IGB Affiliates Awards 2024 Winners Unveiled. Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping It Reel Secures Game of the Year

The iGB Awards is a centre-piece of awards season in the iGaming sector. It is an annual event that celebrates the achievements and innovations of the online gaming industry, and any award insignia from iGB is one of the most sought-after watermarks for approval in iGaming.

Any group or individual can appoint themselves to be considered for the awards or nominate another individual or organisation.

Unlike other categories, the Game Of The Year award comes down to the public - the slot with the most votes wins.

Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping It Reel overcame Coin Strike Hold And Win (Playson), Cops N Robbers Big Money (Inspired Entertainment), Fishin Frenzy Even Bigger Catch (Blueprint Gaming), Football Cash Collect (Playtech), Gold Blitz (Fortune Factory Studios), Golden Dragon Inferno (Betsoft Gaming), Rip City (Hacksaw Gaming), Rise Of Olympus 100 (Play’n GO), and Super Stars (NetEnt).

It is now approaching its second decade in circulation, having first been established in 2006. Every year, the awards get bigger and bigger, as evidenced by the show put on by organisers in London last week.

Conference attendees were treated to a night of futuristic fantasy, with a memorable networking party to see out a phenomenal night of toasting and recognition.

Highlights from the 2024 Ceremony

The iGB Awards were held at the Troxy venue, a famous music hall in London that dates back to the 1930s.

Other awards handed out on the night included the Marketing Campaign of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Best Tech for Affiliate Programmes.

Featuring a Continuous Fisherman Collect feature, the Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping It Reel slot can land customers big wins if the fisherman shows up with his net on any given bonus round spin.

The game features five reels and 10 paylines, sporting its famous adventurous theme set in the great outdoors. Players can expect to encounter fishing symbols like lures, tackle boxes, and fisherman's hats while spinning the reels. Players can win up to 10,000x their stake by reeling in big bass fish symbols during the bonus game, each of them with a value attached to them.

During the bonus round, any spin that lands a big bass fish symbol sees the accompanying value landing in a net above the reels.

Reactions from the Gaming World

Jekaterina Dubnicka, Marketing and Communications Manager at Slotsjudge, said: "It's no surprise to see Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping It Reel land an award. The Big Bass series continuously proves popular among players, and this iteration is a unique and exciting development.”

Pauls Spakovskis, Game Expert at Slotsjudge, said: "A worthy winner. Instead of attempting to be something it isn't, the Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping It Reel game stays loyal to the series but increases the volatility and big win potential for loyal players via the Continuous Fisherman Collect feature. We love this game.”

One of the rudimentary aspects of the iGB Awards is its emphasis on innovation and creativity. Every year, game developers showcase their latest creations, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional gaming norms. But what can we expect from new games coming to the fore over the coming months?

Virtual Reality Integration

Headsets and gambling might make for perfect bedfellows - many observers feel games will soon incorporate virtual reality (VR) elements into their gameplay. It will mean a more immersive experience for the player, though there are concerns about ensuring it is implemented responsibly.

Gamification

It's a concept casinos and game providers are already very familiar with - but technological advancements could see a revisit to newer types of gambling mechanisms, which proffer challenges or missions within the game for additional prizes.

Multiplayer Options

You can bet on sports in groups of friends, play poker as pals, and have a spin on the roulette wheel as a gaggle of live casino connoisseurs. Are slots next to be introduced into the peer-to-peer gambling landscape?

While awards season may just be getting underway, there will be plenty in the Pragmatic Play team who will be immensely satisfied with the recognition of what is now a key part of the Big Bass Bonanza slot series.

Anastasios Ioannidis, Head of Affiliates at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, is one such individual. He said: “Big Bass Bonanza Keeping it Reel is a wonderful addition to Pragmatic Play’s popular Big Bass series, and it is a worthy winner of the iGB Affiliate Award for Game of the Year. Being decided by players and industry experts makes this an especially meaningful accolade for Pragmatic Play, whose commitment to player entertainment is unrivalled. Thank you to everyone who voted for this great slot!”

Can Pragmatic Play continue churning out award-winning games throughout 2024? Or will another provider steal the show? A fascinating year lies in wait for all connected to the sector.