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Awards

ESPORTS AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ESPORTS CLASS OF 2023 ANNOUNCED

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The Esports Awards presented by Lexus, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to present the inductees for this year’s Lifetime Achievement in Esports award, which celebrates those that have dedicated their professional life to improving the industry. This year’s Lifetime Achievement inductees include Michael “Odee” O’Dell co-founder of Dignitas, 38x COD Champion Ian “Crimsix” Porter and esports host and Vice President of Programming for MLG .tv Chris Puckett.

The Lifetime Achievement inductees are carefully chosen by the esteemed Esports Awards panel, with each member nominating an individual they deem deserving of the accolade. This year’s selection will join the likes of Dennis ‘Thresh’ Fong, the first professional gamer in history, Stephanie “missharvey” Harvey, Chief Culture Officer at Fly Quest and retired CS:GO player who achieved a staggering 5 World Championships, and Ralf Reichert, Co-CEO, Founder, and Chairman at ESL FACEIT Group.

To merit this distinction, candidates must fulfil three essential criteria: a substantial and enduring impact on the advancement of esports throughout their professional journey, a significant and sustained dedication to the industry’s progress, and a distinguished status as a longstanding advocate who has achieved widespread recognition through their contributions. To celebrate the arrival of the 2023 inductees, the Esports Awards will host them at the Lifetime Achievement Mixer, a unique event in the industry that allows all classes of the Lifetime Achievement Award to meet and network.

The full list of lifetime achievement inductees are:

  • Chris Puckett – Former professional Halo player, long-standing esports host who made his name in MLG -Call of Duty but has been a mainstay from 2004 to the present day.
  • Michael “Odee” O’Dell – One of the founders of Dignitas, who has been a part of the esports industry since 1999.
  • Victor “Nazgul” Goossens – Retired professional StarCraft: Brood War Player who founded Team Liquid at 17 years old.
  • Shane “rapha” Hendrixson – Considered the greatest Quake player of all time, with his esports career spanning from 2002 to the present day.
  • Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen – One of the most successful real-time strategy players of all time, playing Warcraft III, Age of Empires and Starcraft II.
  • Lee “Flash” Young Ho – Began his career in 2007 as a Starcraft professional player and quickly became one of the best players of all time.
  • Marc Merrill – Co-Founder, Co-Chairman, and President of Games for Riot Games.
  • Ian “Crimsix” Porter – Currently, the ESL R1 Driver for FaZeClan, who retired from professional Call of Duty after becoming 38x COD Champion and winning 3 COD World Championships.

“I am elated to share the Lifetime Achievement Class of 2023 inductees. All of these individuals have laid the foundation for the current generation of esports. Through their hard work, dedication, and perseverance, they have been instrumental in shaping the esports industry into what it has become today. We are proud to welcome eight of the most influential inductees into the Lifetime Achievement Awards” said Michael Ashford, CEO, Esports Awards.

The Esports Awards 2023 campaign key dates:

  • 13th – 20th November: Turbo voting period–votes are worth double
  • 20th November: Voting closes on all categories but 3
  • 25th November: Voting closes for Esports PC Player, Esports Organisation and Esports Team of the Year
  • 27th & 28th November: Inaugural Scholars
  • 29th November: Lifetime Achievement Mixer
  • 0th November: Esports Awards 2023 presented by Lexus

The 2023 Esports Awards is brought to you in partnership with Lexus, Xfinity, Oakley, and 5GRV.

2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award

AGS Wins 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award

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AGS has announced that it has been named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award winner. Recognized for its commitment to fostering an exceptional, people-first culture, AGS ranked in the Top 28% of companies in the 500-999 employee category, placing the company in the Top 100 of companies in this size category across America.

The USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes organizations for their commitment to creating outstanding workplace environments that prioritize employee engagement and satisfaction. AGS’ strong performance in this year’s awards is based on authentic employee feedback gathered through a confidential survey conducted by a third-party, HR research and technology company.

“We’re really proud to be recognized as a Top Workplace. What makes this award so meaningful is that it comes from feedback directly from our employees across all of our U.S. offices. It shows the commitment, passion, energy and teamwork they bring every day. At AGS, we’re all about creating a culture where people can thrive, grow, and be themselves—and this award just proves that we’re doing something right. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve created together,” said David Lopez, CEO of AGS.

The 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award adds to AGS’ impressive list of accolades, including being recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024 for Oklahoma, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, as well as earning the prestigious Best and Brightest Companies to Work For 2024 award both nationally and in Atlanta.

AGS’ dedication to its people-first culture is reflected in its ongoing focus on employee engagement, professional development opportunities, competitive benefits, and work-life balance. These efforts have helped AGS create an environment where employees are motivated and empowered to perform at their best.

The post AGS Wins 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Awards

ELA Games Receives Nominations For Innovation at the SiGMA Americas Awards 2025

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The ELA Games team is proud to announce it has been nominated for two categories at the prestigious SiGMA Americas Awards 2025. It has been shortlisted for the “Most Played Game 2025” and “Best Game Studio 2025” categories.

Joker Cashpot is a prime candidate for the “Most Played Game 2025” category, as it was well received by players and B2B partners, garnering widespread acclaim. Upon release, it quickly became one of the company’s most popular releases, with a margin of 27.7% in Gross Gaming Revenue within its first 30 days, ranking it second in Turnover for the company.

The studio has fostered a culture of creativity and experimentation, earning it a reputation for producing player-favourite games that encourage customer engagement and business growth for partners. ELA Games’ extensive portfolio of over 45 games and operator-friendly offerings has made it a frontrunner for the “Best Game Studio 2025” category.

Yaroslav Soloshenko, ELA Games’ Business Development Manager, commented on the nominations, “It’s an honour to be recognised for these prestigious accolades, as it’s a reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication to excellence. The nominations are for significant categories, showcasing our rapid growth into an influential figure in the iGaming industry. We look forward to attending the awards ceremony, connecting with our partners and meeting new faces.”

The post ELA Games Receives Nominations For Innovation at the SiGMA Americas Awards 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Awards

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Named a USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winner for 2025

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For the second year in a row, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has been named a USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winner. Hard Rock Atlantic City ranked number 31 on the list of USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winners for 2025 in the category of large organizations, considered to be those with more than 2500 employees. Hard Rock Atlantic City is the highest-ranked casino on the list.

In late 2024, more than 1000 Hard Rock Atlantic City team members participated in an anonymous survey administered by Energage, an independent human resources technology and research company behind the USA Today Top Workplaces employer recognition program. USA Today first partnered with Energage in 2023 to identify, recognize and celebrate organizations prioritizing people-first cultures.

Last month, thousands of union and non-union Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City team members received news they will share more than $10 million in bonuses. The announcement continues the resort’s legacy of paying bonuses to team members since its opening in 2018. Hard Rock Atlantic City team members were surveyed weeks before the 2025 bonuses were announced.

“We are deeply honored to receive the 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces Award. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, passion, and commitment of our incredible team members, who are the heart and soul of our organization. Their hard work drives our success and embodies our core value of ‘Love All, Serve All’. We celebrate their unwavering efforts in making Hard Rock Atlantic City a truly exceptional workplace for two consecutive years,” said George Goldhoff, President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Top workplace awards have also been earned by Hard Rock Atlantic City’s corporate parent, Hard Rock International, which has been named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes in 2025 and for seven of the past eight years.

The post Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Named a USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winner for 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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