Winners announced for inaugural Regulating the Game Global Awards

The inaugural RTG Global Awards recognised leading individuals, organisations and technological solutions contributing to gambling policy, regulation, safer gambling and compliance.

Press release.- The organisers of the Regulating the Game conference have announced the winners of the inaugural RTG Global Awards, recognising outstanding leadership, stewardship and excellence across gambling policy and regulation, safer gambling, compliance, technology and community outcomes.

The Awards were established to acknowledge the individuals, organisations and solutions making a demonstrable contribution to integrity, public confidence and sustainable sector development. Following strong global engagement in the inaugural year, winners have now been selected across all six categories by an independent judging panel comprising senior leaders with expertise spanning industry, law, integrity, governance and safer gambling.

The 2026 RTG Global Award winners are:

• Leadership Voice — Danny Munk, Wests Illawarra
• Safer Gambling Champion — Gamble Alert
• Compliance Excellence — Dominic Monti, Wests Illawarra
• RegTech Solution of the Year — Cherry Hub
• Community Impact Initiative — Nathan Reeves, Unibet
• Emerging Leader — Michael Simone, Bankstown Sports

The winning recipients reflect the breadth of leadership across the sector, from those guiding and stewarding the industry with clarity and purpose, to those driving excellence in compliance, innovation, safer gambling and community impact.

RTG founder and principal at Vanguard Overwatch, Paul Newson, said the inaugural winners had set a strong benchmark for future years: “The inaugural RTG Global Awards were established to recognise substance, integrity and measurable contribution across the sector. This year’s winners represent the calibre of leadership, innovation and commitment required to strengthen regulatory practice, improve industry capability and deliver better outcomes for communities.

“What distinguishes these recipients is not simply professional achievement, but their contribution to lifting standards, advancing safer gambling, strengthening compliance and demonstrating leadership in areas that matter to public confidence and sector credibility.”

The strength of this year’s nominations created a highly competitive field, with finalists selected from an outstanding pool of candidates in each category. Being shortlisted was itself a significant achievement, reflecting the calibre of the work, leadership, and contributions demonstrated by the finalists, while the eventual winners emerged from an exceptionally strong peer group.

The winners were selected following an independent assessment process led by a judging panel comprising:

• Don Hammond, CEO, Leagues Clubs Australia.
• Jamie Nettleton, Former President, International Masters of Gaming Law and Partner, Addisons.
• Khalid Ali, Chief Executive Officer, International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
• Tracy Parker, Senior Vice-President – Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council (Canada).

The RTG Global Awards form part of the broader Regulating the Game programme, which brings together regulators, industry leaders, compliance professionals and innovators to examine critical issues, advance policy dialogue and strengthen sector capability.