Alongside the migration of iGB L!VE to London in July 2025, Clarion Gaming has confirmed that the world acclaimed iGB Affiliate Awards will be held alongside the London expo.

The decision to run the Awards as part of the iGB L!VE experience was made in collaboration with key igaming and affiliate stakeholders, with the announcement warmly welcomed by the affiliate community.

Richard Moffat, Chief Executive of OLBG, one of the UK’s leading sports betting affiliates, reflected the industry view stating: “I’m delighted to hear that the iGB Affiliate Awards will be staying in London and running alongside iGB L!VE. As home to the largest regulated online gambling market in the world, it makes a lot of sense for the UK to hold a big annual industry event.

“By combining the growing iGB L!VE with the longstanding and respected iGB Affiliate Awards, we have a fantastic show to look forward to. OLBG will be supporting iGB L!VE with our biggest ever presence at a conference and we can’t wait to see our team and our partners enjoying London in the summer.”

Naomi Barton, iGB Events’ Global Portfolio Director, also shared her vision: “The iGB Affiliate Awards which are known for their integrity and merit-based recognition have become a cornerstone event for igaming affiliates. Furthermore, the UK igaming market is worth a phenomenal £5.1 bn (2024) and leads the way in marketing and tech innovation globally.

“Keeping this spirit alive, we’re committed to further enhancing the Awards’ importance by pairing it with iGB L!VE, the world’s fastest-growing Tier 1 online gaming exhibition, an event with an outstanding reputation for delivering real value and business returns for our customers.

“We can’t wait to celebrate with the industry in London, where the heart of the igaming affiliate community beats strongest. My advice is to mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable event!”

Further information about how to enter the iGB Affiliate Awards will be available shortly.

Novomatic Netherlands has appointed Alexander Legat as its CEO.

Legat takes over from Zane Mersich, who has moved onto the company’s Supervisory Board.

His appointment has bolstered Novomatic Netherlands’ management team with two decades of legal and operational experience in the gaming industry.

Legat will also bring knowledge gained at Novomatic’s Austrian subsidiaries into his new role.

“I am grateful for the new operational role in the dynamic Dutch market and look forward to working with the local team and the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.

The Novomatic Netherlands’ management board said in a statement: “With Dr. Alexander Legat, Novomatic Netherlands is gaining a first-rate legal expert who not only knows the group extremely well but has also already worked closely with the national subsidiaries.

“His appointment is an important step in our work to successfully meet the future challenges in the Dutch market and further expand our position.”

This article is a short version of the full report on BetterWorldCasinos .com about reviewing UK gambling operators on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. The full version of the article can be found here. 

By Floris Assies, founder & CEO of Better World Casinos (BWC). 

The global iGaming industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, offering a wealth of entertainment options to millions of players. However, as with any booming industry, there are underlying challenges that must be addressed. At Better World Casinos, we believe that the industry must evolve to become not only profitable but also ethical, transparent, and sustainable. Our mission is to guide players towards online gambling brands that are committed to these values, thereby driving positive change across the sector.

The Importance of ESG in iGaming

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become crucial indicators of a company’s ethical standing and long-term sustainability. In industries like iGaming, where the balance between profit and responsibility is delicate, ESG metrics are vital. At BWC, we embarked on a comprehensive review of 21 leading casino and sportsbook operators to assess their ESG performance. Our goal is to provide players with clear, reliable information on which brands are committed to ethical practices and which fall short.

Key Findings from Our ESG Assessment

Our research focused on four critical areas:

Transparency: We examined how openly companies disclose their ownership, operations, and ESG efforts. Transparency is foundational to accountability. Our findings revealed a significant divide between publicly traded and privately held companies, which was expected.. Public companies, due to regulatory requirements, generally scored higher on transparency whereas most private companies offered minimal information.

ESG Plans and Reporting: We evaluated the presence and quality of ESG plans among the companies looking at responsible gaming specifically, and at general environmental, social and governmental factors. While many companies made statements about responsible gambling and sustainability, only a few provided concrete data or set measurable goals. 

Compliance: Compliance with regulations, in areas like marketing, privacy, security , Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and player protection, is non-negotiable. Our research found that all companies had faced some form of regulatory action in the past, with varying degrees of severity. This highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing profitability with legal and ethical obligations.

Third-Party Data: To gain a broader perspective, we also considered third-party ratings from sources like Glassdoor and CSRHub. While these sources offered valuable insights, we found that they sometimes lacked consistency or depth. Nevertheless, CSRHub’s data provided a useful benchmark, particularly for companies that were otherwise difficult to evaluate.

Promoting Ethical Brands

After months of research, BWC identified 10 out of the original 21 companies that met our minimum standards for transparency, ESG performance, and compliance. These companies will be featured on our platform, where players can learn more about their commitment to responsible gambling, environmental sustainability, and social equity.

However, our work doesn’t stop here. We are committed to continuously refining our assessment methods and expanding our research to include more operators and go into more depth. Our aim is to set a benchmark for ethical practices in the iGaming industry and to hold companies accountable for their actions.

The Role of Players in Driving Change

A key motivator for our research is the power of the player. In an industry where the user experience is often homogeneous—most casinos offer the same games, payment methods, and bonuses—players can make a real difference by choosing to support brands that align with their values. By selecting operators that prioritise ESG factors, players can help push the industry towards more ethical and sustainable practices.

The Future of Better World Casinos

At Better World Casinos, we are just getting started. Our vision is to become the leading resource for players who want to make informed decisions about where they gamble. We plan to collaborate with industry experts to develop more sophisticated ESG assessment tools and to continue advocating for greater transparency and accountability in the industry.

As we move forward, we will focus on key areas such as responsible gambling, environmental impact, and governance practices. By shining a light on both exemplary practices and areas in need of improvement, we hope to foster a more responsible and conscientious iGaming industry.

The iGaming industry stands at a crossroads. As it continues to grow, so too must its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Better World Casinos is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. By empowering players with the information they need to make responsible choices, we are helping to build a better future for the industry and its millions of customers worldwide.