News

An Open Response to Mattha Busby & The Guardian

Published

9 years ago

September 5, 2017

An Open Response to Mattha Busby & The Guardian

The following response is written by Darren Moore @ Betting Gods in response to this piece posted in The Guardian on 1st September.

Let’s begin with the obvious; this is a terrible piece of journalism. It doesn’t represent what a good tipster site does, and it doesn’t understand even the basics of how tipsters operate.

Our message to you, Mattha Busby, is that we don’t hold it against you. We understand it can be difficult to understand a service that genuinely wants to make people money. We understand why you would assume there’s an underhand plot to rip people off.

What you need to understand is that you’re wrong. Please, come to Malta, we’ll introduce you to some people that actually understand the industry. Or at the very least, take up our offer of a complimentary membership of BettingGods.com so you can see the potential of a truly professional tipster site.

While you’re considering our offer, we have a few comments to make about your article.

1. “Operators have a vested interest in seeing their tips lose because they take up to a 30% cut of the losses their followers make to bookmakers.”

We feel like this is an over-generalised argument that doesn’t get the way the industry works. On the surface, it does sound like it might work for tipster sites to deliberately post losing tips to earn 30% of the losing bet. But how is that a sustainable business model? It would very, very quickly ruin their whole premise of the tipster’s business.

Successful tipster sites actually make money by collecting subscription fees from satisfied customers. If the tips they give are regularly losers, then why would anyone continue to subscribe? The argument that tipsters are in cahoots with bookmakers suggests they’ll spend time and energy on building up a following before quickly doing them a disservice. It makes no sense and shows the little to no research behind the article.

2. “Such tipsters, who work from home, frequently recommend accumulator bets that experts say represent bad value.”

First, we would argue about the suggestion that accumulators are aggressively pushed on the customer. Betting Gods, as one good example of how tipsters usually operate, regularly promotes a number of different wager options. The important thing is that we suggest contenders with a good chance of taking the glory and we’ll always look for the best option to make you a profit.

That said, we may sometimes suggest an accumulator as they can be a great option for a big win. Especially as you only need a low stake to set you up. Working out the odds and relationships between the different bets requires a keen nose – the knowledge of an excellent tipster can be invaluable.

3. There are “grave concerns about terms which appear to bamboozle rather than help customers make informed choices”.

One of the worst parts of this barely researched article is that it reduces the average person following a tipster page to an idiot that blindly follows the tipster’s opinion. At the end of the day, the page’s followers are gambling their own money and are usually educated about the odds and risk they’re taking on.

In practice, tipster sites are run on either community-driven tips (given by users to other users) or suggested tips that no one forces anyone to follow. The suggestions made are great for research, or a starting point for further research, but they are neither presented, nor expected to be, guaranteed, sure-fire winners. Sports are a dynamic and unpredictable arena, and while a great tipster calls on every reserve of information, skill and ideas at their disposal – no one can read the future.

A good tipster is a guide, a source of information, a friend in the know. But just like every other aspect of modern life, personal decisions and judgement are vital in your own success. It’s a shame that Guardian journalist Mattha Busby didn’t have the personal judgement to look into the industry he chose to so poorly take down.

Mattha, if you’re reading, the invitation stands. Take the time to see what we do (we’ll even pay for your flights!). We can’t wait to show you how following a professional tipster can change your outlook. After all, as long as you’re not in touch with us and our stream of knowledgeable information, it’s only you that’s losing out.

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ReferOn Wins “Best Affiliate Management Platform” at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2026

George Miller

ReferOn has been named the Best Affiliate Management Platform at the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, marking another major milestone in the company’s growth. Announced live at iGB LIVE, the recognition follows a year of relentless product innovation, customer growth, and a continued focus on simplifying affiliate operations.

Turning Complexity into Clarity

Managing high-volume affiliate programs requires processing millions of data points every day. ReferOn was built to eliminate that complexity through automation, real-time insights, and streamlined workflows.

This year also marked the introduction of Refie, ReferOn’s integrated UX layer. Instead of forcing affiliate managers to navigate complex backend data, Refie turns raw operational data into clear, actionable insights. From onboarding to daily performance tracking, it helps teams spend less time on administration and more time driving strategic growth.

Alex Bukin, CEO of ReferOn, commented: “Winning the iGB Affiliate Award is a remarkable achievement for our entire team. As affiliate programs grow, so does the complexity behind them. From day one, our ambition has been to remove that complexity, so operators can focus on growth instead of operational friction. This recognition reinforces our belief that great B2B technology should be simpler, more intuitive, easier to work with, and built around the people who use it”.

Having secured major industry awards over the past 18 months, — including ‘Affiliate System of the Year’ at AffPapa and ‘Best Affiliate Software’ at SiGMA — ReferOn looks ahead with a roadmap that remains focused on making affiliate management even more intelligent, transparent, and effortless. Our upcoming developments will continue to simplify complex workflows, expand AI-powered assistance, and provide operators with even greater visibility and control over their affiliate operations.

Affiliate Success

Kongebonus becomes first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at iGB Affiliate Awards 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 8, 2026

George Miller

Kongebonus has become the first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, a landmark recognition that names the independent Norwegian guide as the world’s leading casino affiliate for 2026.

The award was presented on 2 July during iGB L!VE London, where the iGB Affiliate Awards celebrated the affiliates, programmes, networks, suppliers and individuals helping to drive the iGaming sector forward.

iGB Affiliate described first-time contestant Kongebonus as a “Norwegian local hero”, noting that the platform claimed the award in a close race and ended Gambling.com Group’s two-year reign in the highly competitive category. Independent judges praised Kongebonus’ “super smart” approach, highlighting its combination of innovation, engaged player community, and strong editorial presence across Google News and the media.

The recognition reflects Kongebonus’ focus on detailed operator testing, transparent casino reviews, community-led content and player protection. The platform tests casinos with its own money before reviewing them, publishes its full methodology and continues to invest in responsible gambling resources, including practical guidance and support signposting for players.

David Nilsen, Editor-in-Chief at Kongebonus, said: “Winning Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards is a huge moment for Kongebonus and for everyone who has helped build the platform. To be recognised in a category alongside some of the biggest and most respected names in the affiliate industry is something we are incredibly proud of.

“I’ve spent more than ten years on the inside of this industry, and I’ve seen how big the gap can be between what a casino promises and what the player is actually left with. Closing that gap is the whole reason we test the way we do.

“What this award tells us is that being the most trusted guide matters more than being the biggest one, and that’s the only thing we’ve ever set out to build.”

News

Where to Drive Tier-1 Sport Traffic in July FIFA World Cup Final & More

Published

2 days ago

July 7, 2026

Master Editor

July is one of the strongest months for sports traffic, with the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Wimbledon finals, Formula 1, UFC, esports, cricket, and rugby driving high-value Tier-1 audiences.

Moreover, with N1 Sport Promo by N1 Partners running until July 20, affiliates still have time to increase their CPA while scaling quality sports traffic during the busiest weeks of the season.

Key sports events in July

The N1 Partners team has made a list of the biggest sporting events this month to help affiliates plan campaigns and capture high-intent traffic.

Soccer

The FIFA World Cup enters its decisive stage, with every knockout match generating significant spikes in betting activity, search demand, and social engagement.

Until 07.07 | FIFA World Cup — Round of 16
09.07–12.07 | FIFA World Cup — Quarter-finals
14.07 | FIFA World Cup — Semi-final
15.07 | FIFA World Cup — Semi-final
18.07 | FIFA World Cup — Third-place Match
19.07 | FIFA World Cup — Final

Tennis

Wimbledon concludes with the biggest matches of the season before the tour moves to North America later in the month.

Until 12.07 | Wimbledon
12.07 | Wimbledon Finals
26.07–02.08 | ATP Washington
26.07–02.08 | WTA Washington

Formula 1

Formula 1 will get high interest from sport lovers throughout July with three Grand Prix weekends.

19.07 | Belgian Grand Prix
26.07 | Hungarian Grand Prix

MMA

UFC maintains strong engagement in Tier-1 markets, especially around numbered fight nights where title implications and high-profile fighters drive consistent betting interest.

13.07 | UFC 329 McGregor vs. Holloway 2

Esports

The biggest esports competitions will go on attracting highly engaged audiences across Tier-1 markets.

06.07–18.07 | Esports World Cup 2026 (Dota 2)
21.07–02.08 | BLAST Bounty Season 2 (CS2)

Cricket

Cricket is still one of the strongest niches that generates huge traffic amonts across several Tier-1 GEOs.

07.07 | England vs India — Test Series
13.07 | England vs India — ODI
16.07 | England vs India — ODI
22.07 | Southern Brave vs Welsh Fire — The Hundred
23.07 | London Spirit vs Manchester Super Giants — The Hundred
27.07 | Southern Brave vs MI London — The Hundred

Rugby League

Rugby League continues to generate steady betting interest in key English-speaking markets.

17.07 | NZ Warriors vs Broncos
30.07 | North Queensland Cowboys vs Roosters

How to maximize results from event-driven traffic

The summer month offers affiliates working with N1 Bet, RollXO, and Lucky Hunter through N1 Partners a strong environment to attract new players, increase FTD volumes, and scale existing campaigns across Tier-1 GEOs, supported by consistently high audience demand. With N1 Sport Promo running until July 20, affiliates still have time to maximize higher CPA rates while sports engagement remains at its seasonal peak.

Top promos for N1 Partners projects in July

This July, partners can take advantage of exclusive seasonal campaigns for players across N1 Partners’ leading brands, designed to drive stronger performance and help them get more from every visitor they refer.

Road to Riches Lottery (RollXO, N1 Bet)
Period: 01.07–25.08
Prize pool: €500,000

Road to Riches is the biggest lottery campaign in the project’s history, featuring a €500,000 total prize pool, 8 weekly stages, and 700 winners. With weekly prize drops and increasing stage prize pools, the promotion is designed to boost player engagement, retention, and repeat deposits—helping affiliates maximize traffic value throughout the campaign.

Lucky Lottery (Retrobet, Spirit Casino, Jet4Bet, Slot Lounge)

Period: 22.07–27.07

Prize pool: €50,000

Lucky Loot Lottery (Slotlords, Slotsmines)
Period: 10.07–16.07
Prize pool: €10,000 (Slotlords), €7,000 (Slotsmines)

Around the World Lottery (Slot Mafia, Slot Hunter, LuckyHunter)

Period: 13.07–23.07

Prize pool: €8,000

Wanna learn more? Contact your manager right now!

Winning Tips for July Sports Traffic

Treat the World Cup as a sequence of conversion peaks rather than a single final, as each knockout round has its own performance window under the promo.
Shift budgets dynamically between sports instead of overfocusing on one event: Wimbledon, F1, UFC, and esports often perform better once football CPMs peak.
Build creatives that reflect tournament progression (for instance, “Quarter-finals pressure” and “Road to the final”), not static team messaging.
Combine Sports Betting and Prediction Markets on N1 Bet to capture different user motivations during the same event cycle.
Reallocate traffic during promo weeks, as in the N1 Sport Promo timing can impact revenue almost as much as volume.

Join N1 Partners

N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, bringing together 14+ casino and betting brands with high LTV and Reg2Dep rates in Tier-1 GEOs.

N1 Partners offers competitive terms for top partners, including CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55%, ensuring stable and scalable performance.

Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners stands out for its transparency, flexibility, and focus on long-term partnerships, supported by a strong product portfolio and advanced retention systems.

Haven’t joined N1 Partners yet? Contact the manager, get involved and make the most of the 2026 sports season.