News

Is Investing in Online Gambling Still Viable?

Published

5 years ago

November 30, 2020

Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash

It is not hard to realize why many have noticed the online gambling industry when it comes to investments. With growth over 224% in the US, it is hard to miss such a boom. But, many people question if investing in online gambling is still viable or has the train passed for the biggest winners.

The answer mainly depends on if the investor is planning to get rich quick or to establish him or herself in the industry. For the former, regretfully the peak has already passed if doctors and governments are to be trusted.

But, if you want to make a high-quality business that will bring regular growth and pay regular dividends, the so-called iGaming industry is the place to be right now. Even if the growth of the market slows down, it will not stop.

This is because the three main comparative advantages of online gambling will still be present even after people are allowed to visit brick and mortar establishments:

Low regular overhead
Access to global markets
Ensured advantage

And the last point might be the most important if you are a concentrated investor. The superior stability of online gambling compared to regular casinos makes it much easier to plan your business, as well as borrow against the company.

Don’t Expect 2020 to Repeat

Investing now and expecting to triple your investment by this time next year would be very unwise. While substantial growth is possible, some normalization of the curve is to be expected.

By all accounts, a vaccine against the current pandemic is expected to arrive in early 2021, with the effects taking in by the spring of next year. This will mean that fewer people will spend time indoors, thus less time gaming on phones, tablets, and computers.

Still, most of the current user base is expected to remain and new users will join in as the word of mouth spreads globally. This makes a perfect chance for someone, especially if offering niche-specific services, to swoop in and fill that market.

Enough Players for Everybody

There is no territorial competition when it comes to online gambling. With the number of players entering and the demand for online gambling rising, the competition is very fair and very open between casino operators. This makes a very relaxed atmosphere if you are a new investor in the industry. Of course in some markets like Australia the players spend more on average than in markets like Romania so competition there is a bit more saturated.

But, keeping players on your platform as well as standing out will be difficult. Finding modes to increase your offering and improve your services will be crucial if you want to remain relevant and growing.

High-Entry / Low-Maintenance

With some new legislation that will be affecting both Malta and Curacao, the industry will probably become even cleaner. But, the licenses will become more expensive, which may dissuade smaller investors from chipping in.

Namely, the old Curacao license, usually taken out by new operators, will now cost roughly $120.000, which is a steep increase from the $35.000 which was the price so far and will be until January 1st, 2021.

But, for those who have the funds, this is where major expenses end and where income begins. As the costs for operations, security, services, and technical support all scale with the level of business, you will rarely find yourself bleeding funds in any way.

Generally, if you can make an arrangement with game developers for pay-to-play terms, you can have a very secure income with minimal expenses and only a basic payroll staff.

New Curacao License

While still being valued as a license that ensures trust and safety from the operator, Curacao has been seen as the ‘second-best’ for a very long time. This is because the rules for obtaining, as well as oversight, was much more relaxed than for the Malta GC license.

But, with the new deal made between Curacao and the Dutch authorities back in Europe, the value and price of this license will rise quite a bit.

For those who had the papers this year, the ~$85.000 increase won’t be an issue, but it might be for new operators looking to open an online gambling business in 2021.

Malta is the Gold Standard

A license provided by the Malta Gaming Commission is still the golden standard when it comes to online gambling. The rules now planned by Curacao have been enforced in Malta since 2009, and even new players are familiar with the significance of having such a document.

But, for many operators, this type of clearance is not necessary. If you don’t want to market towards EU players and don’t plan on predatory tactics in the first place, you may use the Curacao license and save some money initially.

Later, when you have your business established and your investment relatively secure, you can always take the Malta license as well and try to reel in some bigger whales that are hiding all over the world.

Conferences

G GATE CONF 2026 — June 26–27, Tbilisi

Published

6 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.