Global Gaming Women

History and Purpose

Global Gaming Women was founded in 2010 as an industry-led response to the underrepresentation of women in gaming leadership. The organization has since become an institutional voice for female professionals across casino operations, online gambling, land-based suppliers, regulation, law, and compliance. It was not created as a commercial venture and does not operate gaming properties, develop gambling technology, or offer consumer gaming products. Instead, its stated purpose is to support, develop, and inspire women working in the industry.

Programs and Business Model

GGW's principal programs are professional-development offerings rather than commercial products. Mentoring Circles is a structured, cohort-based mentorship program that pairs women in gaming with experienced industry leaders. The Women in Gaming Leadership Symposium is an annual leadership and professional-development event held in conjunction with the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), one of the largest gatherings of the international gaming industry. The GGW Scholarship Program provides financial support for women pursuing gaming-related education and professional development, and the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award recognizes individuals who show exceptional commitment to mentoring and advancing women in the industry. Regional networking events, webinars, and local programming round out the membership offering.

The organization is funded primarily through corporate sponsorships and membership support. It does not appear to sell software, hardware, or gambling services, and it is not structured as a traditional operator or supplier. In that sense, its business model is closer to that of a non-profit professional association than a commercial company.

Leadership and Governance

Based on the reviewed sources, Global Gaming Women appears to be governed by a volunteer board of directors and a professional staff rather than a conventional commercial C-suite. No CEO, CTO, CCO, COO, or other current C-level executive could be confirmed from the available source set. The founder most consistently associated with the organization is Patty Becker, for whom the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award is named. Becker's connection to the founding of GGW is supported by official organizational materials, though independent press coverage confirming her role was not included in the source set.

Market Position and Recognition

GGW occupies a distinct niche in the gaming industry as a non-profit professional network rather than a traditional trade association. It does not lobby or set standards on behalf of commercial members in the way that, for example, a national gambling trade body might. Instead, it functions as the gaming industry's leading professional network for women, with an international membership and visibility in iGaming press such as Yogonet. Its annual award programs, symposium, and mentorship initiatives give it a recognized role in talent development and industry recognition.

Recent Developments

The most recent concrete development in the reviewed sources is the naming of the 2026 Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award winners, reported by Yogonet in August 2026. This continues GGW's pattern of annual recognition events and suggests that the organization remains active in celebrating mentorship and leadership across the global gaming community.