Gambling.com's American Gambling Awards returns after two-year Covid hiatus

iGaming player acquisition services provider Gambling.com Group announced Wednesday the return of the American Gambling Awards after pausing the program in 2021 due to Covid-19. The awards will culminate with an exclusive, private VIP dinner celebration at New York’s Carbone Restaurant, the group said.

In a press release, the company explained that the event will feature 12 award categories recognizing the regulated operators active in the U.S. market, as well as industry service providers, policymakers, attorneys, regulators, and others who "play a vital role in developing the American online gambling market."

The nominations for each award category will be evaluated by "a panel of distinguished expert judges," all of whom have U.S.-specific experience. New this year, the 2022 program will recognize winners with individual, personalized announcements in lieu of a traditional awards event. 

@gambling_group today launched the 2022 edition of the American Gambling Awards, with nominations open via the awards website through Sept. 30, 2022.

The awards, which originated in 2019, are the first dedicated exclusively to the U.S. market and exclusively to online gambling. pic.twitter.com/rCyB7fPv0e

— Gambling.com Group (@gambling_group) August 31, 2022

Gambling.com Group will host American Gambling Awards winners, judges, and other invited partners at the renowned Carbone restaurant in New York City, in December. The intimate celebration will serve as a culmination of the program and will commemorate a year of remarkable industry success, the group said.

As with previous years, winners will receive the American Gambling Awards’ Golden Eagle trophies, engraved with their details. Produced by Society Awards -the firm that produces the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys- Gambling.com Group describes the Golden Eagle trophy as an 11-inch, gold-plated, cast-pewter statuette of an American Bald Eagle, "proudly resting in front of a pile of casino chips."

Charles Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of Gambling.com Group, said: "I am really excited to relaunch the American Gambling Awards. It is so important that the good work of all of the key players in this industry is recognized – especially on the policy side. As more states regulate, it is critical that policymakers look to past successes rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel."

"The American Gambling Awards is meant to shine a light on the public policy that delivers, guiding future policymakers to the approaches that we believe work best for consumers. We look forward to a fabulous evening at Carbone to celebrate not only the winners but the great momentum in the American online gambling industry," he added.

Nominations for the 12 award categories are now open. Other key dates include:

• September 30, 2022 – Nominations due
• October 5, 2022 – Finalists announced
• November 1, 2022 – Winners announced
• December 1, 2022 – Invitation-only winners' dinner at Carbone

The American Gambling Awards launched in 2019 "as the first awards program dedicated exclusively to the online gambling market in the United States." The 2022 program is set to celebrate "the significant growth and increased cultural acceptance that regulated, betting and gaming has enjoyed over the past four years, expanding to more than 30 states – with more expected to come online soon."