Every year, when iGB’s Most Influential Women comes around, the industry takes a step back to reflect on the varied and wide-ranging work of women driving development in gaming. Those nominating provide a platform for all the women quietly championing change – and this year’s campaign saw a record number of submissions.
Every year, winners and judges express immense pride in participating in the campaign, and the message it sends. “Together we are proving that leadership knows no gender,” says judge Laila Mintas. “With so many powerful stories and achievements shared, it’s clear how critical this campaign is.”
Similarly, first-time judge and 2023 winner Victoria Reed applauds this year’s nominees for “genuinely shaping the direction of the industry, from pioneering product innovation to driving regulatory change”.
“What stood out most was the breadth of talent and the authenticity of each story. These aren’t achievements built for show, but real, measurable contributions that are moving our industry forward,” Reed adds. What is clear is the quality and calibre of professionals in this sector of ours continues to impress. And once again, judges found the process of choosing just 10 a hugely challenging task.
Here are the first four of our 10 iGB Most Influential Women 2025 winners:
Elaine Gardiner
Managing Director, TAG Media
Elaine Gardiner has emerged as a leading figure in the iGaming affiliate sector, recognised for her operational acumen, people-first approach and dedication to professional development. Gardiner has consistently demonstrated a commitment to raising standards within her team and across the wider industry.
Her journey into iGaming began unexpectedly. “I fell into gaming by accident,” she recalls. Starting at 22, she was initially handed the responsibility for an affiliate inbox, despite having little knowledge of the role.
“I didn’t even know how to spell affiliate properly, but I thought, ‘I will take care of that’,” she says. Her natural work ethic and determination turned this task into a career, eventually leading her to a series of senior roles in affiliate management before joining TAG Media.
At TAG, Gardiner has overseen remarkable growth. The agency has expanded from three to 16 team members under her leadership, reflecting both her strategic vision and commitment to culture.
#ThisYearsRule
Central to this transformation is TAG Media’s #ThisYearsRule policy, a people-first framework that prioritises personal development, wellbeing and long-term retention.
Gardiner explains: “We get paid time off to volunteer. It’s helped me make a difference, juggling work and then doing things like that as well.” The policy not only nurtures staff satisfaction but has supported the agency in delivering high-quality services to a growing roster of iGaming clients.
Gardiner’s leadership has also driven tangible business results, with TAG Media reporting 400% revenue growth over four years and receiving multiple industry accolades, including twice being named Best Digital Agency at the iGB Affiliate Awards. Colleagues praise her clarity, empathy and ability to scale operations while maintaining quality and organisational values.
Beyond TAG Media, Gardiner has made a significant impact on the wider sector through her work with the Affiliate Management Academy (AMA), a CPD-accredited programme that has trained hundreds of affiliate managers. She also contributes to industry learning and development sessions at events such as iGB Live and SBC Summit, striving to improve professional standards across the affiliate ecosystem.
Gardiner’s dedication extends beyond the boardroom. Through her volunteer work with St Andrew’s Ambulance Service in Scotland, she provides first aid support at Kilmarnock FC home games and Ayr Racecourse, embodying the values of service and leadership she champions within her team.
Reflecting on her achievements, Gardiner emphasises self-belief and advocacy: “You have to be your own champion. If you want to apply, apply; don’t sit around and wait for someone else to do it.”
Her career is a testament to combining operational excellence with people-focused leadership and community engagement, all of which makes her a true force for positive change in the iGaming affiliate sector.
Erica Kosemund
Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Erica Kosemund’s dedication to tribal gaming has shaped the way tribal casino partners are perceived, both within the industry and by consumers.
While her day-to-day focus on creating and executing award-winning marketing campaigns and partnerships would be enough to make it onto the Most Influential Women list by itself, it’s the extra mile that Kosemund goes that really caught the judges’ attention.
Cultivating longstanding partnerships with the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers, and scoring athlete ambassadors such as Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, has put the operator on the map and led to a series of industry awards for her marketing campaigns.
In addition to traditional media campaigns, Kosemund has implemented a robust social media influencer strategy and forged marketing partnerships to expand the reach of the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts brand to new audiences.
But behind the scenes, and outside the glitz and glamour of industry events in which she takes a leading role, Kosemund’s dedication to changing the industry extends to her commitment to mentoring women and newcomers into the gaming sector.
A matriarchal tribe
“The Choctaws are a matriarchal tribe,” she explains, “and this has led to women being in leadership roles for hundreds of years already. “ Kosemund is steadfast in her commitment to maintaining this tradition, exposing the tribe to opportunities that both preserve their heritage and culture and provide avenues for growth and prosperity.
This includes supporting youth and education initiatives, all while helping the tribe find its voice and growing its exposure. “I love any opportunity to be able to tell those stories and really help any brands elevate and tell their story as well,” she adds. Kosemund has also served for six years on the board of Global Gaming Women, where she helped plan integral programmes for women learning how to balance careers with leadership, networking and mental health.
In a demonstration of the selflessness of these endeavours, she helped chair an annual event for Global Gaming Women each year that promoted a Patty Becker Pay It Forward Award. This award celebrates women for their dedication to helping other women in the industry. She has also helped to forge new partnerships that have brought in millions of dollars of support – all of which happened behind closed doors.
Pallavi Deshmukh
CEO, NetGaming
The gambling sector has taken Pallavi Deshmukh across the world, moving to the UK in 2006 before taking up roles in Jersey City and then Malta. As CEO of NetGaming, 2026 looks set to be an exciting year for her and the company, alhough it hasn’t always been an easy journey.
Joining NetGaming in 2018 was a leap of faith for Deshmukh, one that she thought long and hard about before taking over at the helm. “The investor [in NetGaming], I’ve known him for a number of years, and he wanted to start a studio,” she tells iGB. “He asked me if I would like to run the studio and initially my reaction was ‘no’.
“Because I’d worked for such mega corporations, I was just so used to working in a stable, settled environment. I discussed it with my dad, with my husband. I think their feedback helped a lot, because then I thought, ‘Why not?’ Now we’re six years in and it’s been going great. We’ve entered the US which obviously was quite a big achievement for us as a very small company.”
Live in the US through partnerships with giants such as BetMGM and Rush Street Interactive, NetGaming and Deshmukh’s focus for next year largely centres around Europe.
Eyes on 2026 expansion
“In 2026 we want to focus on the European markets,” Deshmukh continues. “In Europe, we are only live in the UK and in Greece. But we have a lot of operators asking about Italy. They want our content in Italy and so that’s going to be our next market in Europe.”
Deshmukh believes diversity in the gambling sector has progressed by “leaps and bounds” from when she started out her iGaming career over two decades ago. “It’s definitely improving,” she says. “When I started in 2003, I barely remember seeing senior executives being women in the initial part of my career. But now it is getting quite common.”
Deshmukh emphasises the importance of role models, the likes of which have helped her over her time in the industry, especially during her early days at PartyGaming. “That obviously helps a lot and it’s also the culture that you grow your career in,” she says.
“PartyGaming was a great learning experience. My line managers and my mentors there were excellent and they encouraged me every single time. Having those kinds of managers of course helps a lot. And I think that’s super important.” Deshmukh says her determination has been crucial to her achievements.
Additionally, she believes having the right people in place is a big contributor to success, saying: “Having a strong team is absolutely critical. I would not have been able to do this without our team. They are absolutely behind me for everything.”
Dr Alexandra Krone
Managing Director, Gamomat
Dr Alexandra Krone’s work in leadership roles, spanning over 20 years, has been shaped by a unique lens that stems from her scientific background in organisational psychology. It’s an outlook that enables her to foster value-driven cultures and ensure sustainable company growth. Krone’s journey started at the University of Osnabrück, where she achieved a PhD in Work and Organisational Psychology before becoming a scientific associate.
She then spent nearly nine years at German logistics company Meyer & Meyer, before shifting focus to the gambling sector in July 2017 as chief people officer of German slots company Gamomat. In 2021 she became MD. It has been an incredible career already and Krone has her sights set on achieving further growth. Her achievements include being named Leader of the Year (Supplier) at the 2023 Women in Gaming Diversity Awards.
DEI isn’t where it needs to be yet
“There is still a great deal I want to achieve with – and at – Gamomat,” Krone says. “We’re focused on unlocking our full potential as a truly international games studio, and there’s still some way to go on that journey. At the same time, we’re committed to maintaining our position among Germany’s best employers, ensuring our culture scales just as strongly as our business.”
Krone believes campaigns such as iGB’s Most Influential Women are “vital” in highlighting the persisting issues surrounding diversity in the gambling sector. “The gaming sector isn’t where it needs to be,” she says.
“There is still a long way to go. And it’s important to be aware that diversity isn’t just about gender; it spans many dimensions. Structural barriers hold women back from leadership roles across many industries, and ours is no exception. When more women are able to step into senior roles, it makes a tangible difference for those coming through behind them.”
DEI plays a central role in Krone’s day-to-day work, powered by her strong belief in societal equality. Gamomat takes a holistic approach to DEI. Krone explains: “DEI is one of the issues I care most deeply about, because it plays a crucial role not only in the success of organisations but also in society as a whole. Companies are, after all, socio-political actors with real responsibility.
“For us, DEI isn’t a standalone project; it’s embedded in our culture, our processes and how decisions are made every day.”
A huge thank you to the panel of judges that helped make this year’s iGB Most Influential Women 2025 list happen. You can read more about the annual campaign and our esteemed judging panel here.
The first four of this year’s iGB Most Influential Women 2025 winners share their hopes for gaming’s DEI development and reveal what has fuelled their careers.