SBC has announced the debut shortlist for the inaugural Affiliate Leaders Awards – a new ceremony spotlighting the companies shaping affiliate marketing’s next chapter. This time, it’s the public who holds the power, with open voting deciding which nominees will be celebrated on stage in Lisbon this September.

The ceremony will welcome 600 industry leaders to Lisbon’s MEO Arena, located just steps away from the main event venue, Feira Internacional de Lisboa, on Wednesday, 17 September. The evening will celebrate the standout companies shortlisted across 22 fiercely contested categories, and ultimately, honour the winners.

While the shortlist was selected by an independent panel of experts, the final decision lies with the public, who can now cast their vote online for the company they believe deserves the spotlight.

Speaking on the launch of the awards, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “Last year’s launch of the Affiliate Leaders Summit was a huge step forward for us, but this year we wanted to go even further and recognise the vital role that affiliates, operator programmes, and the suppliers that power them play in the industry’s growth by giving them their very own ceremony.

“By putting the final decision in the public’s hands, we’re able to honour the companies that truly resonate with the community and celebrate the ones people genuinely believe in.”

Leading the way for nominations at the Affiliate Leaders Awards are BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations, who boast seven nominations each across both company-wide and individual categories. Boomerang Partners follow closely with six, while Game Lounge and Gentoo Media have each earned five, reflecting their strong performance and visibility across the affiliate industry.

Both BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations will go head-to-head for Best Affiliate Network as well as Affiliate Campaign of the Year, but face stiff competition from the likes of KR3W and Gentoo Media.

Meanwhile, the hotly contested Sports Affiliate of the Year category features some of the industry’s most recognised names, including Better Collective, Catena Media, Oddschecker, and Flashscore Network.

The shortlist for Affiliate Traffic Source of the Year sees BetAffiliation pick up another nod, alongside the likes of Clever Advertising and Oddschecker. 

Workplace culture takes centre stage in Affiliate Employer of the Year, with BetAffiliation, Hub Affiliations, Clever Advertising, and Game Lounge recognised for their efforts in building positive team environments.

On the casino front, Catena Media, Game Lounge Ltd, Casino Guru, and Betting Hero are all in contention for Casino Affiliate of the Year.

In the operator categories, bet365 Partners is aiming for a third consecutive win in Best Affiliate Programme (Operator), having previously claimed the title at the SBC Awards. This year, they face competition from Betsson Group Affiliates, Boomerang Partners, and Kaizen Gaming. The Affiliate Programme of the Year – Large category will also feature major operators, with 1w, BetMGM, Betsson Group Affiliates, and PIN-UP Partners all in contention for the gong.

The awards also spotlight the tech providers underpinning affiliate growth. Aff.Tech, ReferOn, and other leading platforms have secured nominations in both Affiliate Management Platform of the Year and Affiliate Technology of the Year.

Other categories on the night include Casino Title of the Year and Marketing Agency of the Year, rounding out a comprehensive celebration of affiliate marketing excellence.

Individual leadership in the industry will also be recognised, with awards for Affiliate Leader of the Year, Affiliate Content Manager of the Year, and Affiliate Account/Community Manager of the Year, underscoring the critical role individuals play in elevating brand performance.

Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has unveiled its latest slot, Queen of Greece. The game will join Spinomenal’s exceptional Mythology series.

Queen of Greece is set under the twilight sky, populated with clouds floating above a majestic temple where the 5×3 frame sits. The resplendent Queen herself represents the Wild and substitutes for any symbol except the Free Spins and Bonus symbols. Landing five Wild symbols on a winning line pays 2,000x the bet. The Aegean adventure is heightened with a Grecian-inspired soundtrack that maintains a calming environment.

Players have the chance to enjoy two features — a Bonus game and Free Spins. Three or more Scattered Free Spins symbols launch the Free Spins round, where players can choose to accept the default 10 spins or gamble for a chance to win more — up to 50 free spins are available. Once triggered, one to three stacked Wilds are fixed on random reels during each spin to increase potential returns.

The Bonus game is triggered when three or more Scattered Bonus symbols hit. Players start with three spins and the objective is finding as many golden trophies as possible to grow the multiplier metre which pays out after the spins finish. Each level of the multiplier metre is filled by five winning symbols and there is an opportunity to pick up an extra spin by finding the +1 symbol. Expanding Reels and Synced Reels put the finishing touches on the game.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Queen of Greece is a royally entertaining slot that is a wonderful complementary title in our Mythology series. The game brings together elegant visuals with rewarding gameplay that has the potential for huge rewards.”