| JUDGING CRITERIA |
Explain in a maximum of 1000 words why you think that your business should win the Award, giving supporting examples and evidence to illustrate your answer. Please ensure that you have carefully read the judging criteria for your chosen category (see below) and that your answer covers each of the points outlined in the criteria. Please submit any supporting material together with your entry form.
You will need to complete a separate entry form for each category that you wish to enter.
Please note that the judging period is from March 1 2015 – February 29 2016.
Supplier and Services categories
OPERATOR CATEGORIES
Acquisition strategy
The
award will go to the operator that can demonstrate it has
run the most innovative and effective customer acquisition campaign.
Key criteria include:
• Commercial success and growth in active and depositing customers
• Evidence of strategic and technological innovation
• Integration of campaign into overall branding
• Understanding of customer requirements
Best new game
Best new game is intended to recognise the game studio that has produced the stand-alone game that made the biggest impact during 2015. 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.
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:
• Scale
• Growth
• Brand and product
• Innovation
Fantasy sports operator
The fantasy sports 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:
• Revenue growth
• Player numbers and growth
• Product functionality
• Innovation
• Cross-platform strategy
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 programmes, 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
• ROI or player acquisition numbers
Mobile gaming product
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 set. 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
Online horse race wagering operator
The online horse race wagering operator of the year award will be given to the company that can demonstrate a highly successful 12 months. Judges will award the prize for financial success, customer growth, marketing strategy, and quality of product, with special consideration given to innovation.
Key criteria include:
• Revenue growth
• 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 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:
• Scale
• Diversity of product
• Growth
• Leadership
• Innovation
Poker operator
The poker operator of the year award will be given to the operator that has operated the most successful real-money poker 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/liquidity
• Differentiation
• Innovation
• On and offline marketing
Social bingo operator
The award will go to the operator that can demonstrate the social bingo offering that has stood out from the pack in the previous twelve months through a combination of product, marketing and operational excellence. Special consideration will be given to 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
Social 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
Social poker operator
The award will go to the operator that can demonstrate the social poker offering that has stood out from the pack in the previous twelve months through a combination of product, marketing and operational excellence. Special consideration will be given to 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
Social slots operator
The award will go to the operator that has achieved cut-through in the competitive social slots market place through innovation in product, marketing, and/or technology. Special consideration will be given to game design and user experience, but scale and commercial success will be a key factor in judging the winner.
Key criteria include:
• Innovative use of gaming mechanics
• Quality and differentiation of product(s)
• Ability to demonstrate player acquisition and retention and a high conversion rate
• Innovative use of marketing channels to drive growth
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
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
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
Payments company
This award will be given to the supplier that has offered the best payments service over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the service and related technology, customer service and the company’s commercial success, with special consideration given to innovation.
Key criteria include:
• Product/service development
• Reaction to market challenges
• Innovation
• Reliability of service
• Understanding customer needs
• Business growth
Poker software supplier
This award will be given to the supplier that has offered the most successful poker product over the past year. Judges will award the prize for the quality and performance of the poker software and related technology, customer service and the company’s commercial success, with special consideration given to innovation.
Key criteria include:
• Product integration and delivery
• Innovation
• Understanding of customer needs
• Reaction to market challenges
