Mathew Taylor-Harrison Crowned European Dealer Champion 2025 at the 17th Championship in Bregenz
The 17th European Dealer Championship, hosted by Casino Bregenz at its stunning lakeside venue proved to be a spectacularly successful event, where 40 dealers from 23 European countries gathered to demonstrate their exceptional skills before the EDC’s distinguished panel of judges.
Three days of intense tournament competition culminated in Mathew Taylor-Harrison of UK’s Hippodrome Casino being crowned the European Casino Association’s Dealer of the Year. Christoph Boo from Swiss Casino Zürich secured the runners-up spot, with Billy Clarke from UK’s Les Ambassadeurs claiming third place.
As well as taking home their prestigious trophies, the champion scooped a grand prize of €5,000. The second and third place finishers were awarded €3,000 and €1,500, respectively. In addition to the main prizes, there were another five Skill Challenges, each offering a prize of €500 for the winners, showcasing the diverse talents and expertise of the competitors.
- Best Mathematician: Temin Joguncic, Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken, Germany
- Best Chipper: Miran Penzes, City of Dreams Mediterranean, Cyprus
- Best Cutting Chips: Asko-Rober Meola, Olympic Entertainment Group, Estonia
- Best Pushing Stacks: Carlos Álvarez-Chas, Casino Gran Madrid, Spain
- Best Card Handler: Daniel Sánchez Rodríguez, Casino Gran Madrid, Spain
The finals, which followed rigorous national heats, brought the crème de la crème of Europe’s casino dealing professionals to Bregenz for the skill-based competition to demonstrate their lightning-fast reflexes, mathematical prowess, and seamless ability to balance chip management and engaging customer interactions.
The dealers were evaluated by a dedicated panel of impartial international judges, each an experienced professional dedicated to upholding the highest standards in the gaming industry. The EDC jurors played a vital role in evaluating participant performances, thoroughly examining game control, communication, and technical skills.
This year at the European Dealer Championship there was a premiere. Together with its Strategic Supplier, the ECA for the first time honoured the people working in the slot departments of the ECA member casinos. For the first time, a “Best Slot Team of the Year Award” was presented, with the winner being the Slot Team of Société des Bains de Mer Monte Carlo. The prize was accepted on behalf of the Casino de Monte Carlo Slot team by Éric Costantini, the Technical Director for the casinos operated by Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) in Monte‑Carlo, which includes the legendary Casino de Monte‑Carlo and Casino Café de Paris Monte‑Carlo.
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chairman of the ECA, said: “It has been a tremendous honour for Casino Bregenz to host the 17th European Dealer Championship. I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the outstanding team behind the scenes for their exceptional efforts in organising and hosting this prestigious event, and I’d like to thank our generous sponsors without whom this celebration of skill would not be possible. This championship offers a brilliant glimpse into the passion, professionalism, and hospitality that define the experiences of guests at our member casinos daily. Our dealers and croupiers remain the most vital element at the forefront of customer interaction – they are the very essence of the land-based casino industry, and we have truly celebrated the ‘best of the best’ here in beautiful Bregenz.”
The winner, Mathew Taylor-Harrison from The Hippodrome Casino in London, said: “This is absolutely surreal—I’m incredibly honoured to represent The Hippodrome and bring this championship home to London. The level of talent in this competition was extraordinary. I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing mentors and colleagues at The Hippodrome who have supported my development as a dealer over the years. The championship tests every aspect of dealing—from technical precision to guest interaction—and I’m thrilled that all those hours of practice and dedication have paid off. I want to thank Murat Salih and the entire Hippodrome team for their support throughout my career.”
Tiina Siltanen from VP Casino Veikkaus Finland and Senior Vice Chair for the ECA, said: “I would like to thank the jurors for their commitment. It is only through their passion, sitting at the gaming tables during the whole competition and judging the performances of the dealers, that makes this event possible. A big applause to their dedication and commitment, and a big thank you. I must also extend our deepest gratitude to the Organising Committee who have delivered another brilliant European Dealer Championship tournament. Their meticulous planning and flawless execution have ensured the success of this prestigious event.”
This year’s championship exceeded all expectations. The European Casino Association expressed sincere appreciation to all the sponsors who made it possible to stage this international celebration of land-based gaming talent. The ECA extended its gratitude to these leading companies from the European gaming industry for their unwavering commitment to the European Dealer Championship, ensuring its continued success and growth.
The European Casino Association is excited to announce Casino Baden Baden, Germany, as the next distinguished venue for the European Dealer Championship 2026, which will run from June 8 to 10. Dating back to 1855, this iconic Belle Époque gem — one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious gaming establishments — will provide an unrivalled blend of historic grandeur and modern excellence for what promises to be an unmissable event in the land-based casino industry calendar.