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.
“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.
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