News

Casinos around the world cautiously reopen to a new normal

Published

6 years ago

July 13, 2020

Given how devastatingly hit the casino business has been in the past few months, it should come as little surprise that casino operators around the world are hurriedly reopening their doors at the first opportunity.

Revenue reports from March to July – effectively when the novel coronavirus had spread across the planet and forced countries to impose severe lockdown measures – made for grim reading in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

In Nevada and New Jersey – the biggest casino hotspots in the US – recorded losses of up to and more than 90 percent compared to the same months in 2019. In the UK and mainland Europe, the figures were similar, while Macau – the gambling capital of the world – saw three successive months of revenue drops over 90 percent.

While online operations have seen a surge as millions of people have been forced to stay at home, that makes no difference to the many people whose livelihoods depend on land-based casinos opening their doors and welcoming customers. Indeed, thousands of jobs have been lost and thousands more are still at risk.

So even as Covid-19 continues to plague many countries, casinos have understandably started to open their doors once again.

The United States – the country where the pandemic has hit harder than any other – has allowed casinos to reopen, even as new cases cross more than 50,000 per day. In Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey casino floors are once again welcoming guests, while casinos across the United Kingdom reopened on July 4.

Las Vegas has also reopened its sportsbook operations, so guests can visit to get the latest Kentucky Derby odds (although you can find them online easier through TwinSpires.com). You can place wagers on races and sports that, like the casino business, also went into lockdown but are now re-emerging.

Meanwhile, in Macau, casinos have also reopened but the mandatory 14-day quarantine for foreign visitors has severely limited foot traffic. The same applies to other countries like Singapore, South Africa, and Monte Carlo.

While casinos have resumed operations in an attempt to bounce back from a financially damaging few months, they do so amid a new normal for operators and visitors alike.

Strict rules and health measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of guests and staff and to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.

Maximum capacity limits range between 20 and 30 percent and face masks must be worn at all times. Drinking, eating, and smoking have been banned for the time being, while temperature check points and hand sanitizer stations have been placed all around casino floors. Glass barriers have also been placed around table games in some casinos to prevent the spread of germs between players and dealers.

Those guests returning to casinos may also notice higher gambling minimums or at least fewer options of lower minimum games. This is thought to have been introduced for two reasons. Firstly, it is viewed as an attempt by many casinos to drive revenues up as quickly as possible and secondly, to deter some players to ensure going over the imposed limited capacities.

Even with the many restrictions in place and the pandemic still raging on, the economical decision to reopen has helped to address growing unemployment in casino-focused cities and towns.

For instance, the union representing casino workers in New Jersey reported that in the first few days of reopening, between 20 and 30 percent of union members got their jobs back.

As measures loosen and capacities gradually increase, more people will be able to return to work after months of struggle and uncertainty.

It had been deemed callous to talk about reopening economies and getting people back to work during the early stages of the pandemic and when the death toll was rapidly increasing. But as the crisis continued and there was a realization that ‘normal’ would not return for the foreseeable future, then tackling increasing poverty as a result of the outbreak has become an inevitable priority.

The casino business is just one of many industries that rely heavily on visitors and tourism, and its cautious reopening shows that life must go on in the current climate, even if ‘normal’ is some way away from returning.

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Conferences

G GATE CONF 2026 — June 26–27, Tbilisi

Published

15 hours ago

May 12, 2026

George Miller

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

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

George Miller

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.

News

Sports bettor Kwiff supercharges its affiliate strategy with new RavenTrack partnership

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

George Miller

Sports bettor Kwiff supercharges its affiliate strategy with new RavenTrack partnership

Kwiff, the pioneer of the “supercharged” betting experience, has officially announced the appointment of RavenTrack as its primary affiliate tracking provider. This strategic partnership aims to enhance Kwiff’s affiliate operations through RavenTrack’s advanced platform-as-a-service (PaaS) technology.

By integrating RavenTrack’s sophisticated tracking solutions, Kwiff intends to streamline its affiliate program management, ensuring greater transparency, accuracy, and efficiency for its growing network of partners.

The move comes as Kwiff continues to scale its presence across the UK and international markets, leveraging its unique algorithm that randomly supercharges any bet, regardless of the sport or market.

“From our very first conversation, it was clear that Kwiff were looking for more than just a tracking platform, they needed a partner who could genuinely match their ambition and long-term strategic vision. We’re truly grateful that Kwiff chose RavenTrack in what was a highly competitive process, and I’m personally proud to have helped bring the partnership together,” said Kate Scowen, sales and growth manager at RavenTrack.

“The first few months of working together have already been fantastic, and it’s been a real pleasure working with their team. We’re excited for what’s ahead and look forward to building a strong, long-lasting relationship together.”

Jack Milner, campaign manager at Kwiff, commented on the partnership, saying: “RavenTrack came highly recommended and with a strong track record within the iGaming sphere. We have enjoyed a fantastic start, working with their brilliant and incredibly helpful team and I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership together.”

The collaboration aligns with Kwiff’s recent period of rapid expansion. RavenTrack’s reputation for providing high-performance tracking and exceptional customer support was a decisive factor in the selection process. As an industry leader in affiliate tech, RavenTrack will provide Kwiff with the robust infrastructure required to manage complex data sets and optimise ROI for its affiliate channel.