iGaming News Awards: Industry Celebrates Innovation and Responsibility in London

The world of online gambling gathered in London for iGB Live to honor the best in the industry. At the inaugural iGaming News Awards, companies, brands, and personalities driving innovation, performance, and positive contributions took center stage. From groundbreaking sportsbook products to leading responsible gambling initiatives, the industry showed itself in constant flux. The awards ceremony took place on July 6, 2026. Abigail Welch reported on the event. It is a clear sign of increasing professionalism in this sector.

Numbers and facts

N1 Partners won the “Marketing Campaign of the Year” award for its “N1 Puzzle Promo.” This global affiliate campaign offered an impressive prize pool of 500,000 Euros, including a Robinson R22 helicopter as the grand prize. The campaign generated significant engagement in Tier-1 markets and set new benchmarks for large-scale affiliate activations. Big Betty Partners was recognized as “Affiliate Program of the Year,” shining through its consistent value delivery to its partner network. Gambling.com Group secured the title of “Betting Affiliate of the Year,” impressing with its reach and data-driven strategy across various regulated markets. Casino.online was named “Casino Affiliate of the Year” for its continuous growth and delivery of high-quality traffic.

In the sports betting sector, GR8 Tech received the award for “Sports Platform of the Year.” Midnite was honored as “Independent Sportsbook of the Year” for its innovative product approach. Smarkets won the “Betting Exchange of the Year” award. Swifty impressed the judges as “New Betting Site of the Year” with its market entry and rapidly growing customer base. In the casino sector, NuxGame won for the second time, this time as “Casino Platform of the Year,” highlighting its technological strength. Boomerang Casino was named “Casino of the Year.” Belatra Games received the “Casino Game of the Year” award for “Slatters Battle: Orcs vs Elves.” The company 1spin4win was named “Slot Studio of the Year.” 1Win Casino emerged as “Crypto Casino of the Year.” Rapyd was named “Payments Provider of the Year.” Daw Global received the award as “Crypto Banking Company of the Year.” Kate Marsden of Yaspa was recognized as “Woman of Influence.” Gamecheck was chosen as “Responsible Gambling Brand of the Year” for its commitment to safer gambling. Apercon won the “iGaming People Award.” iGaming Roundtable was honored with the “iGaming Connector Award” for building a strong community, and Alexey Nasybullin also significantly contributed to strengthening the industry, earning him the “Gaming Community Builder Award.”

Background

The iGB Affiliate Awards have a long tradition. Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director for the iGB brand, emphasized the significance of these events.

“The iGB Affiliate Awards are back bigger and better than ever before and will take place in a stunning Art Deco venue and with a new judging process,” said Naomi Barton.

The awards serve as both a celebration of what is positive in the business and a symbolic reunion after a two-year absence of in-person events. The nomination phase for the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026 ended on March 27. The shortlist was announced on May 5. There were 22 categories, including new ones like “Best New Programme” for 2026, open to programs launched since January 1, 2024. The “SEO Superstar” category was also added at the industry's request. Stephen Carter, Head of Affiliate Content and internal judging lead at WorldGaming, highlighted the benefits of participation.

“The iGB Affiliate Awards is the premier recognition platform for businesses and people working in the igaming affiliate industry,” Stephen Carter explained.

The awards help motivate teams, improve business relationships, and create marketing and profiling opportunities.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, these global awards have indirect significance. The honored companies set standards and drive innovation from which the German market ultimately benefits. However, it is crucial that German players continue to play only at online gambling providers that hold a license from the Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States (GGL). Only these casinos operate within the legal framework of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021).

Providers without a GGL license offer no guarantee of player protection and security. They are illegal in Germany. The GlüStV 2021 has established strict rules to protect players. These include a stake limit of 1 Euro per spin and a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euros per player. The central player blocking system LUGAS is another building block, preventing simultaneous play at multiple providers. German players should consult the GGL whitelist to find legal and thus safe gambling options. Only there are fair gameplay and the protection of personal data guaranteed.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For GGL-licensed casinos, these awards provide an impetus for their own innovations. The award winners set benchmarks in technology, marketing, and player protection. German providers are encouraged to observe these developments and review their own concepts. The goal is to remain competitive within German regulations. Especially the “Responsible Gambling Brand of the Year” award shows that responsible gaming is highly valued internationally. For Germany, this is a core issue.

GGL casinos must continuously evolve to create attractive and safe offerings. The focus on user experience and transparent business models, as seen with winners like Smarkets or Swifty, can also be inspiring for the German market. Adapting to customer-centric solutions, while adhering to strict German requirements, is crucial. This can further strengthen the acceptance and attractiveness of legal online gambling in Germany.