written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
03 Jun 2024
Journalist, Editorial Department
The three-day European Dealer Championship (EDC) 2024 kicked off on June 3 at the Venlo gaming venue in the Netherlands. Organized by the European Casino Association (ECA), the event features 37 dealers from 21 countries.
During the competition, dealers will showcase their skills in game control, technical proficiency, stress management, and hospitality. A panel of international judges will evaluate the participants, taking into account their technical and communication skills, as well as their ability to manage the gaming process.
The competitors will participate in a knockout tournament, with the EDC champion to be crowned on June 5. The winner will receive a grand prize of €5,000 (approximately $5,300). The second-place finisher will take home €3,000 (around $3,200), while the third-place winner will receive €1,500 (about $1,600). Additionally, five skill demonstration contests will be held, with each winner awarded €500 (approximately $530).
The inaugural championship took place in 2007, and since then, the EDC has been held in 15 countries, attracting a total of 500 participants. The previous event was hosted in Belgium at the Grand Casino Brussels, where UK representative Alessandro Messina claimed first place. Dealers from Poland, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, and other nations competed for the title.
ECA Secretary General Hermann Pamminger expressed gratitude to this year's sponsors, stating, "I would like to thank all the sponsors of this year's competition, who have made it possible to organize an international celebration of talent in gaming. The ECA appreciates these leading companies in the European gaming industry for their ongoing commitment to the EDC, ensuring its success and growth in the future."
It is also worth noting that the Netherlands Gambling Authority has approved the dates for implementing changes to its responsible gambling policy.
