News

Online poker: the biggest winner during the coronavirus pandemic

Published

5 years ago

July 13, 2020

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.

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Conferences

Industry leader Parimatch launches The Idol: Black is Back at iGB Affiliate in Barcelona

Published

6 days ago

January 15, 2025

George Miller

Industry leader Parimatch launches The Idol: Black is Back at iGB Affiliate in Barcelona

Are you an idol? Then join us as we take iGB Affiliate Barcelona by storm this January with The Idol: Black is Back, a unique series of events including amazing deals, giveaways, and our stunning Asian Euphoria party where dark luxury fuses with Asian artistry.

A new era is dawning at Parimatch and we want to celebrate it with you in style!

Once again Parimatch’s stand E20 will be the epicenter of iGB Affiliate Barcelona, an annual highlight of the iGaming industry at the iconic city’s famous Fira Gran Via.

We’re confident that Parimatch’s stand will be the talk of the conference. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Fantastic deals: The latest updates and exclusive offers you can’t miss
Giveaways where you’ll have the chance to win unique prizes
Our Hall of Fame: Become part of Parimatch’s history

But wait, there’s more. As Parimatch embarks on a new era we are inviting over 500 partners and brand friends to our immersive Asian Euphoria party at a stunning location in the center of Barcelona where you will experience:

The party headliner – world-famous DJ Steve Aoki
The very best in performance art that Barcelona has to offer
The world of Asian luxury merging with American pop culture

Don’t miss out! Be sure to join us to witness Parimatch set new standards at booth E20 at iGB Affiliate, Barcelona, January 20-23. And don’t stop there – join the Asian Euphoria party on January 21 and see us set a new trend for the entire industry!

iGB

iGB Affiliate Conference Program to feature 11 hours of insight, masterclasses and debate

Published

7 days ago

January 14, 2025

George Miller

iGB Affiliate Conference Program to feature 11 hours of insight, masterclasses and debate international trade events - states research agency

Delegates attending next week’s iGB Affiliate Barcelona will have access to a programme of 14 business critical insight sessions delivered by a 40 strong assembly of industry thought leaders and experts in their respective fields.

The 2025 Program comprises sessions entitled: Affiliate Rundown L!VE: The 2024 Trends That Will Define 2025, Video Killed the Text-based Star: Platforms & Formats for Engaging the Next Generation, Navigating the Road Ahead, New Localisation Strategies to Secure a Slice of the Latin America and Africa Pies, Parasite SEO in iGaming: A Winning Formula to Dominate Search Engines or a Risky Gamble?, Growing Pains: Scaling Operations for Accelerating Affiliate Growth, Plugging Into a Fast Growing Vertical: Sweepstakes, Mastering PPC in iGaming Affiliate Marketing: A Data-Driven Blueprint for Paid Media Success, Market Insights: Unlocking the Next Big Opportunity in Asia and the Middle East, Crack the Code to Viral Success: The Ultimate Guide to a Million Views & Building a Robust Multi-Stream Influencer Business Model, Finding Your Next Role in a Time of Flux: The Inner Workings of Affiliate Recruiters, Masterclass: Reddit 101, Trust and Transparency: What Does a Win-Win Affiliate Data Share Look Like? and Business Without Borders: Boost Your Affiliate Game with International SEO.

The industry-leading line-up assembled by the iGB Affiliate organising team includes Michael Caselli, Non-Executive Chairman – Clarion Gaming, Corey Padveen, Partner – T2 Marketing International and Editor-at-Large, iGB Affiliate, Caleb Dykema, Co-founder & CEO – Vault Sports, Jamison Selby, CEO – Rubystone, Martin Calvert, Marketing Director – ICS-digital, Miruna Pandele, Head of Acquisition – Affiliates Bay, Jonas Warrer, CEO – Gentoo Media, Ben Cove, Chief Marketing Officer – Logifuture, Luis Portela de Carvalho, Partner – Lektou Advogados, Sasha Boerma, Commercial Director for Africa – Split The Pot, Dragan Berak, Head of SEO (AskGamblers and CasinoMeister) – Gentoo Media, Jamie Walters, CEO & Cofounder – QiH, Lee-Ann Johnstone, Founder – Affiverse, Rosi Bremec, COO – Game Lounge, Seth Schorr, CEO – Fifth Street Gaming , Simon Pilkington, Managing Director – Best Betting Media, Stephen Carter, Head of Affiliate Content – Clarion Gaming, and Alex Windsor, CMO – GameTime Digital.

Looking ahead to the first edition of iGB Affiliate to be held in Barcelona, Naomi Barton, Global Portfolio Director, iGB Events said: “I am incredibly passionate about delivering an exceptional and holistic experience on behalf of all of our customers. The Conference Program is an essential part of our pledge to facilitate outstanding business networking, deliver high-quality content, and provide thought leadership that fosters trust-based partnerships and drives growth throughout the iGaming affiliate ecosystem. The Program has been curated in consultation with our customers in order the key topics impacting their business and is being delivered by industry experts. It is a key part of the iGB Affiliate experience.”

iGB Affiliate 2025 will feature a record 250 industry-leading exhibitors and sponsors and host a vibrant community of 8000+ iGaming Affiliates and Tech Vendors.

Affiliate Announcements

Statutory levy affiliate reaction

Published

2 months ago

November 27, 2024

George Miller

Below the latest reaction from QiH Group CEO Jamie Walters on the UK government’s statutory levy announcement:

Jamie Walters, CEO of QiH Group, comments: “While levies and taxes can sometimes be viewed as a burden, the truth is that most responsible gambling companies have already been making this contribution to research and harm-prevention as they see it as sensible and worthwhile. All that is happening now is a switch from voluntary to mandatory, and the rate is not punitively high.

“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.”

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The Gambling Affiliate Voice

Online poker: the biggest winner during the coronavirus pandemic

News

Online poker: the biggest winner during the coronavirus pandemic