IAG Reveals 162 Nominees for 2026 Academy IR Awards
A Wider Field for 2026
Inside Asian Gaming has confirmed 162 official nominees for the 2026 IAG Academy IR Awards, selected from 507 public submissions. The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in the Marriott Manila Ballroom at Newport World Resorts on 15 September 2026.
The numbers alone show how competitive the process has become. For nominees, inclusion signals strong regional visibility. For operators and suppliers, it offers a benchmark against peers across the Asia-Pacific integrated resort sector.
Online Gaming Joins the Main Programme
The 2026 edition introduces an online gaming division, adding categories for live dealer, electronic slots, innovation, supplier and operator performance. That change matters because it places digital products alongside land-based resort offerings in one awards framework.
For the market, this reflects a clear shift in how Asia-Pacific gaming is being assessed. Product quality, compliance tools and player experience in digital channels now sit closer to hospitality, gaming floor design and corporate performance.
What the Nominee List Signals
The nominee slate spans 26 primary categories and three Hall of Fame categories. Major integrated resorts such as Galaxy Macau, Marina Bay Sands, The Venetian Macao and Wynn Palace appear repeatedly, while suppliers including Aristocrat, Konami, Interblock and Light & Wonder feature across product-led categories.
The online shortlist adds another layer. Companies such as Evolution, Amusnet, QTech Games, Sumsub and DigiPlus Interactive Corp show how the awards are broadening beyond traditional resort operations. For suppliers, that raises the profile of specialist tools such as identity verification, live dealer systems and content aggregation.
Why This Matters for the Industry
Awards programmes do more than recognise performance. They also reveal where investment, competition and brand attention are moving. This year, the balance between non-gaming amenities, casino technology and online delivery shows that operators are being judged on a broader commercial mix.
That is important for integrated resorts, where revenue is shaped by hotel, retail, food and beverage, entertainment and gaming performance together. It is equally relevant for digital businesses, where innovation in onboarding, payments, streaming and content distribution can influence growth.
Part of a Larger Manila Agenda
The awards form part of IAG EXPO, which also includes the CiG iDEA Summit on 14 September, Manila After Dark that evening, the IAG Academy Summit on 15 and 16 September, and The Regulators Forum on 17 September. This creates a concentrated week of commercial and policy discussion in Manila.
For executives attending, the schedule offers more than a ceremony. It brings recognition, networking and regulatory dialogue into one setting, which is useful in a region where market conditions differ sharply between jurisdictions.
Hall of Fame Recognition Adds Individual Focus
Alongside company and product awards, the Hall of Fame categories highlight personal leadership. Rising Stars recognises professionals aged 40 or younger, Industry Icons celebrates senior executives with long-term influence, and Industry Legend honours one operational leader with decades of impact.
That individual focus matters because many of the industry's biggest shifts depend on execution inside resorts, supplier businesses and digital platforms. Leadership in compliance, product development, operations and customer experience often shapes results long before the market sees them publicly.
Source: Inside Asian Gaming
π Source: Inside Asian Gaming
