Categories and Criteria
The categories for the EGR Italy Awards 2024 have been developed following a thorough research process to ensure they reflect the fast-moving nature of the sector. Each category has its own set of criteria to ensure that entering companies can fully demonstrate why they deserve to win and so that judges can decide on the true standout firm in each category.
AFFILIATE CATEGORIES
Affiliate of the year
Casino affiliate *New for 2024*
Sports betting affiliate *New for 2024*
OPERATOR CATEGORIES
Best product innovation
Casino operator
Customer services operator
Marketing campaign
Mobile operator
Operator of the year
Safer gambling operator
Sports betting operator
SERVICE CATEGORIES
Acquisition and retention partner
Aggregator platform
Casino content supplier
Casino platform supplier
Compliance technology provider
Corporate services supplier
Freeplay gaming supplier
*New for 2024*
Full-service platform provider
*New for 2024*
Mobile supplier
Payments and fraud company
Software supplier
Sports betting supplier
Virtual sports supplier
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Diversity & inclusion model
Employer of the Year
Rising star
| AFFILIATE CATEGORIES |
Affiliate of the year
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:
- Quality and scale of traffic
- Growth
- Innovation
- Strong partner relationships
Casino Affiliate *New for 2024*
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
Sports Affiliate *New for 2024*
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
| OPERATOR CATEGORIES |
Best product innovation
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, innovative use of AI, customer service tools or 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
Casino Operator
This award recognises the casino 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 Italian casino sector as well as one that has provided a high-quality player experience and shown evidence of real growth. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a major consideration.
Key criteria include:
- Growth
- Product quality
- Innovation
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
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 programs, 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
- Use of different channels
- Creativity
- IROI or player recruitment numbers
Mobile operator
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 egaming operators with a mobile 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:
- Revenue growth
- Mobile player numbers and growth
- Product functionality
- Innovation
- Cross-platform strategy
Operator of the year
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. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a major consideration and the winning operator will need to demonstrate a market-leading proposition. 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:
- Scale
- Growth
- Leadership
- Innovation
Safer gambling operator
Judges will award the prize to the operator that has done the most to implement procedures designed to protect their customers with special emphasis on innovative and proactive initiatives. 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
Sports betting operator
This award recognises the 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 Italian sports betting sector as well as one that has provided a high-quality player experience and shown evidence of real growth. It is not a reward for the largest operator, but scale will be a major consideration.
Key criteria include:
- Scale
- Growth
- Leadership
- Innovation
| SERVICE CATEGORIES |
Acquisition and retention partner
This award will be given to the company which has excelled as a customer onboarding and retention partner 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:
- Business growth
- Delivery of brief
- Flexibility
- Understanding customer needs
- Reaction to market challenges
- Reliability of service
Aggregator platform
Judges will award the prize to the aggregator platform that has done the most to provide a range of data and services to the industry, with an emphasis on a strong usability, support and compliance procedures. Judges will reward the aggregator that has provided the best all-round service for operators in the market, allowing customer needs and experience to be at the forefront of strategy.
Key criteria include:
- Scalability and integration
- Jurisdictional compliance Commercial success Stability and flexibility Understanding of customer needs
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
Casino platform supplier
This award will be given to the supplier that has offered the most successful casino product over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the casino 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
Compliance technology provider
Judges will award the company that has provided the most effective, innovative technology allowing operators to ensure compliance throughout their business. Judges will be looking for quality and performance of the technology, customer service, commercial success and innovation in areas such as KYC, geolocation and cybersecurity.
- Scalability and integration
- Commercial success
- Stability and flexibility
- Understanding of customer needs
Corporate services supplier
The judges will reward the provider which has provided a market-leading service or solution for gaming operators in the Italian market. 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
Freeplay gaming supplier *New for 2024*
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 for 2024*
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
Mobile supplier
The judges will reward the supplier who has provided a market leading mobile solution for egaming operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.
Key criteria include:
- User interface and experience
- Product quality
- Commercial success
- Innovation and product differentiation
- Positive feedback from clients
Payments and fraud company
The judges will reward the supplier who has provided a market leading consumer-facing payments or fraud solution for egaming operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.
Key criteria include:
- Innovation
- Reliability of service
- Product quality
- Commercial success
- Positive feedback from clients
Software supplier
The judges will reward the supplier who has provided a market leading consumer-facing software solution for egaming operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.
Key criteria include:
- User interface and experience
- Product quality
- Commercial success
- Innovation and product differentiation
- Positive feedback from clients
Sports betting supplier
The judges will reward the supplier who has provided a market leading sports betting platform or software solution for egaming operators. Entrants will need to provide evidence of commercial success and positive feedback from their clients.
Key criteria include:
- User interface and experience
- Product quality
- Commercial success
- Innovation and product differentiation
- Positive feedback from clients
Virtual sports supplier
The judges will reward the supplier which has provided a market-leading virtual sports 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
| GENERAL CATEGORIES |
Diversity & inclusion model
This award will recognise the operator or affiliate that can demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The award will honour the organisation that puts workforce engagement at the heart of their business strategy, communicating a strategy that provided clear support and inclusion for all.
Key criteria include:
- Details of D&I strategy
- Positive impacts on representation and retention
- Engagement, education, and commitment
Employer of the Year
This award will recognise the operator or affiliate 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 or affiliate 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
Rising star
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
Note: this category is only open to companies that have been established for three years or less.