News
Betting on New Customers: Are Returning Users Damaging Sportsbooks’ CAC Strategies?
By: Richard Metcalf
In the fast-paced, highly competitive world of sports betting, operators have to ensure they’re maximising Return-On-Investment (ROI) in their digital marketing campaigns. The challenge is to target new customers and not waste budget on returning users that they’ve already engaged.
Campaign spend within sports betting should be laser-focused on driving customer acquisition and making every click count, but with existing users inadvertently driving up Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC), this is becoming a huge challenge. Predictions from Statista suggest that the online gambling market will consist of over 233.7 million users by 2027. This makes it imperative to protect against existing customers from draining budget and free up budget for new customers
If a sportsbook doesn’t have visibility into the traffic it’s generating through its ads, it could be losing millions to users who are already engaged and using its site. Returning users need to be managed to ensure sportsbooks can make the most of their budgets and gain new converting customers.
Returning Users and ROI
What percentage of your digital marketing budget is engaging returning users through your ad as an entry point? The chances are this number is very high. We recently saw a company where 97% of their spending on branded keywords was linked to clicks from existing customers which drained their budget and meant they saw close to no new conversions.
Repeat clickers and returning customers, who navigate to your site using ads, rather than organic search results, are driving up the cost of genuine new clicks from first-time depositors. Although these are enthusiastic and engaged customers, they are clicking on your ads excessively and driving up your CAC and Cost Per Acquisition (CPA). This ultimately dilutes your campaign’s effectiveness and wastes spend on engagement that will never convert.
The Secret to Success with Custom Validation Rules and Shadow Campaigns
To drive the performance of sports betting advertising efforts, companies can set custom validation rules that limit the number of times a user clicks on a paid ads campaign. Once that threshold of clicks is met, the users are stopped from seeing that campaign for a set period of time, helping to eliminate the high CPC rates sportsbooks experience.
This effectively means that once the threshold is reached the user is precluded from seeing ads and will only see the brand’s organic listing on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Alternatively, by implementing shadow campaigns, an operator can create a duplicate of the existing brand keyword campaign in Google ads just for these returning users who are precluded from the original brand keyword campaign. So, rather than being shown the organic listing these users will see a paid search ad on the SERP but at a lower cost to the advertiser.
Shadow campaigns are a powerful tool that allow advertisers to take appropriate actions to protect their brand, optimise their marketing efforts, and ensure compliance with marketing strategies. By using custom verification rules and shadow campaigns, budgets are saved for genuine users who are more likely to convert resulting in maximised ROI.
Transforming and Optimising Campaigns
No sportsbook wants returning users burning their marketing budgets. In a market that is growing ever more competitive, it is vital that advertising traffic is controlled for businesses to capture more ROI across campaigns. By implementing shadow campaigns, sportsbooks will uncover a new level of visibility to minimise CAC and maximise new customer engagement.
It’s time to unlock unparalleled success, optimise your PPC campaigns to their fullest potential and transform your Google Advertising strategy.
Richard Metcalf is the Global VP, Sports Betting & Online Gaming, at TrafficGuard, an international platform provider for detecting, mitigating and reporting on digital ad fraud. With over twenty years of experience in Sales and Business Development in the digital industry, Richard strives to achieve the highest level of results for the team. He has represented brands as their public face, managed entire sales cycle processes and delivered solutions to stakeholders to ensure business growth and develop the teams around him.
News
All Roads Lead to the Helicopter — N1 Partners Turns SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a Pit Stop for Deals
N1 Partners is heading to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 with Booth 5056 G, charged with drive, precision, and the spirit of being first — presenting its top offers, products, and entering the final lap of the N1 Puzzle Promo before the grand finale.
After hitting the road in London and conquering the waves in Lisbon, N1 Partners is taking off to the sky — straight to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome. This time, all roads truly lead to the helicopter.
Inspired by Italian sports car engineering and the spirit of competition, with a true vibe of drive — from Ferrari and Maserati to Formula 1 — the N1 Partners stand merges speed, precision, and style in every detail, creating a space where affiliates can recharge, connect, and explore new opportunities.
Step Up to the HeliRun Challenge
Visitors can take on the HeliRun Challenge — a mechanical time-trial maze where accuracy and focus are key and winners will receive branded mini-helicopters and other limited prizes.
Win a Ferrari
One lucky guest will drive away with a Ferrari — in LEGO form, but full of prestige.
Simply collect a branded card at the booth, follow N1 Partners on social media, and drop your entry into the prize drum.
The draw will take place on Day 3 at 16:00, with results announced on Instagram.
What Awaits at Booth 5056 G
- Meet the N1 Partners team to discuss insights and top-tier deals.
- Enjoy aperol & gelato sessions and exclusive giveaways.
- Take part in interactive activations and surprise drops throughout the event.
- Get exclusive N1 merch featuring the Puzzle Piece — your link to future N1 Puzzle Promo prizes.
Every detail is designed for speed, style, and engagement — making the booth a must-visit destination in Rome.
Why Meet N1 Partners in Rome
For more than eight years, N1 Partners has been accelerating affiliate growth, uniting 14+ licensed casino and betting brands across Tier-1 markets.
The program offers:
- Flexible deals: RevShare up to 45% / Hybrid / CPA up to €700 for partners with top-performing traffic
- Transparent terms: no shave, no delays, guaranteed payouts
- Exceptional performance: Reg2Dep up to 70%
At Booth 5056 G, the team will present personalized offers and partnership opportunities for affiliates working with SEO, PPC, FB, or mixed traffic.
With N1 Partners, you don’t just work with the number one — you become one.
Don’t wait — book your meeting now and take off with N1 Partners.
Next Lap: Helicopter.
Awards
ReferOn in the Spotlight: Nominated for the Prestigious “Best Affiliate Software 2025” Award at SiGMA Europe Rome
ReferOn shortlisted for another major award as it heads to Rome
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management platform, has been shortlisted for the “Best Affiliate Software 2025” category at the upcoming SiGMA Europe Awards — recognising its commitment to reshaping modern affiliate tech.
2025 marked a crucial year for the company as ReferOn evolved into one of the most forward-thinking solutions in the iGaming affiliate space. The platform continues to tackle industry pain points head-on with technological advancements like Independent Deal Calculation for flexible reward logic, multi-brand dashboards, and affiliate-controlled postbacks, all designed to give users real-time visibility and frictionless control.
Alex Bukin, ReferOn’s General Manager, commented, “This nomination is a reflection of how far ReferOn has come in such a short time. Behind every new innovative feature is a team that’s not just developing a platform, they’re transforming affiliate marketing. Our mission has always been to strip away complexity and chaos and focus on giving affiliate managers the clarity and tools they need to succeed. This recognition tells us we’re on the right track.”
ReferOn is not stranger to recognition, winning the “Best Partner For Customer Acquisition & Retention” award from the previous year’s SiGMA Europe Awards. The team now aims to build on that positive momentum and showcase its latest advancements in affiliate operations at Booth 5044 during SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome.
Affiliate Announcements
IZIGROUP Partners with PartnerMatrix to Expand Global Reach
A new chapter of innovation begins as PartnerMatrix, one of the industry’s leading affiliate marketing software providers, partners with IZIGROUP to strengthen its global presence and enhance player acquisition through smarter, data-driven, and fully compliant marketing technology.
The collaboration will empower affiliates promoting IZIGROUP’s online brands, IZIBET and Dragonara Online Casino with cutting-edge tools to manage, track, and optimize campaigns more efficiently. This partnership reflects a shared vision for growth, innovation, and regulatory excellence within the evolving iGaming landscape.
PartnerMatrix, part of the EveryMatrix group, is known for delivering flexible, secure, and high-performing solutions that enable operators to scale their affiliate programs globally while maintaining compliance and transparency values deeply aligned with IZIGROUP’s operational philosophy.
“PartnerMatrix’s platform is the best in the industry, robust, reliable, and designed for performance,” said Cristian Rachieru, Head of Online Operations for IZI Interactive Limited, the company licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to operate IZIGROUP’s online gaming brands.
“With PartnerMatrix and the full suite of EveryMatrix products powering our operations, we’re ready for a full house. This partnership will further strengthen our ability to connect with players globally while remaining compliant and delivering exceptional online gaming experiences.”
Hasmik Movsisian, Chief Commercial Officer at PartnerMatrix, added: “We are delighted to partner with IZIGROUP, a company that shares our dedication to innovation and responsible growth. By combining our advanced affiliate management technology with IZIGROUP’s strong brand portfolio, we’re confident in driving higher engagement, stronger performance, and lasting success within regulated markets.”
This collaboration marks an important milestone in IZIGROUP’s continuous journey of innovation and expansion. By uniting PartnerMatrix’s affiliate marketing expertise with IZIGROUP’s trusted brand portfolio and the EveryMatrix ecosystem, the partnership sets the stage for long-term success and sustainable growth.
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Affiliate Announcements2 weeks agoBetGoat Partners with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform
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News1 week agoN1 Partners launches a promo for N1 Bet: earn extra payouts for your FTDs!
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Affiliate Announcements3 days agoIZIGROUP Partners with PartnerMatrix to Expand Global Reach
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News2 days agoAll Roads Lead to the Helicopter — N1 Partners Turns SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a Pit Stop for Deals
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Awards2 days agoReferOn in the Spotlight: Nominated for the Prestigious “Best Affiliate Software 2025” Award at SiGMA Europe Rome

