The Gambling Book Awards Book of the Year rules: 

  1. To be eligible, any full-length book must have gambling as its predominant subject or theme. If a book has more than one credited author, the judges reserve the right to split the prize or in some instances, award additional prizes.
  2. For the purposes of the award, a gambling book is a book that the judges agree meets criteria for consideration. The judges decision in this and all other award-related matters is final.
  3. Nominated books must be published (in English) between the dates September 30th 2025 and October 1st 2026. If this is a reprint but the book contains something new of substance, it might still be permissible. Paperback editions that follow a hardback edition are also acceptable, as long as the actual book title has never been submitted before.
  4. Publishers can enter multiple books for the award as long as each titles has its own entry form submitted, and that all are published or scheduled for publication within the window specified in point 3 above. Entries must be submitted and received by the organisers by close of business on Wednesday, November 11th, 2026. Ten hard copies of each entered title must be received on or before Friday November 13th, 2025.
  5. Proof copies will be accepted, as long as the book is scheduled for publication before the cutoff date for the awards of 1st October 2026. In exceptional cases, judges may consider additional entries as long as there is time for the books to enjoy full consideration. The decision of the judges here – as in all cases! – is final.
  6. After the closing date for nominations, the organisers will send a list of nominees to the judging panel. A longlist will be prepared from the nominees, to be announced on December 1st 2026. Further copies of books may be requested at this time.
  7. After deliberation, the organisers and judging panel will compile a shortlist to be announced to press and public on January 5th, 2027. Shortlisted authors will be informed of this as early as possible under strict embargo, because of rule 8 below.
  8. The award winners will be announced at a ceremony held at the European Casino Awards in Barcelona, January 18th, 2027.
  9. The publisher of the winning title agrees to use the words “The Gambling Book Awards [as a logo] Book of the Year 2026” as a front cover flash for any subsequent reprints of the winning title, hardback or paperback. We will endeavour to provide stickers for current editions if required.
  10. The main prize will be £2,000 for the winning author and a *swish trophy.
  11. Longlisted and shortlisted authors should be prepared to undertake media interviews, appear on The Gambling Files podcast and wherever possible, make reference to the Prize on their own websites/blogs. The Gambling Book Awards will provide publicity materials (images with logos etc) for authors and publishers to use for this purpose.
  12. Any publisher submitting an entry form for the Award is automatically bound by these rules.

*Swishness determined by organisers