SBC has unveiled the shortlist for the first-ever Affiliate Leaders Awards, a brand-new ceremony dedicated to recognizing the companies shaping the future of affiliate marketing. This time, it’s the public who will have the final say, with open voting set to decide which nominees will take the stage in Lisbon this September.
The gala will bring together 600 industry leaders at Lisbon’s MEO Arena, located just steps from the main event venue, Feira Internacional de Lisboa, on Wednesday, 17 September. The evening will celebrate the standout companies competing across 22 hotly contested categories and ultimately crown the winners.
While the shortlist was selected by an independent panel of experts, the final decision rests in the hands of the public, who can now cast their votes online for the company they believe most deserves recognition.
Commenting 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 by recognizing the vital role affiliates, operator programs, and the suppliers who support them play in driving industry growth—by giving them their very own ceremony.
By putting the final decision in the public’s hands, we can honor the companies that truly connect with the community and celebrate those that people genuinely believe in.”
Leading the nominations are BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations, with seven nods each across both corporate and individual categories. They are closely followed by Boomerang Partners with six nominations, while Game Lounge and Gentoo Media each picked up five, reflecting their strong presence and performance in the affiliate industry.
BetAffiliation and Hub Affiliations will go head-to-head for Best Affiliate Network and Affiliate Campaign of the Year, facing tough competition from KR3W and Gentoo Media.
In the fiercely contested Sports Affiliate of the Year category, some of the industry’s most recognized names are in the running, including Better Collective, Catena Media, Oddschecker, and Flashscore Network.
The Affiliate Traffic Source of the Year category sees BetAffiliation in contention once again, alongside Clever Advertising and Oddschecker.
Workplace culture will also take the spotlight with the Affiliate Employer of the Year award, which recognizes BetAffiliation, Hub Affiliations, Clever Advertising, and Game Lounge for their efforts in building positive and supportive work environments.
In the casino space, Catena Media, Game Lounge Ltd, Casino Guru, and Betting Hero will compete for Casino Affiliate of the Year.
In the operator categories, bet365 Partners will be aiming for a third consecutive win in Best Affiliate Programme (Operator), a title they’ve claimed at the SBC Awards, but will face strong competition from Betsson Group Affiliates, Boomerang Partners, and Kaizen Gaming. The Affiliate Programme of the Year – Large Operators category will feature big names such as 1w, BetMGM, Betsson Group Affiliates, and PIN-UP Partners.
The ceremony will also shine a light on the tech providers driving affiliate growth, with Aff.Tech, ReferOn, and other leading platforms nominated for both Affiliate Management Platform of the Year and Affiliate Technology of the Year.
Other awards on the night will include Casino Title of the Year and Marketing Agency of the Year, rounding out a comprehensive celebration of affiliate marketing excellence.
Individual leadership will also be recognized, with awards for Affiliate Leader of the Year, Affiliate Content Manager of the Year, and Affiliate Account/Community Manager of the Year—highlighting the critical role individuals play in strengthening brands and driving success.
