News

N1 Insights April’s iGaming Trends You Shouldn’t Miss

Published

3 months ago

March 23, 2026

April reflects changes that began taking shape in iGaming back in the first quarter, but are only now becoming systemic. The market is gradually shifting away from short-term optimization toward more complex strategies, where performance sustainability, GEO diversification, and a reassessment of affiliate model efficiency play a key role.

In this issue of N1 Insights, N1 Partners experts analyze how traffic structures are evolving and which scaling approaches continue to deliver results amid increasing competition.

Part 1

1. Traffic and performance

1.1 Traffic sources most likely to show the highest volatility in April
The highest volatility is expected from Facebook, TikTok, and PPC channels, as they are directly affected by changes in moderation, algorithms, and competitive activity. Additional fluctuations are anticipated in Google UAC, where auction costs traditionally increase in April due to intensified brand activity following the end of the first quarter.

1.2 Will brands shift their priorities between traffic volume and quality in April?
In April, many brands will begin shifting their focus toward traffic quality, based on first-quarter performance insights. Priority will be given to deeper metrics – from FTD to deposits and LTV – rather than simply chasing registration volume and initial conversions.

At the same time, in certain high-growth GEOs, there will still be a willingness to invest in volume in order to capture market share more quickly, even at the expense of short-term efficiency.

1.3 What will be more challenging in April: finding new scalable setups or maintaining current volumes?
Most likely, maintaining current volumes will become more challenging, especially in highly competitive GEOs. After an active first quarter, many proven setups are already overheated, while traffic costs continue to rise.

Finding new setups remains possible; however, scaling them will take more time due to increased competition and higher requirements for traffic quality.

1.4 Changes in testing strategies for new GEOs and traffic sources in April
Affiliates are likely to shift toward shorter testing cycles and reduce test budget volumes in order to adapt more quickly to changing market conditions.

“At the same time, interest in traffic source diversification will increase: beyond the classic Facebook and Google channels, we expect a growing number of tests in alternative social platforms,” comments Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners.

1.5 Key metrics for scaling up or cutting caps
Key metrics will continue to include CR, ROAS, ARPU, retention, and player LTV, but their role in decision-making will become even more significant. Teams will increasingly shift from evaluating “input” metrics to analyzing audience quality and long-term value.

In particular, scaling decisions will be based on early LTV signals and user behavior patterns, rather than solely on FTD volume. This will allow teams to identify underperforming setups earlier and reallocate budgets toward more sustainable traffic sources.

2. GEO priorities

2.1 GEOs that may see the highest traffic growth in April
In April, several Tier-1 countries are expected to show the strongest growth, primarily Canada, Germany, and Australia, where demand for online gambling remains stable and major brands continue to increase their marketing budgets. Growth may also be observed in Latin America (Brazil, Peru, Chile).

At the same time, some affiliates will continue scaling in Eastern Europe and CIS countries, where competition is lower than in Tier-1 markets and it is easier to test new setups.

2.2 Will the approach to Tier-1 markets change compared to Q1 2026?
The approach to GEO selection will become more selective and pragmatic. Many teams will maintain their focus on Tier-1 markets, but with stricter ROI control amid rising traffic costs and decreasing predictability of results.

At the same time, a partial budget reallocation is expected in favor of GEOs with more favorable scaling conditions – lower competition and more affordable auction dynamics. As a result, strategies will increasingly balance between the stability of Tier-1 markets and growth opportunities in less saturated regions.

2.3 Regions where the cost of player acquisition is expected to change the most
The most noticeable increase in CPA is expected in Tier-1 markets – primarily Canada, Germany, and Australia. In these GEOs, player acquisition costs are likely to continue rising amid intense competition and increasing pressure from large media buying teams.

“An additional factor will be the concentration of budgets after the first quarter: major players are scaling more aggressively, which overheats the auction and reduces the effectiveness of standard traffic acquisition approaches,” notes Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners.

As a result, the entry threshold for new campaigns is rising, and achieving target metrics will require more precise optimization and stronger setups.

2.4 Key GEOs for growth at the beginning of Q2
Key GEOs may include several Tier-1 markets such as Canada, Germany, and Australia, as well as a number of Tier-2 and Tier-3 countries, including Brazil, India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Chile.

These countries remain a priority for many brands due to strong purchasing power, higher player LTV, and stable demand for licensed products. Despite high competition and traffic costs, Tier-1 markets continue to attract large affiliate teams, as with proper optimization they offer the most sustainable long-term profitability.

3. Affiliate Marketing Dynamics

3.1 How will the balance between new partners and established affiliate teams change in April?
The market will continue to consolidate around large and experienced teams that have the resources for scaling, optimization, and rapid budget reallocation. Their advantage will strengthen due to accumulated expertise, access to data, and more stable traffic acquisition processes.

At the same time, new teams will continue to emerge; however, the barrier to entry will keep rising. Without access to unique traffic sources, technological advantages, or niche expertise, it will become increasingly difficult for them to compete with established players and reach comparable volumes.

3.2 Changes in affiliates’ approach to selecting partner brands
Affiliates are increasingly shifting their focus toward non-financial factors when choosing partners – primarily brand reputation, payment reliability, and transparency of statistics. These criteria are becoming critical amid rising risks and the instability of certain offers.

As a result, the trend toward long-term partnerships is strengthening: more teams are favoring sustainable collaboration models over short-term offers with potentially high but unpredictable payouts.

“This approach reduces operational risks and enables building a more stable long-term unit economics,” says Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners.

3.3 Types of partners that will see the most active growth in April
Media buying teams working with paid traffic will continue to grow most actively, along with content affiliates and SEO-driven projects focused on long-term organic traffic acquisition. These models remain key due to their scalability and more predictable long-term economics.

At the same time, growth in alternative sources is accelerating – particularly influencer and Telegram traffic, which attract affiliates with help of flexibility, a lower barrier to entry, and the ability to test hypotheses more quickly.

3.4 What changes in partner behavior are likely to be most noticeable in April?
Partners will increasingly diversify their traffic sources and GEOs to reduce dependence on any single channel. More cautious scaling and deeper analysis of unit economics can also be expected, especially in light of first-quarter results.

Part 2

1. PR trends

1.1 Top PR trends in April 2026
In the second quarter, PR activity noticeably picks up: after revisiting strategies at the beginning of the year, brands start engaging more actively with media and building more structured communication. Against the backdrop of increasing competition, having a strong offer alone is no longer enough – what matters is how the brand presents itself and what it communicates.

“At the same time, formats are also evolving: traditional press releases are gradually taking a back seat, giving way to case studies, interviews, and more ‘authentic’ content,” says Maria Bobrovskaya, Team Lead PR, Event, Production at N1 Partners.

The market is saturated, so those who deliver real value and communicate with their audience not in abstract terms, but through experience and concrete results, are the ones who win.

2. Brand marketing strategy

2.1 Which aspects of marketing strategy should brands focus on in April amid increasing competition?
The key focus should be on differentiation through brand positioning, not just through offer terms. In a market saturated with similar propositions, partners begin to make decisions based not only on numbers, but also on trust and stability.

This is reflected in affiliate behavior: strong partners are more likely to work with brands that have a clear reputation and predictable processes.

2.2 What changes in marketing strategy should brands consider in April to maintain a competitive advantage?
Companies are gradually shifting their focus from short-term acquisition to long-term partner retention, strengthening efforts in content, PR, loyalty programs, and community development. This approach not only reduces dependence on a constant influx of new affiliates but also improves the quality of engagement with existing partners.

This shift is largely driven by market saturation: acquisition costs continue to rise, while competition for active affiliates intensifies.

“In such conditions, retaining and developing the existing partner base becomes strategically more effective than aggressively acquiring new partners, especially given the increasing demands for transparency, support, and level of service,” notes Maria Bobrovskaya, Team Lead PR, Event, Production at N1 Partners.

2.3 How can marketers find the right balance between short-term results and long-term brand development?
The balance is achieved through a combined strategy: performance drives immediate results, while brand communications ensure long-term stability. If a brand focuses only on short-term gains, it becomes vulnerable in a highly competitive environment.

2.4 The most effective approaches to marketing budget allocation in Q2
In the second quarter, many companies begin reallocating budgets toward a more diversified strategy. In addition to performance channels, there is increased investment in PR activities, content marketing, and event participation.

This shift is driven by the fact that relying solely on paid traffic is becoming less stable, prompting brands to seek ways to strengthen their organic presence and build trust.

Marketing challenges

3.1 What new challenges may marketing teams face at the beginning of Q2?
The key challenge remains the growing competition for partner attention, making it increasingly difficult for brands to differentiate themselves amid similar terms and offers. In an oversaturated market, standard acquisition tools are no longer delivering consistent results.

As a result, marketing teams are forced to shift their focus from purely commercial terms to building reputation, improving communication quality, and shaping overall brand perception. This includes more systematic work with content, greater transparency in interactions, and the development of long-term relationships with partners.

3.2 Which marketing strategies may become less effective in April?
Approaches based solely on financial terms are gradually losing effectiveness. When many programs offer similar payouts, partners begin to pay attention to other factors – such as brand reputation, quality of support, and operational stability.

3.3 Will it become more difficult to attract strong partners amid the large number of affiliate programs on the market?
This is largely due to the fact that strong affiliates have already formed a stable pool of partners and have become significantly more selective when choosing new brands. Decisions are increasingly made not only based on terms, but also considering reputation, stability, and quality of interaction.

In practice, this results in a longer onboarding cycle: new programs require more time to pass the evaluation stage and build trust. As a result, partnership launches slow down, and affiliate expectations become more demanding.

3.4 What signals in April may indicate that brands should reconsider their marketing strategy?
A decline in partner engagement, weak response to new products, and lack of brand visibility in the media are key signals.

“This is due to the fact that in a highly competitive environment, even a slight drop in activity quickly impacts a brand’s position,” says Maria Bobrovskaya, Team Lead PR, Event, Production at N1 Partners.

April confirms a key shift in the iGaming market: increasing competition and rising traffic costs are driving higher demands for quality, sustainability, and a more strategic approach to marketing. Quick tactics and short-term solutions are gradually giving way to more systematic efforts – with a focus on LTV, partner retention, and traffic source diversification.

Join the first tournament of the N1 Traffic Cups 2026 series – the N1 SEO Traffic Cup by N1 Partners!

Period: March 1 – April 30, 2026
Results: by May 10
Entry: from 20 FTD per brand

Why N1 Partners:

14+ casino and sportsbook brands with Reg2Dep up to 70%
10+ Tier-1 GEOs
CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% + NNCO for top partners + hybrid models

Be number one with N1!

News

Game On N1 Sport Promo Is Live

Published

2 days ago

June 11, 2026

Master Editor

N1 Partners is launching N1 Sport Promo, a promo campaign for affiliates driving Sports Betting and Prediction Markets traffic.

The promotion covers the biggest sporting and esports events of the season, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, Wimbledon, Formula 1, UFC Freedom 250, and many other major events. The promo runs from June 10 to July 20, 2026.

During the campaign, affiliates can increase their CPA payouts based on the volume of qualified FTDs they deliver. The more quality players a partner brings, the higher his rate and total earnings become.

Why join N1 Sport Promo?

Every major sporting event attracts new audiences to the betting vertical, and summer 2026 offers multiple powerful growth drivers for affiliates.

Peak sports season.
The biggest sporting events of the year are perfect for scaling traffic and testing new funnels.
Growing payouts.
The more FTDs you generate, the higher your active CPA rate becomes.
Tier-1 GEOs.
The promo is available across Tier-1 markets with high potential and quality sports traffic.

N1 Partners team has compiled a guide covering key sporting events, June promotions, and expert recommendations for monetising Tier-1 sports traffic to help affiliates prepare for the upcoming sports season.

How does N1 Sport Promo work?

The mechanics are simple: the more quality FTDs an affiliate generates, the higher their CPA rate becomes.

SEO and PPC

Affiliates working with SEO and PPC traffic can increase their CPA rate with no limits.

Every 10 FTDs add an extra €50 to your current rate. There is no cap on CPA growth.

Example:

FTD	Rate	Revenue
1–10	€300	€3 000
11–20	€350	€3 500
21–30	€400	€4 000
31–40	€450	€4 500

FB, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email and SMS

A separate payout structure applies to affiliates working with Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email, and SMS traffic.

Every 30 FTDs increase your current CPA rate by €10. The maximum increase is €100 on top of the base rate.

Accordingly, the more successfully a campaign scales, the higher the final payout becomes.

Example:

FTD	Rate	Revenue
1–30	€100	€3 000
31–60	€110	€3 300
61–90	€120	€3 600
91–120	€130	€3 900

N1 Sport Promo terms

Registered N1 Partners affiliates are eligible to participate in N1 Sport Promo. Please contact your affiliate manager to join the promotion.

Not working with N1 Partners yet? Get in touch with the LeadGen team and join the promotion during the biggest sports period of the summer.

Main terms:

Sports betting and Prediction Markets traffic is allowed.
GEOs: Tier-1 (the list of available countries is provided by your manager).
CAP: 50 FTDs at campaign launch.
At least 60% of acquired players must place sports bets.
Traffic to crash games must not exceed 30% of total volume.
Incentivised traffic, fraud, and non-target GEOs are not eligible for the promotion.
N1 Partners reserves the right to recalculate or cancel FTDs in cases of fraudulent activity or violations of the promotion terms.
Payouts are processed according to the company’s standard payment schedule.

Detailed participation terms are available via the link.

Join N1 Sport Promo and turn the 2026 sports season into record-breaking results!

Join N1 Partners:

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

Be number one with N1!

News

N1 Partners in Three G Gate Awards Nominations

Published

4 days ago

June 9, 2026

Master Editor

N1 Partners has been shortlisted for the G Gate Awards 2026 in three categories. Following the first round of voting, N1 Partners remains in the race for victory in the following nominations:

iGaming Advertiser of the Year

PR Campaign of the Year

Event of the Year

Reaching the final stage of the G Gate Awards 2026 reflects N1 Partners’ key achievements over the past year, including the growth of its affiliate program and product portfolio, the launch of the N1 Puzzle Promo with a €500,000 prize pool, and the organisation of the “Because We Can” Grand Final during iGB Affiliate Barcelona.

The second and final voting round is now open and will run until June 22. The winners of the awards will be determined at this stage, and every vote counts.

How to Vote for N1 Partners

Supporting N1 Partners in the final round takes just a few clicks:

Visit the G Gate Awards website.
Select N1 Partners in the following categories:
- iGaming Advertiser of the Year
- PR Campaign of the Year
- Event of the Year
Click the “Vote” button.
Enter your phone number.
Confirm your vote via the incoming call or Telegram verification code.

Support N1 Partners at the G Gate Awards!

Each of these nominations reflects the work of the N1 Partners team, the trust of our partners, and the support of a community that continues to grow alongside the company.

There is not much time left until the final voting stage closes.

Your vote is very important — thank you for the support!

Why work with N1 Partners:

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

Be number one with N1!

News

N1 Partners x RAZE Case: ROI+ in Canada within 3 Days

Published

4 days ago

June 9, 2026

Master Editor

Gambling traffic in Tier-1 markets rarely forgives mistakes. Especially when it comes to Facebook, where CPM costs are high, auction volatility is significant, and testing is expensive.

This was exactly the challenge the RAZE team faced when entering the Canadian market together with N1 Partners in spring 2026. The goal of the campaign was not just volume — the team needed to find a setup capable of maintaining FTD quality, preserving ROI, and scaling in one of the most expensive iGaming GEOs on the market.

In this case study, N1 Partners and RAZE will explain:

why only 2 out of 10 tested slots remained profitable;
how the acquisition strategy for Tier-1 Facebook was built;
how the N1 Partners funnel influenced conversion rates;
and what helped maintain ROI during scaling.

Initial Data

GEO: Canada

Vertical: Gambling (iGaming)

Traffic type: Facebook (PWA)

Campaign period: April, 20 – May, 8

Goal: FTD + ROI

Volume (FTD): ~300 deposits

N1 Partners brands: N1 Bet, RollXO, Slot Lounge, Slot Mafia, Lucky Hunter, Retro Bet и Goldex Casino

N1 Partners comment: At the start, we decided not to limit ourselves to a single brand and tested seven brands simultaneously to identify combinations with the highest conversion rates and profitability for the RAZE team’s approach. This allowed us to collect a larger data sample and thoroughly analyse traffic behaviour across our brands.

The main challenge remained traffic quality. In Tier-1 GEOs, generating deposits alone is not enough — it is crucial to understand how traffic performs over time and how players behave after making their first deposit.

Additionally, RAZE had limited historical data on running N1 offers in Canada, which created uncertainty regarding which approach, slot, and “creative + funnel” combination would deliver the best projected ROI.

Why Canada?

Canada was chosen as one of the most stable Tier-1 GEOs for the gambling vertical due to its highly solvent audience, large Facebook traffic volume, and consistent demand within the niche.

Another factor was the state of the Facebook auction. During the campaign period, competition in Canada was lower than in several other English-speaking GEOs, allowing for more comfortable CPMs and faster scaling of successful setups.

However, along with volume came the primary Tier-1 challenge — the high cost of mistakes. As a result, the team deliberately avoided a single-offer strategy and opted for broad testing instead.

RAZE Strategy

Facebook PWA is the core traffic source and key media-buying specialization for the RAZE team.

To begin, the team requested a list of top-performing slots for Canada from N1 Partners and analyzed them using spy tools: which approaches were already active in the auction, what mechanics competitors were using, and which creatives were generating the highest CTR.

N1 Partners comment: Along with a list of top-performing slots, the RAZE team received recommendations regarding Canadian audience specifics, target metrics, and minimum data thresholds required to evaluate traffic quality from N1 Partners. This enabled RAZE to build tests based on advertiser-focused metrics rather than operating blindly.

A custom funnel featuring N1 Partners bonuses was also created.

At the same time, three optimisation models were launched:

Auto Bid
Min CPA Cap (when triggered, budgets were aggressively scaled up to ~$10,000+ for optimal delivery)
Max Bid

The primary goal was to quickly determine which model provided the best buying control and allowed Facebook’s algorithm to learn most effectively under expensive Tier-1 traffic conditions.

N1 Partners’ involvement extended beyond simply providing offers and slots.

N1 Partners comment: In addition to recommendations regarding top slots and audience specifics, it was important for us to evaluate how partner traffic interacted with different brands. Therefore, from the very beginning, we established profitability benchmarks and KPIs that became our key reference points after the first tests.

One of the main characteristics of Tier-1 Facebook traffic was its inconsistency even within high-quality traffic segments. Because of this, campaigns could not be evaluated too early — the algorithm needed sufficient time to accumulate data.

This later became one of the key factors behind the campaign’s success.

RAZE Strategy Analysis

At launch, the RAZE team tested 10 slots from N1 Partners. The slots were analyzed through spy tools to determine which creatives were running and which approaches were currently trending.

After evaluating the feasibility of each approach, the team selected 2 slots and developed custom creatives based on identified patterns.

However, initial tests revealed that most hypotheses were not economically viable.

Only two slots from the N1 Bet brand remained profitable:

Gates of Olympus 1000
Coin Volcano

Examples of Coin Volcano creatives that were used

Approaches That Worked and Why

The Coin Volcano funnel delivered the best results in terms of the traffic-to-FTD conversion path.

N1 Partners comment: From the N1 product side, this performance was further supported by the funnel structure itself: users were sequentially presented with a welcome bonus, available payment methods, and the most popular games for their region.

On the N1 Partners side, the team evaluated not only the final number of deposits but also the efficiency of the entire funnel. Average campaign performance reached 39.83% for Click-to-Registration (Click2Reg) and 37.99% for Registration-to-Deposit (Reg2Dep). This made it possible to identify specific buyer–creative–product combinations with strong potential for further scaling.

As a result, users understood the offer faster and the overall setup became more cohesive. This is especially important in Tier-1 GEOs, where the cost of mistakes at every stage is significantly higher.

PWA and landing page design featuring the advertiser’s bonus offer

N1 Partners comment: One of the key success factors was a properly structured funnel. The landing page focused exclusively on essential information and guided users through a clear post-registration flow: a welcome bonus as the primary hook, payment methods, top regional games, and continued interaction with the product.

Additionally, the N1 Partners team continuously monitored page loading speed and technical landing page performance to minimise traffic losses before registration.

Creatives and Approaches

During testing, the team experimented with several approaches:

video creatives
reaction-style scenarios
offline casino aesthetics
classic static ads

However, nearly all complex approaches underperformed compared to simple static creatives.

The best-performing setups were the most straightforward combinations: slot + bonus + winnings + clear CTA.

Static creatives offered lower installation costs, enabling faster offer changes, slot rotation, and testing of new angles without rebuilding production assets from scratch. As a result, most of the budget was ultimately shifted toward static creatives.

Scaling and Optimization

Initially, the team tested three acquisition models simultaneously: Auto Bid, Min CPA Cap, and Max Bid. The primary focus was not only deposit cost but also FTD quality, which meant decisions were made only after collecting sufficient data.

Working Approaches

- Min CPA Cap + aggressive scaling.
  Once a stable CPA was achieved, budgets were increased aggressively, reaching approximately $10K in some cases. This allowed the team to capture volume while maintaining ROI.

GEO segmentation.
English-speaking provinces with lower CPMs delivered the strongest performance.
Time-based optimisation.
Most conversions occurred during evenings and weekends, so budgets were allocated more aggressively during those periods.
Delayed campaign evaluation.
Traffic quality improved after 30-40 deposits, so campaigns were not shut down prematurely. N1 Partners analytics played a major role here.
The product team analysed performance by individual buyers and setups, allowing them to assess traffic quality more deeply than standard CPA or initial deposit metrics and provide timely recommendations regarding scaling or stopping campaigns.

N1 Partners comment: Across numerous tests, we observed that campaigns generating 40+ FDs were significantly more likely to deliver stable profitability. Prematurely stopping campaigns with limited volume often resulted in shutting down potentially strong setups before the algorithm had fully learned.

At the same time, aggressive scaling only worked for proven setups. Increasing budgets too early caused CPM and CPA to rise faster than the volume of quality deposits.

N1 Partners comment: Before launch, we established the following profitability benchmarks:

Week 1 → >30% DepSum/Payout
Week 2 → >45%
Week 3 → >50–55%
Week 4 → >65–70%

Average deposit count: from 2.2.

Players with only one deposit: no more than 70%.

This enabled us, as the advertiser, to receive traffic of the required quality while allowing the partner to maintain profitability during scaling.

Where Profit Was Lost

Only 2 out of 10 tested slots remained profitable, meaning part of the budget was spent on ineffective tests.
Video and reaction-based approaches lost to simple static creatives featuring slots and bonuses.
Premature scaling of weak ad sets increased CPM and CPA without improving FTD quality.
Some campaigns were stopped before Facebook had enough time to complete its learning phase.

Campaign Results

Over 18 days, the team achieved:

FTD Volume: ~300 deposits
Traffic: 2,659 installs
CTR: 0.9–1%
CPC: $2.5–4
CPA: $140–156
Best Optimization Model: Min CPA Cap + aggressive budget scaling

Positive ROI was achieved as early as the third day of traffic acquisition.

After the first 30 deposits, the team stabilized at approximately 30 daily FTDs and, on some days, reached up to 50 deposits despite account bans and market turbulence.

Ad Account #1

Ad Account #2

Day 1 of Ad Campaign

Day 3 of Ad Campaign

One of the key success factors from the N1 Partners side was the continuous feedback exchange between the media-buying and product teams.

N1 Partners comment: Simply acquiring players is not enough. For long-term cooperation, traffic profitability must work for both the advertiser and the buying team. Regular feedback and in-depth traffic analysis by buyer and setup enabled us to quickly determine which campaigns truly deserved scaling.

Case Takeaways

The RAZE × N1 Partners case once again proved that in Tier-1 markets, finding a strong creative or a winning slot alone is no longer enough.

Success comes only when several factors work together:

strong Facebook media buying;
deep traffic quality analytics;
an effective product funnel;
continuous data exchange between partner and advertiser;
scaling only validated setups.

N1 Partners comment: Even before launch, both teams established unified traffic quality criteria and scaling benchmarks. This approach accelerated decision-making, eliminated subjective evaluations, and helped focus on setups that were profitable for both parties.

FAQ: RAZE x N1 Partners Case Study

1. What was the main insight of the campaign?

“The main insight was that in Tier-1 GEOs, you cannot rely solely on creatives or bidding. Canadian traffic is expensive, and if your funnel fails to meet user expectations, you start losing money.

We succeeded through a comprehensive approach: we took top-performing slots from the advertiser, validated them using spy tools, filtered out weak hypotheses through testing, built a custom funnel around a specific slot, and only then began scaling.

Ultimately, we realised that the right funnel can be just as important as the creative itself. It directly impacts FTD quality and overall profitability. “— Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.

2. What surprised you during launch?

“What surprised us was how traffic quality improved with scale. Initial deposits do not always provide an objective picture: campaigns may appear unstable, CPA fluctuates, and at that point the temptation to stop everything is very strong.

However, traffic quality turned out to be better than expected. After 30-40 deposits, it became clear that the algorithm was finding the right audience much more effectively. That was a very important signal for us.” — Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.

3. What is scalable from this campaign and what is not?

“From the advertiser’s perspective, it is crucial to monitor profitability benchmarks and quickly disable underperforming traffic. Before launch, we agreed with our partner on minimum acceptable traffic thresholds and adhered to them.

The percentage of players making only a single deposit (without repeats) could not exceed 70%. By strictly following these metrics during testing, we received traffic of the quality we required as an advertiser, while the partner maintained profitability.” — Alexey Gusarov, Team Lead of Affiliates, N1 Partners.

4. One piece of advice for affiliates and the market.

“Don’t stop campaigns too early. Keep driving installs and determine your acceptable deposit and install costs. This allows you to evaluate any funnel objectively and make informed decisions rather than guessing. It’s also important not to spread yourself too thin.

We tested 10 slots, but only 2 remained in active use. Growth started when we stopped distributing budget across numerous hypotheses and focused on setups that had already demonstrated proven audience interest.

It’s better to fully optimise one working funnel than to superficially test ten.” — Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.

“It’s important not only to monitor your own metrics as an advertiser but also to understand your partner’s needs.

Everyone talks about win-win relationships between advertisers and media-buying teams, but in practice, this only works when both sides genuinely understand each other’s objectives and make decisions based on overall traffic economics rather than isolated metrics.

This approach is exactly what allowed the team to become profitable by the third day and maintain stable volume in one of the market’s most expensive GEOs.” — Alexey Gusarov, Team Lead of Affiliates, N1 Partners.

Subscribe to the RAZE team on Telegram, where they share fresh case studies, campaign results, proven setups, and scaling insights based on real-world experience rather than theory.

Work with N1 Partners and scale gambling traffic alongside a team that helps build long-term profitable setups: