This award recognises the affiliate network that has delivered exceptional value to both affiliates and operators between June 2024 and May 2025.

Serving as the crucial link between publishers and advertisers, the winning network will have demonstrated consistent performance, transparency, and innovation across its platform. It will be recognised for enabling scalable growth, fostering long-term relationships, and optimising the success of its partners on both sides of the ecosystem.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Traffic Quality and Scale: Showcase measurable growth in traffic volumes, new depositing customers (NDCs), and overall revenue generated through the network.
• Strength of Relationships: Provide examples of building and maintaining trusted, long-term relationships with both affiliate and operator partners, supported by testimonials, retention metrics, or partner growth case studies.
• Partnership Volume and Quality: Demonstrate an increase in the number of active and profitable partnerships, alongside an ability to attract and retain high-quality affiliates and brands.
• Partner Performance Support: Highlight efforts made to boost the ROI and business growth of both affiliates and operators through education, personalised support, or strategic campaign consultation.
• Transparency and Communication: Show how the network has effectively managed and communicated major updates to terms, compliance policies, or programme structures, ensuring clarity and partner alignment.
• Data and Reporting Tools: Demonstrate how partners have been empowered with reliable, timely, and actionable data through advanced reporting dashboards and analytics tools.
• Creative Resources and Localisation: Illustrate improvements in providing high-performing campaign assets, including multi-channel creatives, localisation support, dynamic landing pages, and tailored funnels for different markets.
• Dispute Resolution and Trust: Share examples of how partner relationships have been safeguarded through fair handling of complaints, quick issue resolution, and consistent account management support.
• Innovation and Platform Usability: Showcase innovations in the platform’s functionality, such as intuitive user interfaces, real-time tracking, or automated payment systems that enhance partner experience.
• Compliance and Regulatory Support: Provide evidence of tools, communication, or training that help partners stay compliant with fast-changing regional regulations and advertising standards.

This award celebrates an affiliate or affiliate network that has demonstrated outstanding innovation through the development or enhancement of a product, platform, or feature that significantly improves the affiliate experience, user journey, or operator performance.

The innovation may involve technology, UX/UI, data tools, mobile apps, content formats, automation, or any other product-driven solution that has had a measurable impact between June 2024 and May 2025.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Innovation & Originality: Provide a clear explanation of the product or feature developed. What makes it innovative? How is it different from existing solutions? Highlight unique thinking, creativity, and a forward-thinking approach.
• User Experience & Design: Demonstrate how the product enhances usability, engagement, or accessibility for users or operator partners. Share feedback, UX/UI improvements, or engagement metrics that support the effectiveness of the product.
• Commercial Impact: Showcase how the innovation has contributed to improved KPIs, such as increased FTDs, player retention, affiliate revenue, or conversion rates, as a result of launching or optimising this product.
• Tech Excellence: Describe the technology behind the product, including scalability, performance, and any use of AI, automation, or integration with third-party platforms or tools.
• Affiliate & Operator Value: Explain how the product has added value to the affiliate’s own business and/or supported operator growth through better reporting, targeting, performance, or compliance.
• Problem Solving: Identify the market problem or operational challenge this product solves, and explain how it has addressed that need more effectively than existing alternatives.
• Scalability & Sustainability: Outline how the product is built for scale or long-term growth, including adaptability to multiple markets, languages, or regulatory frameworks.
• Industry Influence: Share examples of how the innovation has influenced others in the space, whether through adoption, media coverage, or recognition, and how it’s shaping the future of affiliate marketing.

This award honours an individual who has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and impact in managing operator relationships and affiliate communities between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliate managers working on the AFFILIATE side of the relationship, this category celebrates those who go above and beyond in building trust, driving partner success, and serving as a key liaison between the affiliate and the operator partners. The ideal candidate will have played a pivotal role in scaling partnerships, enhancing collaboration, and representing their brand with integrity and professionalism.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Onboarding & Integration of New Clients: Provide examples of how the nominee has successfully onboarded new operators, ensuring a smooth process and setting the foundation for productive, long-term partnerships.
• Relationship Building: Demonstrate how the nominee has built and nurtured strong, long-term relationships with operators, fostering trust, open communication, and collaborative success.
• Commercial Growth & Impact: Showcase tangible contributions to business performance, such as onboarding high-value operators, growing accounts, optimising deal/commission terms, or generating increased revenue through strategic account management.
• Partner Support & Responsiveness: Highlight excellence in day-to-day partner support, including responsiveness, problem-solving skills, proactive guidance, and a solutions-first approach to challenges and opportunities.
• Industry Knowledge & Expertise: Provide examples of how the manager’s market awareness, product understanding, and regulatory insight have empowered partners to succeed or helped the company navigate change.
• Community Engagement: Demonstrate how the nominee has actively built or contributed to an affiliate community through networking, content initiatives, events, or creating forums for learning and collaboration.
• Communication Skills: Highlight how the nominee excels in both internal and external communication, whether through professional representation, stakeholder alignment, or the ability to clearly convey complex information.
• Innovation & Proactivity: Share how the manager has introduced new processes, tools, or ideas to improve experience, streamline operations, or strengthen collaboration across departments.
• Ambassador & Brand Advocate: Showcase how the nominee represents the company’s values, brand, and mission to the outside world, helping to elevate its reputation and attract new opportunities.
• Mentorship & Team Contribution: If applicable, demonstrate how the nominee contributes to team culture, supports junior staff, and drives knowledge-sharing within the organisation.

This award recognises the most impactful and innovative affiliate campaign delivered between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliates across all verticals, this category honours a specific campaign (be it a promotion, branded initiative, partnership activation, or content-driven push) that achieved exceptional results through creativity, data-led strategy, and flawless execution.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Campaign Objectives & Strategy: Clearly outline the campaign’s goals and how the strategy was tailored to meet them (e.g. acquisition, retention, market entry, seasonal push, brand awareness).
• Creative Execution: Showcase standout creative elements (visuals, messaging, content hooks, gamification mechanics, or unique user journeys) that brought the campaign to life.
• Targeting & Audience Alignment: Explain how the campaign was designed to reach a specific audience segment (by location, vertical, behaviour, or intent), and how this targeting shaped the message and delivery.
• Performance & Measurable Results: Present clear KPIs and performance data (FTDs, CPA/CPL impact, CTR, ROI, engagement, etc.), and explain how the campaign delivered tangible outcomes.
• Channel Mix & Distribution: Highlight the platforms and touchpoints used to amplify the campaign (SEO, paid media, email, influencer marketing, Telegram, social media, YouTube, etc.).
• Collaboration with Operators: Demonstrate how the campaign involved close collaboration with one or more operator partners—whether through exclusive offers, co-branded assets, content alignment, or shared KPIs.
• Innovation & Differentiation: Share what made this campaign stand out from the competition (use of new technologies, creative formats, cross-platform storytelling, or unexpected timing/tactics).
• User Experience & Engagement: Show how the campaign created an engaging user experience (through strong CTAs, value-driven messaging, seamless navigation, or interaction mechanics).
• Post-Campaign Analysis & Learnings: If applicable, outline how the campaign was evaluated after launch, what was learned, and how insights were applied to future affiliate initiatives.

This award recognises the achievements of the most innovative and high-performing affiliate in the cryptocurrency gaming and betting space between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliates specialising in driving traffic to crypto-focused iGaming brands—including casinos, sportsbooks, or hybrid operators—this category honours those who have demonstrated excellence in acquisition, education, and player engagement within the fast-evolving world of blockchain-based gambling.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Crypto Traffic Acquisition & Performance: Demonstrate strong performance through metrics such as FTDs via crypto deposits, transaction volume, wallet integrations and highlight your ability to deliver high-LTV crypto users in a competitive space.
• Content & Education: Showcase your role in educating users about crypto gambling. This includes clear and engaging content on topics like wallet setup, token use, and decentralised platforms. Include comparisons, tutorials, and original thought leadership that simplify complex topics for users across all experience levels.
• Innovation & Differentiation: Highlight unique tools and innovations tailored to crypto users (provably fair verification systems, token-exclusive content, NFT-based loyalty programmes, or real-time blockchain analytics). Show how you’ve led or pioneered in areas others are only beginning to explore.
• Compliance, Transparency & Trust: Provide evidence of responsible affiliate practices in the crypto space, including clear disclaimers, user fund protection guidance, AML considerations, and adherence to jurisdictional compliance.
• Adaptability to Web3 Trends: Demonstrate your ability to pivot or scale based on market movements, such as adapting to new tokens, building on blockchain metaverses, or responding to changes in crypto regulations.
• Partnerships & Ecosystem Growth: Show success in building partnerships with crypto operators, token platforms, or decentralised tech providers.
• Community Engagement & Loyalty: Highlight how you’ve fostered an active crypto community through channels like Discord, Telegram, or X. Showcase loyalty initiatives such as NFT-gated access, ambassador programmes, or gamified leaderboard competitions.
• Data-Driven Optimisation: Explain how you've used blockchain analytics, on-chain behaviour patterns, token performance data, or cross-platform user tracking to optimise traffic and conversion strategies.

This award recognises the accomplishments of the top-performing sports affiliate between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliates specialising in sports betting traffic, this category celebrates those that have excelled in performance, innovation, and industry impact. It honours outstanding achievements in driving growth, engaging audiences, and delivering results that set new benchmarks in the sector.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Traffic Quality and Scale: Showcase strong performance through key metrics such as overall monthly sessions, first-time depositors (FTDs), conversion rates, bounce rates, and return visitor rates. Demonstrate the ability to consistently attract and retain a high-quality sports betting audience at scale.
• Content and User Experience: Highlight the value, relevance, and originality of your content, such as expert betting tips, previews, match analysis, or odds comparison tools, along with a seamless and user-friendly experience across platforms, including mobile optimisation and intuitive site navigation.
• Partnership Growth: Demonstrate success in securing or growing commercial partnerships with sportsbooks, including examples of exclusive campaigns, cross-promotions, or performance-driven collaborations that have driven business impact.
• Trust and Credibility: Present evidence of a strong reputation and trust within the betting community, supported by user reviews, media features, responsible gambling practices, or endorsements from partners and peers.
• Innovation and Differentiation: Showcase creative strategies or technological features that set your affiliate apart (whether it's real-time odds widgets, unique content formats (e.g., video previews or live blogs), or gamified elements).
• Adaptability to Market Trends: Provide examples of how you quickly adapted to seasonal shifts (e.g., major tournaments), regulatory developments, or user behaviour trends to maintain relevance and maximise opportunity.
• Audience Engagement: Highlight how you’ve built an active and loyal audience through tailored marketing, fan-focused campaigns, or social media initiatives that foster genuine interaction and brand affinity.
• Data-Driven Strategies: Share how you’ve used analytics and performance insights—such as traffic segmentation, betting behaviour patterns, or campaign optimisation techniques—to refine strategies and drive measurable outcomes.
  

This award recognises the accomplishments of the top-performing casino affiliate between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliates focused on online casino traffic, this category celebrates those that have demonstrated outstanding performance, creativity, and industry influence. It honours affiliates that have excelled in driving acquisition and retention, producing engaging content, and delivering measurable results.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

Traffic Quality and Scale: Showcase strong performance through key metrics such as overall monthly sessions, first-time depositors (FTDs), conversion rates, average session duration, bounce rates, and return visitor rates. Demonstrate the ability to drive and retain a high-value user base in a highly competitive segment.

Content and User Experience: Highlight the quality and originality of your content, such as in-depth game reviews, bonus comparisons, and educational resources, along with a seamless and user-friendly experience across devices, including mobile-first design and intuitive navigation.

Partnership Growth: Demonstrate success in forging new relationships or scaling existing partnerships with casino operators, with examples of exclusive deals, successful collaborations, or cross-brand campaigns that delivered tangible business impact.

Trust and Credibility: Present evidence of industry trust, compliance with regulations, strong responsible gaming practices, and recognition or endorsements from partners and users.

Innovation and Differentiation: Showcase any unique tools (e.g., bonus finders, game testers, player review systems), creative campaigns, or technological innovations that clearly differentiate the affiliate in the market.

Adaptability to Market Trends: Provide examples of how you quickly adapted to evolving user preferences, regulatory changes, or innovations in the casino ecosystem (e.g., crypto casinos, live casino trends, gamification).

Audience Engagement: Highlight how you’ve fostered loyalty and engagement through tailored content, community-building efforts (e.g., forums, newsletters), or personalised experiences that keep players returning.

Data-Driven Strategies: Share how data and analytics have been used to drive results, whether through player behaviour insights, SEO performance tracking, conversion funnel optimisation, or A/B testing of landing pages and CTAs.

This award honours an individual who has demonstrated outstanding creativity, strategy, and impact in managing and delivering affiliate content between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to content managers working on the affiliate side of the industry, this category recognises those who have gone above and beyond in driving content performance, boosting SEO visibility and elevating the brand’s voice across multiple platforms. The ideal candidate is not only a master of words but also a strategic thinker who understands what converts, what engages, and what builds long-term trust with users and partners alike.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Content Strategy & Execution: Showcase how the nominee has developed and executed a clear content strategy aligned with business goals, vertical focus (casino, sportsbook, crypto, etc.), and target audiences.
• SEO & Performance-Driven Content: Demonstrate success in driving organic traffic, improving rankings, or increasing conversions through high-quality, keyword-optimised, and user-intent-focused content.
• Creative Campaigns & Storytelling: Highlight innovative or standout content pieces or campaigns, such as interactive tools, long-form guides, themed editorial, or multimedia storytelling that drove measurable engagement.
• Operator Collaboration (if applicable): Provide examples of how the nominee has worked closely with operator partners to create co-branded content, support promotions, or align on acquisition-focused initiatives.
• User Experience & Trust: Illustrate how the nominee has contributed to improving content readability, accuracy, and UX across platforms — including tone of voice consistency, mobile-first formatting, and responsible gaming messaging.
• Content Innovation & Tools: Share how the nominee has introduced new formats (e.g., video) or implemented tools (e.g., AI copy tools, automated localisation, CMS improvements) to scale and improve output.
• Cross-Channel Content Management: Highlight the nominee’s role in managing content across multiple channels (such as blogs, reviews, landing pages, social, newsletters, and SEO) and maintaining consistency and quality.
• Data-Driven Optimisation: Provide examples of how performance metrics (CTR, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc.) and A/B testing were used to improve content effectiveness and decision-making.
• Team Collaboration & Editorial Leadership: Showcase how the nominee works with internal teams (designers, developers, SEO specialists, product owners) or leads a team of writers/editors to deliver cohesive and impactful content.
• Brand Representation & Voice: Demonstrate how the nominee has helped shape and elevate the brand’s tone of voice, authority, and market position through well-crafted content.
  

This award celebrates an exceptional individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the affiliate marketing space within the sports betting and gaming industry between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to founders, C-level executives, or senior leaders within affiliate businesses, this category honours those who have not only driven innovation, growth, and strategic success within their organisation but have also positively shaped the wider affiliate ecosystem. The winner will be recognised for leading with vision, inspiring teams, and setting new benchmarks in performance and industry influence.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Visionary Leadership: A proven ability to lead with purpose, inspire teams, and shape company culture, navigating both opportunities and challenges with clarity and confidence.
• Strategic Direction & Execution: Demonstrate how the nominee has developed and implemented a clear strategy for long-term success, including growth across markets, product innovation, or new vertical expansion.
• Innovation in Affiliate Marketing: Showcase how the leader has embraced emerging technologies, data strategies, or creative monetisation models that have pushed the affiliate business forward and differentiated it in a competitive space.
• Commercial Growth & Market Impact: Provide evidence of business results driven under their leadership, such as revenue growth, traffic increases, expansion into new markets, or partnerships with major operators.
• Industry Reputation & Influence: Highlight recognition from peers, partners, or the wider industry through awards, media appearances, speaking engagements, or other forms of professional acknowledgement.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Demonstrate a commitment to cultivating future talent through coaching, internal career development, or building an inclusive, growth-focused organisational culture.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Share examples of how the nominee has successfully led their organisation through times of change, including shifts in regulation, market dynamics, or technological disruption.
• Ethical & Inclusive Leadership: Showcase integrity, transparency, and commitment to fostering a diverse, respectful, and values-driven workplace that empowers employees and builds long-term trust.
• Collaboration & Ecosystem Contribution: Illustrate how the nominee has worked to strengthen the affiliate sector overall, whether through community-building, industry initiatives, standard-setting, or partnerships that elevate the entire ecosystem.

This award recognises an affiliate who has demonstrated exceptional results, creativity, and optimisation through a specific traffic source or channel between June 2024 and May 2025.

It celebrates the strategic and performance-driven use of platforms, such as SEO, PPC, media buying, influencer marketing, social media, email, or streaming, to drive high-quality traffic, deliver outstanding acquisition results, and add measurable value. This category does not reward the platform itself (e.g., Google, Twitch, TikTok), but rather the affiliate’s expertise and innovation in leveraging that traffic source to scale their business and enhance operator success.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Channel Mastery: Demonstrate deep understanding and tactical execution within a specific traffic source, including targeting, content strategy, bidding, compliance, or user journey optimisation.
• Performance & Scale: Share KPIs and results that reflect acquisition success—such as number of FTDs, ROI, conversion rates, retention, or lifetime value—achieved through this traffic source.
• Creativity & Innovation: Provide examples of creative campaigns, formats, or strategies that stood out from the crowd, overcame platform challenges, or introduced new ways of engaging audiences.
• Compliance & Brand Safety: Show how the nominee ensured traffic was clean, compliant with regulations, aligned with operator guidelines, and contributed to a trustworthy user experience.
• Collaborative Success: Highlight how the affiliate worked closely with operator partners to optimise campaigns, align on goals, or tailor offers to improve performance.
• Sustained Impact: Demonstrate how this traffic source has been leveraged over time—not just a one-off spike, but consistent and reliable delivery of value for both the affiliate and operator.

This award recognises the affiliate business that has gone above and beyond in creating a thriving, inclusive, and empowering workplace culture between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliate companies of all sizes, this category celebrates those that prioritise employee well-being, foster professional growth, and build environments where talent can flourish. The winning organisation will demonstrate a strong commitment to nurturing its team, championing innovation, and shaping a people-first culture that stands out in the affiliate marketing industry.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• People-First Approach: Showcase how the company prioritises employee well-being, engagement, and development through structured support systems, wellness programmes, and initiatives that boost morale and motivation.
• Leadership & Vision: Highlight leadership strategies that inspire, empower, and drive teams forward (emphasising transparency, trust, and alignment with the company’s long-term mission).
• Workplace Culture: Demonstrate how the business fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture, where open communication is encouraged and employees feel part of a united, supportive team.
• Career Development: Provide examples of clear career progression pathways, mentorship programmes, training opportunities, or upskilling initiatives designed to help employees grow within the organisation.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Share how your company promotes a healthy balance between personal and professional life through remote work options, flexible schedules, or wellness-focused policies.
• Job Satisfaction & Recognition: Highlight how you create a fulfilling work environment, including employee feedback mechanisms, reward and recognition programmes, and a commitment to meaningful, purpose-driven work.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Demonstrate efforts to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all voices are heard and equal opportunities are provided, regardless of background or identity.
• Employee Engagement & Ownership: Show how the business encourages employee involvement in decision-making, supports autonomy, and fosters a sense of ownership and accountability across teams.
• Innovation in HR & People Practices: Provide examples of forward-thinking HR policies or employee initiatives that have contributed to productivity, retention, or talent acquisition, especially in response to industry or generational shifts.

This award celebrates an up-and-coming affiliate that has made a remarkable entrance into the industry between June 2024 and May 2025.

This category honours a rising star that has rapidly gained traction, captured attention, and shown the makings of a future industry leader with strong early performance, bold strategies, and a clear path toward growth.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Breakout Growth/Momentum: Demonstrate rapid AND significant gains in traffic, conversions, or audience reach. Share metrics that reflect impressive momentum and early market disruption.
• Scalability & Long-Term Potential: Showcase a compelling growth vision, including plans to scale into new markets, verticals, or technologies, positioning the affiliate as a future powerhouse.
• Early Innovation & First-Mover Moves: Provide examples of how your affiliate embraced new platforms, marketing tactics, or user engagement strategies ahead of the curve to gain an edge.
• Fresh Content & UX Approach: Highlight your fresh take on content creation and user experience, whether through bold site design, intuitive navigation, or delivering unique value to users.
• Strategic Partnership Development: Share success stories of securing high-impact operator partnerships or collaborations that have accelerated growth and built credibility.
• Reputation & Trust Building: Present evidence of growing brand trust and authority within the industry, even at an early stage, supported by user confidence/testimonials.
• Differentiation & Creative Edge: Showcase what sets your affiliate apart (unique brand voice, niche focus, or inventive marketing strategies).
• Audience Engagement & Community Building: Provide examples of how you’ve built a loyal audience base through interactive tools, gamified features, social engagement, or loyalty initiatives.
• Market Expansion & Localisation: Demonstrate early success in entering new regions, with an emphasis on localisation of content, offers, or site experience for diverse markets.
• Agility & Market Responsiveness: Highlight how your team has responded swiftly to regulatory updates, tech shifts, or industry trends, showcasing flexibility and awareness that drives continued success.

This award recognises a MEDIUM or SMALL-SCALE affiliate programme that has demonstrated exceptional growth, innovation, and commitment to partner support between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliate programmes operated by betting and gaming brands, this category celebrates programmes that punch above their weight, delivering standout results through agility, creativity, and meaningful affiliate relationships. Whether expanding quickly in a niche market or innovating within a smaller team, these programmes have made a significant impact.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Growth in Performance Metrics: Demonstrate tangible improvements in brand traffic, new depositing customers, and affiliate-driven revenue.
• Affiliate Relationship Building: Showcase how the programme has cultivated strong partnerships with affiliates through personalised support, tailored deals, or effective communication.
• Niche or Regional Market Success: Highlight successful performance in a specific region, language, or vertical, whether breaking into emerging markets, launching localised campaigns, or targeting underserved audiences.
• Affiliate Retention & Engagement: Provide examples of how the programme has maintained affiliate loyalty through hands-on management, consistent communication, and recognition of performance.
• Campaign Creativity & Localisation: Demonstrate the creation and delivery of unique campaigns, engaging creatives, and localised content that has resonated with affiliate audiences and driven results.
• Data Sharing & Performance Optimisation: Showcase efforts to share meaningful data with affiliates, including performance dashboards, regular reporting, and actionable insights to improve outcomes.
• Innovation with Limited Resources: Provide examples of how the programme has embraced innovation, such as custom tracking solutions, creative incentive structures, or platform enhancements, despite operating with smaller teams or budgets.
• Responsiveness & Affiliate Support: Highlight the quality of the account management experience, including speed of response, issue resolution, and proactive support for partner growth.
• Affiliate Feedback Integration: Show how affiliate feedback has directly led to improvements in workflows, communication, or platform features, reflecting a partner-first mindset.
• Compliance & Responsible Marketing: Demonstrate the programme’s commitment to ethical affiliate practices, including onboarding processes, marketing standards, and compliance monitoring, even at a smaller scale.

This award honours an individual who has demonstrated outstanding expertise, commitment, and results in managing affiliate partnerships and driving acquisition success on behalf of an operator between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to affiliate marketing professionals working on the operator side, this category recognises those who go above and beyond in nurturing affiliate relationships, growing acquisition channels, and representing their brand with strategic insight, integrity, and commercial impact.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Affiliate Onboarding & Integration: Provide examples of how the nominee has identified, recruited, and integrated new affiliates, creating scalable onboarding processes and empowering affiliates to succeed.
• Relationship Management: Demonstrate how the nominee has built strong, mutually beneficial relationships with affiliate partners, based on trust, transparency, and shared goals.
• Commercial Performance: Highlight tangible contributions to acquisition growth, such as launching top-performing campaigns, negotiating high-value partnerships, optimising commission structures, or improving lifetime value from affiliate-referred traffic.
• Affiliate Support & Responsiveness: Showcase the nominee’s dedication to providing exceptional support through proactive communication, problem-solving, data insights, and marketing collaboration.
• Market & Product Expertise: Showcase how the nominee’s knowledge of the industry landscape, affiliate marketing trends, and product offering has strengthened strategy and helped affiliates deliver more effectively.
• Community Building: Share how the nominee has contributed to the broader industry ecosystem through event participation, webinars, educational content, networking initiatives, or strategic community engagement.
• Communication Skills: Highlight how the nominee communicates effectively across departments, aligns stakeholders, and presents the operator brand professionally and persuasively.
• Innovation & Proactivity: Provide examples of new tools, ideas, or workflows the nominee has introduced to improve efficiency, partner satisfaction, campaign effectiveness, or overall affiliate program performance.
• Brand Champion: Show how the nominee embodies and amplifies the company’s brand values, voice, and mission, helping to attract top-tier affiliates and boost the brand’s visibility within the affiliate channel.

This award recognises an affiliate programme that has demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and partner support between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to LARGE-SCALE affiliate programmes operated by betting and gaming brands, this category honours those that have shown continuous improvement, strategic expansion, and a strong commitment to building mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with affiliates across multiple markets and verticals.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Growth in Performance Metrics: Demonstrate significant growth in brand traffic, new depositing customers, and overall revenue attributed to affiliate activity during the assessment period.
• Expansion of Affiliate Partnerships: Showcase an increase in both the volume and quality of active affiliate partnerships, with emphasis on profitability, longevity, and strategic alignment.
• Geographic & Product Diversification: Provide evidence of successful expansion into new geographies, product verticals (e.g., casino, sports, esports), languages, or marketing channels.
• Affiliate Retention & Loyalty: Highlight initiatives aimed at strengthening relationships with established affiliates, such as incentive programmes or exclusive deal opportunities.
• Compliance & Ethical Marketing: Detail steps taken to streamline onboarding, monitor ongoing compliance of affiliate marketing practices, and promote responsible marketing in line with regulatory requirements.
• Campaign Quality & Localisation: Showcase improvements in creative delivery, including the provision of localised and high-converting campaigns, promotional assets, and region-specific landing pages.
• Data Transparency & Performance Sharing: Demonstrate a commitment to transparency by sharing detailed performance data with affiliates, offering insights that help identify optimisation opportunities and boost ROI.
• Innovation & Technology Integration: Share how the affiliate programme has embraced new tools, platforms, or technology (such as AI-driven insights or advanced tracking, for example) to empower affiliates to perform more effectively in core markets.
• Affiliate Experience & Feedback Integration: Provide examples of how affiliate feedback has directly shaped improvements to the programme, platform functionality, or operational workflows.
• Account Management & Support: Highlight the strength of the programme’s affiliate management team, emphasising responsiveness, communication quality, proactive strategy sharing, and the ability to resolve issues quickly and professionally.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Demonstrate how the affiliate team has worked closely with internal departments (e.g., CRM, marketing, product) to align goals and ensure consistency in messaging, user experience, and partner support.

This award celebrates the remarkable achievements of an emerging operator that has begun to make a significant impact in the industry between June 2024 and May 2025.

Eligible nominees should have been operational for a short number of years but are now gaining momentum through rapid growth, product innovation, and rising brand influence. Whether through strategic market entry, game-changing user experience, or data-driven performance, this award honours an operator that is quickly establishing itself as a future industry leader.

The following entry criteria will be considered:

• Operational Excellence & Platform Performance: Demonstrate platform reliability and technical stability across key markets. Highlights include fast response times, high resolution rates, efficient customer support, and seamless UX/UI design with mobile optimisation and key integrations such as payment providers, game suppliers, and KYC tools.
• Revenue & User Growth: Demonstrate strong year-on-year growth in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), First-Time Depositors (FTDs), active users and retention rates. Include evidence of improvements in customer acquisition cost to lifetime value ratio and other organic growth indicators.
• Market Penetration & Expansion: Demonstrate successful entry into new regulated or high-potential markets through localisation, licence acquisition, or strategic partnerships. Provide proof of regional traction, growing share of voice, or outperformance against established competitors.
• Marketing & Brand Awareness: Demonstrate effective brand-building through marketing KPIs such as impressions, CTRs, campaign reach, or ROI across paid and organic channels. Include standout advertising campaigns, influencer partnerships, and social media growth, notable PR coverage, award wins (or nominations).
• Product & Innovation: Highlight new features or vertical introduction that enhance the player experience, such as crash games, hybrid casino/sportsbook platforms, crypto support, or live betting enhancements. Demonstrate use of innovation through AI, gamification mechanics, or custom tools with metrics on adoption and impact on acquisition or retention.
• Player Protection & Compliance: Demonstrate a commitment to responsible gambling through implementation of tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion, and real-time monitoring. Include compliance with local regulations and partnerships with responsible gambling organisations.
• Customer Experience & Satisfaction: Demonstrates high player satisfaction. Highlight user-focused features like multilingual support, fast payouts, simple onboarding, robust loyalty schemes, and a diverse portfolio of games and/or sports betting options.

This award celebrates a newly launched operator brand that has shown exceptional potential and early signs of success between June 2024 and May 2025.

Eligible nominees will have entered the market within the past year or two and are already gaining attention for their innovative approach, strong foundations, and ambitious roadmap. Whether through a creative go-to-market strategy, bold brand identity, or early player traction, this award honours an emerging operator that is positioning itself as one to watch.

The following entry criteria will be considered:

• Launch Strategy & Market Entry: Demonstrate a well-planned and executed launch strategy, including timing, target markets, and brand positioning. May include rapid licensing, partnership development, or unique market entry tactics that gave the brand a strong start.
• Early Traction & User Acquisition: Provide data-driven evidence of early-stage success, such as growth in registrations, First-Time Depositors (FTDs), daily active users, or conversion rates.
• Brand Identity & Differentiation: Provide evidence of a distinct brand voice and visual identity that resonates with its target audience. Demonstrate strong early branding efforts across digital platforms, with clear messaging and positioning in a competitive space.
• Product Offering & Innovation: Demonstrate a competitive product portfolio and/or unique features that elevate the user experience (innovations in platform functionality, game mechanics, crypto integration, or personalised player journeys).
• Marketing & Visibility: Demonstrate initial brand awareness through digital campaigns, influencer collaborations, paid media, or social media growth. May include PR coverage, affiliate partnerships, or user-generated content that built early visibility and engagement.
• Platform Performance & UX: Showcase a stable, user-friendly, and mobile-optimised platform. Highlights include fast onboarding, intuitive navigation, flexible payment options, and strong early feedback from users.
• Player Protection & Compliance Foundations: Showcase early commitment to responsible gambling and regulatory compliance through the integration of core RG tools, transparent terms, and responsible communication strategies (may include preparations for regulated market entry or early licensing achievements).
• Vision & Growth Potential: Articulate a clear roadmap for scaling, entering new markets, and expanding product features. Provides a compelling outlook on future goals, upcoming launches, and how the operator plans to build on its early momentum.

This award recognises an operator that has launched or significantly enhanced a responsible gaming initiative between June 2024 and May 2025, demonstrating exceptional commitment to player protection, sustainable gambling practices, and industry leadership in social responsibility.

The initiative may involve technology, policy changes, education, player support, partnerships, or awareness campaigns, but must clearly prioritise the well-being of players and a proactive approach to harm minimisation.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Initiative Overview: Provide a clear description of the responsible gaming initiative, including its goals, implementation timeline, and the specific problem or challenge it was designed to address.
• Player Protection Measures: Highlight features that directly safeguard players, such as self-exclusion tools, affordability checks, deposit/time limits, behavioural tracking, real-time interventions, or early warning systems.
• Innovation & Technology: Explain any new technologies or innovative approaches used to enhance player protection, including the use of AI, machine learning, or automated systems to identify and prevent harmful behaviour.
• Impact & Effectiveness: Showcase the outcomes of the initiative, supported by data where possible. This could include reductions in problem gambling indicators, improved player engagement with RG tools, or increased voluntary usage of limits and controls.
• Transparency & Ethics: Demonstrate how the operator ensures transparency with players, including clear communication of RG policies, visible access to tools, and ethical handling of customer data in the context of responsible gaming.
• Education & Awareness: Describe any internal or external campaigns that aimed to raise awareness about responsible gambling, such as staff training programs, player education initiatives, or collaborations with advocacy groups.
• Compliance & Leadership: Show how the initiative aligns with (or goes beyond) regulatory requirements, setting a benchmark for industry standards and demonstrating a proactive rather than reactive approach.
• Collaboration & Partnerships: Highlight any work with regulators, treatment providers, charities, or research bodies that has strengthened the initiative or extended its reach and credibility.
• Sustainability & Long-Term Vision: Explain how the initiative is designed to evolve and remain effective over time, supporting sustainable gambling practices and long-term player health.

This award recognises an outstanding social media campaign that demonstrated creativity, strategic thinking, and measurable impact between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open to operators, the winning campaign will have effectively engaged audiences through platforms such as X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch — driving brand awareness, acquisition, or community interaction in the iGaming or sports betting space.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Campaign Overview & Objectives: Provide a clear summary of the campaign’s purpose, target audience, platforms used, and goals (whether focused on brand building, user acquisition, retention, awareness, or event promotion).
• Creativity & Messaging: Showcase the originality of the campaign’s concept, visuals, tone of voice, and messaging. Highlight how the campaign stood out, aligned with brand identity, or tapped into cultural or market trends.
• Execution & Format Innovation: Detail how the campaign was brought to life ( use of influencers, user-generated content, live streaming, short-form video, memes, gamification, or interactive storytelling).
• Engagement & Audience Reach: Provide performance metrics such as reach, impressions, video views, shares, likes, comments, or follower growth. Where applicable, include evidence of community interaction or viral momentum.
• Conversion & Business Impact: Share the campaign’s tangible results, such as increases in traffic, sign-ups, FTDs (first-time depositors), app downloads, or other conversion-related KPIs linked to social activity.
• Platform Suitability: Explain how the campaign was tailored for the specific social media platforms used, leveraging their unique formats, algorithms, or audience behaviours.
• Compliance & Brand Safety: Highlight how the campaign maintained responsible marketing practices, adhered to advertising regulations, and protected user trust and brand integrity.
• Team Collaboration & Execution Excellence: Showcase the teamwork behind the campaign — whether between in-house teams, agencies, creators, or influencers — and how the project was managed from concept to post-launch optimisation.

This award recognises the most impactful and innovative affiliate marketing campaign led or co-developed by an operator, delivered between June 2024 and May 2025.

Open exclusively to operators across all verticals, this category celebrates a standout affiliate campaign—whether it was a promotional push, co-branded initiative, content partnership, or acquisition-focused strategy—that drove exceptional performance through collaboration, creative execution, and data-informed decision-making.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Campaign Objectives & Strategy: Clearly outline the campaign’s primary goals and how the affiliate strategy was developed to achieve them (e.g. user acquisition, player reactivation, market expansion, or product-specific promotion).
• Affiliate Collaboration & Partnerships: Demonstrate how the campaign involved strategic collaboration with affiliates or networks—whether through exclusive content, custom offers, joint KPIs, or shared creative assets.
• Creative Execution: Showcase the creative elements that made the campaign compelling, including messaging, design, user journeys, or gamified elements that enhanced affiliate traffic conversion.
• Targeting & Audience Alignment: Explain how the campaign targeted specific audience segments through affiliate partners (by geography, player type, behaviour, or niche interest), and how this informed the campaign approach.
• Performance & Measurable Results: Provide clear KPIs and outcomes (such as FTDs, CPA, ROI, engagement rates, or conversion uplift), and explain how affiliate activity drove performance improvements.
• Channel Strategy & Distribution: Detail the mix of platforms and affiliate traffic sources used to amplify the campaign—e.g. SEO, content marketing, PPC, influencer partnerships, media buys, email, or Telegram channels.
• Innovation & Differentiation: Highlight what made this affiliate campaign unique—be it the use of new technology, influencer activation, cross-platform storytelling, or creative timing and positioning.
• Post-Campaign Evaluation & Learnings: If applicable, describe how campaign success was assessed, what insights were gathered, and how they informed future affiliate or digital marketing activity.

This award recognises the most outstanding casino game released between June 2024 and May 2025, celebrating a title that has captured the attention of players, delivered strong commercial results, and demonstrated excellence in gameplay, innovation, and design.

The winner will be a game that stands out for its player engagement, creativity, visual execution, and overall impact on the iGaming landscape.

The following entry criteria will be considered:

• Gameplay & Mechanics: Demonstrate engaging game mechanics, including innovative features, volatility profile and bonus rounds. Highlight originality in how the game is played and how it keeps players engaged.
• Visuals & Audio Design: Showcase exceptional visual execution, animation quality, and sound design. Highlight how the game creates an immersive environment that enhances the player experience through storytelling, theme cohesion, and production value.
• Innovation & Uniqueness: Highlight unique gameplay elements, technical innovations, or creative themes that differentiate the title from others on the market (expanding reels, multi-level features, etc).
• Player Engagement & Popularity: Demonstrate strong performance in terms of player adoption, session length, retention, and overall popularity across multiple markets (may include Twitch/YouTube presence/slot streams), or community-driven success.
• Commercial Performance: Provide evidence of the game’s contribution to operator revenue, high placement in operator lobbies, and consistent performance across key KPIs.
• Cross-Market Appeal: Demonstrate broad appeal across regulated markets or specific success in localised versions.
• Mobile Optimisation & Accessibility: Demonstrate a seamless and responsive experience across devices, especially mobile, that prioritises usability, load times, and easy interaction to meet modern player expectations.
• Responsible Gaming Elements: Showcase responsible gaming features such as clear win/loss displays, stake transparency, or in-game reminders that align with regulatory best practices.

This award recognises the most effective and innovative affiliate tracking platform that has significantly enhanced the way operators and affiliates manage, track, and optimise their partnerships between June 2024 and May 2025.

The winning platform will have demonstrated outstanding performance in delivering accuracy, flexibility, scalability, and usability, helping both operators and affiliates to run more efficient, data-driven affiliate programs.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Growth & Market Adoption: Demonstrate platform growth during the eligibility period, including new client sign-ups, programme migrations, expanded user base, and revenue generated. Showcase adoption within the iGaming space and any strategic market expansions.
• User Impact & Value: Explain how the platform has delivered measurable value to operators and affiliates. Share examples of how it has supported stronger partnerships, improved programme performance, increased affiliate satisfaction, or simplified campaign management.
• Platform Features & Scalability: Highlight the platform’s capabilities in managing scalable affiliate programmes, including commission model flexibility, multi-brand and multi-language support, automation features, and advanced program settings for various market needs.
• Ease of Use & UX: Showcase the platform’s interface and usability. Provide examples of how user experience has been improved based on client feedback, as well as onboarding effectiveness and ease of navigation for both affiliate managers and affiliates.
• Innovation: Provide details on new features or tools launched within the eligibility period that have pushed the boundaries of affiliate program management, including automation, fraud detection, predictive analytics, or real-time performance insights.
• Integration & Tech Stack Compatibility: Explain how the platform integrates with an operator’s existing tools and systems — such as CRMs, BI dashboards, payment systems, or compliance solutions — and supports a seamless operational flow through APIs or custom integrations.
• Customer Support & Service Quality: Share examples of the platform’s customer support excellence, training materials, account management services, and community-building efforts that enhance the user experience and long-term client success.
• Compliance, Security & Reporting: Highlight how the platform enables programs to remain compliant with industry regulations (e.g., GDPR), supports secure data handling, prevents fraudulent activity, and delivers transparent, actionable reporting for both operators and affiliates.
  

This award recognises the most outstanding marketing agency that has delivered exceptional campaigns, driven measurable results for clients, and demonstrated excellence in creativity, strategy, and innovation between June 2024 and May 2025.

The winner will be an agency that stands out for its ability to elevate brands, engage audiences across channels, and set new standards in marketing within the betting and gaming industry.

The following entry criteria will be considered:

• Campaign Impact & Results: Highlight standout campaigns and provide measurable outcomes such as increased brand awareness, user acquisition, retention, ROI, or engagement. Include KPIs, data-driven insights, and tangible business impact.
• Creativity & Innovation: Showcase original concepts, innovative marketing tactics, or use of emerging technologies. Demonstrate fresh approaches to storytelling, audience targeting, and creative execution.
• Multi-Channel Execution: Demonstrate successful use of integrated marketing strategies across digital, social, TV, print, out-of-home, and events. Provide examples of how campaigns were tailored to different platforms and audiences for maximum effect.
• Client Portfolio & Satisfaction: Highlight a diverse and relevant client base within the iGaming, sports betting, or entertainment industries. Include client testimonials or retention rates to illustrate strong agency-client relationships.
• Growth & Industry Recognition: Show evidence of business growth, such as new client wins, team expansion, or geographic reach. Mention any accolades, partnerships, or speaking engagements that reflect leadership in the industry.
• Brand Positioning & Thought Leadership: Demonstrate how the agency has helped position brands effectively within competitive markets and contributed to industry thought leadership through content, insights, or trendsetting work.
• Use of Data & Technology: Show how the agency leverages data, analytics, marketing tech, or AI tools to optimise performance, personalise campaigns, or drive smarter decision-making.
• Commitment to Ethical & Responsible Marketing: Provide examples of compliance with marketing regulations, responsible gaming messaging, inclusivity, and transparency in advertising practices.

This award recognises a technology provider or software platform that has delivered exceptional value to the affiliate marketing ecosystem between June 2024 and May 2025.

The winning product will have empowered affiliates or affiliate managers to drive performance, streamline workflows, gain actionable insights, or maintain compliance, contributing to smarter, more effective partnerships.

Open to platforms such as tracking tools, analytics software, content optimisation tools, link management systems, CRM solutions, SEO or PPC tools, and any other affiliate-focused technology.

The following entry criteria will be evaluated:

• Product Purpose & Innovation: Provide a clear explanation of the product’s core function, who it serves (affiliates, affiliate managers, or both), and what sets it apart from others in the space. Highlight any new features, innovations, or breakthroughs launched during the eligibility period.
• User Impact & Value: Demonstrate how the product has helped affiliates or managers achieve their goals, such as improving campaign performance, boosting ROI, enhancing workflow efficiency, or making more informed decisions. Include user feedback or case studies where possible.
• Technology & Functionality: Showcase the technical strength of the platform, including usability, customisation, speed, integrations with third-party tools and scalability for different user needs.
• Data & Insights: Highlight how the technology helps users access and interpret meaningful data — such as traffic analytics, conversion tracking, keyword performance, user behaviour, or affiliate ROI — to optimise strategies in real time.
• Compliance & Trust: Explain how the product supports affiliates and managers in staying compliant with regional regulations, privacy standards (e.g., GDPR), and responsible marketing practices.
• Customer Support & Adoption: Include evidence of growing user adoption, user retention, and the quality of customer support. Highlight onboarding resources, community engagement, or training that have contributed to user success.
• Market Influence & Industry Recognition: Demonstrate how the technology has made an impact in the affiliate industry, whether through market share, media coverage or thought leadership.