Trafficology-October.2023
Trafficology-October.2023
Traffic report
Trafficology has partnered with data
expert Casino City Press, to provide
insight into website and traffic
trends across affiliate industries
– predominantly in gaming but
including others. In this edition, we
review affiliate programmes per
vertical for August 2023. The below
is a breakdown of the top 20 sites
globally, including both desktop and
mobile, sorted by: overall ranking,
casino ranking, lottery ranking, bingo
ranking, sports betting ranking and
poker ranking.
BINGO
RANK NAME WEBSITE RANK NAME WEBSITE
1 bet365 Partners bet365partners.com 1 Entain Partners entainpartners.com
Rankings are estimated using statistical data and should not be considered absolute ranking values. More than
50 complementary top lists are available on the iGamingDirectory.com website operated by Casino City Press.
commissions
RED FLAGS
Bad reviews might not be found on Google’s first page, but you
can definitely find them. What’s on the internet, stays on the
internet - after all, affiliate marketing is an online business.
Also, there are other red flags to watch out for when
considering affiliate programs. Avoid programs that ask for fees
to join and be careful if programs offer too many bonuses just to
attract you.
Also, an additional concern might be programs that follow
extended payout schedules, such as quarterly or semi-annual
payments. Affiliates in these programs often face frequent cash
shortages, as the program may be holding onto your earnings
longer than necessary.
Another thing to keep an eye out for are hidden costs and
fees that can erode your affiliate commission. While these fees
may not seem like much at first, experienced affiliate marketers
are aware that they can add up and reduce your earnings
considerably when added together.
When looking at the US market, do affiliates have more betting industry, making them valuable partners for media brands
competition now that sports media brands are getting into aiming to diversify their revenue streams.
sports betting? “Despite the growing competition, the expanding US sports
“The entry of sports media brands into the US sports betting betting market offers ample space for both traditional affiliates
arena has intensified competition, but this trend has also created and sports media brands. The market’s growth unveils a broader
collaboration opportunities. While sports media brands have a audience to target and more opportunities to fulfil demand for
strong online presence and a built-in audience, many of them betting content services.
choose to partner with affiliate companies like The Game Day. “At The Game Day, we are evolving, expanding and gradually
These cooperative efforts allow media companies to simplify transforming into sports media brands in our own right. We are
the complexities and resource-intensive tasks involved with investing in quality original content, developing engaging platforms
affiliate work. and building a brand presence that resonates authentically with
“Affiliates bring specialised knowledge and expertise in the sports enthusiasts.
“This evolution positions affiliates to not only compete but
also collaborate with established media brands, ultimately
contributing to the vibrant, competitive landscape of the US
sports betting market.”
Heiman pushes the idea that although the competition is
getting more intense, the room is there for multiple sports
media companies and affiliates to operate in the US sports
betting market. However, this is a market that has seen the
fall of several sports betting operators in recent months, with
MaximBet, PointsBet and Fubo Sports all baulking at the
sheer cost of continuing operations.
However, with the affiliate market, channelisation is the name
of the game and affiliate companies already come armed with
expertise from other markets.
Next, Heiman talks about the impact that the affiliate market
could see with sports media companies using their already
established customer bases to channel customers.
newly legal) sports betting. This value gained through content will Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, exemplifies this shift toward data
help affiliates compete (or partner up) better with media brand privacy. GDPR mandated explicit consent for data processing,
entrants newly entering the affiliate space.” necessitating greater reliance on first-party data and clear user
Heiman’s point about sports media brands having a large consent for data use. The trend is mirrored in other regions too,
database of people that is not necessarily geared towards being like the United States with the California Consumer Privacy Act
translated into sports bettors is entirely accurate. Many that buy (CCPA), underlining the global movement toward user privacy and
products and services from sports media companies may not be control over personal data.
eligible to bet and under the legal age of requirement, while others “The heightened value of first-party data lies in its reliability and
could be those that are broadly uninterested in betting at all. direct connection with users, offering precise insights into behaviour
In the end, this comes down to how vast the pre-existing and preferences – all with user permission. As affiliates invest in
customer databases are – for the likes of Fanatics, which has sold cultivating their databases, they gain a deeper understanding of their
billions of dollars of sporting merchandise to people around the audience, facilitating accurate targeting, personalised marketing and
globe, the list is huge. So, despite many not being interested or improved user experiences.
eligible to bet, many more will be. “By leveraging first-party data effectively, affiliates can
For the existing affiliates, Heiman’s comments that those minimise dependency on third-party systems and costly ad
MATT HEIMAN
companies will have built existing databases is spot on – channels, ultimately optimising marketing endeavours and giving
the likes of Better Collective and Catena Media will have their audience a better user experience.”
customer bases to draw from. However, the sports media While Heiman discusses giving users a better experience
companies could still dent affiliates’ business by using their (UX) by leveraging first-party data, the point he makes about
own existing customer information. the restrictions on what can and can’t be used – especially in Europe
This led into the final question, where Heiman addressed the – is clear.
historical use of information by sports media brands and affiliates. Sports media brands might have a list of consumers that they
can target, but the companies may not have any idea what the
Has this been seen in other places before, if so what happened conversion rate of those customers will be. Affiliates, meanwhile, will
in those countries? have a better idea of this as they are using databases and techniques
“Globally, the surge in first-party data importance stems from designed to channel bettors to operators.
heightened privacy concerns impacting third-party tracking Overall, this means that affiliates do have competition in
systems, a vital tool for effective targeting and retargeting in the the US in the form of sports media companies that are trying
affiliate realm. Privacy measures, notably seen in iOS and other to invade the sports betting market. However, for sports
platforms, have significantly restricted third-party tracking, media brands, this is harder due to their existing lists being less
pushing businesses, especially affiliates, to prioritise their own targeted than the affiliates’ – despite the fact that sports media
first-party data for marketing strategies. companies may have much bigger and broader customer bases
“Europe, with the enforcement of the General Data Protection to single out.
LATAM
multiple cases where brands came to us with exact references Meanwhile, working with operators with that trend-setting
of what some of the most reputable affiliate brands charge to quality and what it takes to stand out is wonderful. Although
be placed in the top 3 on particular pages of their websites. players might not know they are playing in a quality casino,
On the other hand, of the hundreds of brands we’ve worked they keep playing, have a great experience and keep returning.
with, I could probably name only a couple that are visibly And that, in turn, also pays affiliates because it generates a
working towards making something new and better for their steady and rewarding revenue. But this is an effect and not
players. Most operators ‘lag behind’ with the same games, the cause.
payment options, promotions and most other services they
have while calling themselves ‘the number one crypto casino.’
Of course, I might be wrong on this whole matter. But in my
opinion, if you offer the same as the next hundred brands, you
can’t expect to perform better. I also believe this to be one of
the top issues why making and keeping long-term partnerships
between affiliates and operators seems to hit a brick wall.
When the negotiations of the partnership begin, the
operator’s go-to strategy is usually to offer a higher deal (either
CPA or revenue share) in return for a higher placing on the
affiliate website. This is already a red flag if you value honesty
because what you get paid as an affiliate has nothing to do with
how good an operator is, which is what top placings on affiliate
websites usually represent. It wouldn’t be an issue if affiliate
listings were ads because players would see them as ads. But
they aren’t. Or, at least, they aren’t marked as ads.
The problem is that this is the only language operator
representatives know - we pay and you deliver. Everything
else we put on the table gets rejected because everything else,
in this case, means offering something so unique that almost
no competitor has it or something much better than what
competitors have, that will naturally deserve to be featured
on top of everything else. I understand that what we’re asking
for requires a lot of work and resources. But this must be done
if we want to grow in this industry and make it a high-quality
experience for all players.
ETHICS
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
The more regions in which you operate, the more challenging it
becomes to keep up to date with regulation. Having a diverse and
expert legal team in place, one that comprehensively understands
the landscape and any potential issues down the road, is vital.
Often, using legal contacts within a region or country is the
most beneficial – naturally, they are likelier to have a better grasp
of the situation than someone outside the country’s culture and
collective attitude towards gambling.
Affiliates must also recognise their role in guaranteeing a safe
space for players. The content must meet the strictest content
directives through the responsible gambling lens.
Down the years, we have noticed how stringent our partner
casinos are becoming on fact-checking even the slightest error
in copy and cross-checking with regulatory agencies. Non-
compliance can be catastrophic for the affiliate - collaborators will
ETHICS
simply stop working with a business if they feel they are at risk to have a licence, too. In the US and Romania, for example,
of becoming implicated into marketing material that isn’t up affiliates cannot advertise without one.
to scratch.
Understanding these trends allows affiliates to align their
EXPERIENCED TEAM marketing strategies with the industry’s commitment to
The gambling industry has come on leaps and bounds, and promoting safe and responsible gaming. This not only fosters a
alongside it, so has the demand for better writers. One of the positive image for the affiliate but also helps to mitigate the risks
problems affiliates often face is inexperienced content creators. associated with problem gambling.
The problem with such writers is that they don’t know the nuances
and regulatory restrictions of a given region. BOTH BUSINESS AND AFFILIATES RESPONSIBLE
It’s not enough to just write according to the brief, it’s important According to a set of guidelines established by the UK Advertising
to take into account market nuances, especially in a sector which is Standards Authority in Online Affiliate Marketing: “Both the
growing and changing so rapidly. business and the affiliate marketer are responsible under the
For example, earlier in 2023, Ontario launched its licence and Code, notwithstanding the fact that the ads may have been
introduced a number of regulations for operators that also affect created solely by the affiliate without any input from the
the affiliate business. A lot of time has passed since the launch business themselves.”
of the licence, but, unfortunately, we still come across content With this in mind, we think in-depth collaboration between the
writers who need to upgrade their knowledge. business and the affiliate is crucial and beneficial for all parties.
From the business side, any brief must be crystal clear.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING TRENDS It is imperative our industry is proactive rather than reactive in
When it comes to responsible gambling trends, the future waits staying on top of the responsible gambling issues.
for nobody, including affiliate business. Here are some of the most
important trends affiliates need to know about: FINAL THOUGHTS
• Provision of responsible gambling tools. Sources must In the end, responsible gambling should always be the priority
be visible and easily accessible and linked with the official for affiliates in the online casino industry. By upholding ethical
website to tackle addictive gambling. standards and promoting responsible gambling practices,
• Explaining the risks. Educational content is just as affiliates can positively impact players’ lives and the industry’s
important as promotional content. Players must have overall reputation.
enough guidance and information on how to recognise and If there is a collective strive towards a more responsible and
stop gambling addiction. sustainable future for online gambling, the better it is for the
• Transparent content. Affiliates strive to make their content player, the operator and the affiliate.
clear, accurate and concise and to break down odds, We firmly believe it is the responsibility of every individual
payouts or bonuses into digestible content for their readers. involved in the industry to promote responsible gambling and
• AI data analytics. There’s also a growing trend of leveraging ensure that players can gamble safely and healthily.
AI-powered data analytics to personalise and tailor
communication strategies to prevent problem gambling.
We, ourselves, are also working on implementing an
AI-powered chatbot capable of analysing all available
offers and suggesting the best options based on
deposit amount. It can even help players locate the most
trustworthy casinos, according to our pre-set criteria.
• Social activity. Be socially active and transparent.
Participation in podcasts and interviews increases company
name recognition. The more open you are, the more
transparent your brand becomes, showcasing the business’
collective ability to adapt and meet the required standards.
• Licences for affiliates. Each territory has its unique laws and
regulations for gambling and advertising, necessitating a
tailored approach to marketing strategy. The rise of digital
platforms and the global nature of the internet further blur
jurisdiction lines, adding another layer of complexity to
adherence to responsible gambling marketing guidelines.
On top of all that, some regions actually require affiliates
Trafficology is brought to you every month by the Gambling Insider team at Players Publishing. For all editorial enquiries please
contact us at [email protected], and for advertising enquiries please contact commercial director Deepak Malkani
at [email protected]. We would like to thank the following contributors to this issue: Matt Heiman, Simon Hovmand-Stilling,
Adam Gros and Dmitry Rogalchuk.Company: Casino City Press and Mate Affiliates. “You can't be a real country unless you have a beer
and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.” Frank
Zappa Players Publishing Limited, all rights reserved.