Amusnet’s celebrity slot, Stoichkov #8, is the Online Game of the Year at the BEGE Awards 2024. For the 15th time, the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria, honour the outstanding contributions of companies, organizations, and individuals driving positive growth within the gaming industry.

Stoichkov #8, a 5-reel, 40 fixed-pay-lines video slot, is the result of the company’s partnership with football legend Hristo Stoichkov. It brings together the worlds of gaming and football, celebrating the legacy of a true icon known for his dynamic playing style and intense competitive drive. Since its launch in June 2024, it has gained significant recognition, ranking among the top products in markets such as Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, and Argentina.

The provider’s outstanding presence at the 15th Balkan Entertainment & Gaming Expo, Amusnet, featured a well-curated selection across Online Casino, Live Casino and Land-based verticals. A major focus of the expo was presenting the Type S premium slot cabinets, which gained attention, together with AMUSeBOX – the multigame available for the slot machines featuring 52 internally developed casino titles. Games both available in Online Casino and sType S series are top performers like 20 Golden Coins, Deco, 40 Bulky Fruits, and Fruits & Gold, as well as Virtual 500x Vegas Roulette, Virtual 120x Space Roulette, and Virtual 72x Monaco Roulette.

Amusnet’s stand proved to be a premium hub of entertainment, with visits from many industry stakeholders and Bulgaria’s most famous gaming streamers. It emphasizes the company’s commitment to engaging with varied audiences and aligning its offerings with local preferences and broader market trends.

The 15th edition of BEGExpo drew over 85 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from across Europe and beyond; it highlighted cutting-edge innovations, including advanced slot machines, AI-driven analytics, and digital gaming advancements. For Amusnet, the 15th Balkan Entertainment & Gaming Expo offered a valuable platform to engage with industry leaders and stakeholders, strengthening the company’s role in advancing growth within the Balkan gaming market. As a leading provider in the region, the company leveraged the expo to strengthen its connections within the gaming community, aligning with BEGE’s emphasis on regional legacy and global recognition.

Casino Guru is proud to announce the addition of two distinguished industry professionals, Duncan Garvie and Monica Shafaq, to the panel of judges for the upcoming Casino Guru Awards 2025.

The Casino Guru Awards 2025, now in their third edition, celebrate excellence, transparency, and social responsibility in the iGaming industry. With Duncan and Monica joining the judging panel, the awards continue to uphold their commitment to fairness and integrity.

Meet the New Judges

Duncan Garvie – Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker

Duncan Garvie has been a leading advocate for consumer protection in the gambling industry for over a decade. As the founder of ThePOGG, the first affiliate-based complaint service approved as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider, Duncan has pioneered initiatives to improve player safety and resolve disputes fairly. In 2017, he founded BetBlocker, a registered charity offering free tools to help individuals manage their gambling habits. Today, he continues to champion responsible gambling as Chair of the Board of Trustees for BetBlocker.

Duncan shared his enthusiasm for the role, stating:

“I’m thrilled to participate as a judge for the Casino Guru Awards 2025. Casino Guru has been setting the bar for the affiliate sector with their player protection initiatives for years now, which have significantly improved the dialogue around several key areas in the safer gambling space. Being invited to take part in the judging process is an honour in itself.”

Monica Shafaq – CEO of Gordon Moody

Monica Shafaq brings a wealth of experience from the charity sector, with a focus on mental health and gambling addiction. Since January 2024, Monica has served as CEO of Gordon Moody, an international charity addressing gambling addiction and raising awareness. Previously, as CEO of the Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Monica led the organisation to multiple accolades, including inclusion in The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For.

Beyond her charity work, Monica is a recognised leader in promoting equality, diversity, and social justice through various non-executive roles in football and public health. Her dedication has earned her recognition as one of Europe’s Top 50 most influential Muslims.

Monica expressed her excitement, saying:

“I’m thrilled to join the panel of judges for the Casino Guru Awards 2025, an initiative that celebrates excellence and innovation in the gambling industry. This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the individuals and organisations driving positive change and promoting responsible practices. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow judges and contributing to the selection of outstanding nominees and winners.”

About the Casino Guru Awards 2025

The Casino Guru Awards continue to set high standards in the iGaming industry by recognising achievements across categories such as fairness, responsible gambling, and social responsibility. This year’s event introduces two new categories:

• Players’ Choice: Empowering players to vote for their favorite game provider.
• iGaming Changemaker of the Year: Honouring individuals whose leadership and projects have significantly influenced the online gambling sector.

The awards will culminate in a live ceremony on June 6, 2025, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in St. Julian’s, Malta. This invite-only gala promises an unforgettable evening of recognition, networking, and celebration.

The Casino Guru Awards 2025 welcomes nominations until February 28, 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be announced in March, with the public voting for select categories opening soon after.

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2024 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.

More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.

The eighth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 20 categories. Notable winners on the evening included Betsson Group, Mindway AI, and Paysafe, each winning two awards. Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Jessica Feil of OpenBet, named Compliance Professional of the Year, and Laura McAllister Cox of Rush Street Interactive, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year. “A big thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Global Regulatory Awards event in London. Vixio has been proud to host independently judged awards for the last eight years. Our selection process ensures that each winner is the best in class and has displayed clear dedication to trustworthy gambling and regulatory compliance, so huge congratulations to all the winners.” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio.

Docaposte, Draft Kings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates, Scientific Games, and charity partner Ygam were among the sponsors for this year’s Global Regulatory Awards. The 2025 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will take place on November 19th, returning to the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

The official 2024 winners are as follows:

AML or MLR Professional of the Year – Brian Doran, Metropolitan Gaming

Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator – Betsson Group

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year – Laura McAllister Cox, Rush Street Interactive

Compliance Innovator of the Year – Mindway AI

Compliance Professional of the Year – Jessica Feil, OpenBet

Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award – David Rebuck

Compliance Rising Star Special Award – Jamie Delaney, Apricot

Compliance Team of the Year – Betsson Group

Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year – Martin Lycka, Entain

Legal Team of the Year – Paysafe

Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling – Flutter Entertainment

Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity – Entain

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling – Paul Buck, EPIC Global Solutions

Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year – Paysafe

RegTech Provider of the Year – Mindway AI

Regulatory Initiative of the Year – National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program, idPair

Regulatory Law Firm of the Year – Bird & Bird

Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year – Sue Dawson, Light & Wonder

Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BetBuddy by Playtech

Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year – BMM Testlabs