IGAMING IDOL – DELIVERING THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD SHOW IN GAMBLING

As thousands of visitors descend upon Malta for the annual iGaming NEXT Valletta conference, the visit is particularly special for a select few. During the event, members of the gaming community look forward to iGaming IDOL, a prestigious award show that’s been in place since 2018. iGaming IDOL was established to give go-getting individuals a chance to be recognised for their hard work to drive success in the ever-changing iGaming industry.

Something that sets iGaming IDOL apart from other award shows is its earnest focus on people, rather than companies and their profits. It’s an award show that pays tribute to the innovators, leaders and dedicated personnel who keep the iGaming world turning. For those nominated to win one of the prestigious awards, the week offers a chance to have their dedication and talent celebrated by hundreds of their peers, as well as the opportunity to take home one of the most notoriously hard-to-bag accolades in the industry.

In preparation for this year’s event, the expert panel of iGaming IDOL judges – who stand between the nominees and their coveted prizes – faced the Herculean task of whittling down a record-breaking list of names to determine the winners. Nominations are completely open, so that anyone in the industry can put forward the names of their colleagues, employees or peers to be in with a shot. This year, the judges had quite the pick of the crop, with well over a thousand industry figures to choose from… and just a handful of awards to give out. We had the pleasure of speaking to the driving force behind iGaming IDOL, Gabija Jasineviciute, the Events Manager whose full-time occupation has her overseeing every aspect of the event; from gathering the database of nominees to the evening’s itinerary. Her entire year revolves around this prestigious ceremony: twelve months from April leading up to this soirée. She speaks with great passion about the endeavour, and she herself gets swept up by all the excitement. “I get so excited on behalf of the nominees towards the final ceremony. I’d know the results, but part of my job is to keep my lips sealed and not let on who the winner is as I invite them all to attend.”

Gabija has full disclosure of who’s been nominated and by whom. However, nominees are never informed as to who’s put their name forward. There are 26 award categories which cover all facets of the industry, from Casino Dealer Idol of the Year to CEO of the Year. Each and every nominee faces a rigorous judging process led by seasoned industry experts. Each category is assigned a panel of three judges, who grill the nominees as they attempt to prove themselves worthy of the title. The judging process is independently audited to ensure a fair result, and winners are selected solely based on the evidence of their talent, hard work and dedication.

Pierre Lindh Managing Director, Ambassadör Events, iGaming NEXT

Martin Pettersson Co-founder / Head of Sales, Ambassadör Events iGaming NEXT

To give you an idea of the enormity of this event, nominees can be selected from anywhere in the world; this is not a localised selection, but as global one. Nominees who’ve been shortlisted make every effort possible to fly over to Malta for the awards, dressed to the nines and ready to shine. It’s not always possible for them to make it, so Gabija asks each candidate to record a speech of thanks, just in case… While the process is audited to ensure transparency, the shortlisted nominees only discover whether they have emerged victorious on the night of the actual ceremony.

This year, the awards took place at Malta’s prestigious Xara Lodge, perhaps the island’s most highly respected venue. This is a glamorous black-tie event that offers industry figures the opportunity to come together in celebration of their hard work over the past 12 months, as they hang up their proverbial tools for the night and let their hair down. As fine wines flow and top-class cuisine is enjoyed amidst a sea of formal outfits and hopeful faces, the tension builds for each category’s three shortlisted nominees, who await the verdict. This year’s show was presented by some of the most recognisable faces in iGaming – entrepreneur and investor Michael Caselli and renowned industry reporter, Rebecca Liggero Fontana. This dynamic duo revealed the nominees who didn’t make it to first place, and graced the winners with their prizes.

Still, from the thousands of nominations received, to make the shortlist in any given category at iGaming IDOL is a serious achievement in and of itself. The show is built on many of the same foundational pillars as its sister event, iGaming NEXT Valletta: fairness, transparency and inclusion, as well as a fierce dedication to recognising the hard work of the people who make up the iGaming industry.

And this year, one such person walked away with a very special accolade.

Betsson AB CEO Pontus Lindwall – a stalwart of the industry who was instrumental in setting up some of iGaming’s most recognisable and successful brands – was the 2022 inductee to the iGaming IDOL Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame celebrates those who are now considered legends by recognising outstanding achievements and lifetime contributions to the sector. Lindwall, who helped build both NetEnt and Betsson into industry leaders, was awarded with the induction this year in recognition of his exceptional dedication to the sector, and as someone who’s had a profound impact on the industry throughout his career.

The next iGaming IDOL Awards Show will take place in 2023, and will return once again to the Xara Lodge for a night of celebration.