ReferOn, a state-of-the-art affiliate management system, has won the “Rising Star Provider of the Year” title at the 2025 AffPapa Awards — a milestone that recognises the platform’s bold innovation and rapid growth in the affiliate tech space.

This award reflects ReferOn’s ability to deliver fast, transparent and scalable affiliate solutions that answer key industry demands. The category highlights the best rising companies in the iGaming and affiliate marketing industries, celebrating innovation and problem-solving solutions.

The AffPapa Awards is an annual event that recognises greatness in iGaming. The ceremony  celebrates developments and innovations among affiliates, operators and B2B providers who have raised the bar and set new standards.

Vladyslav Bondarenko, ReferOn’s Head of Product, commented on the achievement, “ReferOn wasn’t built to impress, it was built to solve. From day one, we challenged how affiliate platforms should work, look and feel — because the existing ones simply didn’t. More than a win, this award highlights the value of asking the right questions and building with purpose.”

2025 has been a crucial year for ReferOn, with the company receiving widespread industry recognition and implementing core product developments. Heading into Q3 and Q4, ReferOn is preparing a range of new features and enhancements focused on elevating the user experience and streamlining affiliate operations. The team will travel to iGB Live in London this July ready to share what’s next, meet with partners and discuss how ReferOn is refining affiliate management.

We speak to Yordan Petkov, Product Owner at Silverback Gaming, to understand why crash games are dominating online casino game lobbies and why they are a must-have for operators

Why have crash games taken the market by storm?

They have been such a big hit with players because they are simple to understand and play, but deliver huge excitement and tons of big win potential. These are high-risk/high-reward games that play very similarly to mobile and video games, and this means they hit the mark with the lucrative but often hard-to-reach Millennial and Gen Z audiences. When you compare crash to slots and table games, the experience is so much more compelling – this is not only because of the gameplay, but also because of the social interaction they provide. Crash games tend to be multiplayer and come with features like chat and real-time leaderboards.

How has the simple nature of gameplay led to widespread adoption?

Most crash games take the increasing curve format with a win multiplier that climbs higher and higher. All the player needs to do is decide when to cash out. Go too soon, and the win is small, but wait too long, and the game crashes, taking their accrued winnings and initial bet with it. Unlike most slot games, which come packed with lots of different features and complex reel structures, you can figure out how a crash game works and how to win in a game round or two. The intuitive nature of crash means players are willing to give games a try, and then they get drawn in by the compelling gameplay. In markets where online gambling is new, they have proved to be a real hit with players often favouring them over slots and table games simply because they are so easy to understand.

It seems like players enjoy the sense of control that comes with crash games?

Absolutely. The element of control is a big part of why they are so popular. Players love that they can decide when to cash out, with many honing their skills and some even coming up with strategies for how to beat the game – strategies that are often discussed at length in the chat and various communities that form around specific crash titles. Control is something that players are used to when engaging with mobile and video games, and with crash, they get the same degree of control but within a gambling game. This is something they didn’t really have up until crash hit the market, with slots play very much a case of hitting spin and waiting to see if you win or not.

What’s the business case for online casino operators to add crash games to their lobbies?

Operators need to provide players with the games and experiences they are seeking, and this increasingly means stocking their lobbies with crash titles and other non-traditional content. These games are hugely popular with Millennials and Gen Zers, audiences that online casino brands have really struggled to engage with in the past because they have not been able to offer the type of action-packed gameplay, sense of control and social interaction they are looking for – of course, crash offers these things and more. But it’s not just new audiences that crash appeals to – operators often find they get high levels of engagement among existing players who also enjoy the edge-of-the-seat gameplay and big win potential.

Are crash games easy to localise?

Yes. Again, given the super simple nature of the gameplay, they require very little in the way of localisation – aside from the standard things like language and currency. Everyone gets how they work, everyone gets how they win, and everyone knows it’s all about when to cash out. In addition, some crash titles are recognised internationally, so operators adding these titles to their lobbies can really build trust with player audiences and communities, and significantly boost acquisition, especially if the operator is new to the market. They are also great for being a part of wider marketing campaigns, regardless of the jurisdiction the operator is targeting.

Are crash games now a necessity for operators or still a nice-to-have?

They are a necessity, especially for those online casino brands wanting to engage the player of tomorrow, today. Not only that, but crash game sessions are often much longer than slot sessions, with players regularly returning to the casino to play specific crash titles and to remain active in the communities that form around them. So, the numbers really do add up when it comes to crash, and that’s why, for me at least, they are a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

Silverback’s first crash game is set to hit the market shortly. What more can you tell us about the game ahead of its launch?

We are super excited to launch our first crash game, but the details are a closely guarded secret for now. What I can say is that the design concept is in place, the gameplay has been set, and we are now working on the creative assets. Then it’s just a case of bringing all the elements together. But this being Silverback, it’s not going to be a standard crash game – we are adding plenty of unique twists to take the anticipation and thrills to the next level. The initial roll-out will be in the simulated gaming format with real money to follow.

This year sees National Bingo Week return Monday 23^rd to Sunday 29^th June 2025 – with the Bingo industry joining together to celebrate their love of the game and the joy it brings to communities up and down Great Britain.

Entering its fifth year, operators from both retail and online will be celebrating National Bingo Week, with a series of in-club activities taking place during the week, including:

• Value Session: Operators will be offering discounted value bingo sessions on the evening of Wednesday 25th June. Offers will include half price games, money off your bingo, and some operators will even be providing a free cup of tea (at the discretion of each operator and club)
• Charity Game: will be held at bingo clubs up and down the country on Friday 27^th June – MP’s will be invited to attend and will have the opportunity to call the game.  All proceeds will go to Variety – The Children’s Charity, the Bingo Association’s charity of choice.  The game is expected to raise over £20,000, which will contribute to the total of over £2m raised by the industry since 2015
• Super Prize Money: On Sunday Evening the 29^th June, £100k is guaranteed to be won in a National Bingo Game participating Bingo Club, or at a Buzz Bingo venue

This year, the campaign recognises the value of bingo as a ‘generation game’ – encouraging all generations to play together to drive community engagement – as most bingo clubs are the hearts of the communities they operate in.

Research commissioned by The Bingo Association will be revealing the growing disconnect between generations – and the opportunity bingo offers for both families, friends and generations to communicate and spend quality time with one another, as well as identifying the challenges facing older relatives. Bingo will be positioned as the perfect remedy in reconnecting and nurturing intergenerational relationships.

Supported by media and social influencers up and down the nation visiting their local clubs to highlight the importance of the ‘generation game’.

Miles Baron, Chief Executive at The Bingo Association says: “We’re delighted to be launching this year’s National Bingo Week. Following the success of previous years, we’ve extended this to be a full Week not just a Day. We’re hugely proud to combine as an industry with all operators coming together to champion the love of the bingo.

We continue to see the impact bingo makes in communities up and down the country, and this year’s campaign theme of ‘the generation game’ tells that story. Bingo is a place for everyone, it offers a space for people to connect with others. We are looking forward to welcoming our customers, new and old, to celebrate the fun, sociability and value of a day or night out at the bingo.”

All participating bingo clubs and sites are licensed in the UK under the Gambling Act 2005. Individual games and promotions run in support of National Bingo Week are subject to each individual licensed operator’s Terms and Conditions. To join in all players must be 18 or over and should always play responsibly.