About this app
How to play Empress Charm
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) estimates that bettors will plunk down $40.5 billion on the NFL this season through regulated channels. Traditional sportsbooks are projected to capture $31.7 billion of that total, compared to a handle analog of $8.4 billion for prediction markets—a 79% to 21% split in favor of legacy operators.
Handle analog is a metric used as a cleaner comparison between sportsbooks and prediction markets because the latter’s volume doesn’t compare evenly with sportsbook handle.
Based on its projections, EKG sees the overall sports wagering industry growing 8% year-over-year, outpacing the current baseline growth rate of 5% (a figure that strips out temporary boosts from the 2026 World Cup).
What is Empress Charm?
The submission form will close on 1 October, at which time nominations will be put to our esteemed panel of judges for final review.
More information on judges, submissions and deadlines can be found here. You can also access interviews with last year’s winners and the final list for 2025, as well as for every year prior.
We look forward to working with our judges, and once again shining a light on some of the gaming industry’s best talents!
What is Empress Charm?
The original production already dropped artificial snow when Glinda broke the poppy spell. “Glinda’s Glitter” is the sparkle equivalent of that idea: a visible shower of goodness.
It will also double as a built-in alibi for any romantically involved conventioneer who mistakenly comes home with glitter on their clothes.
“Oh, didn’t I mention we saw the new Wizard of Oz, honey?”
