Affiliate Announcements
Catena Media acquires the award-winning affiliate AskGamblers.com for EUR 15 million
On 3 April 2016, Catena Media acquired the acknowledged and highly regarded affiliate website AskGamblers.com for EUR 15 million and thereby consolidates its position as Europe’s fastest growing company in lead generation. The transaction is the largest in Catena Media’s history and its third strategic acquisition thus far this year.
On 3 April 2016, Catena Media plc’s fully owned subsidiary acquired the affiliate website AskGamblers.com (“AskGamblers”). AskGamblers operates one of the markets most highly visited web portals for player reviews and rankings of online casinos. The company also provides players with the unique opportunity of trying online casino-related disputes via the portal and, to date, this has resulted in more than EUR 5 million being repaid to players. Players across Europe utilise AskGamblers with the UK being the company’s largest market. At the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards, AskGamblers has won the Best Casino Affiliate for three consecutive years, most recently in 2015. The transaction includes all affiliate accounts, domains, mobile apps and social media accounts.
AskGamblers’ sales in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to approximately EUR 810,000 with a profit margin surpassing 80%. The revenue stems from organic traffic under revenue sharing agreements and is expected to generate at least 25,000 new depositing clients each year. Revenue will accrue to Catena Media from and including 1 April 2016.
AskGamblers’ development centre is based in Serbia and comprises a team of 30 employees, all of whom will be offered continued employment by Catena Media. This will give the company access to a talent pool of skilled employees in technical development and programming. Accordingly, Catena Media now has approximately 130 employees and has offices in three countries.
“We are incredibly proud of acquiring AskGamblers which is one of the best brands in the affiliate market and whose operations are a perfect fit for Catena Media. AskGamblers is an extremely important site for casino operators and, through its stringent requirements for certified casinos, contributes to creating a better iGaming industry. The transaction is the largest in Catena Media’s history and in line with our strategy of growth through acquisitions in a fragmented market. In parallel, we are strengthening our team with a number of highly skilled individuals and this transaction provides us with the opportunity to build the office in Serbia into an extremely cost-efficient development centre for Catena Media,” says Robert Andersson, CEO of Catena Media.
The purchase price amounts to EUR 15 million, which will be paid in three tranches: EUR 3 million will be paid on completion of the transaction; EUR 8.25 million will be paid when all assets have been transferred to Catena Media and EUR 3.75 million will be paid six months after the acquisition has been completed.
“Catena Media has grown into one of the most interesting actors in our industry and it feels particularly exciting that AskGamblers will now enter the next phase together with them,” says Igor Salindrija, founder and previous owner of AskGamblers.com.
About Catena Media
Catena Media was founded in 2012 and is engaged in performance marketing and lead generation predominantly within the iGaming industry. The company thereby attracts substantial numbers of online players through various products and services, and directs them to a number of B2B customers, mainly consisting of iGaming operators. Catena Media focuses primarily on customers who operate online casinos on their own websites. Customers typically use a network of marketing partners, known as affiliates, to promote their products and services and, thus attract more online players to their websites. iGaming operators remunerate Catena Media for each online player that it generates for the operator through such websites as www.johnslots.com/sv/ and www.rightcasino.com. Catena Media’s core markets are Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The company has approximately 100 employees. The Group’s headquarter is located in Sliema, Malta.
For further information, please contact:
Robert Andersson, CEO +356 770 329 28
www.catenamedia.com
Affiliate Announcements
711 Renews its Partnership with NetRefer as its Affiliate Marketing Platform Provider
Leading Dutch online casino 711 has renewed its partnership with NetRefer, a data-driven, AI-powered, affiliate marketing platform provider engineered for the iGaming industry.
The family business, started as Carousel Casino Games and founded in 1994 in Belgium, began as a land-based casino chain before expanding into an online casino in 2012. A decade later, in 2022, they entered the Dutch online gaming market as 711 BV, with NetRefer as their Affiliate Marketing partner.
Despite being a new operator, 711 brings over 30 years of experience in the Belgian gaming market and, in two years, has expanded its portfolio, partnering with major game providers like Pragmatic Play and Evolution.
With a diverse game selection that follows the latest gaming trends, attractive promotions, high winning odds, and fast payouts, 711 prioritises player satisfaction and delivers a seamless gaming experience.
They pride themselves on operating under strict regulations and undergo regular external audits to ensure a secure player experience. They emphasise responsible gaming, offering tools and information for player well-being.
Johan Mostert, Affiliate Manager at 711, stated: “NetRefer is known for its innovation and forward-thinking. Their comprehensive, customisable platform – through impressive add-ons – has streamlined our affiliate marketing, making the past two years an excellent partnership. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”
Amanda Camenzuli, NetRefer’s Manager of Account Management, shared: “711 is a dynamic operator in the Dutch market, and their attitude, enthusiasm, and work ethic make this renewal both exciting and rewarding. We at NetRefer look forward to what’s to come in this continued partnership.”
Affiliate Announcements
VERSUS Renews its Partnership with NetRefer as its Affiliate Marketing Platform Provider
VERSUS, a leading online casino and sportsbook operator in the Spanish iGaming market, has renewed its partnership with NetRefer, a top provider of affiliate marketing solutions for the iGaming industry.
Founded in 2019 as a rebrand of VivelaSuerte by Spanish leisure and entertainment giant Grupo Orenes, VERSUS has quickly become synonymous with premium online gambling experiences in Spain. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and a user-centric platform, VERSUS has secured its position as a major player in the European iGaming landscape.
Since its launch, VERSUS has expanded substantially, adding Yaass Casino to its portfolio, which aims to become the #1 Online Supercasino in Spain. With a license from Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), VERSUS operates across Spain and Mexico, with plans to expand into Brazil and Portugal in the next few months.
To deliver a unique and personalised betting experience, both VERSUS and Yaass Casino offer a wide range of customised promotions and bonuses, tailored to match players’ individual preferences and keep them engaged and rewarded.
With a strong commitment to mobile-first optimisation, users enjoy a seamless experience across all devices. Both brands provide dedicated apps that allow players to access sports betting, online casino games, and live betting options anytime, anywhere.
Customer service is a priority for both brands, with a professional support team ready to assist players with all types of questions and concerns. Responsible gaming is also central to the company’s policy; to support players facing gambling-related challenges, VERSUS provides resources, including a dedicated Responsible Gaming Test.
Miguel Albert García, Affiliate Manager at VERSUS, shared insights on the company’s approach to partnerships: “In just five years, VERSUS has experienced significant growth, thanks in large part to the partnerships we’ve built along the way. We’re excited to see where our journey with NetRefer will take both VERSUS and Yaass Casino.”
NetRefer’s CEO, Dexter Cutajar, expressed similar optimism: “Over the past four years, the relationship between VERSUS and NetRefer has been exceptionally rewarding, and we’re thrilled to have them renew their partnership with us. We’re equally pleased that VERSUS has chosen NetRefer for its second brand, Yaass Casino. We’re confident that our continued partnership will bring exciting opportunities for both companies in the years ahead.”
Affiliate tracking platform’s Odds Betting Banner Creation Tool allows publishers to create branded banners including real-time information and odds
RavenTrack, the fastest-growing affiliate tracking platform developed specifically for the industry, has joined forces with StatsPlug to add yet another cutting-edge tool to its platform.
The partnership means RavenTrack can use StatsPlug’s data-driven technology to roll out a first-of-its-kind Odds Betting Banner Creation Tool.
Operators can offer this tool to their affiliate partners, allowing them to create branded banners across a host of sports that include real-time information and odds.
This helps affiliates to push fresh content to their audiences which in turn allows them to drive acquisition and increase retention and player value from existing customers.
Adam Rowley, Managing Director at RavenTrack, said: “We are thrilled to be able to utilise the power of StatsPlug’s technology to provide yet another unique service to our clients.
“Our goal at RavenTrack is to give the greatest opportunity for success, and we believe implemented forward-thinking products like our Banner Creation Tool do just that.”
Mathew Symmonds, Co-Founder at StatsPlug, added: “RavenTrack is the perfect partner for StatsPlug’s self-service banner creation software.
“This integration enables RavenTrack’s affiliates and clients to create dynamic, on-brand banners independently, saving time and costs while driving higher conversions with timely and engaging media.”
To mark the launch of the product, expected in Q1 2025, RavenTrack is offering a one-month free trial to all existing customers who can utilise the power of the Banner Creation tool.
The launch of the Banner Creation Tool further enhances the RavenTrack platform, which allows operators to track, optimise and grow their affiliate programs.
It is a proprietary solution designed specifically for iGaming and to meet the unique demands of the sector including withstanding the pace and complexity of affiliate marketing for online sports betting and casino.
RavenTrack is reliable, accurate and fast, and has a seamless UX so operators don’t miss a single click or conversion and can easily dig into data and generate valuable insights.
Where RavenTrack really stands out is its reporting, with 20+ templates offering high levels of customisation and super granular levels of insight.
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