The UK Dealers’ Championship that highlighted the first London Casino & Gaming Show in January, will be repeated for the 2026 EAG at London’s ExCeL, it was confirmed this week.
Show director Nicola Lazenby stated that EAG (January 13-15, 2026) will again host both the London Casino & Gaming Show (LCG) and the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo (SIE Expo). It will follow the same format, with the final heats played out during the show itself, culminating in an awards night at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square.
The Hippodrome’s Murat Salih (pictured), director of live gaming at the casino, is the organiser of the UK event since 2016. He said that during that time, he had “seen countless tournaments – local, national and international – and worked with some of the best dealers in the industry.”
Operators nominate their dealers, having first run in-house competitions, and a panel of expert judges from within the industry assess their skills during the London Casino & Gaming show. Prizes of £2,000, £1,000 and £500 are awarded but the real target for the dealers is that prestigious trophy and the opportunity to represent the UK at the European Dealer Championships.
Lazenby said: “This is a fantastic coup for the event and we are delighted to be welcoming the UK Dealers’ Championship back to our show floor. We expect to see many casino principals in London for LCG and in many cases they will be bringing senior management and dealers with them. Holding the tournament when they are in town is logical, convenient and exciting for our event.”
