GVC Holdings takes out top gong at EGR Operator Awards

GVC Holdings has been named the overall Operator of the Year at the EGR Operator Awards 2018, the premier awards event for the iGaming industry.

The Group also picked up the accolade for Casino Operator of the Year, with flagship poker brand, partypoker, winning Poker Operator of the Year – both for the second consecutive year.

GVC CEO Kenneth Alexander said the awards were a credit to everyone involved in the company, especially considering the trying conditions with several mergers being undertaken throughout the last 18 months.

“We are very proud to be recognised with these prestigious awards,” he said.

“As we continue to make great progress on the integration of the Ladbrokes Coral business, this is a real tribute to the dedication and skills of our hard working teams. They have been able to create a best-in-class customer offer at the same time as delivering a major integration.”

The awards are a milestone achievement for GVC following its acquisition of Ladbrokes Coral in March 2018. They reflect the Group’s ability to smoothly integrate businesses while retaining focus on delivering an ever improving product offer and attractive brand propositions.

In naming GVC Operator of the Year award, the independent judging panel commented:

“It was a transformational year for GVC with both the successful migration of bwin.party and the completion of Ladbrokes Coral acquisition,” they said.

“To complete one merger in this industry is bold, to take on two is truly brave and that GVC have managed to pull it off and emerge with all brands stronger as a result is a truly impressive achievement. And success has been widespread, with all online divisions contributing strongly.”

On the award of Casino Operator of the Year, the panel noted:

“Their broad range of initiatives impressed us, including on CRM, supplier relationships, geographic expansion, and quick integrations. On top of that, the performance year on year is incredible,” they said.

While commenting on partypoker’s Poker Operator of the Year award, the judges said:

“[partypoker] provided many examples of their growth and improving returns from their customers, and showed a real mixture of improving the product and customer interaction, stitched together into an overall strategy,” they said.

“What resonated most was the piece about truly understanding the customer.”