IAGR Regulatory Awards 2025: winners announced

IAGR has recognised three outstanding initiatives at the 2025 Regulatory Awards, presented during the Toronto conference.

Across all categories, margins were tight — a testament to the high standard of entries and the commitment to public interest outcomes. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all nominees for sharing work that benefits regulators worldwide.

1. Regulatory excellence — NSW Independent Casino Commission (Australia)

NSW Independent Casino Commission were unable to attend, so their award was accepted on their behalf by Deputy Secretary for Hospitality and Racing within the New South Wales Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, Tarek Barakat

For leading a three-year, milestone-driven remediation of Crown Sydney following the Bergin Inquiry — eliminating junkets, strengthening financial-crime controls, enhancing harm-minimisation and reforming governance.

‘The NSW Independent Casino Commission is proud to be recognised for its dedication to restoring the expected standards at Crown Sydney. This has included three years of intense remediation, which has completely transformed the casino’s governance, culture, safety and compliance functions.

‘The NICC has proven that it is possible to enact long-lasting change and in doing so has set a new standard for Australian casino operations.’ – Murray Smith, Acting Chief Commissioner, NSW Independent Casino Commission

2. Regulatory innovation — Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority (Nigeria)

Bashir Are accepting the Regulatory Innovation award from IAGR Vice President Brian Krolicki

For SAFEPLAY, Africa’s first regulator-led, multi-operator self-exclusion platform — centrally managed by the regulator and integrated with operator systems — creating a consistent, replicable model for consumer protection.

‘We are honoured to receive the IAGR Regulatory Innovation Award for our SafePlay initiative. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to responsible gambling, player protection, and data-driven regulation that puts the welfare of Lagos residents at the heart of our innovation.’ – Bashir A. Are, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority

The team from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority at the IAGR conference in Toronto

3. Best regulatory campaign — Danish Gambling Authority (Denmark)

Heine Jakobsen from the Danish Gambling Authority accepting the award from IAGR Vice President, Brian Krolicki

For an interactive, school-based education programme that engages young people with practical demonstrations and surveys evidencing shifts away from gambling ‘to make money’ towards safer play and awareness of help services.

Notably, this is the second consecutive year the Danish Gambling Authority has won Best regulatory campaign.

‘I’m very proud that IAGR has bestowed The Danish Gambling Authority with this award. It’s crucial that young people understand that gambling is designed so the player always loses in the long run. By conveying this message, we hope to promote a balanced attitude toward gambling and I’m extremely honoured that our efforts are recognised internationally.’ – Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority