Announcing the Gambling Book Awards

A new book award event has launched, with a focus on books with gambling as a predominant theme.

Launched by the team behind The Gambling Files podcast, Fintan Costello and Jon Bruford, the award aims to highlight excellence in the field of gambling books of all kinds. Fintan and Jon have both been working in the gambling industry for some time, and realised there was a genuine gap and a need for the awards.

Fintan said: “Gambling is an industry of highly intelligent people, many of whom travel extensively, and are voracious readers with curious minds. So we thought, why not shout about some of the brilliant gambling books out there, both to the industry and the wider world?”

Jon added: “We thought, ‘what does the gambling industry really need?’ ‘More awards’ was the obvious answer.”

The organisers are welcoming books that are both pro- and anti-gambling, looking for great writing or journalism, accuracy, and storytelling. A judging panel made up of well-known industry figures has been assembled, with a huge breadth of experience and knowledge.

The main prize for the Gambling Book Awards is £7000 to the winning author, with prizes of £1000 for each of the shortlisted titles (if there is more than one author for a title, the prize may be split). Shortlisted authors will enjoy three nights in Barcelona (including return flights) in January to be present for the announcement of the prize winner, paid for by the organisers.

The organisers will also be using their podcast – The Gambling Files – and website (www.thegamblingfiles.com) to promote the event and books to their listeners within the gambling industry in the run-up to the awards.

Submissions now open

The window for Gambling Book Awards submissions opens on 1 September 2025, closing 30 September and is open to all books published first within the period of 30 September 2024 to 29 September 2025. Self-published books are not currently eligible for the award.

A longlist will be announced on 1 December 2025; a shortlist will be announced on 5 January 2026. The award event will take place at leading gambling industry event ICE in Barcelona, between 19 – 21 January 2026.

Submissions can be fiction or non-, pro- or anti-gambling, as long as the main theme is gambling or gambling related.

The rules, entry form and more information can be found at our website: www.gamblingbookawards.com

Email the organisers with questions or for information at [email protected]