News
Over 2/3 of Gambling Experts Believe in Global Self-exclusion, Casino Guru Survey Reveals
A survey by the world’s biggest casino database, online gambling authority, and activist for sustainable gambling measures, Casino Guru, found 70% of respondents believed the company’s proposed Global Self-exclusion system (GSE) is a tool the industry needs.
The Casino Guru’s Global Self-exclusion Initiative was revealed to the public at large in March 2021. Since then, the project’s manager Simon Vincze has been engaging in initial meetings with various industry authorities and supplying the site with a steady supply of articles discussing the Initiative’s objective, plan of action, and latest developments.
Self-exclusion schemes are an integral part of the gambling industry’s effort to help prevent the proliferation of gambling addiction within its player base. However, the currently available solutions have been betrayed time and time again by the relative ease with which self-excluded players can gamble with foreign online operators.
Casino Guru felt that the solution to this issue was evident – a global self-exclusion scheme. And though creating such a system is easier said than done, the company did not waste any time laying down the groundwork for its envisioned solution.
In preparation for their latest article discussing the proposed solutions and potential concerns of the GSE, the team behind the Initiative ran an anonymous survey among a selected number of industry insiders polling them on their opinions.
Casino Guru’s findings
In total, 41 industry insiders partook in the survey. The majority, 41.5%, was neutral in regards to the current self-exclusion options. The remainder of the company’s survey sample was split directly down the middle, 29.3% feeling dissatisfied and 29.3% satisfied.
To Casino Guru’s delight, an overwhelming majority of 70% thought that the GSE was a good idea. In subsequent questions, 67.5% of people thought a global self-exclusion scheme could improve the overall reliability of self-exclusions in general, and 51.2% even felt that it could become the new industry standard.
Perhaps more than anything, the survey showed the true necessity of creating comprehensive informational content regarding the Initiative, as some respondents either misunderstood or had trouble properly grasping the subject. However, the survey also revealed several well-founded questions and concerns. All of these will be thoroughly discussed in an upcoming article on the Global Self-exclusion site, but here are two of Casino Guru’s favorites as a preview.
One common concern voiced by multiple respondents was that self-exclusion, in general, is an insufficient “cure” for problem gambling. And Casino Guru agrees. It is not enough to simply stop problem players from gambling. Instead, the GSE seeks to address the issue by cooperating more closely with problem gambling help organizations. Gamblers registering for the global self-exclusion scheme will be given the option of requesting that a social worker contacts them about their problem. Furthermore, we intend on providing individuals with the additional option of selecting the help organization of their choice, where they wish to undergo consultations and treatment.
The second concern the company wanted to highlight was the prevalent concern that a global self-exclusion scheme may force some players towards illegal gambling. Unfortunately, this is an entirely valid worry, as it is essentially impossible to safeguard the entire market. However, the GSE can fight against this unwanted consequence by limiting the options self-excluded gamblers have for illegal gambling, creating a space that is easier to monitor and lends itself better to proactive problem gambling prevention efforts.
In closing, the topic of a global self-exclusion system is and will likely remain a source of great contention not only within the gambling sphere but among the general public as well. However, Casino Guru is not giving up on their mission and believes that activities such as these will, in time, undoubtedly bear fruit, and their vision will become a reality.
About Casino Guru
Casino Guru originally began as nothing more than a simple online casino database, seeking to provide helpful, relevant, and up-to-date information to its visitors. However, since its inception, it has grown to become the biggest of its kind. In time, the company branched out and is currently operating a successful online gambling forum, an online casino complaint center, and publishes in-depth articles on gambling mechanics and problem gambling. Most recently, Casino Guru created an Academy for educating future employees in the gambling sphere and the Global Self-exclusion Initiative described in this article.
These activities are inspired by the company’s wholehearted belief in the need for the proliferation of sustainable gambling practices within the industry and the protection of problem gamblers.
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Shortlisted for “European Corporate Services Supplier” Category at EGR EUROPE Awards 2026
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management platform, has been named on the EGR Europe Awards 2026 shortlist in the “European Corporate Services Supplier” category, recognising the platform’s solutions that help real operators with their operations and growth.
Continuing 2025’s Momentum
The nomination reflects a busy 2025 for ReferOn, one that was highlighted by significant product updates, rapid growth, and an ascent to becoming one of the most recognised affiliate management platforms in the industry.
Going into the new year, the ReferOn team has ambitious plans to accelerate this positive momentum by scaling alongside its growing partner base with advancements to its product vision around clarity, transparency, and ease of use. The EGR Europe Awards 2026 marks a pivotal start to 2026, and an award win demonstrates that the platform’s direction truly resonates with operators and affiliate managers worldwide.
Refie’s Human Impact
Refie, the platform’s human layer, transcends a mere surface-level companion. It hops around dashboards and workflows, providing relevant assistance, such as fixing reward logic, identifying anomalies, and making suggestions to the user.
In 2026, ReferOn plans to enhance Refie’s functionality with advanced platform gamification, engaging users and transforming how affiliate managers interact with their day-to-day operations. These developments will pave the way for personalised, smart intelligence on the platform and set an industry standard for affiliate tech.
Alex Bukin, General Manager, commented on the nomination and plans for 2026, “ReferOn made great strides in the past year, with major product developments, key recruitments, and a rapidly growing partner base. With this growth, our expectations have risen, and we want to establish ourselves as a platform that accelerates affiliate tech across the board. Being nominated for the ‘European Corporate Services Supplier’ category solidifies our ambition and is a meaningful start to our new year. With Refie driving more innovation, we look forward to driving our goal of transparency, clarity, and customer-facing features even further.”
Conferences
Aff.Tech Wraps Strong ICE & iGB Affiliate, Earns AIBC Eurasia Shortlist
Aff.Tech, the affiliate management platform by GR8 Tech, closed out ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026 with over 30 meetings—connecting with new prospects, aligning on growth plans with existing partners, and visiting client booths to celebrate their recent wins firsthand.
Market Signals That Match the Roadmap
Across both events, several themes dominated conversations: AI-driven automation across affiliate operations, heightened focus on compliant and transparent tracking, demand for flexible commission structures, and a clear shift from short-term acquisition toward long-term, value-driven partnerships.
For Aff.Tech, the signals validate recent product direction. Updates showcased at ICE—including new fixed-fee commission plans for tighter budget control, a third-party CRM integration API, and redesigned reporting for real-time performance visibility—speak directly to what operators said they need: infrastructure that supports diversified affiliate ecosystems without the operational drag.
“The conversations at ICE confirmed what we’ve been building toward,” said Mariia Shmelova, CEO of Aff.Tech. “The industry is moving away from short-term acquisition thinking. Operators want partnerships they can measure, manage, and grow over time—and they need platforms that make that sustainable at scale. That’s the direction we’re committed to.”
Industry Recognition Follows
Shortly after the event, Aff.Tech was shortlisted for Best Affiliate Software at the AIBC Eurasia Awards 2026—recognition that aligns with the momentum the team is carrying into the rest of the year.
News
N1 Puzzle Promo by N1 Partners Named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards
N1 Partners is proud to announce that N1 Puzzle Promo has been awarded Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards, recognizing the campaign as one of the most impactful and innovative marketing initiatives in the iGaming industry.
The European iGaming Awards celebrate excellence across the European iGaming industry, honoring companies and projects that demonstrate outstanding performance, creativity, and contribution to the sector.
N1 Puzzle Promo stood out as a large-scale global affiliate marketing campaign that became one of the most visible and performance-driven initiatives in iGaming in 2025. Built around a competitive, leaderboard-based mechanic, the campaign featured a total prize pool of €500,000, with a Robinson R22 helicopter as the ultimate reward. This ambitious concept motivated affiliates worldwide to actively scale traffic and compete for top positions across multiple Tier-1 markets.
The campaign was supported by a strong and continuous online presence throughout the year. N1 Puzzle Promo was actively promoted via leading iGaming media, digital advertising, and social media channels. This ensured consistent 360-degree exposure across all key touchpoints, keeping both existing partners and new affiliates highly engaged. The campaign drove sustained activity across Tier-1 and growth markets, with affiliates increasing their monthly FTD volumes by 150% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The campaign culminated in a grand final party and winner announcement event in Barcelona, where top-performing partners gathered to celebrate the results together. This transparent and public conclusion reinforced trust, credibility, and community within the affiliate network, transforming months of competition into a shared industry milestone.
“Winning Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards is a powerful validation of our vision for N1 Puzzle Promo,” said Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “This wasn’t just a promo, it was a global journey that united partners and drove strong, measurable growth. We’re grateful to our partners and proud to set a new benchmark for affiliate marketing in iGaming.”
This award further strengthens the position of N1 Partners as a team that consistently delivers bold, high-impact marketing solutions and continues to set new benchmarks for affiliate campaigns in the iGaming industry.
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News1 week agoN1 Puzzle Promo by N1 Partners Named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards
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Press Releases1 week ago
N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona
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Awards1 week ago2RBO Affiliates Secures Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026
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Conferences1 day agoAff.Tech Wraps Strong ICE & iGB Affiliate, Earns AIBC Eurasia Shortlist
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Affiliate Success1 day agoReferOn Shortlisted for “European Corporate Services Supplier” Category at EGR EUROPE Awards 2026

