partypoker Wins Poker Operator of the Year, Ends PokerStars’ Dominance
partypoker won the ‘Poker Operator of the Year’ award at the EGR Operator Awards 2017 in London on Oct. 26, ending a run of three consecutive victories for PokerStars.
The award ceremony took place at Grosvenor House in London and were attended by more than 800 industry professionals from the gambling industry’s leading operators. The EGR Operator Awards are the most prestigious event in the egaming calendar and they reward B2C operators for setting the standard across 30 categories.
GVC Holdings, owner of the partypoker brand, was shortlisted with 888poker, Pokerdom, PokerStars and Sky Betting & Gaming in the Poker Operator of the Year category, an award that PokerStars won in 2014, 2015 and 2016. As GVC/partypoker was announced as the category winner, there were lots of cheers around the room.
The recognition for partypoker rewards the sweeping, positive changes the management team has put into place over the past 12 months. These changes include a revamped tournament schedule, a new live tour, the reintroduction of rakeback for all players, an extensive stable of top poker professionals representing the site, and refreshed software; there is a much more positive feel around partypoker these days and the industry has recognized that fact.
Speaking exclusively to PokerNews, Managing Director of partypoker Tom Waters, said: “We are delighted that partypoker was voted poker operator of the year at the EGR awards last night. partypoker has been transformed from a declining brand to a poker site that is now delivering a real challenge to the global poker market. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the partypoker team over the last year and hopefully this is just the beginning.”
GVC Holdings also won the Casino Operator of the Year award, while Sky Betting & Gaming stole the show with four separate awards. Sky Betting & Gaming can now proudly call themselves the Football Betting Operator of the Year, In-play Sports Operator of the Year, Sports Betting Operator of the Year and the Mobile Operator of the Year.
Some of the other awards included:
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Bingo Affiliate | Which Bingo |
| Casino Affiliate | Better Collective |
| Sports Affiliate | Skores |
| Affiliate Programme | Casumo |
| Spread Betting Operator | Spreadex |
| eSports Operator | Danske Spil |
| Fantasy Sports | Dribble |
| Customer Services Operator | Betsson Group |
| In-house Product | Colossus Bets |
| Mobile Bingo Product | Mecca Bingo |
| Mobile Casino Product | LeoVegas |
| Mobile Sports Product | bet365 |
| Football Betting Operator | Sky Betting & Gaming |
| Marketing Campaign | The Stars Group |
| Rising Star | PlayOJO |
| Slots Operator | Kindred |
| Lottery Operator | Lottoland |
| Poker Operator | GVC/partypoker |
| Bingo Operator | tombola |
| Sports Betting Operator | Sky Betting & Gaming |
| Affiliate of the Year | Easyodds |
| Socially Responsible Operator | Tombola |
| Game of the Year | Wild Toro by ELK Studio |
| Operator of the Year | bet365 |
