awards
Konami Gaming CEO Steve Sutherland Awarded AGEM Memorial Award for Excellence in Commercial Gaming Professionalism

Konami Gaming’s President & Chief Executive Officer Steve Sutherland has received the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers’ (AGEM) 2024 Jens Halle Memorial Award during the official awards ceremony at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Las Vegas. He was selected for excellence in commercial gaming professionalism, as the embodiment of business success, attention to detail, evident humanity, willingness to “go the extra mile,” and long-lasting dedication to the health of the industry as a whole. Investing more than three decades of his career in the gaming supplier sector, Steve Sutherland is a central figure and longtime advocate in responsible gaming industry advancement.
“Throughout his entire career, Steve has been someone with an executive mindset who knows how to lead, manage, and operate a business at an extremely high level. He brought his knowledge from the technology industry into the gaming supplier sector and made a lasting impact on the companies he has led, all while helping mentor countless other commercial executives who now are themselves leaders of gaming supplier companies with global reach. He’s the real deal when it comes to our industry and epitomizes excellence in commercial gaming professionalism. Our supplier sector salutes Steve for all he continues to accomplish and happily presents this year’s Jens Halle award to him,” Bob Parente, chair of the board at AGEM, said.
The Jens Halle Memorial Award was established in 2015 by AGEM to acknowledge the lasting impact of longtime industry executive Jens Halle, following his unexpected passing. Steve Sutherland is the ninth honoree to receive this award since its inception. This recognition comes as Sutherland nears his 25th year at Konami Gaming, including seven years as president and chief executive officer.
“The dedication, acumen, and conscientiousness that Steve Sutherland brings to his role as head of Konami Gaming is a consistent positive force. It strengthens industry partnerships and relationships reaching across the globe, as well as within our organization. Speaking on behalf of countless individuals inspired by Steve’s enduring leadership, it is a great joy to recognize his prominent influence, success, and service, as AGEM’s 2024 Jens Halle Memorial Award recipient,” Tom Jingoli, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Konami Gaming, said.
awards
AGS Wins 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award

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

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

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.
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