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Does the iGaming industry struggle with integrity when it comes to reviews?
In this day and age building a successful iGaming affiliate site requires so much more than just an attractive homepage and a list of decent welcome offers that match your niche.
So fierce is the competition within the industry, it’s evident that there’s no room for complacency. The bare minimum isn’t enough to get a site by anymore, especially if they want to rank amongst the top sites for their all-important high-value money making search terms.
Nowadays, in order to realistically compete, affiliates should be building customer confidence via trust signals such as in-depth, well-researched slot reviews and ratings.
If you were to search Google for your favourite online slot game right now, we guarantee you’d quickly stumble across some of the most reputable iGaming affiliates on page one of your search. These sites have put the time and effort into writing high-quality content.
That being said, the reality is that only a small fraction of reviews that appear at the top of Google are actually original and completely accurate. According to the experts at Slot Gods, one of the leading sources of independent bias free online slot reviews, the industry has a genuine problem with integrity, here’s what they have to say on the matter.
The unfortunate truth behind online slot reviews
Writing informative reviews is a fantastic way to show your end user that you not only know what you’re talking about, but that you’re just as passionate about the subject matter as they are. Ultimately it goes a long way towards boosting your conversion rate and creating repeat visitors who will no doubt return to your site seeking new offers and quality content.
At this point, it’s pretty common knowledge amongst everyone working within the iGaming industry that content is king… However, there are affiliates out there that just view content as a means to an end to rank, rather than to actually give their users a meaningful experience.
The end goal for some affiliates is to quickly bloat their site with content, so what do they do? They hire a freelance content writer to knock out a handful of reviews for them.
We have absolutely no qualms with affiliates relying on freelancers to produce content, they’re arguably the backbone of this industry, especially considering site owners have so many day-to-day tasks to contend with already that keep them busy throughout the day.
The issue at hand is that many of these affiliates are hiring budget freelancers from sites such as Fiverr that have absolutely no industry expertise, as a result these content writers are finding themselves on other affiliate sites practically re-writing their reviews with little effort.
This leads to unoriginal copy and paste reviews that offer nothing substantial when compared to other sites. Even more worrying is that this practice can often cause an adverse chain reaction… One affiliate will copy another affiliate and so on, each picking up the same mistakes.
If the original slot review featured an incorrect figure such as the wrong RTP percentage (which happens very often ) then all of the reviews that followed will also feature the wrong percentage.
This leads to confusion for practically everyone, even worse, players might deposit money at a casino to play that specific game under the assumption that it has a better chance to pay out.
Affiliates need to take more responsibility when it comes to filling their site with review content, it’s understandable that financial constraints would mean that inexperienced content writers write the reviews, but if this is the case the site owner should still be checking the key facts and figures related to each and every slot that goes on their site. Blind faith gets you nowhere.
The bigger problem – Honesty
Frustratingly, the issues don’t end there. There are actually plenty of genuinely well-written reviews out there that do read well and contain factual and correct information relating to the game… The problem though? They’re not at all impartial.
Realistically, we’re all in the same boat. We want to make as much money as possible from our endeavours and enjoy the flexible lifestyle that comes with creating a site that can generate a passive income over a sustained period of time. Should that come at the cost of your integrity?
There are plenty of online slot games out there that just aren’t very good, it’s the same as any industry, not all products are top quality, award winning creations. So why are we seeing so many online affiliate sites praise every single slot as if they’re the best thing since sliced bread?
We believe in honesty when it comes to slot reviews. Yes, someone might read your review and be deterred from hitting play, but is it not better to send a user back a page in search of a slot that is right for them as opposed to getting them to deposit and play a game they didn’t enjoy based on your false recommendation?
Visitors to your site aren’t stupid, they know that if you’re willing to speak honestly and frankly about a slot, even if it’s not very good, then they can trust your judgement elsewhere. Don’t be that site that oversells, it does a disservice to yourself and will lead to unhappy players.
What makes a good, honest and readable slot review?
According to the team at Slot Gods, the very first thing any content writer should do before they even begin typing the first word of their review is actually visit the developer’s website, load up the demo version of the game and spend a considerable amount of time playing it.
It sounds simple, but it’s clear that so many reviews are based off another affiliate’s page and not an actual well-informed review that was written off the back of a playthrough. Play the game, and make sure you take a good look at the developer’s game sheet that goes with it.
It’s also worth cross referencing all of the key information such as minimum bet, maximum bet, RTP percentage, maximum win potential and volatility… This is because operators don’t always follow standard slot specifications… Developers often create games with adjustable minimum and max bets and RTP percentages to accommodate a specific operator.
Ultimately, from this point on it’s down to you and your writers. Give players what they want, the hard, cold facts that accurately depict what an online slot is all about.
Don’t just tell them it’s amazing, don’t just tell them that they could win tens of thousands of pounds playing it… Tell them what they actually need to know about the game! Describe how it looks, sounds and how engaging it is during base gameplay and during bonus features.
Players want in-depth, high-quality content that will leave a lasting impression, give it to them.
Affiliate giant grows from strength to strength as the latest member of the C-suite team joins, bringing international B2B expertise to the iGaming sector
One of betting and gaming’s best-known power affiliate businesses, QiH Group, has announced the next steps in its ambitious, four-year growth plan: on Monday, the company welcomed Chief Technology Officer Sachin Saxena.
The new CTO is the latest member of the C-suite to head to QiH Group, joining recent appointee David Murphy as CMO – as well as Andrew Lee’s promotion to COO.
The CTO role will oversee technology initiatives, policies and integration with QiH Group’s strategic objectives. In his remit, Saxena will work with the company’s senior leadership, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to transition previously outsourced functions and platforms to in-house talent.
The tech expert has previously held roles with digital health company Congenica as well as online legal platform Rocket Lawyer and fintech firm Dealogic.
Jamie Walters, QiH Group’s CEO, said that the rapid growth of the company has made hiring the right CTO a priority.
“Working in the affiliate space is as challenging as it is rewarding – mainly because of the fast-paced nature and how competitive our products have to be. Investing in a CTO was the best decision for us now, as our in-house tech talent blossoms and we require next-gen leadership to scale the tech stack quickly. Sachin’s software engineering, development and leadership experience in the B2B sphere are excellent, and we’re so pleased to welcome him,” says Walters.
Saxena spoke about his move into the iGaming sphere in glowing terms, saying: “Whether it’s software engineering, information science or managing tech talent, I love using my background to benefit a new sector. I’m really excited about the move into betting and gaming, and I know that QiH Group will be the next new challenge for me as I oversee the migration and integration of platforms, as well as building a high-performing team who will enhance the firm’s abilities.”
Casumo, a multi-award-winning Online Casino and Sportsbook, has renewed its partnership with NetRefer, a leading affiliate marketing platform provider. The iGaming business is one of the most distinctive online casino and sports betting operators in Europe.
Founded in Sweden in 2012 and headquartered in Malta, Casumo is an innovative and mobile-first online gaming group. Over the years, the company has gone from strength to strength and today offers its products in several highly regulated markets including Sweden, the United Kingdom, and other emerging markets worldwide. The iGaming company has been with NetRefer since its inception.
Casumo Services Limited hold licences in Malta, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Gibraltar, Ontario, and Spain. These licences are the backbone of their operations and regulate the company to maintain a safe and secure gambling environment.
Numerous features on Casumo’s platform offer players unique betting experiences. Reel Races are daily tournaments that let players compete with each other in real-time slots races for a chance to win cash prizes.
Everything players participate in at Casumo is part of a greater game. As members play their favourite online casino games, they also partake in an in-game adventure, collecting points and getting rewarded as they level up.
To ensure players can log in fast and easily, Casumo developed their own Casumo App, which supports Fingerprint Login, TouchID, and FaceID. The Spotlight game search lets players look up all their favourite mobile slots while the Quick Launch gives instant access to the last played mobile slot games. Another unique feature allows players to minimise the mobile slot game by pinching the screen.
By creating a user-friendly, highly rewarding, and entertaining experience, Casumo has witnessed great success and growth, and its achievements have not gone unrecognised. Over the years, the iGaming company has won various awards in numerous categories from EGR, ICA, and IGA.
To support their players, they have a team of dedicated ambassadors who work around the clock with customer support. Over 300 employees work for the company in offices across Malta, Barcelona, and Gibraltar.
Casumo has a team of professionals available to assist individuals struggling with gambling issues and a dedicated website called casumocares.com. They help players control their gambling habits and set customised limits.
The Casumo Affiliation Team’s goal is to support their affiliate partners in a personal and helpful manner. They believe trust and transparency are key factors in building sustainable relationships. Affiliates can sign up for the affiliate program to receive their digital affiliate welcome pack.
Ivan Vuckovic, Growth Director at Casumo, expressed the company’s content with their partnership renewal. “NetRefer’s robust platform has provided a solid base for us to develop strong affiliate relationships and scale our business.”
“Casumo understands the importance of transparency with their affiliates to ensure long-term successful relationships,” Dexter Cutajar, CEO at NetRefer, claimed. “We are delighted to continue partnering with Casumo, with whom we share core values and a search for excellence.”
BetPokies is a leading online casino review platform for Aussie gamblers created by experienced gambler John Gold in 2020. The site is a perfect resource for those keen to dive into the world of online gambling but unsure where to begin or those who have already tried a lot and are looking for an improved experience.
Thanks to BetPokies’s team of experts, the platform is full of valuable information about different gambling-related topics, from online casino reviews and payment method guides to a unique test that helps indicate the first signs of gambling addiction. All this is to help Aussie readers have the best gambling experience.
Why BetPokies.org Is a Trusted Source?
Back in 2020, John Gold founded the website as a platform where he shared his personal insights about online casinos that he had tried out. Not so long after, BetPokies (owned by ZehrMedia LTD) started gaining popularity among Aussie players, which led John to the idea of expanding the casino review platform into something bigger, which has now become an extensive guide. This allows readers to find all the necessary info on one website without the need to waste time searching for more reliable sources.
Four years after its foundation, BetPokies team consists of experts specializing in different fields: Poppy Bate, a casino review expert, Charles Morey, a payment method expert, Alicia Want, a content expert, Andrew Kiss, a tech expert, and over 10 manual testers.
John Gold explains the reasoning behind such a choice of team members: “I personally believe that one person cannot be an expert in different fields. That’s why I’ve decided to hire people who have knowledge in different spheres so that our readers can get the most relevant and expert information.”
How BetPokies.org Rates Online Casinos?
Having over 10 years of experience, John Gold knows how hard it is to find honest and unbiased casino reviews. This is one of the reasons he created BetPokies. The team of the platform researches gambling sites thoroughly to find all the important details and even hidden pitfalls.
- Poppy Bate, the casino review expert from BetPokies verifies the availability and validity of the license. She gives extra points to those casinos with certifications from eCOGRA and iTechLab, which she personally contacts to learn more information about insights the testing agencies got about each casino site.
- When it comes to banking, Charles Morey starts his research, he tests the payment methods offered at the gambling website by setting test deposits and withdrawals. His aim is to ensure there are no hidden taxes or other unpleasant surprises. Often, this approach allows BetPokiesto find out about hidden pitfalls other casino review sites do not talk about.
- Manual testers of betpokies.org gamble at online casinos, ensuring the games are not rogued and that the provided RTP is realistic.
These are the most essential aspects of online casinos verified by BetPokies. However, they also check customer care, terms and conditions, and site’s usability, and research gambling portals to find other gamblers’ reviews and more. This allows the team of experts to provide informative and helpful online casino reviews to Aussie readers.
How BetPokies Сomplises the Blacklist of Online Casinos
Unfortunately, gambling is not only fun but also risky. The team of BetPokies takes the safety of its readers seriously. John Gold, the website’s editor-in-chief and an experienced gambler, decided to take the responsibility of explaining the risks to himself and created the “Blacklisted Casinos” guide.
“We’ve published dozens of guides and casino reviews on our website, recommending safe and trusted online casinos and mentioning the importance of responsible play and tips for choosing a safe casino in each of them. However, over time, I realized it was not enough. I decided to do in-depth research about rogue and other dangerous sites to gamble to provide our readers with the most necessary information on that matter, saving their personal and banking information, as well as their mental state.”
Each site that made a cooperation offer to BetPokies but didn’t pass the thorough verification of its experts is going to the blacklist. However, John Gold shared his plans for the nearest future about expanding the list: “I release we can’t check and blacklist every dangerous online casino out there. Therefore, we decided to use the help of our readers. Pretty soon, we will create a form where gamblers can share their complaints about a particular gambling site with proof of it being unsafe. Then, Poppy Bate will test the website herself, do more research, and if it turns out dangerous we will put it on our blacklist!”
Casino Category Guides from John Gold
For Aussie gamblers not to get confused by the variety of information provided by BetPokies.org, John Gold decided to write extensive casino category guides, such as new online casinos, real money casinos, minimum deposit casinos, and more!
There, he features important aspects about each of them, providing all relevant and useful information. There, readers can find different comparison tables, tips on how to choose online casinos of different types, and recommendations regarding how to gamble there. Charles Morey, a financial expert, adds insights about payment methods to choose from when choosing games at every casino. This way, joining efforts, they offer Aussies all-covering guides, which allow them to avoid looking for other sites.
Essentially, during the history of its existence, BetPokies.org became an integral part of the Australian online casino review market, offering invaluable and unique insights on online gambling. If you are interested in cooperation with BetPokies, please contact [email protected].
QiH Group’s first-ever CTO joins the London office, underpinning in-house tech talent
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