‘Iconic’ Golden Eagle Symbol Of Success In Online Gambling Industry

When Larry Maloney sees the Golden Eagle trophy, he recognizes it as a “beautiful, iconic” object representing professional excellence.

The Golden Eagle is handed out to winners at the Gambling.com Group’s annual American Gambling Awards ceremony. This year’s event is set for Nov. 21 in New York City.

Maloney is vice president of sales for Society Awards, the U.S.-based firm that designs and manufactures the Golden Eagle. 

The trophy is an 11-inch, gold-plated statuette finished in a polygon treatment, representing the digital nature of the online gambling industry. In addition to creating the Golden Eagle for the Gambling.com Group, Society Awards has produced trophies and awards for the Golden Globes, Emmys, MTV's "Video Music Awards" and other major events and ceremonies.

The American Gambling Awards trophy includes a stack of golden casino chips at the base, signifying, along with the American Bald Eagle, industrywide success in U.S. online gambling.

“The award is a luxury art piece and the ultimate manifestation of accomplishment,” said Maloney, a Harvard economics graduate who has been with the company since 2010.

American Gambling Awards Categories, Key Dates

Established in 2019, the annual American Gambling Awards ceremony highlights the top companies, organizations and executives in online gambling nationally.

The ceremony has grown along with the industry.

Since 2018, online sports betting has become legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Online casino gambling, including games such as slots, craps and blackjack, is legal in a half dozen states, with growth possible across the country. 

The online gambling industry’s expansion during recent years has led to innovative new games and products in regulated U.S. markets. This innovation and leadership is recognized during the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Gambling.com Group.

"The American Gambling Awards are our love letter to the online gambling industry,” said Charles Gillespie, the Gambling.com Group's co-founder and CEO. “As the focal point of our entire online industry, Gambling.com is proud to highlight these exceptional successes with a bespoke awards program and an exclusive celebration in New York."

The winners receive an engraved Golden Eagle trophy.

This year, nominations are open through Aug. 5 in 12 categories:

1. Online Casino of the Year
2. Gaming Product of the Year
3. Betting Product of the Year
4. Online Sportsbook of the Year
5. Platform Provider of the Year
6. Data Service Provider of the Year
7. Payment Service Provider of the Year
8. Responsible Gaming Award
9. Dealmaker of the Year
10. Policymaker of the Year
11. Regulator of the Year
12. C-Suite Gaming Executive of the Year

Key dates:

• Aug. 5, 2024: Nominations due
• Sept. 13, 2024: Finalists announced
• Sept. 27, 2024: Winners announced
• Nov. 21, 2024: Invitation-only celebration

For more information, visit www.gambling.com/us/awards

The panel of 20 judges includes industry leaders such as BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel CEO Amy Howe. These three executives also judged last year's awards nominations.

Golden Eagle Made In USA 

Vicky Fotopoulou, Society Awards’ associate creative director, is tasked with turning a client's concept into a standout trophy. Using 3D software and advanced computer design tools, Fotopoulou, who joined Society Awards 10 years ago, creates luxury items that convey the importance of the award.

On an episode of Gambling.com’s “The Edge,” she said the Golden Eagle is a “very unique piece” with a design that says, “I’m here. I’m determined.”

Fotopoulou holds two degrees from the School of Visual Arts in New York City — a bachelor’s degree in traditional animation and a Master of Fine Arts degree in computer arts.

She said the designers working on the American Gambling Awards trophy had to ensure the eagle and gaming chips are realistic but also could be molded and manufactured correctly.

“Small challenges, but it’s all fun,” she said.

The American Gambling Awards trophy is made in the U.S., starting with the design concept and ending with the final assembly. The piece is put together at a facility in Grove, Oklahoma.

In addition to working with the Gambling.com Group in creating the Golden Eagle, Fotopoulou and her team developed a “turntable animation” of the trophy, presenting the rotating eagle from all angles in a 360-degree display.

“It was very cool to see that whole gold thing go all around,” she said. “It’s like a gem of its own. And then to see that presence of the eagle is phenomenal.”

Museum Showpiece

With its headquarters and design studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company has been active on the community’s art scene, collaborating with the Mint Museum on an immersive installation of more than 150 luxury trophies created by Society Awards.

The Society Awards trophies on display in recent months at the museum include exclusive designs for the Academy of Country Music, Billboard, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), NBC’s “The Voice,” BET and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Maloney said the significance of the company’s trophies lasts beyond the ceremonial event. With that in mind, he said during an episode of “The Edge” that he would like to offer the Golden Eagle recipients his “sincere, heartfelt congratulations.”

“Awards are earned,” Maloney said.