iGB names final Most Influential Women 2026 winners, with Cordish Gaming's Suzanne Trout among them

iGB has revealed the final three honourees on its Most Influential Women 2026 list. According to the publication, a recurring theme among this year's winners was the need to go beyond simple female representation in gaming and make sure women have a real voice in decision-making and leadership. It also said the volume of nominations showed the breadth of talent across the sector.

One of the winners is Suzanne Trout, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of Cordish Gaming Group. She has worked in gaming throughout her career, moving between Las Vegas and Atlantic City properties, small commercial and tribal casinos, and both large public companies and private operators. She says she entered the business "at the dawn of expansion" and that this variety taught her to stay flexible and keep learning.

Looking ahead, Trout points to Cordish's expansion plans in gaming and entertainment and to fast-moving marketing technology. She sees artificial intelligence not as a substitute for staff but as a tool to refine the customer experience through more personalised offers and interactions, which she considers important for operators competing in crowded local and regional markets.

On diversity and inclusion, Trout was direct. Asked whether gaming had reached where it should be, she answered "No. That's a hard no." She acknowledged that more women now hold management roles, but said boardrooms and top leadership remain largely unchanged from three decades ago, calling it "still a fairly lonely place to be". In her view a broader mix of leaders would also bring commercial benefits, including different perspectives and faster product evolution.

Trout said she joined Cordish partly because of its deliberate approach to diversity. The company combines internal training, targeted recruitment and mentorship. It runs a management development programme for recent graduates in which diversity is an explicit priority, offers development tracks for existing staff, and has a dedicated team for diversity and training. Trout is also active in Global Gaming Women, and says Cordish supports outside educational opportunities for women.

Her advice for the next generation centres on generosity with time. She encourages senior figures to give honest feedback, mentor junior colleagues and share their experience, arguing that this builds leadership capacity across the industry. The third group of winners also includes Zoe Ebling, VP of Interactive at AGS.