News
Google Search will start ranking faster mobile pages higher in July

Google on Wednesday announced a new project to improve its mobile search results: factoring page speed into its search ranking. As the company notes, page speed “has been used in ranking for some time” but that was largely for desktop searches. Starting in July 2018, page speed will be a ranking factor for mobile searches on Google as well.
In November 2014, Google started labeling sites as “mobile-friendly” to denote pages optimized for phones. The company then spent the next few years experimenting with using the label as a ranking factor, ultimately pushing those changes in April 2015 and increasing the effect in May 2016. The label was removed in August 2016 as the company noted that most pages had become “mobile-friendly.”
Google now plans to wield that power again to make mobile pages load faster. Here is how the company explains it:
The “Speed Update,” as we’re calling it, will only affect pages that deliver the slowest experience to users and will only affect a small percentage of queries. It applies the same standard to all pages, regardless of the technology used to build the page. The intent of the search query is still a very strong signal, so a slow page may still rank highly if it has great, relevant content.
The move is part of a bigger push at Google to speed up the mobile web. Earlier this month, the company started rolling out its new Search Console to website owners globally. The tool lets web developers analyze their site’s indexing on Google Search, view analytics, peruse inbound links, submit and remove content for crawling, monitor malware, and so on.
Google will not be offering a tool that directly indicates whether a page will be affected by this new mobile ranking factor starting in July. Instead, the company points to three of its own resources that developers can use to evaluate their mobile page’s performance: Chrome User Experience Report, Lighthouse, and PageSpeed Insights.
Interestingly, the announcement doesn’t mention Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project. At its I/O developers conference last year, the company shared that AMP pages now load twice as fast from Google Search, and just last week the team announced that AMP URLs will be getting a makeover. It doesn’t look like implementing AMP is enough to get a boost from this upcoming Speed Update — Google wants developers to improve their mobile site performance across the board.
Awards
Industry praised as finalists announced for July’s iGB Affiliate Awards

Stephen Carter, Clarion Gaming’s Head of Affiliate Content and internal judging lead for the IGB Affiliate Awards has praised both the number of submissions received and their overall quality.
Speaking as organisers published the list of finalists across the 20-strong categories, he confirmed: “Our external industry judges who are selected for their expertise and their depth of knowledge of the iGaming affiliate sector have been hugely impressed by the overall quality of the individual submissions and the number of companies that have chosen to participate in the 2025 edition of the Awards.
“Both metrics are indicative of how seriously the Awards are taken and how they are widely recognised for being the most prestigious and transparent merit-based awards in iGaming.
“It’s also significant that 40% of the submissions which have progressed to the finals are from businesses not previously shortlisted. This level of engagement demonstrates the relevance and reputation enjoyed by the iGB Affiliate Awards across the iGaming ecosystem.”
Madrid headquartered Betandeal has achieved the most shortlisted entries, making the cut in five categories. The affiliate agency is closely followed by Gambling.com Group, which has put itself in the running across four categories, for best affiliate in casino, sports and bingo (via its WhichBingo brand) as well as Affiliate Employer of the Year.
Newcomer WagerWire has also been shortlisted in four categories across sports, Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year, Employer of the Year and Best Affiliate Campaign.
Interest is mounting in the showpiece black-tie event, with the industry celebration being presented by broadcaster and musician Myleene Klass MBE.
The critically acclaimed television personality, part of the original Britpop era, will host the Cool Britannia-themed event being held 3 July at the Troxy, the stunning Art Deco masterpiece situated in the heart of East London.
The Troxy has an 80-year musical heritage and has featured performances by Liam Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker, Garbage and the Cure.
Members of the iGaming affiliate community can still participate in the public vote for Game of the Year by following the link found at https://www.igblive.com/igb-affiliate-awards-2025. Votes must be cast before 3 June.
The iGB Affiliate Awards shortlist can be viewed at: https://www.igbaffiliate.com/en/articles/121752/igb-affiliate-awards-2025-shortlist-revealed/
News
Hiring Boom: Major affiliate QiH Group builds in-house tech team with eight new hires

The London-based affiliate is also searching for seven more recruits to move previously outsourced tech to fully in house
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Expansion has been ambitious, with 32 new hires in the last 12 months
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Focus is on efficient yet sustainable growth
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The hiring boom has necessitated a move to larger headquarters in London
Power affiliate QiH Group has been making bold moves in the past year, with both expansion and diversification being integral parts to an ambitious growth strategy.
In 2023, the iGaming company – which counts Flutter and Entain amongst its impressive client list – began building a C-level layer into the business, with new positions created and filled in operations, marketing and finance.
The latest of those hires is in technology, with QiH Group’s first-ever CTO, Sachin Saxena, joining from digital health company Congenica in September of 2024.
Since then, Saxena has used his international B2B experience to build the company’s tech capabilities, working with the company’s senior leadership, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to transition previously outsourced functions and platforms to in-house talent.
“It’s no simple feat overseeing the change management process that is necessary to move from fully outsourced to completely in-house tech capacity,” explains Saxena, “but the most important aspect of that is the people. We really needed to find the right people fit culturally and experientially and we needed to do it efficiently.
“So far, we’ve employed nine engineers, and are actually looking for a further seven tech team members at a minimum,” he says.
Talent shortage, still?
One of the biggest challenges Saxena says the tech industry has faced in recent years, whether in betting and gaming or other sectors, is the talent shortage that first appeared during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t abated since.
“Recruiting into the iGaming industry has been really interesting, Saxena shares, “mainly because for a lot of people, betting and gaming just isn’t a sector we’d considered previously. Since joining six months ago, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn what a fascinating industry it is, and to convey that to potential new hires.”
A key USP that Saxena is hoping will make the rest of this recruiting round smoother is how seriously QiH Group takes its people-first ethos.
He says: “HR isn’t an afterthought for QiH, which is evident in policies, procedures, flexible working arrangements and from internal promotion – for example, our COO, Andrew Lee, started his career in iGaming 10 years ago with QiH and now he’s at C-level as a decision-maker. So the upward mobility that QiH provides is a big selling point.”
But the main thing that the CTO loves about working for an iGaming affiliate?
“It’s just really, really fun.”
Affiliate Success
Casino Guru shortlisted in 2 categories for iGB Affiliate Awards 2025

Casino Guru has been shortlisted for the iGB Affiliate Awards 2025, joining a competitive field of contestants in the “Best Casino Affiliate” category and the “Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year.”
The iGB Affiliate Awards recognize companies in the iGaming affiliate space that have demonstrated their value through a range of initiative. This is reflected by the event’s coverage of more than 20 award categories.
Casino Guru is honored to have been shortlisted in two categories for one of the most prestigious industry events that celebrates advances in the affiliate industry and iGaming sector as a whole, and particularly in two areas where Casino Guru particularly excels.
Casino Guru has developed the world’s most comprehensive and meticulously detailed database, which actively evaluates the standing of individual casinos by scrutinizing dozens of different criteria for each listing.
These criteria are dynamic, meaning that Casino Guru is constantly reviewing offers to accurately assign ratings.
The resulting assessment is based on technological, legal, and industry knowledge, helping players make informed choices about their gambling.
Daniela Sliva, Public Relations and Creative Projects Director, said: “The shortlisting reflects Casino Guru’s ongoing commitment to upholding the highest industry standards. The Safety Index and Casino Guru Complaint Resolution Center have consistently delivered real-world impact for players, enhancing transparency and responsibility across the sector by showing operators that when it comes to their offers, it’s the players who decide. At Casino Guru, we ensure that players have all the information they need to make informed decisions. Being shortlisted for the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards confirms that we’re on the right track.”
Casino Guru is also distinguished for its ongoing commitment to the Gamtegrity platform, which reunites the company’s efforts to make gambling safer and more transparent by advancing research, education, and best practices.
The official ceremony will be held at the Troxy, East London, on July 3, 2025. The iGB Affiliate Awards will be held on the final day of the iGB Live 2025 conference.
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