2024 Categories & criteria
The categories for the EGR North America 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.
Please note that all categories will be judged on results from the period of April 2023 - March 2024 inclusive.
AFFILIATE CATEGORY
Affiliate of the year
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Best new game
Best product innovation
Diversity & inclusion model
Employer of the year
US Rising star
OPERATOR CATEGORIES
Casino operator
Customer services operator
Fantasy & DFS operator
Marketing campaign
Operator of the year
Safer gambling operator
Social gaming operator
Sports betting operator
SUPPLIER AND SERVICE CATEGORIES
Acquisition and retention partner
Business advisory partner
Casino content supplier
Cloud and IT services partner
Compliance technology provider
Freeplay gaming supplier
Full-service platform provider
Lottery supplier
Payments provider
Safer gambling supplier
Sports betting supplier
Sportsbook platform provider
AFFILIATES CATEGORY
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, 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 the 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
GENERAL CATEGORY
Best new game
Best new game is intended to recognize 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.
Diversity & inclusion model
This award will recognize the operator or affiliate that can demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The award will honor the organization 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 recognize the operator or affiliate that can demonstrate its commitment to organizational 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
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
Please note: This category is only open to online companies that have been live for two years or less in the US market, and must be a standalone company rather than a new brand or product. This category can not be won by a previous winner
Key criteria include:
Greatest promise
Innovation and differentiation
Growth and commercial success
Profitability
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
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
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
Creativity
ROI or player acquisition numbers
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
Safer gambling operator
Judges will award the operator that has the most effective procedures in place to protect their customers. The winner will be rewarded for best-in-class 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:
Advancement of research in gambling
Age verification
Problem gambling assistance
Problem gambling safeguards
CRM for problem gamblers
KYC procedures
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
SUPPLIER AND SERVICE CATEGORIES
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
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
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.
Key criteria include:
Scalability and integration
Commercial success
Stability and flexibility
Understanding of customer needs
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
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
Payments provider
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 of customer needs
Reliability of service
Business growth
Safer gambling supplier
Judges will award the prize to the supplier that has offered the most outstanding solutions for improved responsible gambling over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of RG tools and related technology, customer service, commercial success and with special consideration for innovation.
Key criteria include:
Product/service development
Understanding of customer needs
Innovation
Reaction to market challenges
Integration and delivery
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
Ensuring excellence is recognised
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 were required to sign a disclaimer form to keep all submitted information and the winners confidential, and were obliged to declare that they have no conflicts of interest prior to judging.
The EGR North America Awards voting process will be officiated by accountancy giant Deloitte
The adjudication by a third-party continues to be a part of EGR's pledge to make the judging process the most stringent in the industry. This ensured that the judging process is completely transparent, and the winners will clearly demonstrate the innovation and commercial success required to be rewarded with this honour.
