Voting for Best Affiliate Manager and Game of the Year is open until 29 May. Registration for iGB L!VE London (1–2 July) is now live.
Image source: iGB
The iGB Affiliate Awards, now in their 19th edition, span 22 categories and are judged exclusively on submission merit. Stephen Carter, Head of Affiliate Content and internal judging lead at World Gaming, describes the process as the most democratic and open in the gaming space.
The programme was relaunched as a live event in 2021. The period of lockdown-enforced hiatus provided the organising team with an opportunity to consult its stakeholder community. Carter outlined what that consultation revealed:
“We relaunched as a live event in 2021 with the hiatus caused by lockdown providing an opportunity to reflect, rethink and reach out to our community of stakeholders. The feedback we received about industry awards per se was that the proposition required a refresh, with the format seen as tired and formulaic, judging at best opaque with the same organisations invariably winning every year.”
The relaunch centred on a root-and-branch overhaul of judging. The revised process introduced a focus on diversity, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest, as well as the use of NDAs. Carter described how the process has continued to develop:
“The criteria and judging have been fine-tuned each year based on our experience, the feedback received from the iGaming affiliate community as well as from our judges. As a consequence, I am confident that the initiatives that we’ve introduced mean that our judging process is among the most rigorous, fair and democratic in the business.”
Merit-based assessment sits at the centre of the Awards’ stated objectives. Carter articulated the rationale:
“Showcasing emerging, fast-growing and disruptive businesses remains central to our mission. The market knows that submissions will be treated entirely on their merit and, as a consequence, it won’t be the same companies walking away with the prizes. We remain focused on continuing to provide our sector with the very best possible platform for the recognition and celebration of its achievements and its stand-out performers.”
iGB L!VE London, delivered by the WorldGaming team, is scheduled for 1–2 July at ExCeL London. Registration is open at igblive.com. The event brings together casino, sports betting operators, affiliates, tech vendors, and game providers.
WorldGaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter positioned the event as a follow-on to January’s ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona:
“iGB L!VE provides a mid-year opportunity to engage with the ecosystem and a chance to evaluate, optimise and prepare for the future. Our message for 2026 is ‘All In’ – a theme which relates to casino, to affiliates and in the year of the FIFA World Cup to sports betting operators.”
iGB L!VE 2025, the first edition held in London, recorded 20,227 visitors — up 16 percent on the previous high of 17,498 set in 2024. Attendees travelled from 149 nations, compared with 131 in 2024.
The shortlist of finalists was revealed on 5 May, with voting for Best Affiliate Manager and Game of the Year opening on the same date. Voting closes 29 May. Registration for iGB L!VE London is open at igblive.com.
