Global Gaming Women names six 2026 Patty Becker Award winners
Global Gaming Women announced a record nomination cycle for its Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award, honoring six women from across the gaming industry. The class will be celebrated at Wynn Las Vegas on September 30.
A Record Year for Nominations
Global Gaming Women announced last week that it received a record number of nominations for its 2026 Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award, ultimately selecting six honorees from across the gaming sector. The announcement was reported by CDC Gaming on August 16.
The award is named for Patty Becker, and according to Global Gaming Women, the recipients are chosen for embodying her legacy of generosity, mentorship, and advocacy. This year’s class spans commercial casinos, tribal gaming, legal services, technology suppliers, and hospitality, reflecting just how broadly women have embedded themselves in leadership across the industry.
“GGW received a record number of nominations for this year’s Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award, demonstrating the remarkable depth of leadership, service, and commitment among women across the gaming industry,” said Global Gaming Women President and Board Chair Siobhan Lane in a statement reported by CDC Gaming.
The 2026 Class
The six winners bring notably different professional backgrounds to the recognition. Michelle Baillie serves as General Manager of SkyCity Hamilton. Tracy Bradford is President of Seminole Hard Rock Support Services. Melissa Cox holds the role of Vice President of Marketing and Customer Relations at Gaming Capital Group. Bethan Lloyd is a Partner at law firm Wiggin LLP. Michelle Schenk is Director of Global Communications at IGT. Maureen Wasloski is Vice President and General Manager at Margaritaville/Boomtown Bossier City, Louisiana.
That spread, from a New Zealand-based casino operator to a Las Vegas technology giant to a Louisiana regional property, underlines the stated aim of the award to represent diverse aspects of the global gaming sector.
Marking a Milestone Anniversary
The timing carries extra weight this year. Lane noted in her statement that Global Gaming Women is marking its 10-year anniversary, making the 2026 class a particularly meaningful one for the organization. Honoring six recipients rather than a smaller number appears to reflect both the anniversary milestone and the volume of strong nominations the organization received.
The honorees will be recognized at Kick Up Your Heels, GGW’s annual ticketed event described by the organization as a space for connection and conversation that also raises funds for its programs. The 2026 edition will be held at Intrigue at Wynn Las Vegas on September 30, running from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. It is the same event where Lane teased the celebration in her statement, saying GGW looks forward to “celebrating their achievements” there.
For an organization hitting a decade of operation, landing its biggest-ever nomination cycle in its anniversary year is a fairly clean indicator that the pipeline of women in meaningful gaming roles has grown considerably since GGW launched. Six names on the 2026 award roster, drawn from three countries and multiple industry verticals, makes that case on its own.
Who won the 2026 Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award?
The six winners are Michelle Baillie of SkyCity Hamilton, Tracy Bradford of Seminole Hard Rock Support Services, Melissa Cox of Gaming Capital Group, Bethan Lloyd of Wiggin LLP, Michelle Schenk of IGT, and Maureen Wasloski of Margaritaville/Boomtown Bossier City.
Where and when will the 2026 honorees be celebrated?
According to Global Gaming Women, the honorees will be recognized at the Kick Up Your Heels event on September 30, hosted at Intrigue at Wynn Las Vegas from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
What is the Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award?
It is an award presented by Global Gaming Women that honors individuals who embody the legacy of Patty Becker through generosity, mentorship, advocacy, and a commitment to helping others succeed in the gaming industry.
How does the Kick Up Your Heels event support Global Gaming Women?
According to CDC Gaming, Kick Up Your Heels is an annual ticketed event that raises funds for GGW's mission-driven programs while encouraging connection and conversation among industry professionals.