News
Online poker: the biggest winner during the coronavirus pandemic
The gambling industry has experienced both extremes during the coronavirus pandemic. On one side, land-based casinos and sportsbooks have been hit extremely hard.
The effects of lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions and social distancing measures have meant casinos have been forced to close for more than three months – and the financial consequences have been devastating. From Las Vegas to New Jersey, London to Macau – casinos all around the world are posting all-time low revenues.
Similarly, the lockdown of the vast majority of professional sport has seen sportsbooks grind to a halt, with sports betting companies in the United Kingdom and Europe experiencing slumps between 40 and 60 percent since March.
While the return of sport has helped the sector rebound to an extent, the cancellation of Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics have presented other challenges as such major, international events are prime opportunities for sportsbook companies to attract new customers.
However, while land-based casinos and sportsbooks have felt the full force of the Covid-19 outbreak, other areas of the gambling world have thrived.
Online gambling in the United States, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe has seen a record surge in the past few months as the very reasons that have damaged land-based casinos – such as lockdowns and social distancing – have directly benefited online operations.
For instance, New Jersey recorded record revenues in May for online casino betting, as companies, like BetAmerica, who offers this service profiting from the lockdown. Meanwhile The Stars Group in the UK reported a 92 percent increase in revenue the same month compared to 12 months ago.
While slots and gambling games have seen a major rise during the past few months, the big winner has been online poker.
Three of the four states in the US with legal online poker operations have reported a huge spike in revenues, while the fourth – Nevada – has not released the figures, but one can safely assume that they, too, have experienced an increase.
New Jersey saw online poker revenue jump from $1.57 million in April 2019 to $5.2m 12 months later, while Pennsylvania enjoyed 68 percent and Delaware 48 percent increases when comparing the same two months.
The trends are similar in Europe. In France, for example, online poker revenue is up 44.1 percent compared to the same month last year while UK-based gambling giant 888 has seen its share price surge.
Of all the online gambling games, poker has been uniquely placed to benefit from the current situation.
As friends and family members have been kept apart, poker has been a popular means of socializing. It explains the increased popularity of Poker Stars’ Private Home Games and the rush of competitors to launch similar services.
“It’s only natural. People are stuck at home, they’re bored and even though there are more live poker options starting right now, people are just hesitant to jump right back in because of the health risk implications,” said professional poker player Danielle Andersen.
Then there has been the move online for prestigious professional events which would otherwise have been cancelled or postponed.
It was announced in June that the World Series of Poker – which had been scheduled to take place from May 26 to July 15 at the Rio Convention Center in Las Vegas – would be held online throughout July through to the first week of September.
By taking the 2020 WSOP online, it has also increased the size of the player pool, allowing players from outside the United States to compete for WSOP bracelets.
While poker great Daniel Negreanu said the move online was a “classic case of making the best of it”, it has still allowed professional poker to continue – a luxury many other sports and competitions do not have.
Meanwhile, professional poker’s other flagship event, PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, has been canceled.
Aware of the surge in popularity of online poker during these unprecedented times, operators have poured greater investment, marketing, and technology into their poker operations, which will only benefit the game in the long term and help attract and retain more customers.
As life gradually returns to normal, online poker will naturally see a relative decline in interest as millions of people are no longer confined to their homes and professional players are once again able to attend live events.
But what this pandemic has shown is that poker has not only been able to survive under such trying circumstances but has thrived.
Affiliate Announcements
Casumo Renews its Partnership with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform
Casumo, the award-winning online casino and sportsbook operator, has renewed its longstanding partnership with NetRefer, the industry’s leading data-driven, AI-powered affiliate marketing platform, extending a collaboration that has supported the operator’s affiliate programme for over a decade.
Founded in 2012, Casumo has established itself as a recognised name in the global iGaming industry, operating across multiple regulated markets, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and key European markets, with a strong presence across the Nordics. With a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and player engagement, the brand has built a reputation for delivering a dynamic and high-quality gaming environment tailored to a diverse international audience.
Casumo’s offering spans both casino and sportsbook, supported by a broad portfolio of over 3,500 games, live casino experiences, and a continually evolving product ecosystem. The operator’s approach combines engaging gameplay with a structured and intuitive user journey, underpinned by a commitment to fairness, security, and responsible gaming across all markets in which it operates.
Affiliate marketing has played a central role in supporting Casumo’s growth over the past decade. Through its continued partnership with NetRefer, the operator benefits from a platform designed to deliver performance clarity, reliable tracking, and efficient partner management, enabling the team to optimise affiliate activity and maintain strong relationships across its global partner network.
Alongside these core capabilities, NetRefer continues to evolve its platform with a broader set of technologies that support affiliate programme performance at scale. This includes enhanced reporting through NetRefer’s BI Analytics solution, the Report Builder, deeper visibility into traffic quality via Enhanced Tracking, intelligent assistance through NetRefer CoPilot AI, and flexible integration through its API technology, all forming part of a scalable ecosystem designed to support operators as their requirements grow.
Reflecting on the renewal, Madeline Liautaud, Head of Affiliates at Casumo, said, “Over the years, NetRefer has consistently provided the reliability and flexibility we need to manage affiliate performance across multiple markets. Having confidence in the accuracy of our tracking and reporting is essential, not only for our internal teams but also for maintaining trust with our affiliate partners. Tools like NetRefer CoPilot AI and the Report Builder have also helped streamline day-to-day operations by making data more accessible and easier to work with, allowing our team to focus more on optimisation and strategic decision-making.”
Amanda Camenzuli, NetRefer’s Manager of Account Management, commented, “A 14-year partnership is a strong reflection of the trust and collaboration built between our teams. Casumo is a well-established and forward-thinking operator with a clear focus on user experience and long-term growth. We are proud to continue supporting their affiliate programme with scalable technology and the data visibility needed to manage performance with confidence across multiple markets.”
As Casumo continues to strengthen its presence across international markets, the renewed partnership with NetRefer reinforces a long-standing collaboration built on performance, transparency, and trust. With a shared focus on long-term growth and continuous optimisation, both teams look ahead to the next phase of their partnership.
News
N1 Partners’ Knowledge Base keep up with iGaming Trends
How do you choose the right affiliate program? Which GEOs currently offer the strongest potential? What should you focus on when scaling traffic? And how do you cut through the constant stream of news to find insights that actually matter for your work?
N1 Partners is launching Knowledge Base – a new hub of content for webmasters, affiliate teams, and everyone working with iGaming traffic.
Over the years in the industry, the N1 Partners team has developed deep expertise in affiliate marketing, products, GEOs, traffic acquisition, and partner management. Now, all that knowledge is gathered in one place to share experience, support the community, and help partners navigate the market faster and more effectively.
What’s inside the Knowledge Base?
The N1 Partners Knowledge Base will feature content for both beginner webmasters looking to better understand the affiliate industry and experienced affiliates searching for fresh strategies, trends, and scaling opportunities.
The focus isn’t on short-lived news but on evergreen insights and practical knowledge that stay relevant over time.
Inside the Knowledge Base, you’ll find:
- market analysis;
- industry trend reports;
- guides for affiliates;
- articles on choosing affiliate programs;
- answers to the most common questions;
- practical tips and educational content.
The new section is designed to help affiliates better understand the market, stay ahead of industry changes, assess risks in advance, and spot new growth opportunities early.
Explore the N1 Partners Knowledge Base — and stay one step ahead in the iGaming industry!
Why N1 Partners?
- 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep rates;
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners.
Be number one with N1!
News
LEONBET LAUNCHES A WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE CAMPAIGN GIVING OUT A NEW MAZDA CX-3 AND OTHER AMAZING PRIZES
LEONBET LAUNCHES A WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE CAMPAIGN GIVING OUT A NEW MAZDA CX-3 AND OTHER AMAZING PRIZES!
LEONBET, Tanzania’s leading betting company known for its exciting odds and daily promotions, has officially launched another major campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup season, which will officially begin on May 15, 2026.
LEONBET has always been committed to rewarding Tanzanians through different promotions. Before the launch of the WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE campaign, the company successfully introduced promotions such as MAGIFTI BAMPA 2 BAMPA, COMBO-HELA, and many others. These promotions are aimed at making sure customers benefit and win every day, which is why LEONBET is known as a company that creates winners daily.
The 2026 WORLD CUP RAFFLE campaign officially starts on May 15, 2026, and ends on July 20, 2026. The campaign aims to give customers a chance to win exciting prizes while enjoying the entertainment and excitement of the World Cup tournament.
Through this campaign, LEONBET customers will be required to place bets worth at least TZS 3,000 or more on any sport to receive coupons that will allow them to participate in different prize draws during various stages of the World Cup competition.
Participants in the campaign will have a chance to win prizes including:
- Mazda CX-3
- Luxury Ngorongoro trip for two
- PlayStation 5 (PS5)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- TZS 10 million cash prize
- And many more prizes
The prizes will be awarded during different stages of the tournament, including:
- Group Stage
- Round of 16
- Quarter Finals
- Semi Finals
- Final
Speaking about the promotion, LEONBET Director Jérôme Dufourg said:
“We are excited to bring Tanzanians this big campaign aimed at increasing entertainment, competition, and winning opportunities for our customers during the World Cup tournament. We believe this campaign will bring happiness to many participants across the country.”
LEONBET ambassador Baraka Mpenja also said:
“I continue to enjoy working with LEONBET because it is a trustworthy company with no tricks. It is one of the best companies in Tanzania, offering regular promotions to make sure Tanzanians have a chance to win. I encourage everyone to participate by playing more with bets starting from only TZS 3,000 to win many prizes, including the Mazda CX-3.”
LEONBET continues to strengthen its commitment to providing reliable and high-quality services to all customers while improving the sports betting experience in Tanzania.
-
Conferences2 weeks agoG GATE CONF 2026 — June 26–27, Tbilisi
-
News2 weeks agoBehind the Game What Makes Products Convert
-
Affiliate Announcements10 hours agoCasumo Renews its Partnership with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform
-
News1 week agoN1 Partners Shortlisted at iGB Affiliate Awards
-
Awards1 week agoOLBG recognised in iGB Affiliate Awards for Dorking sponsorship
-
News6 days agoN1 Partners Drops Prediction Markets Vertical — Expand Your Traffic Strategy!
-
News4 days agoLEONBET LAUNCHES A WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE CAMPAIGN GIVING OUT A NEW MAZDA CX-3 AND OTHER AMAZING PRIZES
-
News1 day agoN1 Partners’ Knowledge Base keep up with iGaming Trends

