June is one of the most volatile months for iGaming: major sporting events overheat auctions, competition for high-quality traffic intensifies, while Facebook and Google begin reallocating traffic and CPM significantly faster.

In the latest edition of N1 Insights, N1 Partners’ experts break down where competition will intensify the most and how to maintain ROI in an overheated market.

Learn about new growth opportunities, strategies that are already losing relevance, and what will actually help you scale in June!

1. GEOs, Auction Dynamics, and Search Results

Facebook

1.1 Unstable GEOs in June
Facebook remains volatile: some GEOs are declining, while others present new growth opportunities. The key is not to become dependent on a single region and to continuously expand your GEO pool.

In June, the European auction is expected to be heavily overheated by sportsbooks due to the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, and the UFC event at the White House. CPMs may increase by 2-3x within a single day. The holiday season further reduces engagement among Tier-1 audiences.

1.2 Which markets will make FB traffic significantly more sensitive to creatives and funnel quality?

At the same time, more niche markets such as Ireland, Norway, and Denmark are becoming increasingly attractive for media buyers. These GEOs are more challenging, but they allow affiliates to establish relationships with advertisers earlier.

1.3 GEOs with unstable economies during scaling
In Germany, due to new content filtering protocols, Facebook’s algorithm begins expanding beyond a narrow safe audience much faster when budgets are scaled.

IP restrictions are also becoming more aggressive: as campaigns scale, the share of users unable to access the product increases. This directly impacts CPA per deposit and negatively affects profitability.

1.4 Are there GEOs where it will become noticeably more difficult to warm up a new account even with a strong setup in June?
Australia stands out in particular. With the FIFA World Cup taking place in June and additional advertising restrictions during broadcasts, the auction becomes even more overheated. New accounts with low Trust Scores find it extremely difficult to compete with established agency accounts.

1.5 How much harder will it be to maintain a competitive edge over time even with a strong setup?
Due to auction overheating caused by the 2026 World Cup and AI-powered cloning, maintaining a competitive advantage will become increasingly difficult.

PPC (Google / UAC / Search)

1.6 GEOs experiencing the strongest PPC auction changes in June
Football-driven GEOs are expected to be the most volatile, particularly Austria and Germany. The World Cup directly impacts auction dynamics, causing CPCs to rise significantly.

1.7 Markets where traffic quality will become harder to maintain even with budget growth
Canada can be classified as one of these markets. When campaigns scale, Google broadens audience targeting: costs increase, while repeat deposit volume remains flat.

1.8 Which GEOs currently require the deepest PPC structure adaptation?
Denmark and Norway deserve special attention. Deep localisation and local-language optimisation are becoming increasingly important despite high English proficiency levels among users.

1.9 Changes in Tier-1 competition compared to the beginning of the year

SEO

1.10 Changes in search competition ahead of the summer season
During summer, pressure from major media holdings decreases, but competition among affiliate teams increases as they rapidly test AI-generated content and local content clusters. At the same time, rising CPCs are pushing some market participants toward parasite SEO traffic, particularly within the betting vertical.

1.11 Where can affiliates currently find undervalued SEO traffic with low competition?
Opportunities remain within local-language clusters and non-Tier-1 GEOs using English, French, or German, provided they are not the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, or Germany.

1.12 Are there GEOs where SEO remains the most stable acquisition channel?
Yes. This primarily applies to less overheated local markets. The strongest performance comes from localized GEOs with stable CACs, including Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Norway, and Australia.

Despite regulatory restrictions, Australia continues to demonstrate stable conversion rates and a minimal number of website and cross-domain bans.

1.13 Impact of KYC changes on conversion and scaling
Stricter KYC requirements negatively affect first-time deposit conversion rates, particularly on mobile traffic. As a result, the role of pre-landers, retention funnels, and strong homepage experiences continues to grow.

2. Traffic Formats and Audience Behavior

Facebook

2.1 Placements that will unexpectedly lose efficiency in June
Facebook Right Column is a clear example. The European holiday season reduces desktop traffic share by approximately 15-20%.

2.2 Traffic formats delivering higher-quality audiences over time
SEO, ASO, and PPC remain the strongest channels. In June, when Facebook becomes unstable again due to platform updates, users who independently search for queries such as “best online casino AU/DE” through Google Search or Google Play continue to represent the most qualified and long-term audience segment.

2.3 Changes in traffic quality from short-form videos compared to the beginning of the year
By June, standard money-and-slots video creatives become saturated. High-quality traffic remains concentrated within UGC formats featuring real people, native storytelling, and a sense of authenticity.

Traffic itself is becoming more impulsive and expensive, as users spend more time scrolling social feeds while on vacation, at bars, or on the beach.

2.4 Which advertising angles is Facebook currently prioritising through its algorithms?
Facebook increasingly favours videos that do not resemble traditional advertisements. Examples include front-camera videos with minimal editing. A human face increases Trust Score and reduces checkpoint risks.

Moreover, these ad formats often achieve the highest Ad Relevance Scores, allowing the algorithm to perceive them as more valuable and reduce auction costs. Formats without direct deposit calls-to-action also perform well, where content is positioned as an educational explanation or a “life hack”. For example: “Where to Find Hidden Bonuses”. This type of content passes gambling-vertical filters more easily.

PPC (Google / UAC / Search)

2.5 Campaign types that may appear weak initially but deliver higher traffic quality

2.6 The changing role of Demand Gen and UAC within overall PPC strategy
Demand Gen is increasingly used as a warming stage. YouTube creates the first touchpoint, while Search closes the user and drives the final conversion.

2.7 Traffic formats most dependent on creative quality
Demand Gen is the clear leader here. Visual quality plays a decisive role: creatives must be highly engaging, attractive, and visually polished.

2.8 User behavior changes that will have the strongest impact on PPC in June
With the start of summer, users in Scandinavia and the DACH region will spend significantly less time at home and on their mobile devices. Sessions will become shorter as people spend more time outdoors and less time on their phones.

This is precisely why bonus mechanics and engagement hooks capable of capturing attention quickly and encouraging users to return to the app become especially important.

SEO

2.11 Impact of AI Overviews on iGaming traffic in June
AI Overviews continue to occupy the top portion of informational SERPs, particularly for queries such as “best casino”, “how to bet”, “slot RTP”, and “bonuses explained”.

In addition, self-promotion within listicle-style content continues to perform well in Google AI Overview, AI Mode, and Perplexity.

2.12 Page types losing rankings after Google’s spring updates
The strongest declines are observed among mass-produced SEO landing pages targeting identical keywords, AI-generated reviews without real product testing, certain parasite SEO pages, affiliate pages lacking brand authority and trust signals, and outdated comparison pages without fresh offers or updates.

2.13 Content formats that best preserve CTR in a zero-click environment
The strongest performers include comparison tables; rankings featuring numerical data and regular updates; FAQs with unconventional questions; opinion-driven content; and pages with strong title-level promises such as “tested”, “updated”, and “real payout data”.

2.14 Traffic sources showing the highest volatility in June
The most unstable traffic sources remain Facebook Ads within grey-hat verticals, SEO traffic from informational queries, TikTok traffic, and parasite SEO.

2.15 Top hybrid funnels by performance right now
The best-performing combinations are:

• SEO → Telegram channel;
• SEO → Community;
• SEO → Email capture → CRM;
• YouTube → SEO;
• TikTok → SEO reviews;
• Reddit/X discussions → Branded SEO.

3. Content and AI

SEO

3.1 How critical is updating old content after Q1?

3.2 Content mistakes that most frequently lead to performance declines in June
The most common reasons for traffic declines include the mass publication of AI-generated pages without editorial review, the absence of an author or subject-matter expert, GEO- and bonus-related inaccuracies, and poor mobile UX.

AI and Automation

3.3 AI tools that are currently accelerating SEO and website launches
The most valuable tools currently include:

• Wix AI — website builder;
• Semrush AI Copilot — SEO strategy;
• Surfer SEO — content optimisation;
• AirOps — content generation;
• SEO.ai — content and automation.

3.4 Processes in SEO and affiliate marketing that can already be fully automated
The following processes are now largely automated: keyword clustering, technical audits, SEO strategy development, content updates, SERP monitoring, and the generation of templated landing pages.

3.5 How does AI impact the speed of testing new GEOs and setups?
AI helps validate GEO hypotheses and reduce operational costs for SEO teams. Artificial intelligence significantly accelerates GEO validation and lowers SEO team expenses.

4. Marketing Strategy and Brand Growth

4.1 The main growth driver for iGaming brands in June
The key growth driver is the combination of product quality and marketing execution. Brands that genuinely improve their products and effectively communicate their value proposition to users will lead the market.

4.2 Why is performance marketing alone no longer sufficient for sustainable brand growth in summer 2026?
A pure performance approach no longer guarantees long-term growth. The market is shifting toward product quality, retention, and user experience.

4.3 Which marketing strategies will be most effective in the battle for audience attention?

4.4 Which signals indicate that a marketing strategy is losing effectiveness?
The primary signal is deteriorating audience engagement quality despite stable traffic volumes. Additional indicators include declining retention metrics, fewer repeat deposits, and reduced communication efficiency in the lower stages of the funnel.

4.5 What distinguishes iGaming brands that continue to achieve sustainable growth?
Such brands typically maintain focus across several areas simultaneously: product development, account management, reputation management, and the quality of long-term user communication.

June clearly demonstrates that the iGaming market is becoming increasingly volatile: Facebook and PPC auctions are overheating due to football-related events, SEO is losing a portion of informational traffic because of AI Overviews, and successful approaches are being copied and saturated much faster.

Against this backdrop, the advantage belongs to teams that can test new GEOs faster, invest in localisation, build hybrid funnels, and prioritise product quality, retention, and long-term traffic value.

Work with N1 Partners and stay one step ahead of the iGaming market:

• 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;

Be number one with N1!

MAC 2026 has become one of the key affiliate events for N1 Partners this spring. The team attended one of the largest conferences in the CIS and Eastern Europe, became an official partner of the MAC Awards and received the “Best iGaming affiliate program” award at the MAC Awards 2026, confirming the brand’s strong position in the affiliate market.

The conference in Yerevan gathered more than 5,000 participants, 200+ speakers and over 170 companies from iGaming industry, becoming an important platform for discussing trends, sharing experiences and developing new partnerships.

Main highlights of MAC 2026 for N1 Partners:

• victory at the MAC Awards 2026 in the nomination “Best iGaming affiliate program”;
• official sponsorship of the MAC Awards;
• dozens of meetings with current and potential partners;
• interviews and shoots with the largest iGaming media;
• new opportunities for traffic scaling and collaborations discussion;
• high interest of partners and media in the forecast market launch on N1Bet.

Today, the N1 Partners portfolio includes more than 14 casino and betting brands with a focus on 10+ Tier-1 GEOs.

“Such events help the industry to become stronger through communication, partnerships and experience exchange. It is especially valuable for us to see our partners trust and receive market recognition. Winning the MAC Awards is an important indicator that N1 Partners continues to move in the right direction and develop an affiliate program that really helps achieve results,” comments Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners.

One of the key topics at MAC 2026 for the N1 Partners team was the recent launch of prediction markets on the flagship product, N1 Bet. The new vertical has aroused great interest from partners and the media, as it opens up an additional vertical to attract the audience that may not be interested in classic sports or casinos but actively follows the news, crypto, finance and global trends. This creates new opportunities for partners to monetise traffic and reach a wider audience beyond the traditional betting segment.

N1 Partners continues to actively develop the partner ecosystem, launch new projects and strengthen its presence in the international affiliate market.

Cooperation with N1 Partners

N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser.

• 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;
• Community of 14,000+ partners.

Be number one with N1!

How to choose a product for Tier-1 GEOs and work with these markets specifics? What really affects revenue and how to avoid mistakes and losses when launching a campaign at early stages? Which payment models actually work?

In the first N1 Product Voices article, you will be able to look at the product from the inside: Anastasiya Bakhantsova, N1 Chief Revenue Officer, answers these and other relevant questions in as much detail as possible. 

In this series of materials, product experts share their experience in the first person: N1 Partners raises important topics, while partners receive practical benefits and insights from the inside.

Role of the CRO as a product decision-maker

Products choice for Tier-1

In Tier-1, a good offer does not guarantee anything. The main question is whether the product is able to retain the player after the first deposit and scale without drawdown in the economy.

We look not only at the conversion rate but also at the user behaviour: their return, repeated deposits, and the cohorts’ stability. It is important to keep in mind the main risk — scaling fast cash flow that can lead to audience quality decrease.

Therefore, we evaluate not only the initial payback but also the player’s behaviour at a distance: retention, ARPU dynamics and LTV stability after 30/60/90 days. If a product lacks trust, fast payments, or a seamless user journey, marketing alone won’t be able to sustain results for long.

Product solutions with the highest revenue growth

The most noticeable growth usually comes from working on audience retention, not from changing the product.

In practice, the strongest growth is seen in brands where the product, analytics, and CRM are  connected with each other. When users are guided through a clear post-registration journey, receive personalized offers, and experience smooth interactions, the results tend to be more stable than with aggressive traffic acquisition alone.

The maximum effect is achieved when the product, CRM, and segmentation are synchronised.

Tier-1 markets specifics

Tier-1 audience behaviour

A Tier-1 user is used to a high level of digital services.

Here, speed, a clear interface, convenient payments, and a sense of reliability are extremely important.

Short list of important factors for Tier-1 users:

• speed and stability
• simple onboarding
• terms transparency
• payments reliability
• trust in the brand

Mistakes in Tier-1 GEO

From my experience, the main mistake is trying to “buy” Tier-1 users with bonuses.

Partners underestimate UX, the product itself, and retention, relying on aggressive bonus policies and short-term ROI. This leads to high traffic costs and weak user return rates.

Changes in Tier-1 economics

It is important to note that Tier-1 means more expensive traffic, longer payback periods, and higher LTV.

It is harder to see quick results here, which is why decisions cannot be made based only on the first week’s data. The quality of cohorts, retention stability, and long-term profitability are much more important.

Products choice

How to evaluate a product’s potential: CRO insights

I look at a product as a system, not just a set of metrics.

What matters is not only the amount of users that make the first deposit but also what happens next: how often the player returns, their activity changes over time, and the economic sustainability during scaling.

Products with the best ROI 

The most effective products are those that are convenient to use every day. First of all, these are mobile-first solutions, strong sportsbook products, and platforms with good CRM and personalization.

If the user experience remains convenient and clear over the long term, the product wins.

Signals to change the product

The main signal is when growth is sustained only by increasing traffic volumes or bonus expenses.

If there are no audience engagement mechanics and the economics worsen during scaling, the model reaches its ceiling. Sometimes changing the product earlier is far more profitable than continuing to scale a weak product.

Revenue losses

How to recognize revenue losses and where they start

The main losses usually occur during the first days after the deposit. This is exactly the moment when the product-using habit is formed.

If the user does not understand what to do next, does not receive clear communication, or encounters difficulties in the interface, the probability of churn increases sharply. Another alarming signal is when bonus expenses grow, but users do not become more valuable to the business.

This means that the product either retains the audience poorly or attracts the wrong traffic.

Mistakes that hurt the revenue most 

The most common mistake is investing only in acquiring new users while doing almost nothing with retention.

If the product does not build long-term interaction with the player, bonuses begin to work only for the first deposit. As a result, the company spends more and more money on acquisition, while profitability does not grow.

Monetization models: CPA / RevShare / Hybrid

Choosing a monetization model for a specific product and market

The choice of model always depends on traffic quality, product maturity, and how effectively the product is able to bring the player back over time.

• CPA works well where fast return on investment, clear unit economics, and aggressive scaling are important. But if the user remains active for a long time, a fixed payout begins to limit the partner’s earning potential.

• RevShare is more profitable in products with strong retention and high audience engagement. Yes, this model requires more time to pay off, but it allows partners to earn from the player’s entire lifecycle.

• Hybrid model is especially effective in Tier-1 markets, where traffic is expensive and ROI takes more time. The CPA component helps recover investments faster, while RevShare maintains stable long-term earnings.

As a result, the key question is always the same — if the product is able to engage the user and turn traffic into a stable income.

Work with N1 Partners — scale under top-tier conditions:

• 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners

Be number one with N1!