ECA European Dealer Championship 2025
MATHEW
TAYLOR-HARRISON Hippodrome Casino
Te competition was fantastic. Casino Bregenz put on a first class event and I felt all the way through it was managed to a very high standard, and I couldn't thank them, the organisers and all the sponsors enough for making it happen. One of the competitors at this event said you either win, or you learn, and I love that so much. Te worst case is that you learn how to be better and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. My advice to anyone thinking of entering would be just do it!
Mathew Taylor-Harrison of the Hippodrome Casino in London has been crowned the European Dealer Champion for 2025 following two tremendous days of intense competition at the picturesque Casino Bregenz in Austria. Christoph Boo of Swiss Casino Zürich secured runners up spot with third place going Billy Clarke of Les Ambassadeurs, a casino also based in London. Te atmosphere from June 16 to 19 was as hot as the weather
at the beautiful location on Lake Constance. Participants not only vied for the main championship title but also competed in five specialised skill challenges that highlight the diverse talents essential for excellence in the profession. Tese challenges tested the dealers’ decision-making abilities, mathematical prowess, chip management, and card handling – all critical components of superior casino dealing. Carlos Álvarez-Chas of Cas Casino Gran Madrid won first
place for Best in Pushing Stacks. Miran Penzes of City of Dreams Mediterranean in Cyprus took home the award of Best Chipper. Best Cutting Chips went to Asko-Rober Meola of Olympic Entertainment Group in Estonia. Daniel Sánchez Rodríguez of Casino Gran Madrid won Best Card Handler whilst Best Mathematician was won by Temin Joguncic from Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken in Germany. Overall winner Mr Taylor-Harrison said: “I was ecstatic
when my name was read out, I genuinely didn't believe it and even when I was holding up the trophy, it felt surreal. It is a feeling I know I will remember for the rest of my life, a close second to being the best moment of my life, after becoming a dad twice. It feels good to be acknowledged for doing something that I enjoy.
“Te other contestants were brilliant. Tere were 35 of the
best dealers from around Europe, and the quality was high; the stand-out factor, though, was how nice everyone was. I was blown away by how friendly and supportive people were with each other despite being in direct competition,” he added. “Te competition was fantastic and though, due to the
amount of competitors the first day was a lot of waiting around, the intensity was certainly ramped up on the 2nd day. Casino Bregenz put on a first class event and I felt all the way through it was managed to a very high standard, and I couldn't thank them, the organisers and all the sponsors enough for making it happen,” he commented. “One of the competitors at this event said you either win, or
you learn, and I love that so much. Te worst case is that you learn how to be better and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. My advice to anyone thinking of entering would be just do it!” It was a career-defining trip to Las Vegas that put Mr Taylor-
Harrison on the road to becoming a croupier. “I had the best time in Las Vegas and just loved the vibe of the place. I remember thinking that it was an environment I'd like to work in. When I came back an opportunity came up to do a training school in Manchester and the rest is history. Te highlight of my career is winning the EDC but following on would be when I came to work at Te Hippodrome. It's a really special place to work and changed my life completely. “I think the most important attribute to being a top-class
croupier is being good with people. Being able to read a customer and know the way to treat them to ensure they get the experience they want is imperative in our industry.”
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