As the Casino Guru Awards 2025 are fast approaching, we have had the opportunity to catch up with Simon Vincze, one of the judges and Casino Guru's own Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling to speak about the event, its evolution, and the hosting of a physical edition of the awards for the very first time. Vincze has shared the response to the awards and how companies have approached the format. He also reflects on the challenges and successes of reinventing industry awards, emphasizing the need for transparency and integrity. Read the full interview to find out more about the Casino Guru Awards 2025 below.

Q: Simon, it’s great to have you with us. As the Casino Guru Awards 2025 approaches, and given your role as the host of the previous two editions, how are you feeling about the upcoming live ceremony, which will take place in-person at Malta?

Obviously, I am very excited about that. For the last two annuals, we held the ceremony as a live stream, which was quite innovative but also demanding and exhausting, especially for me, as I was in the spotlight for three hours in the studio. I feel like moving towards a physical event is a natural development, and it opens up many more opportunities for us, but also for the competing companies. Furthermore, people are used to awards ceremonies as black tie events. I welcome this move very much, and I'm looking forward to the live ceremony in Malta

Q: What have the previous two editions taught you about the nature of award ceremonies in general? Are companies embracing them openly, or is there still some hesitation among participants?

The last two ceremonies have shown that companies are embracing them because our rate of shortlisted companies on live stream was nearly 90%. Given the fact that we had more than eight categories with fifty people joining in and out during a three-hour-long live streaming, I think it's quite remarkable. Even though it poses a certain risk or a threat for people to join in with their cameras for a live stream, the attendance has proven that these companies are keen to step out of their comfort zone and be there to compete for the prize.

Q: How do you hope the Casino Guru Awards will differ from the many other industry award ceremonies already in place? What aspects of the format make it stand out and position it as a benchmark for the industry?

I am pretty sure it already is different, especially in how nominations are judged. For every nomination that makes it to the shortlist in any category, the shortlisted company will have a remote call in the form of an interview with the judges to showcase why they should be the winner. Judges can ask questions and probe deeper, which provides a very transparent way of making the decision. Additionally, given that the categories focus on sustainable and safer gambling, these awards stand out from the majority of awards out there focused on the commercial side. Is a vital part of doing business in online gambling, but so is the reduction of gambling-related harm.

However, there hasn’t been anything solely recognizing companies that go above and beyond in this area

Q: The Casino Guru Awards have placed significant emphasis on reinventing the way such awards are held, and more importantly, how they are judged. Do you think the project has succeeded in achieving this goal?

I see that the current status quo of industry awards is in crisis. People are losing their faith in awards integrity. The Casino Guru Awards aims to bring back the essence of what awards should represent—recognising the true leaders. It requires shifting away from the revenue generation model and focusing more on real results, real contributions from companies, and recognizing those efforts in a transparent way. It takes some time to establish this format back in the gambling industry, but I see that it is gaining traction.

Q: Simon, having dedicated much of your professional life to improving the industry, particularly in the area of consumer safety, do you think the Casino Guru Awards has been successful in promoting the core message that ethics and responsibility in gambling should be defining principles?

We see a sharp increase in submitted nominations and partners year to year. Our awards stand alone in this fundamental part of online gambling. Activities around sustainability and safer gambling will define businesses in the years to come. The fact that more and more companies from less regulated jurisdictions are competing in such categories and showcasing how they go beyond the requirements of their regulations proves this importance. I believe we are making a change, especially in areas where it motivates companies to take that extra step to be recognized for their efforts in protecting players.

Q: There have been many outstanding applicants vying for recognition in the Casino Guru Awards. What advice would you give to incoming applicants to help them better understand the demanding nature of the awards project and embrace it as a meaningful standard to aspire to?

I my advice would be to focus on things that you do uniquely as a company and emphasise the impact you are achieving. From my experience, this is what the judges are primarily interested in—seeing the actual results of your actions. The interviews with the judges allow to see and feel the attitude of people behind the brand, so it is important to prepare well for the presentation, as it allows you to showcase more. That said, it also poses a threat if you are not well-prepared, as some questions might find you off-guard. We are humans, so it's fair to say that a good impression during the call can go a long way.

Image credit: Casino Guru News