In the iGaming industry, connections and networking mean everything. Awards, private clubs, and professional events have become not just meetings for exchanging business cards but strategic tools for company growth. In this material, we explore how affiliate companies like Already Media and WintEvents can together create a unique ecosystem where industry leaders find new partners, close deals, and strengthen their positions in the market.
Awards and Private Communities: Why Do They Matter for Business?
What is the value of awards in iGaming today? How do they influence business and the industry as a whole?
In my opinion, most of the current awards are simply PR for the businesses and people involved. It would be great to create an affiliate award similar to the Oscars, where a large number of pre-selected industry experts would vote in all categories, rather than the way it usually happens now — just an online vote or a small jury deciding the winners. Overall, I’d like to see awards that inspire more trust in terms of objectivity. — Anatolii Winter, Founder & CEO, WintEvents
For us at Already Media, awards are primarily about trust and recognition. In the industry, there are indeed different opinions: for some, awards remain a prestigious confirmation of status; for others, they lose relevance due to the voting format. For ourselves, we focus on international awards such as SiGMA, iGB, as well as local initiatives with professional juries and transparent selection. This approach provides real value and strengthens reputation.
As for the business impact, the effect is always positive. Every new trophy in the office is a strong motivator for the team. It reminds employees that their contribution is noticed by the market, and this directly reflects on engagement and results. Awards become a kind of ‘boost’ for business: they strengthen trust from partners and help consolidate the company’s position in a competitive environment. — Marina Yushchenko, CMO brand, Already Media
How Do Closed and Small Events Differ from Large Conferences? Who Are They For and What Role Do They Play in the Ecosystem?
Small events usually have two key differences from conferences: the participants are filtered by type of activity, sometimes also by level of results. Or simply by ticket pricing, if tickets are available to anyone. In any case, there’s been some kind of audience filtering. And each small event has its own format, which is nothing like a conference: a quiet dinner, a noisy party, or something else entirely. In any case, it’s not an exhibition hall and not a huge speaker auditorium. — Anatolii Winter, Founder & CEO, WintEvents
Definitely by atmosphere and quality of conversations. At large conferences, the main value is in scale and coverage, while in closed and intimate events it’s the depth of contacts that stands out. There is less ‘noisy’ networking and more chances to meet the very people who can impact your business — whether it’s a potential partner, investor, or a solution to remove blockers in your process. From our experience, it’s at such meetings where the most interesting deals are often made and fast collaborations are born. These events are created for a narrow but high-quality circle of participants, where relevance matters more than quantity. Anyone in the industry can enter this circle — it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. For the event ecosystem, they are important because they complement large-scale exhibitions and create space for trust-based, meaningful dialogue. — Marina Yushchenko, CMO brand, Already Media
The Evolution of iGaming Events: What Works Best Today?
Why do major market players invest in exclusive networking activities?
Own events solve several important tasks for a business working in a very competitive environment:
- PR — increasing brand awareness and credibility.
- Building a database of event participants with whom you can establish warm contacts and follow up not only during the event but also afterward. Many people will respond positively if contacted by organizers of a great event they attended, even a couple of weeks later.
- Increasing loyalty of existing partners/clients, who can be shown VIP treatment at your own event.
And there are other benefits too. It’s not always possible to measure ROI in exact figures, at least in the short term, but the continued growth of such activities shows that companies clearly see their value. — Anatolii Winter, Founder & CEO, WintEvents
The market is becoming too competitive, and it’s harder and harder to come up with something new to hold the attention and loyalty of partners. Exclusive activities solve this challenge: they always have a positive impact on the brand image and allow companies not just to stay relevant but to stay ahead and set trends for the entire industry. — Marina Yushchenko, CMO brand, Already Media
How Has the iGaming Event Market Changed in the Last 5 Years?
There are now significantly more side events around major conferences, as well as standalone events organized by companies not tied to conferences. That’s the main change. And we are increasingly seeing events with big-name headliners and very impressive budgets. This once again proves to us that networking is everything! — Anatolii Winter, Founder & CEO, WintEvents
Definitely for the better and in a more progressive direction. It’s enough to compare the budgets companies are now willing to allocate to this type of marketing to see the scale of change. If earlier the main sponsors were operators and advertisers, now affiliates, services, and even media are actively joining in. This is a real breakthrough: everyone wants to be among the first and to be listed alongside industry leaders. — Marina Yushchenko, CMO brand, Already Media
Networking as Strategy: How to Get the Most out of Awards and Events?
What real cases show how participation in awards and closed events influenced business growth?
There are many cases. I’ll recall perhaps the very first event we organized for a business that wanted to host a great party for its top partners. There were only about 25–30 guests, but the budget exceeded €100 000. It was a very bright and unusual party, with no business speeches, just everyone letting loose. Some time later, the head of the affiliate program told me that almost all the partners who attended had significantly increased their turnover and profits within 3–4 months after the event. They directly linked this to the evening, and the budget was considered effectively spent. — Anatolii Winter, Founder & CEO, WintEvents
We can give a good example from our own experience. In 2024, Already Media entered the top 20 affiliate companies in the EGR Power-50, ranking 17th. In just the last six months, we’ve seen a tangible result: a noticeable increase in candidate interest in joining our team, more new partners, and more collaboration and special project offers. Is this proof of the impact of awards on business? Definitely yes. — Marina Yushchenko, CMO brand, Already Media
Today, awards, communities, and events in iGaming have stopped being a formality and turned into a strategic growth tool. They help companies build trust, find partners, and strengthen their reputation as market leaders. The experience of WintEvents and Already Media shows that it is high-quality networking and carefully designed formats that create the ecosystem where business achieves real results.
