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What Happened at iGB 2026: Deals, Trends, and Highlights

Big Betty got back from iGB Affiliate Barcelona, and let's be clear — this one was outta sight.

Two intense days on the floor filled with focused discussions and real decision-making. Among Big Betty Partners affiliates, it was clear who came to move the market forward — not just to be present.

iGB Affiliate Barcelona is one of the flagship affiliate events globally, held as part of ICE Barcelona 2026. This year, the show brought together 11,000+ attendees worldwide, 200+ exhibitors, and 35+ industry voices across four full days of networking at Fira Gran Via.

It's where affiliate programs, platforms, and decision-makers meet face-to-face — no filters, no filler — and where iGB Affiliate 2026 turns from a date on the calendar into real momentum.

To understand how this momentum was built behind the scenes, we spoke with Margaret Dunn, Portfolio Director ICE & iGB Affiliate, about this year's objectives and their execution.

Comment from Margaret Dunn:

"Absolutely – we know the Affiliate space is highly relationship-based, and Affiliates particularly value multiple touchpoints to meet and network. One of their key objectives in attending iGB Affiliate is to leverage trust-based partnerships. So, this year we introduced a brand-new feature – the iGB Hangout. Packed with tattoo salons, DJs, experiences, meeting pods, and drinks, this area provided the ultimate social hub and the place to be for networking, relaxing, and enjoying the vibe.

It's definitely a challenge bringing everyone together and making sure everyone is aware of what the other teams are working on and prioritising – especially with a show that's growing so rapidly (iGB Affiliate has grown 23% since 2025). As the largest Affiliate event in the world, we outgrew the hall we were in for 2025, so we had the added challenge of upgrading to 8.0 and 8.1, but the team did an incredible job, and the feedback has been really positive. We are delighted that we've already secured over 70% of the exhibitors into next year's event and have actually already started gathering feedback from this year's show. We will now work with the entire World Gaming Week team to create a tailored iGBA event for 2027 that provides exactly what our Affiliate audience needs."

If you weren't in Barcelona, we'll show how Big Betty plugged into the heart of the event — not just by attending, but by actively contributing to the conversation as Big Betty partners with iGB Affiliate 2026. And if you were there, consider this a sharper lens on what mattered, who moved the needle, and why our presence didn't go unnoticed. Lay it on me — let's break it down.

Why iGB Affiliate Barcelona Matters for Partners Who Think Long-Term

Events like iGB Affiliate Barcelona are where partnerships move from paper to reality. This is the space where offers are built through direct conversation, not decks, and where decisions happen while both sides are in the same room.

During the event, the Big Betty team held 300 meetings and met with 160 partners, openly discussing traffic, adjusting deal structures on the spot, and leaving with alignment rather than open threads.

That face-to-face context cuts through friction fast, builds trust naturally, and turns quick introductions into working agreements — the kind that move forward immediately. Following the event, 250 follow-ups were scheduled to continue momentum and solidify partnerships.

Stand Activations: Not for Show, for Conversation

We designed our stand to make partners stop, breathe, and talk like humans — not like people speed-dating offers. The result: a steady flow of real conversations inside a space that felt like a working hub, not a loud showroom.

Here's what worked — and why:

• A conference bar and networking area that actually did its job
  A good chat doesn't always start with a pitch. Sometimes it begins with "What traffic sources are you running right now?" over ice. The cocktail bar at the IGB affiliate provided partners with a natural entry point: relaxed, social, and low-pressure — the perfect setup for business that still feels human.
• The Mystery Cube: instant attention, zero cringe
  We ran a mystery cube conference activation because it does something simple and powerful: it creates a moment. And moments create openings for conversation. You come for the risk, you stay for the talk. That's how a conference mystery gift box turns into "Let's sit down and review your traffic."
• Giveaways with taste (and a point)
  There's a difference between "random freebies" and conference giveaways for affiliates that people actually keep. Our approach was tied to year-round merch activation 2026 — items that live beyond the event and keep the relationship warm when the conference lights go down. And yes: Big Betty Partners merch included the INFLATA drops — the kind that don't end up forgotten in a tote bag.

To better understand the scale behind the experience, we asked the organizers how this year's show performed beyond the floor activations.

From the organizer's perspective:

The scale of the show itself also reflected this focus on experience and presence.

Other objectives were growing penetration in our key core markets, including the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America, as well as increasing the number of Affiliates at the event - all of which we achieved. We increased our attendance from Latin America by 17%, which we're particularly proud of. It's also worth mentioning the look and feel of the event - we had some of the biggest and most impressive stands at the show that we've ever had!

iGB Bonus Deal: Built for Partners Who Move Fast

Now the part partners love most: the on-site incentive.

We launched an iGB-only upgrade for affiliates ready to finalize a collaboration during the event — not "sometime after Q2." If you met the team at iGB Affiliate 2026 and closed on-site, you unlocked a six-month boost to your agreed-upon terms: +10% added to your CPA and RevShare structure.

To activate it, partners either entered the code during registration or shared it with the manager after the meeting. Simple, direct, done. That's how casino affiliate deals 2026 should work when both sides are serious.

Didn't finalize on-site? No problem — follow the link and discuss individual terms after the event.

Media Presence: We Don't Hide Behind the Booth

While the stand was operational, we were also active in the media space — because credibility today is built in the public eye.

Stream with Yosa: invited as experts

We were featured on a live stream with Yosa, discussing market shifts, testing new traffic sources, and what partners should focus on in 2026. The takeaway was simple: alternative channels are growing, but only disciplined testing turns "new" into "profitable."

To understand how the event extended beyond the exhibition floor itself, we also asked the organizers about this year's broader integration strategy.

From the organizer's perspective:

Beyond the show floor, the broader integration strategy also played a key role this year.

This year, we also successfully integrated iGBA further into the World Gaming Week brand and capitalized on visitor crossover from ICE. We implemented additional details, such as tuk-tuks transporting attendees from the South Entrance to the iGBA North entrance, and hosted shared networking activities with ICE, including the UnWind, the day after the show. All of these offer additional networking opportunities in the iGaming market, and with the 65,000 attendees at World Gaming Week.

Bohdan, Head of Affiliates at Big Betty, on Building Partnerships That Last

Bohdan, Head of Affiliates at Big Betty Partners, shares his view on building partnerships that last.

"Communication is the backbone of every long-term partnership. When feedback moves fast, stays sharp, and remains honest, we unlock new opportunities, refine strategies, and scale results together."

That speed and clarity set the tone for everything that follows. When partners don't wait for issues to escalate, they keep control over performance, expectations, and trust on both sides.

"There's no such thing as bad traffic — only traffic that hasn't been properly analyzed. Scale, time, and transparent feedback are what allow both sides to make the right decisions."

Instead of cutting flows too early, open feedback creates space for testing, optimization, and informed adjustments. This approach turns uncertainty into data and short-term results into long-term value.

"When affiliates earn consistently and understand what's happening with their traffic, communication becomes easy. And when communication is easy, partnerships naturally scale."

This is the point where collaboration stops being transactional. Clear communication, shared context, and steady performance are what transform day-to-day cooperation into partnerships built to last.

What Comes Next — And Why You Should Be There

Industry events aren't about being seen — they're about being chosen. This is where conversations turn into high-value affiliate deals at iGB affiliate 2026, and where partners who show up early secure an edge that doesn't come from inbox negotiations. Among the best igaming conferences for affiliates, these moments define who scales next and who keeps watching from the outside.

That's why we keep moving. The energy, focus, and outcomes of the iGB affiliate conference 2026 set the pace — and we're taking that momentum forward.

Next stop: iGaming Club Conference Madrid 2026, 18-20 May 2026, Madrid, Spain.
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