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.
Since 2018, one of the iGaming affiliate leaders, AskGamblers, has been partnering with N1 Partners, right from the beginning of the affiliate program’s rise. This collaboration has evolved into a proven growth engine for both brands.
Partnering for Scale: Why AskGamblers Chose N1 Partners
Working together, AskGamblers and N1 Partners have leveraged data-driven optimisation across GEOs. This lets AskGamblers scale traffic and conversions while N1 Partners deepens its footprint across key markets.
When the N1 Puzzle Promo was announced, the AskGamblers team shared their reaction:
“We received exciting news from our esteemed N1 Partners affiliate manager regarding this promotion. We are particularly thrilled about the grand prize – a helicopter – and are fully committed to participating with the goal of winning it!” said the AskGamblers team.
Driving SEO Traffic: The AskGamblers Formula
The AskGamblers’ focus is on providing genuine value and a high-quality user experience, so that visitors don’t just arrive, but return. That aligns seamlessly with N1 Partners’ philosophy of not just driving volume, but building players with retention and lifetime value.
“Secrets and tips exist in every domain. Still, great things are accomplished through hard work, an open mind, adaptability, and curiosity. Users will come back because of the added value and the best experience,” the AskGamblers team emphasised.
Stepping into the Race: AskGamblers Joins the N1 Puzzle Promo
When N1 Partners launched its huge-scale promotion campaign, the N1 Puzzle Promo, AskGamblers was quick to take a leading position. This promo offers a global affiliate competition with standout luxury prizes, including a grand prize – Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter – and a leaderboard structure that drives performance.
As soon as the promo launched, the AskGamblers team decided to go for the grand prize and dominate the leaderboard. With the guidance and support of N1 Partners’ affiliate team, the AskGamblers team selected several brands from the N1 portfolio, prioritising high-converting brands within the network, pivoted resources, and increased focus on SEO and long-term traffic value.
Leaderboard Mindset: Motivation, Competition & Expectations
AskGamblers is a highly competitive team, and the N1 Puzzle Promo format hits the mark. For N1 Partners, this speaks directly to our goal: bringing top-tier affiliates into big campaigns where they can shine and scale.
As participants get closer to the final stage of the N1 Puzzle Promo, the competition becomes even more intense, with the AskGamblers team confidently maintaining its position in the top 10 and actively moving towards the prize-winning places.
Beyond Traffic: What Success Looks Like
If AskGamblers wins the helicopter, the vision is as bold as it is fun.
“Wouldn’t it be great to skip notorious traffic and take a helicopter ride to the next iGaming event?” said the AskGamblers team.
Such an approach shows that this is about partnership, performance, and flair — not just metrics.
The N1 Puzzle Promo runs through the end of 2025, giving you a live chance to climb the leaderboard, win luxury prizes, and capture the grand prize: a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter.
Don’t wait, sign up now, drive high-quality traffic and earn puzzle pieces! With N1 Partners’ multi-brand affiliate program, dedicated support, and global reach, your chances of rewards are streamlined. Join the race, collect your puzzle pieces, and hit the top!
Plus, there is a special bonus activity to earn even more puzzle pieces, and premium prizes. From September 1 to November 30, enter the 2nd lottery of the N1 Puzzle Promo with a fresh set of luxury prizes.
The race for the grand prize of N1 Puzzle Promo – a real Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter – is entering the final stretch! Just two months left until the promo ends on December 31, and only two weeks to earn extra puzzle pieces and get a chance to win the exclusive “Pilot Course” VR set by completing special missions.
Deadline: November 15
How to join the final challenge and get +3 bonus puzzles (+ an automatic entry into the VR set draw):
- Be an active participant of N1 Puzzle Promo and earn at least one puzzle for your traffic.
- Share positive feedback about your experience with N1 Partners on four platforms:
- Follow N1 Partners on social media:
- Complete a short N1 Partners feedback survey.
What’s inside the “Pilot Course” VR set:
- Meta Quest 3 (128 GB)
- Licensed VR simulator
- PC-compatible cable
Time is running out – this is your moment to break into the leaderboard and boost your chances to take home the helicopter!
Don’t wait – complete your special missions before November 15 and get closer to the sky.
Find full details on our official website.
Be number one with N1!
The tech powerhouse has a new website, name and branding that are set to take the affiliate marketing company into the next 10 years.
Quantum International Holdings, the affiliate formerly known across the tech, sports, iGaming betting industries as QiH Group has launched its official rebrand to Quantum. With a new-look website, logo and assets, the company has chosen the pared down name to reflect the strategic direction it will be taking, starting in 2026.
Speaking about the change, Quantum CEO Jamie Walters said: “I’m incredibly proud and excited to share the next chapter in our journey: the evolution of QiH into Quantum. For over a decade, QiH has been our foundation, a story of success, growth and innovation in iGaming. But the world – especially digitally – moves fast, and so do we.
“‘Quantum’ was already in our name, so we’ve simplified and streamlined, and it now represents the next version of who we are and where we’re going. A rebrand is about a lot more than a new logo, colours and identity – we’ve also evolved our mindset, ambition and of course, our strategic direction.
Walters continues: “Over the past few months, the Quantum team has worked tirelessly to get to this exciting new stage for our growth. We’re building on everything that has already made QiH Group so brilliant – our talent, creativity, and data-driven approach – and supercharging it to perform on the biggest global stage.
“Our vision is simple: to expand our affiliate marketing roots to become the world’s most-used digital comparison service, delivering simplicity and value to millions of users around the globe.”
Tom Murch, creative director at Quantum, shared: “The rebrand brief was simple: evolution. This wasn’t just about a new identity, it was about building on a decade of growth and turning momentum into acceleration. Quantum is the brave new chapter in our story, a brand, a strategy, a mindset, and a framework for high performance culture at scale and where elite talent can really thrive.”
The story so far
QiH Group was launched in London in 2014 to address a gap in the iGaming affiliate market for smart, digital-first, data-focused affiliate partnerships for iGaming operators.
The company has seen a host of accolades, such as:
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Moving from 21st to 15th on EGR Global’s Power Affiliates list in 2025
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Growing from five initial employees to 60 now
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Hiring an experienced C-suite of talent, including a CFO, CMO and CTO and promoting internally for their COO
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Building our entire tech team from outsourced to a fully in-house, tech capability, expanding the team from 0 to 14 employees this year
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Shortlisted for eight major awards in iGaming, from Employer of the Year to Affiliate of the Year
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Fostering years-long relationships with Tier 1 operators
“2026 and beyond are going to be incredibly exciting times for Quantum, and we’re so pleased to be bringing a new look, simplified name and a honed strategic direction and operational delivery for our clients – and of course, an environment where our talented and ambitious team can thrive,” says Walters.
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