News

The UK online casino market is at a crossroads

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2024

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.

Related Topics:Managing Director of Comparasino Martyn Hannah regulatory requirements UK Gambling Commission

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Affiliate Announcements

Casumo Renews its Partnership with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform

Published

20 hours ago

May 26, 2026

George Miller

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.

News

N1 Partners’ Knowledge Base keep up with iGaming Trends

Published

2 days ago

May 25, 2026

Master Editor

How do you choose the right affiliate program? Which GEOs currently offer the strongest potential? What should you focus on when scaling traffic? And how do you cut through the constant stream of news to find insights that actually matter for your work?

N1 Partners is launching Knowledge Base – a new hub of content for webmasters, affiliate teams, and everyone working with iGaming traffic.

Over the years in the industry, the N1 Partners team has developed deep expertise in affiliate marketing, products, GEOs, traffic acquisition, and partner management. Now, all that knowledge is gathered in one place to share experience, support the community, and help partners navigate the market faster and more effectively.

What’s inside the Knowledge Base?

The N1 Partners Knowledge Base will feature content for both beginner webmasters looking to better understand the affiliate industry and experienced affiliates searching for fresh strategies, trends, and scaling opportunities.

The focus isn’t on short-lived news but on evergreen insights and practical knowledge that stay relevant over time.

Inside the Knowledge Base, you’ll find:

market analysis;
industry trend reports;
guides for affiliates;
articles on choosing affiliate programs;
answers to the most common questions;
practical tips and educational content.

The new section is designed to help affiliates better understand the market, stay ahead of industry changes, assess risks in advance, and spot new growth opportunities early.

Explore the N1 Partners Knowledge Base — and stay one step ahead in the iGaming industry!

Why N1 Partners?

14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep rates;
10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners.

Be number one with N1!

News

LEONBET LAUNCHES A WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE CAMPAIGN GIVING OUT A NEW MAZDA CX-3 AND OTHER AMAZING PRIZES

Published

5 days ago

May 22, 2026

Master Editor

LEONBET LAUNCHES A WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE CAMPAIGN GIVING OUT A NEW MAZDA CX-3 AND OTHER AMAZING PRIZES!

LEONBET, Tanzania’s leading betting company known for its exciting odds and daily promotions, has officially launched another major campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup season, which will officially begin on May 15, 2026.

LEONBET has always been committed to rewarding Tanzanians through different promotions. Before the launch of the WORLD CUP 2026 RAFFLE campaign, the company successfully introduced promotions such as MAGIFTI BAMPA 2 BAMPA, COMBO-HELA, and many others. These promotions are aimed at making sure customers benefit and win every day, which is why LEONBET is known as a company that creates winners daily.

The 2026 WORLD CUP RAFFLE campaign officially starts on May 15, 2026, and ends on July 20, 2026. The campaign aims to give customers a chance to win exciting prizes while enjoying the entertainment and excitement of the World Cup tournament.

Through this campaign, LEONBET customers will be required to place bets worth at least TZS 3,000 or more on any sport to receive coupons that will allow them to participate in different prize draws during various stages of the World Cup competition.

Participants in the campaign will have a chance to win prizes including:

Mazda CX-3
Luxury Ngorongoro trip for two
PlayStation 5 (PS5)
iPhone 17 Pro Max
TZS 10 million cash prize
And many more prizes

The prizes will be awarded during different stages of the tournament, including:

Group Stage
Round of 16
Quarter Finals
Semi Finals
Final

Speaking about the promotion, LEONBET Director Jérôme Dufourg said:

“We are excited to bring Tanzanians this big campaign aimed at increasing entertainment, competition, and winning opportunities for our customers during the World Cup tournament. We believe this campaign will bring happiness to many participants across the country.”

LEONBET ambassador Baraka Mpenja also said:

“I continue to enjoy working with LEONBET because it is a trustworthy company with no tricks. It is one of the best companies in Tanzania, offering regular promotions to make sure Tanzanians have a chance to win. I encourage everyone to participate by playing more with bets starting from only TZS 3,000 to win many prizes, including the Mazda CX-3.”

LEONBET continues to strengthen its commitment to providing reliable and high-quality services to all customers while improving the sports betting experience in Tanzania.