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How Vera & John became the market-leading online casino in Japan
In most places of the world, gambling and casinos are outlawed. Likewise, under the law and regulation of Japan, gambling is prohibited as well. There is no availability of any physical form of casino or gambling in Japan.
People who live in Japan do look forward to such activities. Most of the population is a hidden fan of gambling or casinos due to the reasons for much better opportunities for earning money despite the fact that various laws prohibit the physical forms of casinos.
But no law bans gambling through online platforms. And due to such cases, Japan is now on the verge of becoming the best market for online casinos. It is also believed that the government of Japan will be turning Osaka city into a casino hub.
It will increase tourism and travel in the country. Which, in turn, will increase the profit and money flow into the country. This step has made online gambling successful and much of this is due to the efforts in recent years of Vera and John.
The main reason due to which the online casino has flourished in Japan is primarily due to the hard work of Vera and John who were one of the first online casino operators to enter the Japanese market.
How the Vera & John reputation was built?
Ever since their entrance into Japan, VJ (as they are commonly known in the industry) have been at the center of the online casino world. They built a platform that the local audience could connect with including a character with appeal to the Japanese graphical style, local language and support for the local currency – the Japanese Yen.
They backed this up with payment and withdrawal methods that the Japanese would also be familiar with and are unique to Japan. And best of all, it didn’t take them long to develop this platform and offer all these services to their customer base. At its heart, Vera & John’s success could be said to be built on their understanding of the local market and creating a platform that speaks to their audience:
- Japanese language
- Currency support
- Marvelous graphics
- Good customer support
- Wide range of transactions. For example, e-wallets, debit, and credit cards. Allowance of international wire transfers, bank transfers, etc.
Not only that, VJ has all the best slot games and live casino options – many of which can’t be found in physical casinos. Plus, it constitutes many different popular video and traditional games.
Welcome offers and strong website user experience
Vera and John also have a generous welcome bonus. These types of welcome offers are now common in the industry and each online casino has its own version as a way of attracting new customers. However upon launch in Japan, VJ sat almost on its own in offering a generous amount of free spins when a customer signs up and deposits on their website. A simple marketing strategy that took advantage of the fact that not many people had seen this type of offer before from an online casino.
One of the other key aspects of Vera & John’s success was their easy withdrawal procedure. This option allows the users to collect their winnings whenever they want. There are no restrictions or long procedures to draw your cash. Unsurprisingly, within the online casino industry this is something that typically frustrates customers when they are unable to withdraw their earnings immediately.
Such initiatives are the reason for Vera & John’s popularity. Their market entry, localisation and timing was all aligned to make their efforts a success to date.
A final word on casino safety
For Japanese casino enthusiasts, they now favor an online environment for many reasons. Partly due to the strict laws and casino regulation around playing games in physical casinos – an online environment offers way more variety. Equally through the recent global pandemic, many online businesses have seen growth and the online casino space is no different, giving players the ability to play their favorite games from the comfort of their own home – online casinos don’t need to close for social distancing or any other virus related measure.
Vera & John have mastered the art of entering into a new market, a new culture and timing it to perfection and the results speak for themselves. Needless to say, competition has increased significantly of late as other casinos have seen the opportunity and appetite of the Japanese players. Only time will tell if Vera & John can stay top of the pile.
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N1 Partners at iGB L!VE 2026: Bringing Together Affiliates, Art and Innovation
N1 Partners team has wrapped up its participation at iGB L!VE London 2026. Over the course of the two-day conference, the company unveiled its new N1 Duality booth concept, presented exclusive art collaborations as part of a capsule collection created with fashion illustrator Clym Evernden, launched the first drop of custom designer toys in collaboration with Yoomoota, and introduced the limited-edition SPLIT: London merch collection.
Special attention was also given to N1 Sport Promo — a campaign for affiliates working with sports traffic and the Prediction Markets vertical.

Over the two days, the conference served as a platform for hundreds of meetings with partners, conversations with industry media, and presentations of new opportunities for scaling affiliate businesses.
N1 Duality: When Art Becomes a Part of Networking
Throughout both days, N1 Partners’ booth remained one of the busiest destinations at iGB L!VE London. N1 Duality concept brought together business networking, contemporary art, and interactive experiences, transforming it into a space for meetings, new connections, and discussions of future collaborations.
The experience centrepiece was a live art performance by British artist Clym Evernden, who has collaborated with global luxury brands including Hermès, Prada, Tiffany, Diptyque, and others. Throughout the exhibition, he created a large-scale artwork directly on the booth walls using his signature continuous-line illustration technique.

Visitors were able to watch the creative process unfold in real time, receive original sketches, signed postcards, and exclusive merchandise from the capsule collection designed specifically for N1 Partners by the artist, including a tote bag, T-shirt, scarf, socks, and scented candles.
Another major premiere was the collaboration with designer and creator Yoomoota, whose works have been exhibited at PAD London, Art Miami, and the Red Dot Museum and featured in Forbes, Hypebeast, Vice, Elle Decor, and Designboom.

Exclusively for the conference, Yoomoota created a collectible designer toy that became part of N1 Partners’ limited-edition gift collection and quickly turned into one of the most talked-about pieces of the brand’s exclusive drop.
And this is only the beginning — new exclusive designer toys created by N1 Partners and Yoomoota are already in development for SBC Summit Lisbon and SiGMA Europe Rome.
The interactive DICES game, branded giveaways, and an atmosphere of open communication made the booth a natural meeting point for affiliates, clients, and industry professionals throughout the event.

iGB L!VE London 2026 Highlights
iGB L!VE London provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with existing partners, meet new industry professionals, and discuss future cooperation opportunities.
Among the key outcomes of the conference for the N1 Partners team:
- Presentation of the N1 Duality concept and the new SPLIT: London merchandise collection;
- Exclusive art collaborations with British fashion illustrator Clym Evernden for the capsule collection and designer Yoomoota for the custom collectible toy series;
- Presentation of N1 Sport Promo for affiliates working with sports traffic and the Prediction Markets vertical;
- 300+ meetings with existing and prospective partners;
- 10+ interviews and media productions with leading industry publications;
- More than 2,400 pieces of exclusive merchandise and branded gifts distributed by N1 Partners.



“iGB L!VE London 2026 has been one of the most exciting and productive exhibitions of the year for us. We held dozens of meetings with partners, explored new opportunities for business growth, and received an outstanding response to N1 Sport Promo.
I’d also like to highlight our creative collaborations with designers Clym Evernden, who developed our exclusive capsule collection, and Yoomoota, who created our custom collectible toys. Together, we succeeded in bringing affiliate business, art, and creativity into one shared experience.
We’re grateful to all our partners for the productive meetings we had during this event in London. Face-to-face communication is what lays the foundation for new projects, stronger partnerships, and long-term growth,” said Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners.
Collaboration with N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, offering affiliates:
- 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
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LEON announces LEON.bet Masters, a new CS2 tournament in Portugal
LEON continues to strengthen its presence in esports with the launch of LEONBET Masters, a new Counter-Strike 2 tournament set to take place from September 24 to 27 at the SAW Esports Arena in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
The tournament will bring together 16 teams competing for a €30,000 prize pool and valuable VRS points, which play a key role in qualification opportunities for major international events, including the Singapore Major later this year.
LEONBET Masters will feature a group stage with four groups of four teams, followed by playoffs that will determine the tournament champion. The event is expected to attract some of the strongest Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams looking to improve their rankings and continue their path toward the highest level of professional Counter-Strike competition.
The launch of LEONBET Masters marks another step in LEON’s long-term commitment to esports. Over the past few years, the company has actively supported the competitive gaming ecosystem through partnerships with prominent organizations and by hosting its own tournaments across multiple disciplines. Previous initiatives include the LEON Masters Dota tournament, the LEON Masters Deadlock competition, and the LEON Esports Cup Free Fire, further demonstrating the brand’s investment in developing competitive gaming.
LEON currently partners with German esports organization GamerLegion, supporting both its Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 rosters. The company also partners with teams such as SAW, one of Portugal’s most recognizable esports organizations, and FlyQuest, further strengthening its presence across key international esports markets.
By creating LEONBET Masters, LEON aims to provide emerging teams with additional opportunities to compete at a high level, gain valuable ranking points, and showcase their talent on a larger stage.
Additional information about the participating teams, tournament format, broadcast talent, and where to watch the event can be found on the official tournament page here:
About LEON
LEON is an international sportsbook and online casino brand with over 17 years of industry experience. The company actively supports esports through strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and competitive gaming initiatives, working with organizations and communities across multiple regions worldwide.
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Behind the Game Anatomy of a Strong Brand
At iGaming, dozens of solutions are behind the high conversion, retention, and LTV rates of the product: from UX and payment infrastructure to personalisation and constant hypothesis testing.
Behind the Game is a series of expert materials where N1 Partners team explains how successful iGaming products work from the inside.
In this issue, N1 Partners’ Product Line Manager will tell you how to identify a promising brand at the start, what distinguishes a strong product from an average one, and how to choose offers with maximum potential.
What distinguishes a strong iGaming product from dozens of similar offers in the market today?
Today, many products are focused on the rapid monetisation of the player. A strong product has a different approach: it is built around long-term value, player loyalty, and audience retention.
Personalisation, usability, and the ability of a product to adapt to the interests of a particular user play a key role.
Modern analytics and AI tools allow you to predict user behaviour more accurately, offer relevant mechanics, and create a more personalised gaming experience.
UX is equally important. In Tier-1 GEOs, even minor inconveniences can cost a player. If the user has to perform unnecessary actions or encounter an inconvenient interface, the probability that he’ll leave increases significantly.
What early signs show that a product has the potential to become a strong brand?
From the product’s point of view, two metrics are crucial: conversion and retention.
If a product consistently shows good player engagement rates and at the same time keeps the audience at or above market benchmarks, this is a strong signal of its potential.
An additional indicator is the team’s ability to regularly test new hypotheses and implement mechanics that expand the possibilities of interaction with the audience.
Practical criteria are also important for partners: the availability of in-demand payment methods for a specific GEO, high-quality localisation, a strong game library and a convenient user path.
A separate recommendation for affiliate teams is to independently walk the player’s path before launching traffic. This allows you to quickly identify the strengths and weaknesses of the product before scaling.
What is more important for long-term growth: constantly attracting new players or working with the existing base?
One cannot exist without the other.
Attracting new players remains a prerequisite for growth, but without strong retention and working with a loyal base, the product will not be able to show stable results over the long run. That is why the N1 Partners products have a high retention and players’ LTV, those are really crucial metrics to pay attention to.
A high churn leads to a situation where the operator constantly compensates for losses due to new traffic. This model becomes unprofitable both for the product itself and for partners working on RevShare.
That’s why long-term growth is built around retaining players and building a loyal audience that keeps coming back to the product.
What mistakes do new casino projects most often make in the early years of their work?
Many new projects begin to actively increase traffic even before they are convinced of the product effectiveness on test volumes.
Before opening large amounts of traffic, it is important to make sure that all key processes are working correctly: funnels, retention mechanics, payment infrastructure and user path.
Many problems arise due to flaws from the product’s side itself. Errors in payments, incorrect localisation, problems with the availability of functions or an inconvenient interface quickly affect conversion and retention.
For the player, such shortcomings become the reason for leaving even before he has time to get acquainted with the product.
How do you know that a player is returning because of the product itself and not just bonuses or individual games?
One of the key factors is emotional attachment to the product and the level of personalisation.
Bonuses can attract attention, but long-term loyalty is shaped by familiar mechanics, individualised interaction and high-quality communication with the user. This is especially noticeable in the VIP segment, where personal support, attention to the player and long-term relationships are of great importance.
A strong product is always based on treating players as people, not as a set of numbers in reports.
What metrics best show that a product will be successful at a distance?
Among the main indicators:
- repeated deposits;
- deposit funnel depth;
- Retention Rate;
- Churn Rate;
- technical stability of the product;
- key scenarios’ speed.
Special attention is paid to the transitions between deposits and the product’s ability to return players a week, a month or more after the first deposit.
How are the expectations of the players changing in 2026, and what is already considered a mandatory brand standard today?
A mandatory standard is perfect GEO localization, the most user-friendly interface, as well as brand reputation.
Another underestimated factor is the brand’s reputation. Products need to actively work with ORM (Online Reputation Management): monitor the brand’s reputation on feedback (for example, Trustpilot) and third-party sites and respond to comments and questions from players, forming loyalty.
N1 Partners pays special attention to this: the company systematically works with feedback from partners and players, maintaining the brand’s reputation on thematic websites.
What helps N1 Partners products stay competitive in Tier-1 GEOs?
Constant testing of new mechanics and flexibility in product development remains one of the factors.
N1 Partners team adheres to an approach in which new solutions are first tested under controlled conditions and only implemented on a larger scale after effectiveness confirmation.
Among the mechanics that have shown a good effect are Lucky Spin/LuckyBox, Puzzle Hunt and a number of other gamification solutions aimed at increasing player engagement and retention.
Deep audience segmentation and the development of specialised retention areas for different groups of players also play an important role.
If you had to choose a product for RevShare, which indicators would you look at first?
First of all, it is worth paying attention to:
- player retention;
- user path quality;
- the presence of errors and technical problems;
- payment infrastructure;
- the range of games;
- indicators of repeated deposits.
In the RevShare model, the key is how long a player remains active and how often they return to deposits.
What do partners most often underestimate when choosing a product to drive traffic?
Partners often start scaling a new product too early.
Even with a strong offer and good terms of cooperation, it is crucial to first check the actual performance of the product and only then proceed to scaling.
Another underestimated factor is the brand’s reputation. Before driving traffic to an offer, it is important to check player reviews, ratings on relevant sites, and the general perception of the product on the market.
If you had to launch a new brand from scratch today, which three things would you focus on first?
First of all, attention should be paid to three fundamental elements:
- a strong payment infrastructure for chosen GEO;
- a high-quality set of gaming providers and content;
- technical stability of the product and an optimized user path.
Even minor problems with download speed, payments, or registration can significantly reduce conversion and affect the further growth of the product.
The effectiveness of all subsequent marketing and product initiatives directly depends on the quality of these components.
To summarise, a strong iGaming product begins where the pursuit of short-term results ends. Attention to user experience, audience retention, localisation, and continuous product improvements allows brands to grow from a distance and turn the attracted traffic into long-term value.
If you are looking for brands with high LTV and Reg2Dep, join N1 Partners, a multi-brand affiliate program with 14+ casinos and betting brands in Tier-1 GEO with payouts up to €700 CPA and RevShare up to 55%.
Be number one with N1!
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