News
The UK online casino market is at a crossroads
Martyn Hannah, Managing Director of Comparasino, says the direction the government and regulator take with updates to gambling law will determine the long-term success of the market
Great Britain is approaching a crossroads when it comes to online casino and the direction it takes will ultimately determine the viability of the market for all stakeholders over the next few years, including comparison sites such as Comparasino.
This remains a market with plenty of potential. The latest participation figures from the Gambling Commission show high demand for online casino, sports betting and bingo, with around 10 million people (16% of the population) engaging in these activities.
But the regulatory requirements being put on operators are now impacting the experiences they can offer to players while squeezing margins to the point where the UK – once the benchmark for regulated online gambling markets – is no longer sustainable for some.
In the last three years or so, we have seen an exodus of brands with only a small number of new online casinos taking their place.
This should be cause for concern, especially as the consultations from the White Paper rumble on and the changes that will result come into focus – we’ve already had the £2/£5 slot stake limits confirmed with more updates to follow.
Of course, players must be protected so that those at risk of developing problem play receive the support they need long before they reach the point of crisis. But at the same time, we have to remember that just 0.3% of UK players are considered to have a gambling problem.
The real risk for me is that if regulations and requirements continue to tighten, the UK market will no longer be viable for most brands – only the tier ones will be able to manage the slim margins.
This is bad for player choice and ultimately has the potential to push consumers towards unlicensed brands that can offer the experiences they are seeking and this is the opposite of what the changes to regulations are aiming to achieve.
It’s important to remember what players are looking for when deciding where to play – they want generous bonuses, a seamless sign-up process and a great selection of games to explore. They want to do this with reputable brands they can trust, and that’s why licencing is so important.
But the requirements operators must now meet – and any new requirements set to come into force – are at risk of damaging the player experience to the point where many will turn to unlicensed brands. Remember, these sites usually offer a great customer experience, they just don’t hold a licence.
The other day I was sitting with a friend when they signed up for an online casino for the first time. They were genuinely shocked by the sign-up process, especially the amount of information they had to provide and the length of time it took to register and deposit.
They were especially irked by the need to provide their occupation and monthly income. When I said there were unlicensed sites that offered a more streamlined onboarding process – and bigger bonuses – the friend said they’d play at those brands over the licensed site.
Of course, this is just one example but for me, it should raise concerns about how far we go when it comes to limiting bonuses and imposing stringent affordability checks on operators.
The Gambling Commission has indicated that affordability will be “light touch” for most players, but any additional friction really does risk pushing players to unlicensed sites where the sign-up process is quicker and the bonuses bigger.
The challenge is striking the right balance between consumer experience and protecting the most vulnerable, and I have some ideas for how we can do this.
I think operators should be able to offer the bonuses they wish, but they should not be able to impose high wagering requirements – or any wagering requirements, ideally.
Again, I tried explaining how the wagering requirement works to my friend and they simply couldn’t get their head around it.
“So, I have to wager £975 through the casino to unlock £15 in bonus winnings? That’s ridiculous.”
This is also what leads players to ultimately gamble more than they can afford as they make additional deposits in an attempt to complete the playthrough requirement, only to run out of funds or give up having deposited more than they intended.
This is when players can become frustrated. Many find it hard to understand how wagering requirements work, and then when they can’t withdraw their bonus winnings, it leads to a negative experience with the brand but worse, can put them in a state of mind that’s not ideal for gambling.
Player onboarding needs to be faster and more seamless, too. It’s so clunky right now that operators shouldn’t be surprised that a large percentage of players drop-off between landing at a casino for the first time and spinning the reels.
For context, it took around seven minutes for my friend to find a brand, sign up, deposit and play.
There are technologies available now – I’m talking about open banking here – that would mitigate sign-up friction, but would most likely require regulatory approval for operators to be able to use them to improve the sign-up process.
I absolutely believe that operators should be mandated to monitor each and every player in real time, and benchmark their gambling activity against markers of harm. This is the best way to spot problem play early and then make the necessary interventions.
I also think education is vital, and this is where affiliates must do more. Players are often unaware of the licensing process in the UK, and why it’s important to play at licensed brands. Nor are they aware of the tools in place to help them stay in control of their play.
This is something that we have committed significant resources to, with a dedicated safe gaming hub, responsible play messaging on all of our pages and the Comparasino Blog, where we publish articles and interviews with responsible gambling thought leaders.
The UK has always set the standard for regulated online gambling and I hope that this will continue to be the case once the consultations have closed and the final updates to the law are made.
The market might be at a crossroads, but if it goes in the right direction, it has a long and successful future ahead.
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...