Casino Baden-Baden was the scene for the 2026 European Dealer Championships. By Peter White
For more than a decade, Casino Life has had the privilege of following theEuropean Dealer Championship as it has grown into one of the most prestigious events on the international gaming calendar. More than simply a competition, the Championship celebrates the professionalism, technical excellence and hospitality that lie at the heart of Europe's licensed casino industry.
Image: European Dealer Champion 2026 Temin Joguncic, dealer, Casino Baden-Baden
This year’s finals, hosted in the magnificent surroundings of Casino Baden-Baden on June 8-10, once again brought together Europe's finest dealers, each having earned the honor of representing their country. While every competitor arrived with ambitions of becoming European Dealer Champion, the event is about far more than winning a title. It showcases the exceptional skill, precision and guest service that define the very best gaming professionals. It also provides an opportunity for dealers, executives and industry leaders to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and promote best practices across Europe’s casino sector.
Under the leadership of CEO Tobias Wald and his dedicated team, Casino Baden-Baden proved a magnificent host. It delivered an event that reflected the elegance, heritage and world-class hospitality for which the venue is internationally renowned. As European Casino Association Chairman Erwin van Lambaart explained, the Championship is “living proof of what licensed European casinos stand for: professionalism, integrity and genuine craftsmanship.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Senior Vice Chair Tiina Siltanen, who believed the event continued to inspire excellence and strengthen collaboration across the industry. This year's Championship concluded with an emotional home victory for Casino Baden-Baden's Temin Joguncic. His outstanding performance embodied the dedication, composure and professionalism that make the European Dealer Championship one of the casino industry’s mostrespected annual events.
Erwin van Lambaart, chairman, European Casino Association | CEO, Casinos Austria AG & Österreichische Lotterien GmbH
As chairman of the European Casino Association, what message do you believe the European Dealer Championship sends about the professionalism, expertise and high standards that exist within Europe’s casino industry?
The European Dealer Championship is living proof of what licensed European casinos stand for: professionalism, integrity and genuine craftsmanship. Behind every game lies serious training, real expertise and a deep commitment to our guests. The Championship gives a face to our industry. It shows the public and policymakers that licensed casinos are a high-quality, responsible part of Europe's hospitalityand-entertainment landscape.
This year’s Championship was hosted in the magnificent surroundings of Casino Baden-Baden. How important is it for the ECA to partner with prestigious venues such as this, and what role did Tobias Wald and his team play in making the event such a success?
Holding the Championship at Casino Baden-Baden showed that licensed casinos are true cultural and tourist landmarks within their communities. Tobias Wald and his team delivered a tailor-made setting that combined flawless tournament operations with outstanding hospitality for dealers, partners and guests. That is precisely how our sector should be seen: a responsible, high-quality pillar of European entertainment and hospitality, and as a material contributor to tourism, as well as social engagement.
The European casino industry continues to evolve, with new technologies, changing customer expectations and increasing regulation. How important is it that dealer excellence remains at the heart of the live-casino experience despite these changes?
Technology is reshaping our industry, yet the dealer remains the human face of the licensed casino. Their skill, composure and personal care create the welcoming, memorable experience that defines a great casino visit. By celebrating this excellence, we make clear that innovation in Europe should always serve a warm, human-centered form of entertainment, where guests feel looked after by true professionals.
We believe that technological developments and opportunities, like AI, will give our dealers and enterprises even better customer-engagement opportunities.
As CEO of Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries, you understand the importance of investing in people. How do events such as the European Dealer Championship help motivate employees and encourage the next generation to pursue careers in the casino industry?
The Championship sends a strong signal to our people and to the next generation: Licensed casinos offer genuine, great careers and not just jobs. Competitors return home as proud ambassadors, raising standards across the gaming floor. It shows younger people that our industry invests seriously in training, education and long-term development, creating attractive, secure roles at the heart of the entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Looking beyond this year’s Championship, what are your priorities for the European Casino Association over the next year? How will initiatives like the European Dealer Championship continue to support those ambitions?
The ECA will focus on demonstrating the real value of licensed casinos: as part of the tourism and hospitality industry; as contributors to public finances and local communities; and as employers offering rewarding careers. The European Dealer Championship supports this ambition perfectly, showcasing skilled jobs, professional training and the positive role our casinos play in the places they call home. The illegal online market is flourishing unfortunately across Europe, which must be stopped. We need to block illegal offerings, which will bring significant local taxes in for all European markets and at the same will protect the significant role that casinos and their dealers play.
You've attended many European Dealer Championships over the years. What was your personal highlight from this year’s event and what memories will you take away from it?
My highlight was watching dealers from so many countries become one professional family, bound together by shared standards and a real passion for their craft. Seeing Temin Joguncic take the title on home ground, in such an iconic venue, captured everything this event represents: excellence, hospitality and pride in belonging to Europe’s licensed casino community. The genuine pride and festive celebration is the same as seeing top athletes winning the World Cup in soccer or a medal at the Olympics.
Tiina Siltanen, from VP Casino Veikkaus Finland and senior vice chair for the European Casino Association.
As senior vice chair of the European Casino Association, you had the honor of presenting the awards to this year’s winners. What does the European Dealer Championship represent for the industry and why is it such an important event in the casino calendar?
The European Dealer Championship is much more than a competition. It is a celebration of the professionalism, dedication and passion that gaming professionals bring to our industry every day. Dealers are at the heart of the casino experience and this event showcases the very best talent from across Europe. The atmosphere at the event is amazing!
What makes the Championship so important is that it highlights the unique combination of technical expertise, customer service and composure that defines excellence in our profession. At the same time, it brings together colleagues from different countries and casino traditions, creating a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen our shared professional community. That is why it remains one of the most anticipated and respected events in the European casino calendar.
The standard of competition continues to improve year after year. What qualities stood out most to you in this year's finalists and what do they tell us about the future of the profession?
What impressed me most was the complete skill set demonstrated by the finalists. Reaching the final stage of the European Dealer Championship has become increasingly challenging, because the overall standard continues to rise every year. The margin between competitors is often extremely small.
Today’s top dealers must excel in three key areas: technical precision, mathematical accuracy and outstanding hospitality. Being exceptional in one or two of these areas is no longer enough. The finalists demonstrated a consistently high level across all three, which is what truly distinguishes the best professionals in our industry. This tells me that the future of the profession is very bright. The next generation of dealers is highly skilled, adaptable, and customer-focused, while maintaining the highest standards of game integrity and professionalism.
Beyond recognizing individual excellence, how do events such as the European Dealer Championship help strengthen collaboration, professionalism and the sharing of best practice between casinos across Europe?
One of the greatest strengths of the European Casino Association is that it brings together professionals from across Europe in an environment that encourages learning, networking and the exchange of ideas. This competition is a great example of it.
While there is only one winner, every participant returns home with new insights, techniques and experiences that can be shared with colleagues in their own organizations. The Championship creates a platform where best practices can be observed first-hand and where professionals can learn from different approaches to customer service, game management, and operational excellence.
This exchange of knowledge helps raise standards across the industry as a whole. It also strengthens the relationships between casinos and reinforces a shared commitment to professionalism, integrity, and continuous improvement. For the European Casino Association, fostering these connections and supporting the development of our industry's talent is one of the most valuable outcomes of the event.
European Dealer Champion 2026 Temin Joguncic, dealer, Casino Baden-Baden
The role of a croupier is about much more than dealing cards or spinning a roulette wheel. What, in your opinion, separates a good dealer from a truly exceptional one?
Being able to let the work you do at the table become incidental. A dealer who is confident, smooth, and fluent in his movements with the cards and chips has the ability to direct his main focus to every single player at the table. By doing so, he can provide each guest with a unique experience.
Winning the European Dealer Championship is the pinnacle for many croupiers. What does this title mean to you personally and what ambitions do you have now that you’ve reached the top?
It is tough to put into words what this title means to me. I have worked so hard over the last couple of years for this. On the one hand, I am extremely proud, but on the other hand I am also sad that this chapter of my life seems to be over for now. At the moment, I haven’t figured out yet what my next big goal will be. But I am a very ambitious person and am looking forward to my future in this industry.
Casinos are built around unforgettable moments. Looking back at your career so far, what has been your own unforgettable moment – and has winning the European Dealer Championship now taken that top spot?
Winning the EDC in my hometown, in the casino where I started working in this amazing profession, already seemed like a fairytale. However, this has happened before. The first German Dealer Championship I won, in 2024, was also hosted by Casino Baden-Baden. It is impossible to say which event has been more emotional for me. But I will definitely have two memories that I will look back on for the rest of my life.
Tobias Wald, CEO, Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG, Casino Baden-Baden
Casino Baden-Baden had the honor of hosting the 2026 European Dealer Championship Finals. What did it mean for your team to welcome Europe's finest dealers and what were your ambitions for this year's event?
We are deeply honored that this flagship event is being held this year at our world-famous casino. The European Dealer Championship is not only important for our participating croupiers – including Germany’s best and second-best dealers – but is also the most significant competition in the European casino industry. It showcases the depth and professionalism of the dealer profession, fosters enthusiasm for the unique casino atmosphere and promotes the reputation of the industry. Our goal has been to provide the participants with optimal competition conditions while offering the highest level of hospitality.
As in other industries, high-profile events such as the EDC not only serve as an excellent showcase to the outside world, but also foster a strong sense of pride among employees. A format like this once again demonstrates the exceptionally high standards at which our professionals operate, how individuals can truly make a difference, and how honorable and respected the professions within our industry are.
Baden-Baden is one of Europe's most iconic casino destinations. How important was it to showcase not only the casino itself, but also the hospitality, heritage and professionalism that it represents?
Above all, we are delighted and proud to serve as the host and organizer of this important event this year. Baden-Baden and its casino are uniquely suited to this role. Ever since the casino was founded, the spa town on the River Oos has been a magnet for an international clientele. It has a long tradition of welcoming, inspiring and delighting guests from all over the world.
In addition to what Marlene Dietrich famously called “the most beautiful casino in the world,” Baden-Baden offers an outstanding hospitality sector, as well as a rich variety of cultural and recreational attractions. As early as the 19th century, Baden-Baden was regarded as the “Summer Capital of Europe,” and in 2021 it was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, “The Great Spa Towns of Europe.” This unique combination makes a visit to Baden-Baden truly special and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Hosting the EDC is a major undertaking. How rewarding was it for you, and for the entire team at Casino Baden-Baden, to welcome delegates and competitors from across Europe? What are you most proud of in the way your staff delivered this year's finals?
We truly are proud and words can hardly express the pride we feel. Our entire team has been looking forward to this event for months and an immense amount of passion, dedication, and attention to detail has gone into ensuring its flawless delivery. As hosts, we are delighted to bring together an entire industry that is, at its core, defined by hospitality. Croupiers do far more than simply ensure that games run smoothly. They are ambassadors, hosts and role models all at once.
My pride therefore extends to each and every one of our more than 500 employees, whose commitment makes the three casinos of Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken truly special. Once again, they have demonstrated their extraordinary dedication – and wholehearted effort – in planning and delivering this event. Finally, the European Casino Association would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the many sponsors whose generous support helps make the European Dealer Championship possible. Events of this caliber simply cannot be delivered without the commitment of industry partners who continue to invest in excellence, education and the future of our profession.
Image: L2R Tiina Siltanen, from VP Casino Veikkaus Finland and senior vice chair for the European Casino Association, Tobias Wald, CEO, Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG, Casino
Baden-Baden, and Sandi Brataševec, President of the Management Board of Hit Group
The 2027 European Dealer Championship will be held at the amazing Perla Casino, in Slovenia
CLASSIFICATIONS
European Dealer Champion 2026: Temin Joguncic, dealer, Casino Baden-Baden
Runners-up: Robin Stepanek, Germany, Casino Stuttgart Second Runner-up: Manon Martire, Monaco, Casino de Monte-Carlo
SKILL CHALLENGE WINNERS
Best in Pushing Stacks: Christopher Elena, Monaco, Casino de Monte-Carlo
Best in Cutting Chips: Christopher Elena, Monaco, Casino de Monte-Carlo
Best Chipper: Temin Joguncic, Germany, Casino Baden-Baden
Best Card Handler: Oskar Flodin, Finland, Casino Helsinki
Best Mathematician: Miran Penzes, Cyprus, City of Dreams Mediterranean
Thanks go to
ABBIATI Casino Equipment, CLS Group, CTC Group, Dallmeier Electronic, ICSE, Light & Wonder, Matsui Europe,Smart Rota, Tangam Systems, Veikkaus Oy, Aristocrat, Casinos Austria, Chip Cleaner ICE Barcelona, Cammegh, Playtech, Cards Print, Hippodrome Casino, PST Seating, Angel Europe, Holland Casinos, DR Gaming Technology, Casino Baden-Baden, Novomatic, Wynn Al Marjan Island, ZITRO, Fennica Gaming, Martron Gaming and Le Casino Monte-Carlo.
Your continued support of the European Dealer Championship is recognized and greatly appreciated by the entire industry.
Casino Life Magazine would like to extend its sincere thanks to the European Casino Association for its generous hospitality, support and cooperation, which helped make this exclusive feature possible.
*** This exclusive feature was originally published in June 2026 edition of Casino Life Magazine Issue 189 Volume 22***
