Affiliate Success
Boots on the ground: What it’s like being an affiliate in the US sports betting market
Mike Murphy, founder of BettingUSA.com, talks about the challenges and opportunities that await those getting in on the action in the US sports betting affiliate sector
The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 has unleashed a sea change in the regulated US sports betting market.
What was once illegal and the realm of shadowy offshore sportsbooks has now come into the mainstream with legal in-person and online sportsbooks slowly but surely funneling gamblers back onto regulated platforms headquartered in the United States.
Change can be uncomfortable, but it also provides opportunity. Many affiliates made a lot of money and got comfortable during the unregulated offshore days, but those days are dwindling and a new order is rising.
The question for sports betting affiliates is whether or not they will adapt to the changing environment and capitalize on the new opportunities before them. We suggest taking full advantage while the getting is good but acknowledge we will all face challenges moving forwards.
Let’s consider what we face and what we stand to gain.
Challenges Facing Affiliates in the Legal US Sports Betting Market
The greatest opportunities in life always come with challenges, and the newly-regulated sports betting market in the United States is no exception.
The good news is these challenges will sharpen and diversify your skills. Overcoming these challenges will make you a better, smarter and more well-rounded affiliate.
You will also find these challenges act as a sort of filter such that when you emerge on the other side, your competition will be reduced in number. The competitors who remain will be skilled affiliates like yourself, but there will be fewer of you competing for a piece of the action.
Higher Quality Competition
The regulated online gambling and sports betting market in the US has already attracted the attention of big players with deep pockets. The quality of websites that appear in search results is a night-and-day difference compared to just a few years ago when the only real opportunities to make money as a US-focused gambling affiliate were either questionably legal or outright illegal.
Legalization and regulation have resulted in major media companies finally entering the US market now that they can do so in a fully legal and transparent manner. These companies have big budgets, hire the best writers and churn out high quality websites in bulk.
Competing against these types of affiliates is challenging, and there are no indications things are going to get any easier. If you’re an independent affiliate with a website, you have your work cut out for you. The bigger companies can outspend you and likely have better connections.
That doesn’t mean there is no room left for independent affiliates like some of the doomsayers have taken to claiming of late. It just means you’ll need to be agile, pick your target markets carefully and cultivate a real relationship with your viewers.
New Licensing and Compliance Hurdles
One of the most challenging and frustrating hurdles we see in the US market today is the introduction of regulations that impact affiliates. States such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania require all affiliates to acquire a license in order to make money promoting licensed sites to players in those states.
The magnitude of this challenge remains to be seen as additional states pass legalization laws. New Jersey’s affiliate licensing process really isn’t all that difficult. Getting licensed in Pennsylvania has proven to be fairly complicated. Meanwhile, we have seen no indications affiliates need to be licensed in West Virginia.
The types of laws passed in the future will determine the true startup costs associated with licensing. Our best advice to smaller affiliates here is to target states in which the licensing hurdles are minimal or nonexistent and build out from there.
Additional compliance hurdles are likely to materialize at some point as well. We can look to recent developments in the UK online sports betting industry for a preview of what may come in the future.
Advertisers in the UK are subject to an increasingly complicated set of rules regarding how to promote gambling responsibly, for example. The US has not gotten to this point yet, but it is worth keeping in mind additional regulatory hurdles remain a distinct possibility.
A Fractured Market
Online sports betting and gambling are regulated at the state level, which means the rules vary from state to state. You may need an affiliate license in one state but not another. A particular betting site may be available in one state, but not in the next one over.
This means you’ll need to take a state-by-state approach to your affiliate business by promoting particular sites to visitors from particular states. Some operators have opened shop in multiple states, but you’ll need to stay on top of which sportsbooks are available where so you can direct your visitors to the proper websites.
The upside to this challenge is it too provides opportunity. As legal sports betting spreads across the US, people are going to have many questions regarding the law, where they can bet online legally, where to find licensed mobile betting apps and much more. Affiliates are well-suited to educate consumers and earn some money at the same time.
Opportunities
Now that we have the biggest challenges out of the way, we can move on to the fun stuff: the opportunities that await affiliates who are able to deal with the aforementioned obstacles. The United States presents some very big opportunities for those intrepid affiliates who dare tackle this market.
There is A Lot of Money to be Made
The US online sports betting market has enormous potential for simple reasons. The US has a large population, it has a pro-sports culture and the people have high levels of disposable income.
We also have a strong pro-gambling culture with hundreds of casinos spread across the US and widespread familiarity with sports betting even if it was limited (officially anyways) to Nevada for several decades.
Consider this: The American Gaming Association (AGA) has estimated that one quarter of the US population participated in a sports pool in 2017. The AGA has also estimated Americans already wager upwards of $150 billion per year on sports through illegal channels. That is a lot of pent up demand.
This isn’t just us talking up the industry – major industry players have been staking their claims in anticipation of widespread legalization. Caesars Entertainment, FOX Sports and even Buffalo Wild Wings have all made moves to position themselves for a piece of the pie.
Some affiliates have already made a fortune even though the industry is just now gearing up. We have seen multiple eight-figure sales of sports-oriented affiliate websites in recent times for monthly multiples that would have been unthinkable during the turbulent, uncertain offshore sports betting days.
Case in point: The Better Collective Group recently purchased 60% of the RotoGrinders network for $21 million up front, plus a plan to purchase the remaining 40% “at a valuation based upon an EBITDA multiple between 5x and 10x.”
We also saw Catena Media purchase BonusSeeker last March for $6.5 million with a potential additional payout of $9.5 million based on performance after two years. Mind you, this was before the Supreme Court decision. BonusSeeker was restricted to legal online casinos in New Jersey at the time, and still it sold for that much.
The financial potential for affiliates is almost overwhelming to consider, and yet the industry is still just getting started. Many more states have yet to pass legislation to legalize online sports betting and gambling.
Industry is Ripe for Innovation and New Ideas
This is an exciting time to be an affiliate with operators and traditional media companies alike exploring the possibilities of legal sports betting. We’ve seen the likes of PointsBet hit the market with innovative new ways to bet on games while other operators have greatly expanded their in-play wagering capabilities.
The United States, home to Silicon Valley, has a strong culture of innovation. Even though the European markets have had a lengthy head start when it comes to legal sports betting, nobody can innovate like motivated US companies.
Not only does this make it more exciting and interesting to be an affiliate, but it gives affiliates even more opportunities to show value by answering questions and sharing interesting updates with viewers.
It is Still Early in the Game
The US online gambling industry is still in its infancy. Yes, some of the bigger affiliate networks have already paid millions for well-established websites, but we haven’t even come close to reaching peak saturation.
Consider the acquisitions discussed above: BonusSeeker being purchased for $6.5 million up front with a final sale price of up to $9.5 million after two years; 60% of the RotoGrinders network being purchased for $21 million up front with a very real chance of the final deal being realized for $50 million or more a few years from now.
Consider that these purchases happened when the majority of states still haven’t legalized online sports betting or gambling. Major affiliate companies are not paying that much money for digital assets just for fun. They see the market potential. They know the US market is just barely getting started.
Now, imagine the types of buyouts that will be possible after 20, 30 or 40 states have legalized online sports betting – or if Congress steps in and passes nationwide legislation.
We see the occasional discussion among smaller affiliates bemoaning the “corporatization” of the affiliate business.
Some will tell you it’s too late to get in the game now with the likes of Catena Media and Better Collective out there spending millions on marketing, acquisitions and staff.
It’s true the level of competition has increased and affiliates do have to jump through new hoops with licensing requirements in some states, but the market is still just barely getting started. Those challenges can be overcome, and the rewards will be very much worth the trouble.
There are plenty of opportunities even for the lonely one-man operation. Those who work hard and provide informative or entertaining content have a world of opportunity open to them with the US market just now getting off the ground.
Affiliate Success
7StarsPartners make it rain with the Iron Mike Affiliate Contest featuring a $100,000 prize pool
Following recent articles announcing the groundbreaking collaboration between Rabona and Mike Tyson, the excitement continues to build as users are already seizing the opportunity to leverage the VIP Iron Offer, courtesy of the legendary boxer himself. This exclusive offer is empowering affiliates to skyrocket their earnings like never before.
Are you ready to step into the ring of affiliate success? Look no further because 7StarsPartners is thrilled to announce the Iron Mike Affiliate Contest, a game-changing opportunity for affiliates to soar to new heights of profitability!
In an electrifying collaboration between Rabona (exclusively promoted by 7StarsPartners) and the legendary Mike Tyson, affiliates now have the chance to harness the power of Tyson’s brand and Rabona’s dynamic platform to maximize their conversions. With a staggering $100,000 prize pool up for grabs, this contest promises to be a knockout success!
Krystal, Head of Affiliates at 7StarsPartners, shares her excitement: “We’re thrilled to launch the Iron Mike Affiliate Contest, offering affiliates a golden opportunity to elevate their success. With Mike Tyson’s iconic presence and Rabona’s cutting-edge platform, affiliates can unleash their full potential and reap incredible rewards.”
Taking part is as simple as ABC: from February 15 to May 15, 2024, affiliates can showcase their skills by driving sport FTDs via exclusive Tyson’s creatives, including landing pages available in multiple languages. Affiliates compete for top prizes, including a grand prize of $30,000! Whether you’re a seasoned affiliate or just getting started, this contest is your chance to shine.
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Shortlisted with ‘Affiliate Program of the Year’ by Gambling Insider
ReferOn, a state-of-the-art affiliate program management system, was recognized alongside MioMedia affiliate program by the reputable Gambling Insider publication on the Affiliate Program of the Year 2024 shortlist.
The MioMedia affiliate program has seen significant growth over the past year, with first deposits up 190%, deposits up 76% and marketing spend up 147%. This growth in performance is due to transparent conditions and the attractiveness of brands such as MyEmpire, Neon54 and Slotspalace, known for their attractive gamification and design.
David Harris, B2B Affiliate Team Manager at ReferOn, noted the achievement: “Our partnership with MioMedia has played a significant role in their success. Thanks to ReferOn’s comprehensive analytics, we have enabled flexible affiliate models, which is one of the keys to growth.”
Helen Reginia, Head of Affiliates at MioMedia, commented on the nomination: “Implementing ReferOn into our processes has been a game changer. The platform has given us the tools to provide competitive commissions to our affiliates, ensuring a stable partnership based on trust, commitment and support.”
MioMedia plans to continue its growth and is preparing to launch new projects, which you can learn about at iGB Affiliate London 2024 from 6 to 8 August on stand E40. In turn, the Referon team will talk about upcoming technical innovations there, at the stand Q10.
Affiliate Success
Golden Boomerang Awards 2024: Annual Global Traffic Tournament
Boomerang Partners launches the prestigious Golden Boomerang Awards 2024 traffic tournament for affiliates worldwide. The competition will be held on a special landing where participants can demonstrate their expertise in driving high-value traffic while contending for grand prizes
The Golden Boomerang Awards is the first tournament organized by Boomerang Partners to reward affiliates who drive high-quality traffic to its online gambling platforms. Running from February 14th to May 14th, 2024 this exclusive tournament offers affiliates a prime opportunity to showcase their traffic generation skills, with the potential to secure booming rewards, including cash prizes, VIP benefits, stylish merchandise, and real gold trophies.
The tournament welcomes both existing and new partners of Boomerang. The new partners must submit an online application and receive a unique ID instantly. This ID ensures transparent evaluation of the traffic driven and sets the stage for a merit-based competition, as the Golden Boomerang Awards emphasizes a performance-based scoring system focusing on the quality and volume of first-time deposits (FTDs). Showing points tally rather than raw FTDs — there’s a leaderboard to track and reward affiliates’ efforts with prizes. The tournament also includes a bi-weekly rewards system with prizes like sleek new MacBooks, Semrush Business subscriptions, Go Pro UAVs, and other hot rewards for hitting key traffic milestones — all incentivizing participant results.
Additionally to these rewards, the most active participants will also be spotlighted across special categories:
- ‘Best Sportsbook Traffic 2024’, Awarded to the affiliate that drove the highest quality and volume of sportsbook traffic,
- ‘Best Casino Traffic 2024’, Awarded to the affiliate that drove the highest quality and volume of casino traffic,
- ‘Best Quality Traffic 2024’, Awarded for delivering overall exceptional quality traffic to Boomerang Partners’ brands,
- ‘Rising Star 2024’, Honors a newer affiliate who showed outstanding growth and performance — overall four additional categories recognizing more winners with golden statuettes,
- and much more.
The prize distribution will culminate with the three top golden statuettes: all finishers in the Golden Boomerang Awards tournament will each receive a lustrous, heavyweight Gold Boomerang statue — an industry representation of joining the top tier of affiliate marketing talent, — along with a VIP access pass to the glamorous invite-only Boomerang Awards Grand Ceremony!
As Boomerang Partners CEO Vitalii Prokofev notes, “Making balanced and fair rules in our tournament, we aim to measure an affiliate’s ability to bring value to any partner program effectively. The Golden Boomerang Award thus objectively recognizes those with true best-in-class traffic generation skills — a mark of top-tier affiliate talent. Winners of the Boomerang Award are revered as high-performance leaders, setting a standard for the industry.”
But the best part is reserved for last: the Golden Boomerang Awards on June 1st, 2024 will host the top 30 finalists — highest-performing participants based on tournament results — inviting them for an unforgettable Grand Ceremony experience in Cyprus. Beyond the glamorous accommodations, these VIPs can expect incredible networking with the industry’s best, a brilliant awards ceremony, an A-list entertainment lineup, and an afterparty with unbeatable presents and surprises, as well as many other activities before and after the main event. The invite-only grand finale promises to be the highlight of the year, celebrating the annual Golden Boomerang Awards tournament in a spectacular style.
The Golden Boomerang Awards 2024 intends to bring together world-class affiliates in a competitive yet collaborative setting that rewards driving quality traffic on an annual basis. The tournament signup opens on February 14th and continues past the finale on May 14th, 2024. While later registration is possible, joining earlier allows more time to drive traffic and boosts chances of success. Interested partners can join the exciting journey, demonstrate their expertise, and claim their share of rich rewards at GoldenBoomerangAwards.com
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