News
Will The Coronavirus Lead To More Legalized Online Casinos?
The Coronavirus has affected the gambling world in a drastic way. Sports betting has effectively been halted in the United States, with all major sports postponing their seasons. Las Vegas and every other land-based casino in the country have also shut their doors.
Instead of March being the massive wagering month that Nevada and sportsbooks around the country are used to, the cancellation of March Madness led to the worst sports betting handle since 1993 in the Silver State.
However, there has been one sector of gaming that has been flourishing in a big way, and that is legit online casinos.
Online Casino Revenues Explode Amidst COVID Pandemic
Although gambling revenues are down for states across the board, one area that is exploding is online casino gambling. Poker has seen a surge as well, but nowhere near where casino gambling has gone in the past two months.
For example, with Atlantic City casinos closing their doors, revenues have skyrocketed for online casinos in the month of March in New Jersey. Gambling sites took in $64.8 in revenue that month. It was a near 25 percent increase from February and over a 65 percent increase from March 2019 numbers.
In Pennsylvania, we see similar numbers for online play. Though overall gaming revenue was down 51 percent, the state set new records for online casinos, bringing in over $24 million in revenue, setting records for monthly revenue, and the total amount wagered.
There are states around the country with similar marks for revenue and amount wagered.
Will This Spur Online Gambling Legalization Across the US?
It’s possible, but just because it becomes more economically viable or the opportunity presents itself, it doesn’t mean states will act.
One could draw the comparison to sports betting legalization, which has happened rapidly in the country after the Supreme Court overturned the Federal sports betting ban in May 2018. Since then, 16 states have regulated and legalized recreational betting in some form in their states.
However, we have to remember that the green light for legal online casinos and poker sites has been around since 2011.
The Wire Act Flip Flop
After much of the online poker world got wiped out by the US Department of Justice, in what became known as the “Black Friday” of poker, the online gambling world changed dramatically.
However, the DOJ quickly changed course on the legality of online poker and casino gambling. They stated in December of the same year that only sports betting fell under the scope of the 1961 Wire Act.
That was changed with the 2018 decision for sports betting, but the ability for states to legalize online casino gambling has been around since 2011. However, only 13 states have decided to tax and regulate the activity within their borders.
Will More States Act Now On Online Casino Gambling?
It’s possible but still seems unlikely. Most states that have legalized sports betting often don’t have an online component for wagering sports, making online gambling an afterthought.
As it stands now, only three of the 16 states that have regulated sports betting have also legalized online casinos. So, even though states are moving quickly with sports betting, casino gambling has not been a part of these gambling expansions.
Don’t Worry, Players Still Have Options
Regardless of how states act in regards to online gambling expansion – players have all sorts of options for online casino gambling. There are lots of legal online casinos operating that accept players from all 50 states and across the globe.
Their games offered, bonuses and casino software are also better than land-based options. Most of them also offer sports betting and poker from the same account.
Players may be moving towards online casinos because of the Coronavirus, but it’s been the better choice, all along.
Affiliate Announcements
Statutory levy affiliate reaction
“I personally think the industry should view this as a positive chance to work hand-in-hand with the NHS, charities and government as all stakeholders pull together to minimise gambling harm. Gambling is meant to be fun and entertaining and the industry must ensure that it is responsible, so that those in need can gain access to properly funded support as and when they need it.”
Affiliate Compliance
Rightlander and RavenTrack Partner to Boost Affiliate Marketing Compliance and Advertising Opportunities
Leading iGaming compliance and tracking platforms unite to bolster affiliate marketing integrity.
Rightlander, a leading provider of marketing compliance and intelligence solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with RavenTrack, a prominent affiliate tracking platform. This collaboration aims to enhance marketing compliance and risk management for Raven Track clients and help identify untapped advertising opportunities with affiliates across global markets.
The partnership will offer access to Rightlander’s comprehensive suite of innovative marketing compliance solutions, including web, search, and social media monitoring to track affiliate promotional activities, content compliance scanning to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and monitoring services.
RavenTrack’s diverse client base spans established and emerging markets, and this partnership addresses the growing need for robust compliance measures in regions with evolving regulatory landscapes.
Sarafina Wolde Gabriel, CEO of Rightlander, commented on the partnership: “We’re excited to partner with RavenTrack to offer our cutting-edge compliance and marketing solutions to their global client base. As marketing regulations tighten in established and emerging markets, our tools will help brands and affiliates navigate the complex landscape of marketing compliance and capitalise on advertising opportunities.”
RavenTrack is a leading affiliate tracking platform specialising in providing advanced tracking and analytics solutions to help brands optimise their affiliate marketing programs. Its client base includes prominent brands such as Jumpman Gaming, Betfred, Bet9ja, and Mr. Q, to name a few.
Adam Rowley, RavenTrack’s Managing Director, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “At RavenTrack, we understand the critical importance of marketing compliance. Our collaboration with Rightlander represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide our clients with robust, innovative and effective tools for managing their affiliate programs.”
“By integrating Rightlander’s advanced compliance solutions with our cutting-edge tracking platform, we’re empowering our clients to navigate the complex regulatory landscape with confidence while maximising their marketing potential.”
This partnership represents a significant step forward in promoting responsible and compliant marketing practices in the rapidly evolving affiliate marketing industry. By combining RavenTrack’s expertise in affiliate tracking with Rightlander’s advanced compliance tools, the collaboration aims to set new standards for transparency and regulatory adherence in the sector.
Affiliate Announcements
Raise your Game with BoostBox by MyAffiliates: a new AI-Driven must-have iGaming Affiliate ace, for instant wins and real results
Jackpots just got closer for iGaming affiliate marketers with the launch of BoostBox by MyAffiliates — a new AI-driven tool designed to unlock new levels of affiliate potential. With a simple touch of a button iGaming affiliate partners can now access:
- Instant Updates: up-to-date product and promotional information
- Increased Productivity: easy access to brand resources, whilst reducing support queries by up to 40%
- Streamlined Research: brand and product information in an instant
- Quality Content: resources to produce consistent, on-brand promotional content
Boostbox by MyAffiliates is not just a game-changing upgrade — it’s a leap forward in affiliate marketing, setting a new standard in the industry for speed, relevance, impact and results.
iGaming affiliate marketing has long faced recurring obstacles that impact performance potential – delays in accessing information, time-consuming research, content inconsistencies, and resource limitations. BoostBox by MyAffiliates is an innovative AI-driven solution to these challenges, enabling affiliates to stay competitive and focused, taking results to a new level.
Clemence Dujardin, Group CEO at MyAffiliates, “BoostBox is redefining iGaming affiliate support and is the ultimate affiliate marketing solution. By maximising the capabilities of AI to bring real-time information to affiliate partners, programmes and content are guaranteed to be as impactful and as engaging as possible. MyAffiliates is at the forefront of affiliate marketing, and using the latest technology to launch BoostBox today, our users can enjoy the very best available affiliate marketing experience and strengthen their potential overnight.”
Roo Wright, Founder of BoostBox added, “Having built a number of affiliate businesses over my 18 years in the industry, I know firsthand the challenges affiliates face. BoostBox was born from that experience, and our partnership with MyAffiliates will help take affiliate marketing to the next level.”
MyAffiliates has long been a powerhouse in affiliate marketing software, empowering iGaming operators to bring all their brands and products together under one seamless affiliate system. Since its launch in 2007, MyAffiliates has set the standard in the industry, becoming the go-to platform for iGaming operators. In fact, StatsDrone recognised MyAffiliates in April 2024 as the most-used affiliate marketing software in the gaming industry—solidifying its role as a trusted leader and innovator in the space.