2012 marks the third year of the EGR B2B Awards with the event being held last night, May 10, in the Atrium at London’s Wembley Stadium.

The event, as you can expect, was full of industry professionals – including our very own Becky Liggero – a lot of whom mingled, chatted, and talked shop about the year that was and the year moving forward. From the cocktail reception to the open bar at the beginning of the night, to the 3-course dinner and the special, albeit amusing, ventriloquist performance, all the way to the awards ceremony, the 2012 EGR B2B Awards was definitely one for the books.

And as for the winners and all the other nominees in their respective categories, we at CalvinAyre.com raise our glasses to all of you for a job well done in 2011. Just like all our peers in the business, we look forward to a bigger and better 2012, one wherein we take this industry to never-before-reached levels.

Check out the list of winners at the 2012 EGR B2B Awards for both the “Software/Network Categories” and the “Service Categories” below.

Software / Network Categories

Affiliate software of the year: NetRefer

White label partner of the year: SpotOption

Bingo network of the year: PlayTech

Bingo supplier of the year: GTECH G2

Innovation in bingo: mkodo

Skill games supplier of the year: GameAccount Network

RNG casino supplier of the year: Microgaming

Slot provider of the year: Playtech

Live casino supplier of the year: Evolution Gaming

Innovation in slot provision: Net Entertainment

Innovation in RNG casino software: Net Entertainment

Lottery software supplier of the year award: GTECH G2

Poker network of the year: Playtech

Poker software of the year: Dragonfish

Sports betting supplier of the year: OpenBet

Innovation in sports betting software: Sporting Solutions

Mobile supplier of the year: Mobenga

Innovation in mobile: Scratchino

Social gaming supplier of the year: NextGen Gaming

Software rising star of the year: Sporting Solutions

Service Categories

Recruiter of year: Pentasia Recruitment

Best customer service of the year: Itex

Datacenter of the year: Continent 8 Technologies

Fraud & compliance solution of the year: Experian

Payments company of the year: Ukash

Mobile payment solution of the year: OpenMarket

Innovation in payments solutions: Optimal Payments

Corporate services provider of the year: WorldPay

IT supplier of the year: Computrad (Europe)

IT vendor of the year: Geo Networks

Acquisition partner of the year: PokerStrategy.com

Retention partner of the year: Initial Rewards

Services rising star of the year: Initial Rewards

Business News

The awards take place June 22 and promises to be an excellent way to showcase the women who are the backbone of the gaming industry. The event will bring together the best and brightest to recognize the nominees and congratulate the winners for their outstanding achievements in the industry.

At CalvinAyre.com, we are big supporters of women in the gaming industry and we will be the official video media sponsor of this year’s event. If this year’s WIG is anything like last year, it will be a fun night that you won’t want to miss.

Here is the list of nominees for the 2011 Women in Gaming Awards.

HIDDEN TALENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award goes to the woman whose contribution may not always be visible to everyone but has been invaluable and is highly appreciated by the group/organization.

Amanda Briggs – Sportingbet
Angelika Koller – Sportingbet
Claire Conroy – Paddy Power
Deirdre Curran – Parlay Entertainment Inc.
Ewa Kwiatkowska – Unibet
Francesca Rizzo – Betfair
Janet Viippola – Interactive Gaming Council (IGC)
Laura Nolan – LN Consulting
Magdalena Biernat-Heikkinen – Betfair
Manuela Brasacchio – Lottomatica
Stephanie Cheung – Melco Crown Entertainment
Odette Pretorius – PKR
Rookaya Saleem Fernandez – bwin.party
Robin Becker – Euro Partners
Teresa Tunstall – Gamcare

STAR OF THE FUTURE
This award recognises the enthusiasm and dedication of someone who represents the positive future of the gaming industry.

Anna Conley – William Hill Online
Aurora Merino Salas – WebGamingSolutions
Denise Roche – Paddy Power
Emma Lindley – GB Group
Erika Schwartz – PKR
Laura Craddock – Casino Product Manager, Rank Interactive
Maxine Gibbons – GM, Blackpool Grosvenor
Constance Hsu – Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Nicola Siveyer – Sky Betting & Gaming
Patricia Doran – Paddy Power
Rachel Ryan – Betfair
Sharneet Birk – bwin.party
Susan Mcguirk – Virgin Games
Zoe Evans – Mecca Bingo

LEADER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to all female leaders working in the gaming industry. She can be a team leader, manager, director, CEO, and the like.

Britt Boeskov – Unibet
Celia Ho – CEO, Limelight Company
Christina Thakor-Rankin – Virgin Games
Delaney Gordon – GM, Grosvenor Casino Piccadilly
Jennifer Weissman -  Harrah’s Entertainment
Kathy Swindley – bwin.party
Louise Amos – BskyB
Lyndsey Barrett – Ritz Club Casino
Michelle Cummins- Casinos Austria International
Michelle Winfield – GM, Mecca Huddersfield Mecca Bingo
Patti S. Hart – International Game Technology
Sue Price – GM, Bury New Road Grosvenor
Susan Luke – OpenBet
Tamara Yaniv – Director, B2C Poker
Tracey Collins – Grosvenor Casinos Ltd
Wendeen H. Eolis – EOLIS wendeen eolis ent.

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Any team led by a woman that contributed to the company’s success has a shot at winning this award.

Celia Ho – CEO, Limelight Company
Claire Osborne – Head of Bingo & Games Rank Interactive
Daniela Attard – Poker Affiliate Team, Betfair
Debbie Lawrence – Head of Fraud, Betfair
Kathy Swindley – HR team, bwin.party
Michela Bianchi  – Mangas Gaming Betclic
Raffaela Eschert – Unibet
Tammy Schuiling & Shara Tamagi – Chartwell
Tracey Collins – GM, Grosvenor Casinos Ltd. Southampton

INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an individual for their commitment to encouraging, advancing and/or championing the progress and development of women working in the gaming industry.

Bibiana Woschitz-Bieder- Casinos Austria International
Ellen Learmonth – Mini Vegas Affiliates
Ms. Constance Hsu – Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Natasha Swanston – Head of Outbound Sales, Betfair
Nicky Clements – GM, Genting Casinos
Nicky Senyard – Income Access
Onika Russell – Ladbrokes

AFFILIATE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the woman whose leadership skills make her stand out from her peers.

Charlotte Barnett – Betfair
Claire Tribert – Affiliate Manager, Sportingbet
Daniela Attard – Betfair
Pallavi Deshmukh – bwin.party

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
This award goes to the woman who has contributed to the transformation of the business in an unconventional or innovative way.

Adele Lawton – Head of Jackpotjoy, Gamesys
Annie Melnic – Betfair
Jo Hindle -  Sales Manager, Blackpool Grosvenor
Laura Probert – bwin.party
Noa Wolfson – AspireGlobal (Neogames)
Tracy Cohen – TCSJOHNHUXLEY EUROPE

MAN CHAMPIONING WOMAN IN BUSINESS
This award goes to the man in the business that is either a company leader or innovator that has, over the last year, shown a commitment to progress the development of women in business.

Andrew Mciver – Sportingbet
Andrew Love – Ritz London
Gary Loveman – Caesars Entertainment
Jim Ryan – bwin.party
Lawrence Ho – Melco Crown Entertainment
Paul Benton – Grosvenor

From top to bottom the nominations list is full of amazing and admirable women.  CalvinAyre.com would like to salute the nominees and wish everyone good luck.

Conference News

More than any other this season has been one that is entirely unpredictable meaning that those picking up the Professional Football Association Player of the Year award and the Football Writers Award are still as unknown as they were at the start of the season. Usually there’s one man standing out in front of the pack but this year’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Thierry Henry hasn’t materialized.

What of the contenders though…

League leaders Manchester United may well have two players on the shortlist and the one most likely to win the award is the stone faced centre half Nemanja Vidic. Sir Alex Ferguson has a huge debt to pay to the Serbian and without him for the run-in they could easily fade from the spotlight.

The second player in the red shirt of United is Portuguese Ronaldo-wannabe Nani. After opening his career at Old Trafford as a frustrating understudy to soccer’s best pouter he has grown into the position this year and been United’s most dangerous player going forward.

Second placed side Arsenal possess a young midfielder who might just upset all the odds and grab one of the trophies. Jack Wilshere has been giving opponents nightmares and, although it was only Wales, his performance in central midfield for England this past weekend was a joy to behold. He may be considered slightly too youthful to pick up the award but he’d be a worthy winner.

You’d also be hard pressed to deny two of Tottenham’s precocious talents in midfield a chance at taking home one of the gongs. A snip at £8million, Rafael van der Vaart added something that Spurs were sorely missing – a truly world class talent. The attacking midfielder has chipped in with vital goals in a number of crucial games and formed a good partnership with Peter Crouch.

The other player at The Lane, who slips under the radar at times, is midfielder Luka Modric. The little Croatian is constantly praised by gaffer ‘arry Redknapp and you’d imagine if they lost him their team would be a very different one.

A final honorable mentioned should go to a player who has taken the league by storm, Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam. If it wasn’t for the wily Scot, Ian Hollyway’s Seasiders would be well adrift in the league’s bottom three and if they do end up staying up then Adam would be a more than worthy winner of the award.

Sports News

Check out the after party review and pictures here.

Conference News

One company exhibiting at both of the week’s conferences was the award-winning B2B arm of 888, Dragonfish, who today revealed that they received an award at a ceremony on Friday night. At the 2011 BingoPort.co.uk Players’ Choice Awards, in London, Dragonfish was named the provider of the “Most Popular Online Bingo Software.” Bingo players voted for the awards – which means those ladies you see down the local Gala bingo with a dobber probably voted.

Dragonfish has already been busy rubber-stamping yet more deals this year, a sign up with Mandalay Media Group already agreed early this month.

In between popping champagne corks, and whooping loudly, David Zerah, Managing Director, Dragonfish, said: “Dragonfish aims to provide software that helps companies deliver online gaming results, and central to this is providing an enjoyable experience for players that will keep driving them to Dragonfish sites. As such it is very pleasing to receive an award voted for by the players themselves.”

Dragonfish now powers 23 standalone bingo networks, and offers new sign ups a free inflatable Dragonfish dingy, complete with fire-breathing mascot.

Business News

The room featured exquisite décor and exquisite ladies as the IGA Twins and the Ayre Heads were there adding to the beauty of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower décor. The over 400 guests in attendance dined on beautiful appetizers, roasted chicken and spinach with shallots, delicious deserts and of course indulged in their fair share of cocktails.

In all 18 awards were up for grabs with the big winner of the night being Melco Crown Entertainment who walked away with three awards, the award for best Casino Interior Design, best Casino Operations in Asia/Australia and best Casino VIP Room.

Melco Crown Entertainment CEO Lawrence Ho was on hand and accepted a special award on behalf of his father, Macau Icon Dr. Stanley Ho, for his Outstanding Contribution to the gaming industry.

While CalvinAyre.com wasn’t up for any awards, we had a winner of our own at the International Gaming Awards. Dana Workman, the CalvinAyre.com reporter contest winner, was on hand to present Cammegh with the award for the most Eco-Friendly company.

The event’s organizers Clever Duck Media, held an auction for a 1.08-karat diamond donated by TCS John Huxley as part of the ceremonies coinciding fundraising efforts.

An unnamed gentleman won the auction. While we didn’t get the man’s name, we could have likely figured it out by the smile on his lady friend’s face. In all £18,000 will go to the Care International and Children with Leukemia charities.

The entertainment for the evening was the all female violin trio, The String Divas. During their performance, they lost half their dresses. This must have put a smile on the faces of Calvin Ayre and Bodog Europe CEO Patrick Selin who were accompanied by Selin’s gorgeous wife and Calvin’s “super-hot” date. Speaking of Calvin, a little birdie told me that the Calvin Ayre Foundation donated £3,000 to the charities.

All those in attendance said it was a fantastic event and they couldn’t stop raving about the décor, the food and the great atmosphere.

Here is a complete list of the 2011 IGA winners.

Best Customer Experience: Celebrity Cruises
Casino Interior Design: City of Dreams, Macau
Casino Journal/Magazine Offline/Online: Casino and Gaming International
Casino Operator Of The Year Europe: Casinos Austria International
Casino Operator Of The Year Australia/Asia: Melco Crown Entertainment
Casino Operator Of The Year Americas: Harrah’s Entertainment
Casino Restaurant: Jade Garden, Star World Hotel
Casino VIP Room: City of Dreams, Melco Crown Entertainment
Eco-Friendly Company: Cammegh
iGaming Software Supplier: Playtech
Online Bingo Operator of the Year: Foxy Bingo (Cashcade)
Online Casino Operator of the Year: PartyGaming
Online Poker Operator of the Year: PKR
Online Sportsbook of the Year: Betfair
Socially Responsible Operator of the Year: Holland Casino
Slot Manufacturer: Bally Technologies
Technology Provider/Supplier: Continent8
Traditional Gaming Equipment Supplier: TCSJohnHuxley

Check out the Pictures and Video from the International Gaming Awards 2011.

Conference News

Check out the picture gallery, last year’s and this year’s IGA highlights video here.

Conference News

LINKS:
Cocktails, comedy, and trophys…could only be the industry Oscars!
eGR Awards 2010 After Party Review
eGR Awards 2010 Summary

Conference News

Checkout the awards summary video here , articles here and the after party review.

Conference News

Checkout the Article & Pictures.

Conference News

Check out the Party writeup, Pictures and DAF award from the iGB Affiliate awards after party at Jalouse.

Business News

There are three affiliates who stand out as probably the biggest and baddest party animals in iGaming… Pokerisivut.com, Smartgambler.com and RakeTheRake.com. So, given that this after party was sorted out by all three of these affiliate legends, it goes without saying that it went off with a bang.

As Jalouse is one of the most exclusive clubs in the capital, Paris Hilton was here last year. This time around America’s classiest hostess heiress didn’t turn up, but the place was still oozing with the cream of London’s social scene – myself excluded of course. But it was the iGaming crowd who stole the show, pouring into the VIP section like the Normandy landings and taking over half the club. Magnums of champagne were ordered en masse and throughout the night enormous bottles of Grey Goose were doing the rounds. Inevitably, there was only one way this bash was going to go – and that was the way of the pear – especially as everyone had already necked a skinful of wine at the IGB Affiliate Awards evening beforehand. All present were completely poo-nosed.

Becky’s highlights of the night included dancing on the tables with Nick from CakePoker.com, Johan from AffiliateTipsAgents.com, Arli of CoinFlip.com, the CardsChat.com boys and Andreas from internet-poker.com – but then that’s probably because that was just about all she could remember of the night. In fact, several people can’t actually remember getting home – but then that’s probably because half of them didn’t. Becky’s memory of events might be hazy but she does remember seeing one or two few iGaming people sidling off together for a, erm, nightcap… The night rumbled on until well past 4am, and even then some of the harder core were still up for more – and found themselves staggering off to the strip clubs and other such drinking ‘oles thanks to that other London legend – Kieran the London Club Promoter.

Check out the Pictures, Video and DAF award from the iGB Affiliate awards after party at Jalouse.

Business News

Watch in your underwear. They won't care.

In a ground-breaking first for the igaming industry: the iGB Affiliate Awards will be streamed live on CalvinAyre.com!

You know how you see your boss dressed up in black tie every evening waltzing off early to another champagne-fuelled awards show that you did all the work for? Well now you can see it all too as, for the first time, but certainly not the last, CalvinAyre.com is going to bring everybody behind the scenes of the iGB Affiliate Awards, London, January 28th from 9.45pm GMT.

Until we figure out a way to deliver to everybody, you’ll have to provide your own champagne but we’ll do the rest so sit back and enjoy the show LIVE.

Watch live streaming of the iGB Affiliate Awards right here.

Conference News