News
How important are partnerships in iGaming?
Many industries have been driven by rivalries as every company is striving for the best – but it’s not always the best long term solution. Partnerships are incredibly important and provide businesses with a way to evolve and expand their customer base.
It’s becoming increasingly common for companies within the iGaming industry to partner up for mutually beneficial agreements. Only recently, Push Gaming and Scientific Games signed a major deal to form a partnership. While on the one hand, these two companies are competitors fighting for the players’ attention but they saw the potential long-term success of the collaboration.
A good partnership can completely elevate a business to the next level which is why it’s so important within the iGaming industry. Despite being an industry that’s fiercely competitive, partnerships can be advantageous for all parties involved – if it’s done well.
Partnerships can improve the player’s experience
Within the past few years, there has been a multitude of partnerships among slot developers. Many independent game studios have gained much-needed exposure from partnerships with big names such as Yggdrasil, Relax Gaming and Microgaming due to their specialist platforms.
On the surface, these platforms seem to mainly boost the smaller studios, when in reality it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Giving independent developers access to better tools and authoritative expertise improves the reputation of the bigger studio that is providing them with the support.
The established developers host smaller ones on their platforms often under the bigger name. Therefore, casinos that host the larger developers potentially get the smaller studio as well which vastly improves the player’s experience and overall opinion of the developer.
A key example would be Yggdrasil’s YGS Masters programme which is an invite-only platform that features studios such as Peter & Sons, Reflex Gaming and True Lab Games. The casinos that have previously partnered with Yggdrasil have the potential to host the games created through the YGS Masters programme, which improves the selection of games at the player’s disposal.
Ultimately, the most important factor is the player’s experience and enjoyment which is easily improved by partnerships like these.
Affiliates partnering with developers is mutually beneficial
Partnerships come in all shapes and sizes but they can be extremely valuable to all parties involved. It’s not just developers within the iGaming world collaborating together but also affiliates working alongside the developers as well.
One of the leading sources of independent online slot reviews, Slot Gods, have partnered with over ten different developers within the last six months. These partnerships have included the previously mentioned Push Gaming and Scientific Games along with other big names such as Relax Gaming and Playtech.
Fundamentally, partnerships like these allow developers to build excitement for upcoming slot releases or to give an insight into the ethos of their studio through interviews. Affiliate sites like Slot Gods are given exclusives through content, whilst the studios gain exposure for their products. It’s essentially a form of free marketing that is beneficial to everyone involved with no real cost.
Takeovers can be advantageous to the iGaming industry
Whilst good partnerships are useful and instrumental to success, takeovers can also be worthwhile within the iGaming industry. One of the biggest takeovers includes Evolution Gaming’s acquisition of NetEnt for 2 billion dollars in 2020.
This collaboration led to the creation of the popular Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. Essentially, this combined the fan-favourite Gonzo’s Quest with the popular live casino game format from Evolution to make a product that’s unique and fresh for players.
Acquisitions like this have the potential to improve the general industry with innovations like Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt that combine online slots with the interactive live casino experience. Future innovations like this lead to positive repercussions for the rest of the iGaming industry.
Networking is always key
Both partnerships and takeovers can boost the industry but exchanging information through networking is important as well. At its core, networking is the process of sharing knowledge with people or organisations that are in the same field.
Of course, exclusive secrets or non-disclosure agreements (NDA) should not be shared but insights into important changes (such as laws) or software are worthwhile in improving the general industry. For example, distributing private information under an NDA is disrespectful and potentially damaging to all involved, but enlightening another affiliate with an upcoming law change is helpful for all in the long run.
Networking events like IGB Affiliate can even lead to partnerships or at least guide people within the iGaming industry in the right direction. Naturally, some may want to keep all the information to themselves, but it works out better in the industry long-term if people network to constantly share and improve upon ideas.
Closing thoughts
It’s clear to see that partnerships are a valuable asset in iGaming that should not be taken lightly. They are incredibly important in promoting products, exchanging knowledge and improving the player’s overall experience.
Even traditional media sites such as The Telegraph see the value in partnering within the iGaming world as they gain all their in-depth reviews, guides and tips about iGaming from affiliate BettingExpert.
The biggest question that remains is this: Will affiliates within iGaming ever work together to see the merit in partnerships? Experts within bingo could work with specialists in the live casino game sector to exchange valuable knowledge. No single person can become an expert on everything, so it’s helpful to get an adept person within this field to fill in the gaps.
Whether affiliates will work together in the future remains to be seen, but it could revolutionise the entirety of the iGaming industry.
Casino affiliates all over the planet are locked in a tough but potentially lucrative battle to attract new players. Big welcome bonuses and gamified sites are some of the tools at their disposal, but nothing is more effective than a top-notch collection of great games to bring in newcomers. By looking at some of the key categories, we can discover how new games and genres are helping drive growth when used correctly.
Sequels and Spin-Offs Catch the Eye
If we look at a collection of popular slots on a leading casino site, we can see that some of them are sequels or spin-offs of slots that have attracted a lot of fans. Devil Fire 2 and Money Coming 2 are among the slots that have proved to be popular enough to get a follow-up that enhances the original in some way. Slot sequels often look very similar but add a new feature, such as a bonus round or jackpot.
Anyone who enjoys playing a certain game is likely to feel enthusiastic about a sequel that they spot being advertised. It’s a classic marketing approach that we can also find being used in the movie and TV world. This look at the trend points out that 2024’s five highest-grossing movies were either sequels or reboots. In the same way, some of the most popular slots are part of the biggest series.
Adding spin-offs is a low-risk approach that is designed to quickly capture the attention of players. However, it needs to be combined with the introduction of other new slots that show a forward-looking approach and a willingness to give new ideas a chance. Too many sequels can result in people getting bored and looking for alternative platforms.
New Features Can Fuel Interesting Marketing Campaigns
The fact that they’re so easy to use is one of the main reasons why slot machines have been a casino favorite across the decades. All you need to do is hit the spin button and wait to see if the right symbols fall into place to give you a big prize. While slot developers don’t want to lose that simplicity, they also need to find new ways to get players excited about their gameplay.
This is why we find new slots being launched with features like innovative types of jackpots and cash collect features. Affiliates can use the freshness of these features to get potential new players interested in playing. By studying how innovators create new markets, we can see how they flip existing ideas, with the example of the Square payment service showing how big changes often start very simply.
Themes That Increase The Appeal
An explosion of new themes has been one of the key aspects in the spectacular recent growth of online casinos, as many of the leading developers have decided to create their own versions using widely loved themes like fishing, wild animals, and Egyptian treasures. With each new game having some sort of fresh new ideas, the release of the latest slots gives casinos and their affiliates the chance to appeal to a big audience.
Not all of the newest slots are designed to appeal to every type of player, with many of them having niche appeal that makes them ideal for certain users. This is why we’re seeing slot releases based on genres like fantasy, movies, and science fiction, among others. These games can be used to carry out targeted marketing, but they need to be aimed at the right people to enjoy success.
This look by mBit Casino at underrated retro games reveals how there is a big market for these games, so it’s no surprise that new slots with a retro tinge are also trending.
Live Dealer Titles, Plinko, Crash, and More
The history of casinos is filled with classic games like roulette and blackjack, which have retained their popularity over centuries and are still highly sought after. However, the market has expanded in fascinating new directions in recent years, as the latest technology is used to create different kinds of gambling games.
Live dealer titles use live-streaming to appeal to new players who want a fast-paced, game show type of experience with direct human interaction. Plinko and crash-style games have also been introduced to add to the different ways of playing in casinos. These games provide fast and simple gameplay that appeals to people who love casual games with an easy learning curve.
Bearing in mind all of the different ways that new games can be used to help affiliates grow, it’s clear that these sites now have a variety of powerful tools at their fingertips. It’s just a question of using them wisely to let new players see what games they might want to try.
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.
How The Power of New Games Helps Affiliates Grow
Casino affiliates all over the planet are locked in a tough but potentially lucrative battle to attract new players....
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)...
iGaming.Com joins QMRA & More News
The Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA) initiative is pleased to announce that iGaming.com has officially joined its growing network...
Amusnet Partners with Leading Affiliate CasinoFreak
Amusnet is excited to announce a new partnership with CasinoFreak, one of the most trusted and comprehensive online casino...
MightyTips launches snappy Football Tips format for casual and pro bettors alike
MightyTips unveils a major product update — Football Tips, a dynamic new feature that delivers fast, curated football betting...
Mikael Strunge is appointed as the new President and CEO of ACROUD
The board of directors of ACROUD AB has appointed Mikael Strunge as the new President and CEO of Acroud....
ReferOn Launches Three Powerful New Features for Smarter Affiliate Management
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management system, has introduced three major features aimed at making affiliate operations faster, smoother and...
Personalization in Action: How CasinoBonusesFinder Adapts to Every Player
Today’s casino players represent a diverse spectrum of preferences, playing styles, and risk tolerance levels. A high-stakes crypto enthusiast from...
New Sponsorship Opportunities Announced for the EEGS Affiliate Conference
The EEGS Affiliate Conference, now in its 4th edition, is pleased to announce the launch of new sponsorship opportunities....
Let’sBet Partners with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform
Emerging US sportsbook operator Let’sBet has partnered with NetRefer, the industry’s leading data-driven, AI-powered affiliate marketing platform, to support...