2026 IAG ACADEMY IR AWARDS
The Public Call for Candidates is now open
The Public Call for Candidates for the 2026 IAG Academy IR Awards is now open, and will close at midnight Manila time at the end of Wednesday 5 August 2026. The public candidates for each category will be considered by a select committee of the judging panel, with Official Nominees to be announced on Monday 17 August 2026. The Official Nominees will have until Tuesday 1 September to submit documentation supporting their nomination.
Any natural person, whether acting on their own behalf or on behalf of any company, entity or organization, may make nominations. People may nominate themselves, their companies or their offerings, and may nominate as many times as they wish in as many categories as they wish.
The categories for 2026 are below.
Division 1: NON-GAMING OPERATOR OFFERINGS
Elements of Asia-Pacific based integrated resorts other than gaming.
1. Most Instagrammable IR read more ...
Awarded to the integrated resort with the most striking exterior and interior visual appeal in the Asia-Pacific region. This award acknowledges broad design and features and sheer overall impact externally, as well as the ambience of internal spaces.
2. Best IR Resort Attraction read more ...
Awarded to the best non-gaming attraction in an integrated resort in the Asia-Pacific region, judged on innovation, popularity and the extent to which the product attracts guests to the resort and diversifies its offerings. Any offering in an IR other than gaming is eligible, including F&B outlets, retail offerings, entertainment, spa and wellness, and architectural spaces.
3. Best Overall Retail Offering by an IR read more ...
Awarded to the Asia Pacific-based integrated resort with the best overall retail offering. Criteria include the array of retail options on offer, general appeal of the facilities provided and popularity among shoppers.
4. Best Overall F&B Offering by an IR read more ...
Awarded to the Asia Pacific-based integrated resort acknowledged as having the best overall food and beverage offering across its total footprint, taking into consideration the breadth of offering as well as the overall quality of all F&B outlets at the resort.
5. Best Facilities management in an IR read more ...
Awarded to the Asia Pacific-based integrated resort that demonstrates the highest standard of facilities management across its property. Criteria include operational efficiency, maintenance standards, cleanliness, guest comfort, sustainability practices, safety, reliability and the overall ability to maintain a complex IR environment at a consistently world-class level.
6. Best Hotel in an IR read more ...
Awarded to the best hotel offering in an Asia Pacific-based integrated resort, taking all relevant aspects into consideration. Criteria include range and quality of rooms and suites, facilities on offer and overall service provided.
Division 2: GAMING OFFERINGS
Gaming elements of Asia-Pacific based integrated resorts.
7. Best Slot Solution read more ...
Awarded to the industry supplier with the slot solution acknowledged as the best in the industry. Criteria include innovation, player appeal and proven performance across key Asia-Pacific markets.
8. Best ETG Solution read more ...
Awarded to the industry supplier with the electronic table game solution acknowledged as the best in the industry. Criteria include innovation, player appeal and proven performance across key Asia-Pacific markets.
9. Best Slot Game Design Studio read more ...
Awarded for the slot game design studio acknowledged as producing the most outstanding game content for Asia-Pacific markets. Criteria include creativity, mathematics, visual and audio design, player engagement, cultural relevance, game performance and the studio’s ability to deliver consistently compelling slot products.
10. Best Table Game Solution read more ...
Awarded to the industry supplier with the table game solution acknowledged as the best in the industry. Criteria includes innovation, player appeal, operational efficiency, ease of deployment and proven performance across key Asia-Pacific markets.
11. Best System Solution read more ...
Awarded to the industry supplier with the best system solution as acknowledged by the industry. Criteria include ease of use, value, features and quality of management reports.
12. Best IR Gaming Floor read more ...
Awarded to the IR operator with the most outstanding gaming floor in the Asia-Pacific region.

Division 3: ONLINE GAMING OFFERINGS
Brought to you by Complete iGaming.
13. Best Live Dealer Offering read more ...
Awarded for the best live dealer offering serving Asia-Pacific markets. Criteria include game range, streaming quality, dealer professionalism, user experience, localization, reliability, innovation and the overall ability to deliver an engaging and trusted live casino product.
14. Best Electronic Slot Offering read more ...
Awarded for the best electronic slot offering serving Asia-Pacific markets. Criteria include breadth and quality of game content, player appeal, platform performance, user experience, localization, innovation and demonstrated popularity among online slot players.
15. Best iGaming Innovation read more ...
Awarded to the iGaming operator or supplier responsible for the most outstanding recent innovation serving Asia-Pacific markets. This may include product, platform, technology, payments, compliance, responsible gaming, marketing, data or operational innovation, judged on originality, effectiveness, scalability and positive impact on the iGaming sector.
16. Best iGaming Supplier read more ...
Awarded to the iGaming supplier offering the most outstanding products and/or services to Asia-Pacific-facing iGaming operators over the past year. Criteria include product quality, innovation, reliability, service delivery, market relevance, commercial performance and overall contribution to the growth and development of the iGaming industry.
17. Best iGaming Operator read more ...
Awarded to the iGaming operator judged to have delivered the strongest overall performance in Asia-Pacific-facing online gaming over the past year. Criteria include product quality, customer experience, brand strength, innovation, compliance, responsible gaming, market growth and overall operational excellence.
Division 4: CORPORATE AWARDS (Open to Operators and Suppliers)
Elements that relate to overall governance and activities of companies that operate Asia-Pacific based integrated resort businesses, and those that supply them.
18. Best Individual CSR Initiative read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier that developed the best single CSR initiative over the past year, judged on innovation and positive impact for the community.
19. Best Overall CSR Program read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier that has offered the strongest overall contribution in all areas of corporate social responsibility, with the most positive impact for the communities in which it operates as well as broader societies in the Asia-Pacific region.
20. Best Workplace read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier that provides the best workplace for its employees. Criteria include overall corporate culture, training, workplace health and safety, and opportunities provided for career advancement.
21. Best Marketing Program read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier whose overall brand marketing program best personifies its unique selling proposition in a creative, impactful and effective manner. Careful consideration will be given to the breadth of communications tools deployed.
Division 5: INDUSTRY AWARDS
Elements relating to the wider industry of and serving integrated resorts in the Asia-Pacific region.
22. Best IR or Supplier Solution read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier that has developed the best industry land-based solution. This solution can serve either gaming or non-gaming operations and can be a long-standing solution.
23. Best IR or Supplier Innovation read more ...
Awarded to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort operator or industry supplier that has developed the best recent industry land-based innovation. This innovation can serve either gaming or non-gaming operations and should be a relatively new development.
24. Best Industry Supplier read more ...
Awarded to the industry supplier offering the most outstanding products and/or services to the Asia-Pacific integrated resort industry over the past year, considering all relevant factors including product range, service delivery and value to the industry as a whole.
25. Best Regional Asia-Pacific IR read more ...
Awarded to the best integrated resort (with gaming) in the Asia-Pacific region not located in the multibillion-dollar investment hubs of Macau and Singapore.
26. Best Integrated Resort read more ...
Awarded to the most outstanding integrated resort (with gaming) in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Hall of Fame
Rising Stars read more ...
Awarded to three industry performers turning 40 or younger in the year of the Awards (date of birth 1 Jan 1986 or later), who have demonstrated consistent leadership and innovation, with great potential for more to come. Previous IAG Academy Rising Star Award winners are ineligible.
Industry Icons read more ...
Awarded to three senior industry executives who have demonstrated consistent contribution to the overall growth and success of the industry with lasting results, through great leadership, innovation and/or other activities, and who have gained the respect of their industry peers.
Industry Legend read more ...
Given to just one person each year, this award recognizes a senior executive who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and impact over the decades, leaving a lasting mark on the industry. It is intended for an individual who has spent a significant portion of their career leading day-to-day industry operations: driving strategy, motivating teams, and navigating complex challenges, rather than someone in a founder or owner role. The Industry Legend will have consistently contributed to the growth, innovation and success of the business or businesses they have worked in, as well as the broader sector, through hands-on, executive-level leadership.