OPERATOR CATEGORIES

Casino operator

The winner of this award will be the online 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.

Key criteria include:

• Growth and commercial success
• Innovation and differentiation
• Quality of product
• Customer acquisition and retention strategies
• Quality of brand and marketing

Customer services operator 

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

Fantasy & DFS operator ***NEW*** 

The fantasy & DFS operator of the year award will be given to the operator that has operated the most successful offering over the past year. Judges will award the prize for originality, growth and marketing strategy, with special consideration given to innovation. 

Key criteria include:

– Growth and commercial success
– Innovation and differentiation
– Quality of product
– Quality of brand and marketing

Lottery operator

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

Marketing campaign

This rewards the company that has run innovative, intelligent and creative marketing campaigns over the past year. Judges will select a winner based on effective use of banner ads, affiliate programmes, use of SEO and viral marketing, brand advertising and contextual advertising. The award is not for the most effective campaign in terms of ROI, but the financial performance of the campaign or its success in recruiting new players will be a major factor in judging a winner.

Key criteria include:

• Innovation and originality
• Creativity
• ROI or player acquisition numbers

Mobile operator

This award recognizes 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 egaming operators with a mobile product set. 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 mobile products
• Player metrics
• Product quality and functionality
• Innovation and differentiation
• Cross-platform strategy

Operator of the year

This award recognizes 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. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a consideration. Judges will be looking for a winner 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.

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

Poker operator

This award recognizes the operator that has made the biggest impact within the online poker vertical during the previous 12 months. The judges will be looking for evidence of revenue growth, acquisition through the online channel, innovation and strength of product. The winner will be the operator that can demonstrate a successful poker offering with strong functionality and growth.

Key criteria include:

• Growth and commercial success of product
• Strength of brand and player acquisition strategies
• Product quality and functionality
• Innovation and differentiation
• Cross-platform strategy

Social gaming operator

The award will go to the operator that can demonstrate the strongest social gaming offering in the US market through a combination of product, revenue and DAU/MAU growth and leadership within its sector. It’s not an award for the largest operator, but scale will be a consideration. The judges will also look to reward those operators who have shown the most innovation in through product, marketing, and/or technology.

Key criteria include:

• Commercial success and business growth
• MAU/DAU growth and player retention
• Differentiation and originality of product(s)
• Brand strength
• Cross-platform strategy

Sports betting operator

This award recognizes the online sports betting operator that has set the standards for others to follow over the past 12 months. Judges will look for a company that has brought innovation to the US sports betting sector as well as one that has provided a high-quality player experience and shown evidence of real growth via mobile and web. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a major consideration.

Key criteria include:

• Scale and growth
• Innovation and differentiation
• Quality of marketing
• Quality of product

Acquisition and retention partner

This award will be given to the company which has excelled as a marketing partner to egaming operators during the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for tangible evidence of the service delivered, innovative strategies and proven ROI.

Key criteria include:

• Business growth
• Delivery of brief
• Flexibility
• Understanding of customer needs
• Reaction to market challenges

Business advisory partner

The judges will reward the provider which has provided a market-leading service or solution for gaming operators in the US market including general consulting, license applications and legal advisory. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.

Key criteria include:

• Business growth
• Delivery of brief
• Reaction to market challenges
• Reliability of service

Casino content supplier

This award will be given to the supplier that has offered the most successful casino content over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the casino software and related technology, customer service and the company’s commercial success, with special consideration given to innovation.

Key criteria include:

• Product development
• User interface and experience
• Innovation
• Understanding of customer needs

Cloud and IT services partner NEW

This award will be given to the company which has excelled as a Cloud hosting and IT services partner to egaming operators during the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for tangible evidence of the service delivered, innovative strategies and proven results.

Key criteria include:

• Product/service development
• Flexibility
• Reliability of service
• Innovation
• Understanding of customer needs

Marketing campaign

This rewards the company that has run innovative, intelligent and creative marketing campaigns over the past year. Judges will select a winner based on effective use of banner ads, affiliate programmes, use of SEO and viral marketing, brand advertising and contextual advertising. The award is not for the most effective campaign in terms of ROI, but the financial performance of the campaign or its success in recruiting new players will be a major factor in judging a winner.

Key criteria include:

• Innovation and originality
• Creativity
• ROI or player acquisition numbers

Mobile operator

This award recognizes 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 egaming operators with a mobile product set. 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 mobile products
• Player metrics
• Product quality and functionality
• Innovation and differentiation
• Cross-platform strategy

Customer onboarding partner

This award will be given to the company which has excelled as a as a customer onboarding partner to egaming operators during the past 12 months. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients. This category is open to PR firms, marketing agencies and CRM service providers.

Key criteria include:

• Product/service development
• Reliability and security of service
• Flexibility and ease of use
• Reaction to market challenges

Freeplay gaming supplier

This award will be given to the supplier that has been the most successful freeplay gaming partner over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the freeplay software and related technology, marketing, customer service and the company’s commercial success, with special consideration given to innovation.

Key criteria include:

• Commercial success
• Product development
• Product integration and delivery
• Product flexibility

Full-service platform provider NEW

This award will be given to the supplier that has offered the most successful full-service product over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the platform and related technology, customer service and the company’s commercial success, with special consideration given to innovation.

Key criteria include:

• Scalability and integration
• Commercial success
• Stability and flexibility
• Understanding of customer needs

Lottery supplier

The judges will reward the supplier which has provided a market-leading lottery solution for operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.

Key criteria include:

• Product integration and delivery
• Product quality, reliability and flexibility
• Commercial success
• Innovation

M&A partner NEW

The judges will reward the M&A partner that has stood out from the crowd for their services to online gaming operators in the US market. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.

Key criteria include:

• Delivery of brief
• Involvement in significant business innovation or notable work
• Reaction to market challenges
• Commercial success

Payments provider NEW

This award will be given to the company which has excelled as a payments provider to egaming operators during the past 12 months. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.

Key criteria include:

• Product/service development and innovation
• Reaction to market challenges and understanding customer needs
• Reliability of service
• Business growth

Sports betting supplier

The judges will reward the supplier which has provided a market-leading retail or online solution for operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.

Key criteria include:

• Back office/reporting
• Product development
• User interface and experience
• Commercial success
• Understanding customer needs

Sportsbook platform provider

The judges will reward the supplier which has provided a market-leading retail or online sportsbook platform to their operator clients. The winning provider will have shown extraordinary commercial success along with offering the most up-to-date technology to their customers. The winning company will also show leading products that last the test of time in terms of quality and usability.

Key criteria include:

• Scalability and integration
• Jurisdictional compliance
• Commercial success
• Stability and flexibility
• Understanding of customer needs

Affiliate of the year

The judges will reward the affiliate that has stood out from the pack in a competitive US-facing egaming 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 in the US, 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

Best new game

Best new game is intended to recognise the game studio that has produced the stand-alone game that made the biggest impact during the past 12 months. The award is open to any operator, independent studio, major supplier or in-house team. This is not an award for the game that generated the largest amount of revenue, but revenue generation will be a key factor. Special consideration will be given to innovation, marketing value, product quality and games that provided cut-through in a crowded market.

Best product innovation

The award will be presented to the company that is able to demonstrate the most impressive and business changing innovation of the last 12 months across one or more of the main product verticals, sectors, marketing and/or technology. In particular judges will look for an idea, product or technology that has delivered business growth, additional revenue and profitability for the operator in question over the course of the last 12 months

US Rising star

The award will go to a company of up to two years in existence in the US market, including brand new companies and ones already live outside of the US, which, despite being new to the North American market, 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. This category is open to operators, affiliates and service providers.

Key criteria include:

• Greatest promise
• Innovation and differentiation
• Growth and commercial success
• Profitability

Please note: This category is only open to online companies that have been live for two years or less in the US market. This category can not be won by a previous winner

Safer gambling provider NEW

Judges will award the prize to the operator or service provider 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 companies 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

Standout charitable effort of the year ***New***

The Standout charitable effort of the year category will recognise the company that has made the biggest impact in 2020 to exemplify best practice and deliver sustainable benefit to communities and society in general. To vote for the Standout charitable effort of the year category at the 2021 EGR North America Awards, you must have been shortlisted for one of the other categories. This category is open to all types of companies within the gaming industry including suppliers, operators and affiliates. Please ensure that you have carefully read the information on each entry and the entry criteria below.

Key criteria include:

-Objectives
-Strategy
-Impact

Explain in a maximum of 1000 words why you think that your business should win the Award, giving supporting examples and evidence to illustrate your answer. Please ensure that you have carefully read the judging criteria and that your answer covers each of the points outlined in the criteria. 

Should your entry be shortlisted, this statement will appear on the online voting form provided to the shortlisted companies to help them select a winner (please note that the online vote will not be private, so do not provide any confidential information in this statement that you do not wish to be viewed by the shortlistees).