News
The Ethics of Ranking: Can Affiliates Be Both Commercial and Credible?
Ethics is one of the most important issues in the world of online gambling affiliates. Many gamblers wonder if websites can be both credible and commercial. Who better to answer this question than an industry veteran, who has worked with well known operators and affiliate companies? He is also the founder of Mithrillium Media Ltd., which makes him uniquely qualified to answer our questions.
Mister Sebastian Jarosch is a unique voice in the industry. He has worked to push gambling affiliates towards a UX-focused model, steering away from the SEO-oriented approach that seems to have been the standard for years. For his effort, Mr. Jarosch has won several awards, including:
- EGR Awards for Best Affiliate Programme 2020
- Casinomester 2020 Awards Best Casino Group
- Askgamblers Awards Best Partner 2021
How do you define ethical ranking in the iGaming affiliate space, and where do most platforms fall short?
Ethical ranking means structuring your rankings based on relevant, objective, and player-focused criteria, such as licensing, payout speed, support quality, and bonus terms, rather than on commercial deals alone. Many platforms fall short by putting profit before player trust, often placing the highest-paying brands at the top regardless of their actual value.
Can affiliate sites truly be both profit-driven and objective in how they present casino rankings?
Building a sustainable business requires a long-term mindset. Profit and objectivity often go hand in hand. Affiliates can build trust and loyalty by focusing on reliable operators that provide real value to players. Credibility leads to returning visitors, which in turn generates sustainable revenue.
What internal processes or principles do you follow to ensure your rankings remain transparent and fair?
We use a scoring system that evaluates factors like licensing, RTP fairness, withdrawal limits, player complaints, localization, and support quality. Every casino goes through a structured review checklist, and we register accounts ourselves to verify the experience. Commercial relationships never override our core review criteria.
How do you handle partnerships with operators that want higher visibility but may not fully meet your review standards?
Visibility is tied to our review scores and player satisfaction. If an operator underperforms or doesn’t meet our standards, they won’t receive top positions, regardless of the deal. We frequently receive requests from operators wanting to purchase top positions with flat fees, but all our commissions are performance-based.
Do you disclose how rankings are determined, and do you think transparency in methodology should be an industry norm?
Yes, we outline our ranking factors and provide explanations for each top listing. We absolutely believe transparency should be standard in this industry, players deserve to know why a brand is recommended and how it compares to other operators.
How do user reviews or feedback factor into your ranking algorithm, if at all?
Player feedback is a core part of our review process. We monitor complaints, payout delays, and general satisfaction. If a brand gets repeated negative feedback, their score is reviewed and the position can be downgraded.
What role do editorial independence and content-firewall structures play in maintaining integrity?
Editorial independence is critical to building credibility. All of our reviews follow the same procedures and are never influenced by commercial agreements. Operators may provide input on factual details like ownership or bonus amounts, but not on our opinions. Protecting the trust our writers build with readers requires a firm boundary between monetization and content.
Are there ethical gray areas that affiliates regularly encounter when balancing commercial pressure and content accuracy?
There’s always pressure to soften criticism or inflate ratings, especially from less reputable brands. It takes strong internal policies to navigate these challenges while staying true to user-first values. Sites like Casino-Groups operate without paid placements and rank casinos solely based on performance and trustworthiness.
Do players care whether rankings are monetized, or is trust more about perceived value and consistency?
Players know that affiliate sites generate income. What matters is consistency and value. If they consistently receive helpful, accurate insights and feel that the platform protects their interests, they’ll return, even if the rankings are monetized.
Looking ahead, what needs to happen for ethical ranking practices to become the baseline standard across the affiliate industry?
More affiliates need to understand that long-term value lies in trust, not manipulation. As players become more informed and regulators more involved, ethical ranking won’t just be a best practice, it will become a necessity. Building a strong reputation in the player community through honest reviews leads to satisfied visitors who keep coming back.
N1 Partners turned its presence at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a full-throttle hub for business and networking — reconnecting with partners, solidifying collaborations, and expanding shared strategies at N1 Partners’ booth. The event became another major milestone in the journey toward the grand finale of the flagship N1 Puzzle Promo campaign.
This stop followed London and Lisbon earlier in the year, where each event revealed a new chapter of the promo’s story. London introduced the branded iconic double-decker Wealth Bus activation, Lisbon added the “Surfing on the Waves to Success” experience, and Rome brought an Italian racing-spirit pit-stop concept, fueling the next pace of the competition.
“Our road to the N1 Puzzle Promo final in Barcelona is made up of many milestones, the brightest of which are London, Lisbon, and now Rome,” says Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “Each point isn’t just an event. It’s where we meet partners in person, plan new steps together, and keep moving forward. Rome felt like a ‘pit stop’ in the best sense – a moment to refuel, check the direction, and continue the race toward the helicopter.”
A Booth That Never Stopped Moving
The N1 Partners stand became one of the most vibrant spots of the exhibition floor, drawing continuous attention from attendees and media alike.
- 500+ productive meetings were held with major affiliates and key iGaming players.
- 600+ portions of gelato were served — a crowd favorite symbolizing the Italian touch.
- 200+ N1-branded merch packs were handed out, quickly becoming recognizable visuals across the venue.
- 300+ participants took part in the HeliRun Challenge, the bespoke mechanical time-trial maze where accuracy, speed, and focus count.
- 250+ took part in the LEGO Ferrari giveaway, with the lucky winner describing their prize as “an everyday reminder of how competition keeps you moving.”
The booth aesthetic took inspiration from Italian racing culture – not flashy but clear, focused, and energetic, reflecting the push toward the finish line of the campaign.
Spotlight and Media Presence
Throughout SiGMA Central Europe, N1 Partners engaged in multiple media interviews and appearances across leading affiliate-industry platforms and podcasts. Discussions focused on the evolution of affiliate marketing, the mechanics behind N1 Puzzle Promo, and how tailored offers and transparency continue to reshape the multi-brand affiliate model.
Next Stop: Barcelona 2026 — The Grand Finale
The journey continues to Barcelona, where during iGB/ICE Europe 2026 N1 Partners will host the grand finale celebration of the N1 Puzzle Promo.
- Grand prize for winners – a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter.
- Premium gifts for the top 10 winners: Porsche eBike Sport, Cartier Santos Medium watch, MacBook Pro, Leica Q2, Apple Vision Pro, and more.
- Exclusive prize draw for ceremony guests.
- Full entertainment show with top artists and a headliner.
“We look forward to celebrating with our partners who’ve been part of this journey. It’s our shared moment to enjoy,” said the N1 Partners team.
Join the Race
Want to accelerate your affiliate performance? Join N1 Partners and become a driver in the race to win.
Visit n1.partners for details.
About N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, uniting 14+ casino and betting brands.
Operating across 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, the company delivers high-conversion traffic and flexible terms for partners worldwide. With Reg2Dep rates of up to 70% and a trusted network of 10,000+ affiliates, N1 Partners offers competitive deals for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% — ensuring that partners always stay ahead in the game.
Be number one with N1!
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!
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