News
Should affiliates be more honest when reviewing online slot games?
Critics are paid to be impartial, they have no qualms about tearing into something they’ve been asked to review, whether that be a brand new box office release, album or video game. So why is it completely different in the world of iGaming?
There aren’t many industries out there that can match ours when it comes to the sheer amount of websites dedicated to one pastime (casinos and online slot games), for every new release there’s a minimum of ten reviews online within days of them arriving in casino lobbies.
Having spent the last year scouring the internet for slot games to critique ahead of their launch, Slot Gods, a comprehensive site dedicated to independent bias free online slot reviews have come to several solid conclusions about the somewhat dishonest business of slot write-ups.
Do some affiliates fear the truth will deny them acquisitions?
In last twelve months the expert team at Slot Gods have spent countless hours surveying the iGaming landscape with a fine-tooth comb, gauging affiliates ‘honest’ opinions on online slot games old and new, it’s certainly not everybody, but the conclusion to be drawn is that there seems to be a genuine fear about being honest when a slot game just isn’t very good.
Many of the reviews the team came across were written in a tone that suggested the game was 100% worth playing, positives were made out of negatives and despite a game’s shortcomings there’s always something that inferred to the reader that the game should definitely be played.
There’s no denying that approaching a review with a positive attitude is a good way to go, but it seems immoral to mislead a player in an industry that requires the end user to open their wallets and deposit money to play a game of chance which they might walk away from with nothing.
Obviously, players aren’t stupid and they know exactly what they’re getting into when they actively choose to gamble their money, but there’s a fine line between selling a game honestly and overselling it to the point in which the truth has been distorted to earn a sign-up.
If it were a table game such as roulette, poker or blackjack then perhaps we wouldn’t complain, because you know exactly what you’re getting with them… But with online slots there are many unique variables, and players have certain boxes a game must tick before they choose to actively play them.
To give some of these offending sites their dues, They never did shy away from giving players the raw data, they all clearly stated the RTP percentage, maximum win potential and volatility within the game specifications… It was just the written content that felt sketchy at times.
It’s understandable why an affiliate (in particular a smaller one) might want to put a little extra shine on a slot game in order to drive their visitors towards a sign-up at the associated casino. In doing so they’re likely going to leave the player with a bad taste in their mouth and a general distrust for the site that recommended it upon discovering the game isn’t exactly as described.
What can affiliates do to make their reviews more trustworthy?
If you’re planning on updating or adding slot reviews to your site then there are a number of things recommended and utilised by Slot Gods that you can do to ensure that your content comes across trustworthy and reliable, these are as follows:
Consistent structure
Make sure you have a consistent and well thought out structure to your reviews. Give players the key information in an order that makes sense to them. Don’t start your review with your personal opinion on how it plays, allow them to read all about the features, the design and other important elements before you summarise.
Most people understand how a review should look, so don’t try and reinvent the wheel and overcomplicate things… Just make sure each and every review is consistent.
Factual information
It almost sounds silly, but before you’ve even begun to write the review please make sure you play the actual game for a minimum of ten minutes, do your best to stick around until you’ve triggered a bonus feature as it makes a big difference to your overall opinion of the slot.
It’s easy to write a review based on the text provided by the developer, but trust us when we say the experience of writing a review based on your own first-hand experience is so much easier.
On that note, we highly recommend that players do not rely on other affiliates for information on a slot, it can be very tempting to check out what they’ve written and take inspiration, however, it’s worth noting that you have no idea whether what they’ve written is correct if you haven’t properly played the game yourself. It’s a risk that won’t pay off.
Demo games and original screenshots
If possible try and include a demo game within the body of your review. Admittedly it makes the entire process of compiling the review a little more complicated and time-consuming, but there’s no trust signal quite as strong as actually giving players the opportunity to play the game before or after they’ve read your review. It adds legitimacy to the page.
If you aren’t in a position to add demo games to your site then consider adding watermarked screenshots, this makes it clear to the user that you’ve taken the time to play the game yourself.
Affiliate Announcements
Affiliate Leaders Summit Grows 40% as Global Operators and Affiliates Flock to Lisbon
Following a successful run, the Affiliate Leaders Summit will make its return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) this September, now expanded to a three-day format and featuring the debut of the Affiliate Leaders Awards.
Taking place from 16–18 September, the Affiliate Leaders Summit runs alongside SBC Summit as a focused, standalone platform for affiliates, affiliate managers, and enabling suppliers. It also delivers a more targeted networking and learning experience, with a dedicated content stage and curated audience of 8,000 operator representatives and 3,500 affiliates.
Affiliate Leaders Summit delegates will also enjoy full access to wider SBC Summit features, including evening socials, the main expo floor, and Super Stage keynotes from leading voices such as Gary Vaynerchuk.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Last year’s launch of the Affiliate Leaders Summit was a big milestone for us. The response was incredible, but we knew we could do even more. That’s why this year, we’re giving it the time it deserves; three full days to ensure attendees can take in everything this event has to offer.
“We’re also introducing the Affiliate Leaders Awards, which I’m personally very excited about. Affiliates play a vital role in this industry, and it’s time we had a platform that truly celebrates their work alongside the operator programmes and suppliers who help make it all happen.”
A 40% expansion of the 2025 show floor also underscores the event’s rising influence, following 2024’s debut that earned standout NPS ratings—79 from affiliates and 68 from operators. This year’s exhibitor list is stacked with leaders of the field, including Catena Media, Clever Advertising, Evoke, Flashscore, Kaizen Gaming, Medier, Megapari, Novibet, and Shake, offering attendees direct access to key players across the affiliate and operator landscape.
On the conference side of things, the Affiliate Leaders Stage at this year’s summit delivers a powerful three-day journey through the evolution of affiliate marketing, starting with the martech tools redefining performance and partnerships, moving into audience-focused strategies that tap into community-driven SEO and smarter collaboration, and culminating in a forward-looking exploration of AI, diversification beyond Google, and the future role of affiliate managers.
With debates, CEO insights, hands-on workshops, and panels tackling everything from automation and CRM to content authenticity and deal transparency, this stage arms attendees with the ideas, tools, and strategies needed to thrive in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
The conference sessions will bring together some of the biggest names in affiliate marketing, including Jonathan Edelshaim (CEO, Natural Intelligence), Elaine Gardiner-Ruddock (Managing Director, TAG Media), Peter Gunni (CEO, Traffic Lab), Filip Komljenovic (Head of Sales, Sofascore), Deb Lee (Director of AI & Data Operations, CILA, Entain), Andre Machado (CCO, Clever Advertising), Leanne Muleba (Chief Operations Officer, Matching Visions), and Johan Styren (CEO & Co-founder, Dilanti Media).
Those joining the Affiliate Leaders Summit will benefit not only from the tailored content on the dedicated stage and Super Stage but also from the addition of the Global Markets and Emerging Markets stages. With affiliates and operators among the most curious about cross-border growth, these new stages provide an ideal opportunity to explore regional strategies and understand new audiences.
Affiliate and operator attendees can expect the VIP treatment at the Affiliate Leaders Summit, with complimentary access to the event’s premium evening networking lineup. That includes the high-energy Opening Party with Joel Corry and Imanbek, and the return of INFINITY Lisbon, featuring electrifying performances from Alok and Timmy Trumpet.
Sojmark added: “The Affiliate Leaders Summit is designed to make networking and easier by giving you a dedicated space to connect. But the hospitality doesn’t stop there. You’re part of the full SBC Summit experience. With access to all six stages, complimentary food and drinks at the Food Festival, and the freedom to explore every area of the event, you’re welcome to engage as widely as you like. The Affiliate Leaders Summit simply helps you focus your efforts where they matter most.”
The Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA) initiative is pleased to announce that iGaming.com has officially joined its growing network of compliant affiliate partners. The partnership starts with the inclusion of iGaming.com’s Danish portfolio, which will now be reviewed and monitored under the QMRA compliance framework.
This move follows earlier commitments by other major players in the iGaming affiliate industry, including Gentoo Media, Leadstar Media, GameLounge, and as a QMRA Operator, LeoVegas. With iGaming.com now joining their ranks, QMRA continues to build a stronger foundation for responsible and transparent affiliate marketing practices in Europe and beyond.
As part of the onboarding process, QMRA’s compliance team will assess the participating iGaming.com website against the established QMRA Code of Conduct. The partnership reflects mutual confidence and a shared objective: raising the standard of regulatory compliance and responsible marketing in the affiliate sector.
“We are very pleased that iGaming.com has chosen to partner with us. Their decision shows continued momentum in the industry towards credible, structured compliance. It also strengthens QMRA’s ability to advocate for a safe and transparent online gambling environment,” said Steven Vrolijk, spokesperson for QMRA.
Google Core Update: Optimized QMRA Member Certificates
In other news, following the latest Google Core Update, which emphasized the importance of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), QMRA is further optimizing its certification standards. Specifically, QMRA certificates will now include a new section titled Company Verification and Relationship with QMRA.
This section confirms that:
QMRA has verified the identity of the organization behind [Website Name] and confirmed that it is an established, demonstrably reliable entity with a registered business. QMRA maintains direct contact with the management of this organization regarding the operation of the website. A contractual relationship exists between QMRA and this company, under which periodic compliance checks are carried out and clear agreements have been made concerning adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
This added transparency helps reinforce the credibility of certified affiliate websites, not just with regulators and partners, but also with search engines increasingly focused on authoritative sources.
German Deposit Limits
Recently, QMRA specialists conducted research related to the overarching deposit limits in Germany: https://qmra.eu/online-gambling-deposit-limits-in-germany/
Germany’s strict deposit limit policy aims to reduce gambling harm, but its rigid framework, exemplified by a €1,000 monthly cap and technical restrictions, may unintentionally drive players toward illegal markets, highlighting the need for data-driven, flexible regulation that balances consumer protection with market realities.
Amusnet is excited to announce a new partnership with CasinoFreak, one of the most trusted and comprehensive online casino affiliate platforms. This collaboration supports our ongoing efforts to expand global reach and deliver high-quality gaming experiences to a broader audience. The affiliate is renowned for its reliable casino reviews, in-depth game insights, and player-first approach. This partnership will focus on providing in-depth coverage of Amusnet’s diverse portfolio of top-tier casino titles to CasinoFreak’s global user base – launching with a spotlight with the standout release, Sparta Legend.
“Working with CasinoFreak aligns perfectly with our vision of reaching players who value quality and amusement. Their commitment to up-to-date information and user-focused service makes them an ideal partner to showcase Sparta Legend’s unique gameplay and thematic appeal.”, comments Liliya Chatalbasheva, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at Amusnet.
“Sparta Legend by Amusnet is a bold step into the heart of ancient Greece, where polished visuals meet deliberate, focused gameplay. Its Free Spins feature with stacked Wilds creates steady momentum, and the Buy Feature allows immediate access to the core mechanics. As April’s Editor’s Choice, the game earns its place through consistency, clarity, and a theme that never strays from its mark.”, said Bogdan Romedea, PR Specialist at Casino Freak.
As we begin this exciting partnership, we invite gaming enthusiasts to explore CasinoFreak’s comprehensive reviews. With Sparta Legend and other Amusnet titles in focus, this collaboration marks an important step in enhancing the online casino experience and deepening community engagement. It reflects Amusnet’s commitment to partnering with top affiliates to deliver exceptional gaming worldwide.
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