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Casinos around the world cautiously reopen to a new normal

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Given how devastatingly hit the casino business has been in the past few months, it should come as little surprise that casino operators around the world are hurriedly reopening their doors at the first opportunity.

Revenue reports from March to July – effectively when the novel coronavirus had spread across the planet and forced countries to impose severe lockdown measures – made for grim reading in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

In Nevada and New Jersey – the biggest casino hotspots in the US – recorded losses of up to and more than 90 percent compared to the same months in 2019. In the UK and mainland Europe, the figures were similar, while Macau – the gambling capital of the world – saw three successive months of revenue drops over 90 percent.

While online operations have seen a surge as millions of people have been forced to stay at home, that makes no difference to the many people whose livelihoods depend on land-based casinos opening their doors and welcoming customers. Indeed, thousands of jobs have been lost and thousands more are still at risk.

So even as Covid-19 continues to plague many countries, casinos have understandably started to open their doors once again.

The United States – the country where the pandemic has hit harder than any other – has allowed casinos to reopen, even as new cases cross more than 50,000 per day. In Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey casino floors are once again welcoming guests, while casinos across the United Kingdom reopened on July 4.

Las Vegas has also reopened its sportsbook operations, so guests can visit to get the latest Kentucky Derby odds (although you can find them online easier through TwinSpires.com). You can place wagers on races and sports that, like the casino business, also went into lockdown but are now re-emerging.

Meanwhile, in Macau, casinos have also reopened but the mandatory 14-day quarantine for foreign visitors has severely limited foot traffic. The same applies to other countries like Singapore, South Africa, and Monte Carlo.

While casinos have resumed operations in an attempt to bounce back from a financially damaging few months, they do so amid a new normal for operators and visitors alike.

Strict rules and health measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of guests and staff and to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.

Maximum capacity limits range between 20 and 30 percent and face masks must be worn at all times. Drinking, eating, and smoking have been banned for the time being, while temperature check points and hand sanitizer stations have been placed all around casino floors. Glass barriers have also been placed around table games in some casinos to prevent the spread of germs between players and dealers.

Those guests returning to casinos may also notice higher gambling minimums or at least fewer options of lower minimum games. This is thought to have been introduced for two reasons. Firstly, it is viewed as an attempt by many casinos to drive revenues up as quickly as possible and secondly, to deter some players to ensure going over the imposed limited capacities.

Even with the many restrictions in place and the pandemic still raging on, the economical decision to reopen has helped to address growing unemployment in casino-focused cities and towns.

For instance, the union representing casino workers in New Jersey reported that in the first few days of reopening, between 20 and 30 percent of union members got their jobs back.

As measures loosen and capacities gradually increase, more people will be able to return to work after months of struggle and uncertainty.

It had been deemed callous to talk about reopening economies and getting people back to work during the early stages of the pandemic and when the death toll was rapidly increasing. But as the crisis continued and there was a realization that ‘normal’ would not return for the foreseeable future, then tackling increasing poverty as a result of the outbreak has become an inevitable priority.

The casino business is just one of many industries that rely heavily on visitors and tourism, and its cautious reopening shows that life must go on in the current climate, even if ‘normal’ is some way away from returning.

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Discover Affigates: BetConstruct’s Innovative Affiliate Network for the iGaming Sector

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Discover Affigates: BetConstruct's Innovative Affiliate Network for the iGaming Sector

 

Industry powerhouse BetConstruct is announcing the official launch of Affigates, a full-scale affiliate ecosystem that is set to redefine how operators and partners connect in iGaming.

 

What Sets It Apart?

Affigates brings affiliate software, affiliate program management, and a performance-tested network under one roof, designed from the ground up for scale, speed, and smarter growth.

From AI-aided management to a proprietary scoring system that filters the noise and finds real partners, Affigates removes the friction and delivers results that actually move the needle. With over 4500+ affiliates630+ active partner operators, and access to more than 30 million players, the ecosystem is already making a significant impact.

 

See It First at iGB L!VE

Affigates is making its global debut at iGB L!VE in London, where the sharpest minds in iGaming converge. You will find the ecosystem in action at its own stand, C40, as well as the dedicated team behind it.

Catering to both ready-to-scale operators and affiliates aiming higher, Affigates is here to deliver the affiliate solution the industry has been waiting for.

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Affiliate Announcements

Affilka by SOFTSWISS Unveils Updates for Affiliates

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Affilka by SOFTSWISS Unveils Updates for Affiliates

 

Affilka by SOFTSWISS, an award-winning affiliate management software platform, has announced a suite of new product updates for the affiliates. The latest release introduces a Traffic Report with advanced clicks analytics, an API for extracting campaigns and tracking links, and a sub-affiliate NGR-based revenue share model. 

Traffic Report: In-depth Click Analysis

This new Traffic Report focuses on detailed click-level analytics, offering in-depth insights into clicks, registrations, deposits, and conversion rates such as click-to-reg and click-to-FTD – all in one place. It includes several key features for flexible data analysis:

  • Multi-dimensional filtering and data grouping: The report enables users to filter and break down the data into granular views across multiple dimensions, offering detailed insights by traffic source, campaign, country, device type, IP address, and more. Notably, click data is transferred to the report in real time, providing instant visibility into user activity.
  • CSV data export: The report supports one-click CSV export, allowing affiliates to easily download raw data for offline analysis or sharing.
  • Historical data access: Affiliates can review traffic statistics from 1 January 2023, enabling year-on-year comparisons and long-term trend evaluation.

Gleb Bichan, Product Lead at Affilka by SOFTSWISS, comments: “At Affilka, we know how crucial it is for operators and affiliates alike to make data-driven decisions. That’s why we’re introducing tools like the Traffic Report to help partners become more productive and uncover new insights faster.”

API for Marketing Campaigns and Tracking Links 

In addition to the existing Reports API, affiliates can now access data on their marketing campaigns and tracking links directly via API, allowing for automated data extraction and custom integrations. With this API access, users can retrieve up-to-date lists of marketing campaigns, promo codes, and related performance metrics directly via API calls. This improvement helps Affilka clients automate their reporting workflows and integrate affiliate data with external BI tools, reducing manual effort and ensuring timely access to key information.

New Sub-affiliate Revenue Share Model 

Responding to client feedback, Affilka’s team also features a new sub-affiliate reward type. This allows affiliates to earn a commission based on the Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) generated by players referred by their sub-affiliates, offering a more direct revenue-sharing approach. By aligning earnings with the actual revenue brought in by sub-affiliates, the update incentivises collaboration and gives experienced affiliates a stronger stake in mentoring their referred partners.

Gleb Bichan adds: “For us, it’s important that affiliates not only use the product but also feel it’s built with their real needs in mind. We regularly gather feedback and implement improvements that make daily workflows more transparent and efficient. Features like the Traffic Report, API access, and new reward types are direct responses to partner requests – and we’re not stopping there. We plan to introduce even more tools designed to simplify affiliate operations, so stay tuned for upcoming updates.”

Affilka by SOFTSWISS will be presented at iGB in London from 3 to 4 July 2025. Attendees of the event can learn more about new features directly from the Affilka team and see how these innovations support better affiliate programme management.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.

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Checkd Dev Launches New Affiliate-Focused AdTech Product Powered by BRUNO Platform

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Checkd Dev Launches New Affiliate-Focused AdTech Product Powered by BRUNO Platform

 

Checkd Dev, part of the award-winning Checkd Group, has unveiled a cutting-edge addition to its suite of betting technology solutions, a new Ad Tech Carousel, which aims to provide media owners and affiliates with increased Click Through Rates. The solution is powered by its proprietary and purpose-built, industry-leading platform: BRUNO.
The new product merges several affiliate features from the Checkd BRUNO platform; combining Checkd Dev’s Automated Betting Solution with its proven Smart Acca technology, but with a clear focus on the affiliate landscape. Building on its recent B2B momentum with operators, Checkd Dev is now delivering significant innovation to the affiliate market.

 

An All-in-One, Contextually Powered Ad Unit
At its core, the new AdTech solution delivers contextually relevant, curated, betting opportunities, dynamically embedded within a single ad unit. This modular format offers:
  • Seamless integration of sign-up offers, bonuses, promotions, and ambassador-led bets
  • A streamlined back end powered by Checkd’s Automated Betting Solution CMS, enabling affiliates to easily configure and control the full content proposition
  • A tailored, user-centric experience that boosts engagement and monetisation potential which is based on many years of Checkd’s learnings within the ultra-competitive UK affiliate landscape

 

Live with talkSPORT.com — Proven Performance
The product was launched in collaboration with talkSPORT.com, part of the News UK group. Checkd Dev has drawn on extensive insight from its Betting Hub community and a longstanding partnership with the talkSPORT betting team to iterate and refine the offering.
The results show a significant uplift in click-through rate (CTR) for TalkSPORT BET, which Checkd believes can be improved further to become industry-leading. The trial to date has been football-focused, across a wide range of events including the Premier League, Championship, and major European and international football competitions.

 

Executive Endorsements
Andrew Grimshaw, Commercial Director at Checkd Dev, commented: “We’ve once again taken a strategic look at market pain points and delivered a product that makes life easier and more profitable for media owners and affiliates working with major bookmakers.”
He continued: “We’ve already proven success in the UK, and working with other valued clients, we’re beginning to replicate results across multiple international markets. This product has strong global potential too.”
Gareth Williams, Betting & Gaming Director at talkSPORT BET, added: “Working with Checkd over the years has been incredibly rewarding. They understand the betting landscape intimately and are pretty relentless in their pursuit of solutions that help simplify and elevate partnerships between media owners and operators.”
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