News
Betting on New Customers: Are Returning Users Damaging Sportsbooks’ CAC Strategies?
By: Richard Metcalf
In the fast-paced, highly competitive world of sports betting, operators have to ensure they’re maximising Return-On-Investment (ROI) in their digital marketing campaigns. The challenge is to target new customers and not waste budget on returning users that they’ve already engaged.
Campaign spend within sports betting should be laser-focused on driving customer acquisition and making every click count, but with existing users inadvertently driving up Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC), this is becoming a huge challenge. Predictions from Statista suggest that the online gambling market will consist of over 233.7 million users by 2027. This makes it imperative to protect against existing customers from draining budget and free up budget for new customers
If a sportsbook doesn’t have visibility into the traffic it’s generating through its ads, it could be losing millions to users who are already engaged and using its site. Returning users need to be managed to ensure sportsbooks can make the most of their budgets and gain new converting customers.
Returning Users and ROI
What percentage of your digital marketing budget is engaging returning users through your ad as an entry point? The chances are this number is very high. We recently saw a company where 97% of their spending on branded keywords was linked to clicks from existing customers which drained their budget and meant they saw close to no new conversions.
Repeat clickers and returning customers, who navigate to your site using ads, rather than organic search results, are driving up the cost of genuine new clicks from first-time depositors. Although these are enthusiastic and engaged customers, they are clicking on your ads excessively and driving up your CAC and Cost Per Acquisition (CPA). This ultimately dilutes your campaign’s effectiveness and wastes spend on engagement that will never convert.
The Secret to Success with Custom Validation Rules and Shadow Campaigns
To drive the performance of sports betting advertising efforts, companies can set custom validation rules that limit the number of times a user clicks on a paid ads campaign. Once that threshold of clicks is met, the users are stopped from seeing that campaign for a set period of time, helping to eliminate the high CPC rates sportsbooks experience.
This effectively means that once the threshold is reached the user is precluded from seeing ads and will only see the brand’s organic listing on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Alternatively, by implementing shadow campaigns, an operator can create a duplicate of the existing brand keyword campaign in Google ads just for these returning users who are precluded from the original brand keyword campaign. So, rather than being shown the organic listing these users will see a paid search ad on the SERP but at a lower cost to the advertiser.
Shadow campaigns are a powerful tool that allow advertisers to take appropriate actions to protect their brand, optimise their marketing efforts, and ensure compliance with marketing strategies. By using custom verification rules and shadow campaigns, budgets are saved for genuine users who are more likely to convert resulting in maximised ROI.
Transforming and Optimising Campaigns
No sportsbook wants returning users burning their marketing budgets. In a market that is growing ever more competitive, it is vital that advertising traffic is controlled for businesses to capture more ROI across campaigns. By implementing shadow campaigns, sportsbooks will uncover a new level of visibility to minimise CAC and maximise new customer engagement.
It’s time to unlock unparalleled success, optimise your PPC campaigns to their fullest potential and transform your Google Advertising strategy.
Richard Metcalf is the Global VP, Sports Betting & Online Gaming, at TrafficGuard, an international platform provider for detecting, mitigating and reporting on digital ad fraud. With over twenty years of experience in Sales and Business Development in the digital industry, Richard strives to achieve the highest level of results for the team. He has represented brands as their public face, managed entire sales cycle processes and delivered solutions to stakeholders to ensure business growth and develop the teams around him.
News
Second Prize Drop of N1 Puzzle Promo: Top Affiliates Score Porsche, Cartier, Leica & Apple for Driving High-Quality Traffic
N1 Partners is wrapping up the second lottery of the N1 Puzzle Promo! From September 1 to November 30, partners were actively collecting puzzle pieces for FTDs and climbing the rankings to secure their place among the winners.
A notable trend this season: the Top-5 leaders by traffic and collected puzzles differ from the main leaderboard. This means some partners slowed down, while others pushed harder — and now have every chance to boost their position in the overall standings by the end of the promo.
Five luxury prizes will be awarded to partners with consistently strong performance who entered the Top-5 by puzzle count during the second mini-lottery period.
Which prizes did the leaders receive?
1st place — MacBook Pro
C*** *****h
2nd place — Porsche eBike Sport
A***********t
3rd place — Cartier Santos Medium watch
T****** ****d
4th place — Leica Q2 camera
P******k
5th place — Apple Vision Pro
S** ****s
“The promo is entering its final stretch — a crucial checkpoint for the entire N1 Puzzle Promo, where the fate of the leaderboard may be decided,” notes Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “With one month left until the end, even those who joined later still have a chance to make a breakthrough, while the leaders can strengthen their positions and widen the gap. N1 Puzzle Promo isn’t about luck — it’s about consistent work and mutual trust between partners and the affiliate program.”
The Grand Finale in Barcelona Is Getting Closer
The race continues: the more puzzle pieces collected throughout the promo, the higher the ranking — and the greater the chance to fly out of Barcelona in your very own helicopter!
On January 20, 2026, in Barcelona, during iGB Affiliate and ICE, N1 Partners will host the final N1 Puzzle Promo party, where winners will receive exclusive gifts — and the grand prize: a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter.
Guests of the event can also expect:
- Exclusive prize ceremony;
- Live performance by top artists and the evening’s headliner (announcement coming soon)!
- Activities and surprises from the N1 Partners team;
Still Not Too Late to Join
N1 Puzzle Promo runs until December 31, 2025, and partners still have time to collect puzzle pieces, climb the leaderboard, and compete for the grand prize and additional rewards. Traffic from Tier-1 GEOs counts toward the ranking, and only registered N1 Partners partners can participate.
All details and registration are available at: https://n1.partners/puzzle_promo
There’s still time! Collect your puzzle pieces, level up in the leaderboard — and your team might be the one taking home the Robinson R22 Beta II right off the stage in Barcelona!
News
One month until the N1 Puzzle Promo finale — Barcelona will host the iGaming party everyone is going to talk about
There’s less than a month left until the official end of N1 Puzzle Promo. And while the battle for the top spot on the leaderboard becomes fiercer every day – and the promo leaders eagerly wait for new updates – N1 Partners is preparing an event that will leave no one indifferent, neither N1 Partners affiliates nor the wider iGaming community.
Event: N1 Puzzle Promo award ceremony 🎉
Where: Barcelona, Spain
When: January, 2026
N1 Partners is bringing together top affiliates and industry leaders to announce – live from the stage – the winner of N1 Puzzle Promo and award the grand prize of the promo: the Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter 🚁
What else is the N1 Partners team preparing?
We’re not revealing all the details just yet, but some things are simply impossible to hide:
- exclusive luxury prizes awarding that you’ll definitely want to add to your collection
- performances by top artists and a surprise headliner — who will it be? You’ll find out very soon… 🤫
- special activities available only to guests of the event
N1 Puzzle Promo rules reminder
The promo runs until December 31, 2025. The more puzzles collected, the higher the chance to win the helicopter — we’re almost out of time.
- SEO traffic – 1 puzzle per 10 FTDs
- PPC & ASO – 1 puzzle per 40 FTDs
- FB & other* – 1 puzzle per 100 FTDs
* Social media traffic, SMS, Email, UAC, In-app
Only Tier-1 GEO traffic counts.
Who will take off in the helicopter from sunny Barcelona? Maybe it will be your team!
Stay tuned for updates on the N1 Partners website and social channels — you won’t want to miss the biggest news. See you soon!
N1 Partners is heading to Bangkok to talk about growth, partnerships, and high-converting products. The team will be present not only at the main conference — Affiliate World Asia 2025 on December 3–4 — but also across the key side events, including Affiliate Drinks Meetup Bangkok 2025 and partner activities at Fridman Palace.
“Affiliate World Bangkok is one of the most valuable events of the year. We’re excited to meet partners, showcase what we’ve built, and exchange insights that drive the industry forward. N1 Partners enters 2026 stronger than ever — with new brands, new achievements, and big plans ahead.”
— Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners
Meet N1 Partners at Affiliate Drinks Meetup Bangkok 2025
The Affiliate Drinks Meetup Bangkok 2025 by Conversion Club is an evening of targeted networking during Affiliate World Asia week — a “drinks & deals” format built for quick, meaningful introductions and real partnerships between affiliates, advertisers, agencies, and tech partners in a relaxed setting off the expo floor.
N1 Partners joins Affiliate Drinks Meetup as a supporting partner and active participant, bringing our affiliate managers to meet decision-makers, discuss new traffic opportunities, and strengthen relationships with existing and future partners.
- Location: Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok
- Date & time: 3 December 2025, 20:00–23:00
Affiliate Space Awards 2025
The Affiliate Space Awards 2025 by Conversion Club is an annual gala that celebrates standout brands, companies, and personalities in affiliate marketing across key verticals — including iGaming, finance, dating and more — with live voting and winners announced at a gala dinner in Bangkok.
N1 Partners is shortlisted in three major categories at the Affiliate Space Awards 2025:
- The Best Gambling / Betting Affiliate Program
- The Best Brand of the Year
- The Best Online Casino Operator of the Year.
Together, these nominations recognize N1 Partners’ position as a top-performing affiliate program and operator with guaranteed and fast payouts, flexible deal models, a VIP approach and strong support for partners, consistently high-converting Tier-1 brands, a strong and consistent brand image (boosted in 2025 by the buzz around the N1 Puzzle Promo), and a data-driven approach to player value, retention, LTV, and long-term partner results.
- Location: Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok
- Date & time: 4 December 2025, 20:00–23:00
Fridman Palace – where N1 Partners meets industry leaders
You can also find N1 Partners at Fridman Palace in Bangkok — a premium business and lifestyle space where market leaders meet, share real cases, and talk openly beyond the conference schedule.
FridmanTower offers a curated environment with private meeting areas and networking zones tailored for meaningful conversations and high-level deal-making.
N1 Partners is the sponsor of a smoking lounge for relaxation and networking, giving partners a comfortable, premium space to meet our affiliate managers, talk strategy, and plan next steps throughout Affiliate World week.
- Location: FridmanTower, Bangkok
- Dates: 1–5 December 2025
Book a Meeting with Our Affiliate Managers
Maximize your time in Bangkok — book a meeting with N1 Partners in advance, whether at Affiliate World Asia, Affiliate Drinks Meetup, Affiliate Space Awards, or Fridman Palace.
Meet the N1 Partners affiliate team in Bangkok:
- Aleksei Gusarov – Team Lead of Affiliates
- Viktoriia Sokolenko – Affiliate Manager
- Roman Tsyganov – Affiliate Manager
- Batikhan Omarbayev – Affiliate Manager
- Pavel Sysoev – Account Manager
Book your slot — let’s talk business, growth, and opportunities with N1 Partners.
About N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, uniting 14+ casino and betting brands. The company has a strong presence in 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, Reg2Dep rates of up to 70%, and a trusted network of 10,000+ affiliates worldwide. N1 Partners delivers competitive deals for top partners: CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% to ensure partners always are number one!
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News2 weeks agoN1 Partners at Affiliate World Asia 2025: The Place Where Top Deals Come True
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One month until the N1 Puzzle Promo finale — Barcelona will host the iGaming party everyone is going to talk about
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Second Prize Drop of N1 Puzzle Promo: Top Affiliates Score Porsche, Cartier, Leica & Apple for Driving High-Quality Traffic