News
QMRA Research – Warning on potential Affiliate Ban in Finland
Lessons from the Netherlands Show the Risks of Eliminating Regulated SEO Affiliates
Finland is planning to ban affiliate marketing in its newly regulated online gambling market. The Finnish Government proposal HE 16/2025 VP sees affiliate marketing as problematic for the following reasons: risk of misuse by presenting incorrect information, blurring legal boundaries (difficulty distinguishing licensed and unlicensed operators), a lack of consumer protection (by not being neutral) and tax avoidance (as most affiliate operators are foreign registered).
New research from Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA) warns that such a ban could have severe unintended consequences, including a rise in illegal gambling operators dominating search engine results.
Drawing on lessons from the Dutch market, where online gambling has been regulated since 2021, the report underscores the crucial role of SEO affiliates in directing consumers to legal, licensed operators and countering the influence of unregulated platforms.
The Netherlands has witnessed firsthand the challenges of illegal gambling platforms using SEO and Google Ads to attract vulnerable players. Research by Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates (KVA) found that when legal affiliates are restricted, search results are quickly overrun by unlicensed operators. These sites often target minors and self-excluded gamblers, lack responsible gambling protections, and operate with minimal oversight.
Steven Vrolijk, QMRA Director: “The Dutch market has taught us a lot about how illegal operators adapt. We’ve also seen that proactive, responsible affiliates play a crucial role in pushing back against them. SEO affiliation is a form of advertising that only appears when a consumer is actively searching for gambling options. If Finland bans legal affiliates, its search results may soon be dominated by illegal results.”
The report highlights key risks associated with an affiliate marketing ban:
- Increased visibility of illegal gambling sites – Without regulated affiliates, players will primarily encounter unlicensed operators.
- Lack of consumer protections – Illegal sites do not enforce responsible gambling measures or age verification.
- Higher risk of fraud and money laundering – Many unlicensed operators accept cryptocurrency and other anonymous payment methods.
- Targeting of vulnerable players – Minors and problem gamblers are more likely to be exposed to unregulated gambling.
Instead of a full ban, QMRA recommends Finland implement a structured affiliate marketing framework.
Download the full report
The full report provides an in-depth analysis of the risks and offers data-driven recommendations.
The N1 Partners affiliate program is making headlines again with new nominations! This time, the team has been shortlisted among the brightest stars of the European iGaming industry for the European iGaming Excellence Awards (EiGE Awards 2025).
The award ceremony will take place on October 30 in the heart of Warsaw, bringing together the most influential players in the iGaming market – operators, affiliate programs, payment providers, and trailblazing tech innovators.
Gambling affiliate program N1 Partners is nominated in two top categories:
- Best iGaming Affiliate Program
- iGaming Leader of the Year (individual)
How to vote for N1 Partners in both categories (it will take no more than a minute):
- Go to: https://hipther.com/events/egc/eige-awards/
- Select the “Best iGaming Affiliate Program category” → click “Continue to vote”.
- Choose N1 Partners from the list → enter your personal details → click “Vote”.
- Return to the awards page → select “iGaming Leader of the Year (individual)” → click “Continue to vote”.
- Select Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners from the list → enter your details → click “Vote”.
Online voting is open until August 26.
Why N1 Partners?
- 12+ high-converting brands
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- Flexible payment method CPA | RevShare I Hybrid
- Insights from in-house analysts
- Benefit from top offers
- 24/7 support
Support N1 Partners and Head of Affiliate Alexa Bond with your vote – who knows, your vote might make all the difference!
The N1 Puzzle Promo from N1 Partners affiliate program is picking up pace — and the competition for the main prize, a real helicopter Robinson R22 Beta II, is getting serious.
One of the best casino affiliate programs N1 has launched a special activity for participants, offering a chance to earn extra puzzle pieces and try their luck in a draw for awesome prizes! Simple as that.
Campaign period: August 15 – November 15, 2025.
All the details are below.
To earn additional puzzle pieces and improve your position on the leaderboard, you need to complete the following challenges:
- Be a registered participant of the N1 Puzzle Promo and have minimum one puzzle piece already earned for traffic
- Post positive reviews about your cooperation with N1 Partners on 4 websites: Business of Apps, Affpaying, CPA.Club, and Trustpilot (direct links to N1 Partners profiles below):
- https://www.businessofapps.com/affiliate/n1-partners/
- https://www.affpaying.com/n1partners
- https://cpa.club/en/companies/n1-partners
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/n1.partners
- Subscribe to N1 Partners’ social media:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1_partners
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/n1partners/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/n1partners
- Take part in the N1 Partners survey
Here come the rewards.
In addition to three extra puzzle pieces for the main leaderboard, all participants will enter a giveaway for a home VR flight training set — the “Pilot Course”.
What’s inside the set?
- Meta Quest 3 (128 GB)
- Licensed VR simulator
- PC-compatible cable
Find more details about the special tasks on our website at the following link: https://n1.partners/news-page/n1-puzzle-promo-challenge
N1 Puzzle Promo: More traffic → More puzzles → Closer to the winning!
Awards
ReferOn Earns Dual Nominations for Innovation and Marketing Excellence at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025
The company continues its growth in 2025 with key industry recognition
ReferOn, a next-gen affiliate management platform has been shortlisted for the “Affiliate Product Innovation” and “Best Marketing Solution Provider” categories at the upcoming SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025.
These nominations come after an important year for the company, defined by strong market traction, continuous product development, and an increased demand from operators and affiliate managers looking to transition from outdated legacy platforms to a more agile, transparent, and scalable solution.
Since its launch, the ReferOn team has demonstrated its commitment to solving real problems for affiliate teams. At the core of its value propositions is creating a simple and accessible platform that’s built for modern needs. Core developments like full-cycle automation, customisable dashboards, instant postbacks, and real-time data visibility help to reduce chaos and boost performance. Additionally, tools like the Sub-Affiliate System, No Bundling Model, and dynamic variables assist with increased operational control.
Vlad Bondarenko, ReferOn’s Head of Product, commented on the nominations, “We didn’t build ReferOn to compete with legacy platforms — we built it to replace them. Every development, addition, and decision is guided by the goal of empowering our users to move faster, make more insightful decisions, and scale efficiently. These nominations have shown us that we’re moving in the right direction and that our incredible team is working towards something truly impactful.”
ReferOn’s roadmap remains ambitious and future-focused, with numerous investments in product developments, customer-facing services, and initiatives that help affiliate teams act faster and move smarter.
Vote now for N1 Partners in two EiGE Awards 2025 nominations!
The N1 Partners affiliate program is making headlines again with new nominations! This time, the team has been shortlisted among...
N1 Puzzle Promo: Complete Challenges, Earn Puzzles, and Get a Chance to Win a VR Pilot Course!
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ReferOn Earns Dual Nominations for Innovation and Marketing Excellence at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025
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