The StatsDrone Affiliate Awards 2025 has launched and is the inaugural awards created for affiliate marketing in iGaming. 

The awards were created by StatsDrone to recognize individuals and companies that drive innovation and help iGaming and affiliate marketing advance. These awards will be different than other awards in affiliate marketing. The StatsDrone Affiliate Awards have a few unique categories that aim to recognize more people for their contributions to affiliate marketing. 

These awards are a continuation of the drive to improve affiliate marketing through the Affiliate BI podcast and the Affiliate BI newsletter. 

The awards will be mainly available for StatsDrone users with a valid subscription to be able to vote for the affiliate manager, affiliate program and affiliate software categories. Everyone else is eligible to nominate including self-nomination to vote for someone in another awards category. 

Affiliate Awards Categories

The following are all the categories of awards and the number of awards given out in brackets. 

• Fave Affiliate Manager [5] 
• Fave Affiliate Program [5] 
• Fave Affiliate Software [3] 
• Data Hero [3] 
• Best Affiliate Dashboard [1] 
• Revenue Optimization [3] 
• Best AI Product [1] 
• Best SEO Agency [1]

What makes these awards a little different are some of the categories. 

There isn’t a single winner for the affiliate manager, affiliate program or affiliate software categories. The idea is that for these results to be helpful, people like to know the collection of either top performers in a category or ones that are recommended. 

“I’m very happy to do these awards because I want them to mean something to the winners. I also want people to aspire to become more data driven in affiliate marketing and in iGaming. I’d like to see more innovation within our industry and I think these awards could be a starting point to recognizing the people, products and services that drive innovation.”

Data Hero Award

The Data Hero Award is created to put a spotlight on the person that helps their company excel when it comes to data. Data is the future of affiliate marketing and tracking tech is at the core of the industry. We need more data heroes to help organizations be successful and this award is set to help people improve their skills in data analytics and Business Intelligence. 

Affiliate Software Award

The category for affiliate software is one that is starting to become popular. The B2B space has become a more important aspect in the iGaming industry and affiliate software is a core element that drives the industry forward.

Best Affiliate Dashboard

This award is created to inspire all companies to keep innovating the affiliate dashboard. Many dashboards are created once and rarely improved across enterprise software. This award is meant to encourage companies to challenge themselves in making new dashboards and to put a spotlight on some of the best affiliate dashboards that do exist. 

Revenue Optimization Award

StatsDrone as a product was created out of a desire to help affiliates with revenue optimization as well as with revenue leak. This award simply puts a spotlight on the companies that help affiliate marketers and operators either increase revenue or to save money by reducing losses. For tools that affect operators, this has an impact on affiliates as the more successful an operator can be, the more likely they’ll not go out of business which has a negative impact on affiliates in the loss of recurring revenue. 

Award Sponsor

There will be a single award sponsor and the money raised will go towards responsible gambling charities and will be chosen by BetBlocker.org. 

Awards Rules

The awards nomination and voting will be live from December 16th, 2024 and run until January 31st, 2025. The awards will get a collection of judges to help with the awards for categories of data hero, best affiliate dashboard, revenue optimization, best AI product and best SEO agency. 

As 2024 draws to a close, Meridianbet held its eagerly awaited Meridianbet 2024 Annual Conference, a celebration of a year marked by transformation and growth.

The event, set against a backdrop of remarkable milestones, brought together leaders, partners, and teams from around the world. It was a moment to reflect on the year’s achievements, share critical insights, and chart an ambitious path forward, laying the foundation for even greater success in 2025.

Reflecting on 2024: A Transformative Year

In his opening address, Mr Zoran Milosevic, the Group CEO, described 2024 as a “turning point” for Meridianbet. This sentiment resonated throughout the conference, with several key milestones underscoring the company’s evolution:

Integration into Golden Matrix Group: Joining the ranks of NASDAQ-listed Golden Matrix Group (GMGI) was a pivotal moment, elevating Meridianbet to the globally highest level of visibility and credibility.

• AI Product Rollout: Dubbed the “Year of AI,” 2024 saw the deployment of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, placing Meridianbet among the top 5% of companies worldwide with proprietary tech that drives market differentiation
• A New Software Platform: The launch of a state-of-the-art software platform enabled a seamless and engaging customer experience, aligning with the company’s mission to lead through innovation
• Breakthroughs in CRM: Significant advancements in customer relationship management ensured Meridianbet could anticipate player needs more effectively, bolstering loyalty and satisfaction
• Global Market Expansion: Entry into new markets, including the USA, Brazil, South Africa, and Kenya, demonstrated Meridianbet’s ambition to become a global leader in gaming and betting

Key Themes Discussed

The conference also served as a platform to discuss key industry trends and strategies. Speakers addressed a range of topics, offering insights into Meridianbet’s approach to maintaining momentum while navigating an ever-changing market landscape.

• Compliance and Responsibility: Emphasizing the importance of adhering to and exceeding regulatory standards, Meridianbet continues to prioritize responsible gaming practices as a cornerstone of its operations
• Meridianbet’s Global PR Narrative: The company’s NASDAQ listing amplified its story on a global scale—how strategic storytelling helps position Meridianbet as a trusted and innovative leader
• Customer-Centric Innovation: Sessions focused on Meridianbet’s approach to enhancing player experiences, from personalized bonuses to gamification strategies designed to foster engagement and loyalty
• Meridianbet and Crypto: As cryptocurrency adoption grows, Meridianbet explored opportunities to integrate modern payment options into its platform, ensuring relevance in a rapidly evolving digital economy
• Expanse Studios Milestones: The company’s in-house development team celebrated a year of creative success, with new titles that showcased their ability to innovate and captivate audiences
• IT Infrastructure and Software Development: A cornerstone of Meridianbet’s 2024 success was the overhaul of its IT infrastructure and the launch of a next-generation software platform. This was the story of how the new Atlast platform not only optimized operational efficiency but also provided a superior experience for players
• AI Product Rollout: The highlight of the year was the implementation of AI-driven solutions that redefined the gaming experience, making it more intuitive, engaging, and personalized

ComeOn Group announced a sponsorship partnership between its flagship brand ComeOn! and Denmark based Astralis, one of the most esteemed esports organisations globally. As a global leader in esports, Astralis is providing a vibrant and engaging esports experience that is aligned with ComeOn!’s brand experience and is further enhanced by its focus in providing a leading esports betting destination.

As the official sponsor of Astralis, ComeOn! will be prominently featured across all of their platforms, including social media, team events, and competitive gaming content, boosting their brand exposure in key global markets with a focus on the Nordics. ComeOn! is already known as a vibrant brand in the Nordics and with the increased brand visibility it will be put at the heart of the fast-growing esports scene.

ComeOn Group continues to invest in its Sportsbook product experience that is powered by its proprietary sportsbook platform, where esports holds an important strategic market opportunity with its ever growing demand.

Juergen Reutter, Chief Executive Officer at ComeOn Group, said: “We are very excited to team up with Astralis as this collaboration not only allows us to showcase our innovative Sportsbook platform but also strengthens our ties to the esports community. This partnership is very much in the heart of one of the fastest growing betting markets globally. Esports has seen great demand by our audiences, and we want to provide the best betting experience for our customers. This partnership is also a testament to our localisation and personalisation focus and by working together with Astralis, we can deliver unique experiences that resonate with our players and elevate the entertainment experience around competitive gaming.”

Mads Rasmussen, Commercial Director at Astralis, said: ”We are proud to present ComeOn Group as our new global partner. This partnership holds great significance for Astralis both as an organization and as a business, and we look forward to bringing the agreement to life, benefiting the vast majority of our fanbase – who are adults. We have undergone a long and very positive process with ComeOn, and the fact that they are European-based with licenses in all our key markets, including Denmark, has been a decisive factor in our decision. Astralis fans, both in Denmark and internationally, can look forward to an innovative new digital activation, which promises to deliver an exciting and engaging experience.”