Press Releases
Intertops celebrates 25 years since online gambling first
A milestone in gambling and ecommerce history took place 25 years ago this month when Intertops became the first company ever to accept an online bet.
The Austria-based operator’s brand new Intertops website handled a $50 wager, placed by a Finnish punter, on Tottenham Hotspur to beat Hereford United in an FA Cup fourth round tie on January 17, 1996.
At odds of just 1.04, the Premier League side’s 5-1 demolition of their lower-league opponents meant the punter profited by just $2, but it was a game-changing day for the betting industry, which until that day had been restricted to in-person and telephone wagering.
That $50 wager was the first of billions placed in the intervening quarter of a century, during which time Intertops has remained at the forefront of online betting. In 2000, the operator, responding to the growing potential of cell phones, launched the first-ever mobile betting site, and two years later introduced live betting.
In the years since 1996 Intertops has expanded beyond sports, with the creation of Intertops Casino in 1998 and the launch of Intertops Poker in 2003, thus always ensuring that its valued players can enjoy a full range of online gaming entertainment.
Intertops marks a quarter of a century of online betting by this year launching its new, redesigned in-play Sportsbook.
“We remain proud of our unique place in gambling history,” an Intertops spokesperson commented. “Gambling in one form or another had been around for millennia, yet Intertops brought it into the digital world in January 1996 thanks to our foresight and pioneering spirit, which remains the same today.
“In the years since that historic day, we have striven to stay at the head of the gambling sector, offering entertainment to millions of players each year through our comprehensive Sportsbook, Poker and Casino platforms.
“We will always be the first, but the introduction of our new Sportsbook will also ensure that we remain the best.”
Intertops was actually established in London back in 1983, and initially offered bookmaking services to players in Germany through a combination of telephone interactions and cash sent through the post.
It relocated to Austria almost a decade later to avoid British postal delays, but even in 1992 the World Wide Web was still more than a year away from common usage. Pizza Hut is considered to be the first company to complete an online transaction through the sale of a large pepperoni pizza in 1994, and it was Intertops that soon after took gambling into cyberspace.
“After all the years of success in the past, we remain committed to the future and providing players with the games they love to play,” the Intertops spokesperson added. “Here’s to 25 more years of a fun in a safe gaming environment.”
Affiliate Announcements
Casumo Renews its Partnership with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform
Casumo, the award-winning online casino and sportsbook operator, has renewed its longstanding partnership with NetRefer, the industry’s leading data-driven, AI-powered affiliate marketing platform, extending a collaboration that has supported the operator’s affiliate programme for over a decade.
Founded in 2012, Casumo has established itself as a recognised name in the global iGaming industry, operating across multiple regulated markets, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and key European markets, with a strong presence across the Nordics. With a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and player engagement, the brand has built a reputation for delivering a dynamic and high-quality gaming environment tailored to a diverse international audience.
Casumo’s offering spans both casino and sportsbook, supported by a broad portfolio of over 3,500 games, live casino experiences, and a continually evolving product ecosystem. The operator’s approach combines engaging gameplay with a structured and intuitive user journey, underpinned by a commitment to fairness, security, and responsible gaming across all markets in which it operates.
Affiliate marketing has played a central role in supporting Casumo’s growth over the past decade. Through its continued partnership with NetRefer, the operator benefits from a platform designed to deliver performance clarity, reliable tracking, and efficient partner management, enabling the team to optimise affiliate activity and maintain strong relationships across its global partner network.
Alongside these core capabilities, NetRefer continues to evolve its platform with a broader set of technologies that support affiliate programme performance at scale. This includes enhanced reporting through NetRefer’s BI Analytics solution, the Report Builder, deeper visibility into traffic quality via Enhanced Tracking, intelligent assistance through NetRefer CoPilot AI, and flexible integration through its API technology, all forming part of a scalable ecosystem designed to support operators as their requirements grow.
Reflecting on the renewal, Madeline Liautaud, Head of Affiliates at Casumo, said, “Over the years, NetRefer has consistently provided the reliability and flexibility we need to manage affiliate performance across multiple markets. Having confidence in the accuracy of our tracking and reporting is essential, not only for our internal teams but also for maintaining trust with our affiliate partners. Tools like NetRefer CoPilot AI and the Report Builder have also helped streamline day-to-day operations by making data more accessible and easier to work with, allowing our team to focus more on optimisation and strategic decision-making.”
Amanda Camenzuli, NetRefer’s Manager of Account Management, commented, “A 14-year partnership is a strong reflection of the trust and collaboration built between our teams. Casumo is a well-established and forward-thinking operator with a clear focus on user experience and long-term growth. We are proud to continue supporting their affiliate programme with scalable technology and the data visibility needed to manage performance with confidence across multiple markets.”
As Casumo continues to strengthen its presence across international markets, the renewed partnership with NetRefer reinforces a long-standing collaboration built on performance, transparency, and trust. With a shared focus on long-term growth and continuous optimisation, both teams look ahead to the next phase of their partnership.
Conferences
G GATE CONF 2026 — June 26–27, Tbilisi
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
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.
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