Marcos.jpg?imageDataId=387013×tamp=1665407034000)
Maros has been writing web content for more than 10 years, and he's always enjoyed exploring and explaining gambling-related topics. Over the years of writing about online casinos and gambling, he's become an expert on the topic keen on helping people understand complex gambling principles and make smart decisions when it comes to gambling.
He's also fully aware of the negative impact gambling can have on people's lives, which is why he pays extremely close attention to providing correct and factual information to the Casino Guru visitors, warning them about potential risks, and providing detailed information on gambling addiction and responsible gambling, with the goal to help players gamble in a more safe and smart way.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Matej Novota](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331634/Matej Novota.jpg?imageDataId=387012×tamp=1665406990000)
Before joining Casino Guru, Matej worked as a software specialist and later as a software engineer. He became a part of our Casino Guru family when our database contained only about 40 online casinos. Not long after joining, Matej played a crucial role in creating our sophisticated online casino review process.Through it, we can rate online casinos in a way that fully reflects their quality, reputation, and attitude towards players. Ever since its inception, Matej has tirelessly worked on improving our data-driven methodology, adapting it to the latest changes in the online gambling ecosystem, and ensuring our casino reviews are the best on the market.
![Petronela Kontos](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331636/Petronela Kontos.jpg?imageDataId=387014×tamp=1665407067000)
![Pan Simon](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331640/Pan Simon.jpg?imageDataId=387018×tamp=1665407139000)
The vision of safer gambling is reflected in everything Casino Guru does, from creating objective casino reviews to going the extra mile to protect people who gamble online. Šimon oversees these areas and makes sure the team's efforts are always in line with the best practices of sustainable and safer gambling and often reach beyond them.
Šimon is also working on two significant projects: the Casino Guru Academy, which focuses on improving industry knowledge through a series of free educational courses focused on various important areas of gambling, and the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative, whose main aim is to create a global self-exclusion system that will effectively reduce gambling-related harm and create an effective barrier between all self-excluded players and further opportunities to play.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Jozef Krucay](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331641/Jozef-Krucay.jpg?imageDataId=387019×tamp=1665407185000)
![Peter Matuska](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331642/Peter-Matuska.jpg?imageDataId=387020×tamp=1665407218000)
![Daniel_D](https://static.casino.guru/pict/350875/Daniel_D.png?imageDataId=409345×tamp=1669131718000)
In Casino Guru, he is responsible for development of a multilingual gambling community forum and he also leads a team that takes care of our social media channels, user reviews and that also provides our newsletter subscribers with relevant information from the gambling industry. Considering his background and previous work experience, he is also available as an advisor to our team that is responsible for dealing with players‘ complaints against casinos.
You can also find him on LinkedIn.
![Danielka](https://static.casino.guru/pict/462945/Danielka.png?imageDataId=527789×tamp=1685020455000)
In her role, Daniela spearheads partnerships with key industry players, ensuring fruitful collaborations that benefit both parties involved. Her keen eye for opportunities and her ability to forge meaningful connections have resulted in successful short-term and long-term projects, such as Casino Guru News or Casino Guru Awards. Daniela's forward-thinking approach has led Casino Guru to embrace new avenues of communication. From webinars to the ever-popular TikTok, she and her team continuously explore fresh and engaging ways to connect with their audience.
You can also find her on LinkedIn.
All judges are masters in their fields, and none of them have any conflict of interest that might interfere with their unbiased and truthful opinions. All data is highly confidential, and no information will be shared with third parties.
![Affpapa](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331652/Affpapa.png?imageDataId=387031×tamp=1665407612000)
![CG News](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331671/CG_News.png?imageDataId=387050×tamp=1665410271000)
Launched in early 2022, Casino Guru News cover the latest events, stories, and updates from the gambling industry, with a focus on online gambling specifically. Covered topics include Finance, Tech and Innovations, Laws and Regulations, Events, Responsible Gambling, etc.
Apart from that, Casino Guru News also bring regular exclusive interviews with industry leaders, expert comments, as well as in-depth articles focusing on analyses and data.
Thanks to their high-quality content and reputation in the online gambling industry, Casino Guru News are one of the most reliable and credible sources of gambling industry news.
![Casino Life & Business Magazine](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331654/Casino-Life-and-Business-Magazine.png?imageDataId=387033×tamp=1665407707000)
It is the only B2B & B2C magazine in the gambling industry in Romania.
The magazine, which appears once a month, contains articles referring to gambling in casinos, describes gambling tactics, offers a full picture of those who experience this mirage and of the places in which this one develops.
Casino Life & Business Magazine is promoter of the casino industry and "gambling" only as an alternative means of entertainment
![Digital Gaming](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331656/Digital-Gaming.png?imageDataId=387035×tamp=1665407828000)
We provide digital services viable growth, managing to quickly scale and position ourselves as the Peruvian news, South America and Europe among other digital solutions.
![The Gamblest](https://static.casino.guru/pict/456945/The_gamblest.png?imageDataId=515717×tamp=1684125351000)
![GBC](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331658/GBC.png?imageDataId=387037×tamp=1665407985000)
![Hipther](https://static.casino.guru/pict/331659/Hipther.png?imageDataId=387038×tamp=1665408021000)
HIPTHER AGENCY is the parent brand of several leading news outlets and international conferences that cover several industries such as Entertainment, Technology, Gaming and Gambling, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, Quantum Technology, Legal Cannabis, Health and Lifestyle, VR/AR, eSports and many more.
Hipther Agency consists of 17 news outlets that cover news from around the world and a portfolio of conferences that cover five continents (North America, Central America, South America, Caribbean and Europe).
For more details visit www.hipther.agency
![iGamingFuture](https://static.casino.guru/pict/461136/iGamingFuture.png?imageDataId=525788×tamp=1684755753000)
Via the medium of design-led content, we provide the industry with unique insights from our industry’s foremost thinkers, encouraging a more proactive approach to growth and mitigating future risk along the way.
![igaming_next](https://static.casino.guru/pict/580466/igaming_next.png?imageDataId=631529×tamp=1696327923000)
![SBC](https://static.casino.guru/pict/596921/SBC.png?imageDataId=651760×tamp=1698051091000)
SBC bring together the best-in-business for the igaming and sports betting sector, spanning across continents to report the latest industry news. They mobilize thousands of senior executives in the industry's hotspots to initiate the right connections to innovate, grow and evolve the sports betting and igaming industry.