News
Things must change
James Ashton from FindMyUKCasino.com says that affiliates targeting self-excluded players are damaging the entire industry
The relationship between online casino operators and affiliates is under more strain than ever before as regulators and watchdogs continue to tighten responsible gambling requirements.
The UK Gambling Commission has made clear that operators are ultimately responsible for the content that is published on their behalf by affiliates.
This has forced online gambling brands and their affiliate managers to audit their publisher partners and set guidelines for the responsible marketing of their sites.
As a professional online casino affiliate committed to responsible and compliant marketing, we have welcomed this approach as we believe it is also our responsibility to protect players.
This has seen us carry out major changes to our site, from ensuring significant and full terms and conditions are always next to bonus offers via auditing and reworking content.
For example, our best online casino page only lists four of our partner online casino brands with those listed scoring the highest during our review process.
Other online casino affiliates list hundreds of online casinos under their best online casino pages in a bid to maximise revenues from what is usually a high-volume traffic page.
We believe players searching for best online casinos are looking for information about the brands that stand out above the rest – listing hundreds to maximise commission is therefore irresponsible.
There are plenty of online casinos affiliates just like us, affiliates that care about players and being responsible over trying to turn a quick profit. But there are some that are not.
Recently I have seen a growing number of online casino affiliates creating content aimed at UK players that have self-excluded, pushing them to non UKGC-licensed websites.
These publishers are writing ranking pages around terms such as “Online casinos not on GamStop” when we all know that UKGC-licensed operators must work with GamStop.
These ranking pages then list tens or even hundreds of online casino sites that hold licenses from Curaçao and other offshore jurisdictions.
The only reason for creating content around these terms is to target those that have self-excluded because they believe they have a gambling problem or acknowledge the have an addiction.
This is disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the affiliate and is doing untold damage to publishers that believe the foundation of their business is to protect all players, not just the most vulnerable.
Some publishers have stopped short of actually listing online casinos that are not on GamStop and that don’t hold a UKGC licence, but have still created content around these terms.
Again, this is clearly aimed at drawing players searching for these terms to their sites, and then pushing them to other articles and reviews where they are encouraged to sign up and play.
Online gambling operators should also be concerned; some of the publishers creating these sorts of pages are among the largest in the industry and also promote UK-licensed brands.
These operators should be concerned about what impact partnering with affiliates that undertake such black hat techniques might have on their licence should the UKGC find out.
This practice needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency; online casino affiliates publishing such pages should do the right thing and take them down.
UK-licensed online casino operators should better audit their partners – just Google “Online casinos not on GamStop” and you can easily see who is creating content around these terms.
Once they have identified the culprits, they should issue an ultimatum – remove the page or they will cease working with them. This is the only way to protect players and, ultimately, their licence.
On a personal and professional note, it really is a shame to see that some affiliates do not see that their ultimate responsibility is to ensure that players are properly protected.
To do this, they need to provide them with the information they need – including T&Cs – about online casinos to enable them to make an informed decision about where to play.
They should make players aware of the resources available to them if they do feel they have a problem, such as GamStop, and not use it as a technique for acquiring new players.
There are plenty of affiliates out there doing great things when it comes to responsible gambling and compliance, which makes it such as shame that a small number are behaving so badly.
This is not only damaging to online gambling operators and affiliates, but also to the UK players they are pushing to these offshore sites.
News
Behind the Game What Makes Products Convert
In iGaming, registration does not bring value — the result appears only when the user makes the first deposit. Therefore, the Reg2Dep metric plays a key role: it shows how much you will earn from each attracted user.
Behind the Game is a series of expert materials where specialists from the N1 Partners affiliate program across different teams break down how strong iGaming products are built from the inside.
In this article, you’ll learn how the product affects Reg2Dep: what helps bring the player to the deposit, where the conversion is lost, and which solutions provide stable growth.
Top 3 must-have factors of a successful iGaming product: what has the strongest impact on Reg2Dep today?
Alignment between the offer and the player’s expectations (shaped by the traffic), including proper game selection in the lobby, plays a major role.
It’s also important to pay attention to bonus policy. The bonus offer must match the audience’s expectations and be easy to understand.
Speed is equally important — everything should be tested, from page loading to payment confirmation. Alignment between the offer and the player’s expectations (shaped by the traffic), including proper game selection in the lobby, also plays a major role.
Top-3 factors that stand out:
- First, the product must provide the maximum number of local payment methods with high approval rates.
- Second, it needs strong retention and VIP retention — achieved through CRM, bonus mechanics, and gamification.
- And of course, the foundation is a stable, fast platform without technical issues.
If you want to work right away with products where this system is already well-established and generates stable profit, join N1 Partners!
What do partners need to know when choosing a product and which red flags can’t be ignored?
You should pay attention to all product weaknesses, especially:
- Low payment approval rates.
- Confusing or irrelevant bonus terms.
- Slow support and weak brand reputation in the community.
- Unstable website performance on mobile devices.
Most often, the quality of the payment infrastructure and the availability of local solutions are underestimated.
Partners also don’t always consider retention depth and VIP segment management, as well as basic factors like page load speed and product stability.
Which onboarding elements determine whether a player makes the first deposit and where do users most often drop off?
Players don’t like to wait — fast and simple registration is crucial (1–2 steps, no unnecessary fields). There must also be a clear and understandable welcome offer, and the path to deposit should be direct and fast, with helpful prompts. If these conditions are met, players won’t drop off at the earliest stages.
Convenience is important for players at every stage of the way to the deposit, so the main points of the user loss look like this:
- At the payment method selection stage.
- At the data entry stage — if the form is too long or complicated.
- During redirection to a PSP — especially if there are payment approval issues.
- At the stage of exploring bonuses or choosing content and games — if the terms or interface are not clear enough.
Which UX changes in N1 Partners projects have recently driven the biggest conversion growth?
The greatest impact came from three areas: increasing the number of local payment solutions, personalising offers immediately after registration based on traffic type, and updating the cashier.
The new payment area became clearer and more stable for players, which directly improved conversion rates.
How does player behaviour differ across GEOs, and how do N1 Partners products adapt to Tier-1 GEOs?
User behaviour differs significantly depending on the GEO, from preferences in payment methods to the perception of bonuses.
In Tier-1, players are more demanding: product speed, transparent conditions, user-friendly UX, and a wide range of local payment solutions are critical for them.
In Tier-2, users are more sensitive to bonuses and retention mechanics, take longer to make a deposit decision, and react more strongly to the size and terms of the offer.
N1 Partners products adapt to these features through localisation of payment methods, UX development, and gamification.
Which product hypotheses most often drive Reg2Dep growth?
The most consistently effective hypotheses are those focused on simplifying the deposit flow and expanding the list of payment methods. Additional growth comes from personalised welcome offers tailored to the traffic source and type.
Which features of N1 Partners products help achieve high conversion?
A key role is played by strong payment expertise and extensive localisation of payment solutions. Conversion is further boosted by a fast registration form, a flexible bonus system with clear terms, and advanced gamification. All of this is continuously optimised through A/B testing at every stage of the funnel.
To sum up, a high Reg2Dep is the result of a systematically built product: strong payment infrastructure with local methods, fast and intuitive UX, and relevant bonus logic. This combination determines whether traffic turns into revenue.
If you want to drive traffic to strong products designed for players, start working with N1 Partners. The affiliate programme unites 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep, operates in 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, and offers competitive scaling conditions — payouts up to €700 CPA for top partners and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO.
Be number one with N1!
Conferences
G GATE CONF 2026 — June 26–27, Tbilisi
G GATE CONF (ggateconf.com) will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia — a multi-vertical affiliate conference bringing together industry professionals from around the world in one venue.
The event will be held at Expo Georgia, the country’s largest event hub, occupying four pavilions as well as the open-air space between them. In 2026, the organizers expect up to 7,000 participants from the CIS, Europe, Asia, and other regions.
When and Where
Dates: June 26–27, 2026
Location: Expo Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
Event Scale
G GATE CONF is a two-day event with a rich business and networking program:
- 2 stages featuring industry speakers
- 100+ company and service booths
- 50+ zones and activities for networking, learning, and relaxation
- Open-air zones for informal networking
Some formats are developed exclusively by the G GATE team specifically for the conference and are not repeated at other events.
Who Attends
The audience of G GATE CONF 2026 includes:
- Media buying teams and solo arbitrage specialists
- SEO specialists and agencies
- Company owners and C-level executives
- Advertisers and CPA networks
- Affiliate market service providers: payment solutions, trackers, anti-detect browsers, proxies, creative agencies
Verticals
Main conference verticals: iGaming, White Hat, Crypto & Finance
For the first time at G GATE CONF, the following verticals will be featured: Dating, Adult, mVas, Sweepstakes
Each vertical will have dedicated activities and engagement formats to help participants quickly find relevant contacts and solutions for their needs.
Special Projects and Activities
In 2026, the conference will include 7 special projects, such as:
- PITCH — a startup competition for launching and scaling affiliate industry projects
- G GATE AWARDS — an industry award with a gala dinner honoring companies and market leaders
- Merch Shop, SEO Shop, Match Point, and other interactive formats
Special attention is given to the afterparty, a large-scale evening event featuring headliners and dedicated networking zones, including VIP areas.
Why Attend
G GATE CONF focuses not only on content but also on the density of valuable contacts. The conference brings together multiple verticals and formats in one place, allowing participants to:
- Achieve partnership goals
- Discover new traffic sources and services
- Connect with industry professionals beyond the standard “booth-card” format
Tbilisi was chosen as a convenient meeting point for participants from different countries, and the summer dates allow for a seamless combination of work, leisure, and networking.
Affiliate Announcements
Management Buyout Successfully Completed at ReferOn
ReferOn, an affiliate management platform for the iGaming sector, today revealed the successful conclusion of a management buyout. Former General Manager Alex Bukin purchases the platform, moving the company into its next stage of independent growth. Bukin will take on the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to advance the company.
Assessing the platform’s path three years after its launch, Alex Bukin, CEO of ReferOn remarked: “This is a significant moment for ReferOn and marks the start of a new phase for the company.” The management buyout offers us the long-term perspective needed to consistently enhance the platform. We uphold our dedication to product development, enhancing our solutions for partners, and facilitating ReferOn’s ongoing expansion in significant markets.
The acquisition comes after a significant phase of advancement for the firm. Established on a base of operational effectiveness and scalable technology, ReferOn persists in expanding its footprint throughout the industry. In its initial year, the platform announced 35.7 million clicks, 2.4 million sign-ups, 18,000 affiliates, and 136,000 active trackers. The company’s extensive range of tools enhances flexibility for operators and affiliates, generating momentum that recently led to ReferOn being recognized as the “Best Affiliate Platform” in 2025 and 2026 by key industry players.
This change will not impact daily operations; assistance and current collaborations will continue as normal. As part of its continuous growth strategy, ReferOn is enhancing its product lineup with the introduction of new features, such as Refie, the integrated interface layer of the platform. The platform continually improves user experience and security via dynamic reporting, Company Grouping, Sub-Affiliation, Independent Deal Calculation (IDC), two-factor authentication (2FA), and thorough mobile optimization.
To maintain operational continuity, the current leadership team stays intact, guaranteeing stability as the company moves into its next phase of growth. With Bukin’s appointment as CEO, Vlad Bondarenko has moved from Head of Product to Chief Product Officer, and David Harris, who was previously Operations Lead, has become Chief Operations Officer. As the organization embarks on its next phase, it continues to prioritize equipping operators with top-tier tools and a dedication to providing the future of affiliate management.
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