News
How Vera & John became the market-leading online casino in Japan
In most places of the world, gambling and casinos are outlawed. Likewise, under the law and regulation of Japan, gambling is prohibited as well. There is no availability of any physical form of casino or gambling in Japan.
People who live in Japan do look forward to such activities. Most of the population is a hidden fan of gambling or casinos due to the reasons for much better opportunities for earning money despite the fact that various laws prohibit the physical forms of casinos.
But no law bans gambling through online platforms. And due to such cases, Japan is now on the verge of becoming the best market for online casinos. It is also believed that the government of Japan will be turning Osaka city into a casino hub.
It will increase tourism and travel in the country. Which, in turn, will increase the profit and money flow into the country. This step has made online gambling successful and much of this is due to the efforts in recent years of Vera and John.
The main reason due to which the online casino has flourished in Japan is primarily due to the hard work of Vera and John who were one of the first online casino operators to enter the Japanese market.
How the Vera & John reputation was built?
Ever since their entrance into Japan, VJ (as they are commonly known in the industry) have been at the center of the online casino world. They built a platform that the local audience could connect with including a character with appeal to the Japanese graphical style, local language and support for the local currency – the Japanese Yen.
They backed this up with payment and withdrawal methods that the Japanese would also be familiar with and are unique to Japan. And best of all, it didn’t take them long to develop this platform and offer all these services to their customer base. At its heart, Vera & John’s success could be said to be built on their understanding of the local market and creating a platform that speaks to their audience:
- Japanese language
- Currency support
- Marvelous graphics
- Good customer support
- Wide range of transactions. For example, e-wallets, debit, and credit cards. Allowance of international wire transfers, bank transfers, etc.
Not only that, VJ has all the best slot games and live casino options – many of which can’t be found in physical casinos. Plus, it constitutes many different popular video and traditional games.
Welcome offers and strong website user experience
Vera and John also have a generous welcome bonus. These types of welcome offers are now common in the industry and each online casino has its own version as a way of attracting new customers. However upon launch in Japan, VJ sat almost on its own in offering a generous amount of free spins when a customer signs up and deposits on their website. A simple marketing strategy that took advantage of the fact that not many people had seen this type of offer before from an online casino.
One of the other key aspects of Vera & John’s success was their easy withdrawal procedure. This option allows the users to collect their winnings whenever they want. There are no restrictions or long procedures to draw your cash. Unsurprisingly, within the online casino industry this is something that typically frustrates customers when they are unable to withdraw their earnings immediately.
Such initiatives are the reason for Vera & John’s popularity. Their market entry, localisation and timing was all aligned to make their efforts a success to date.
A final word on casino safety
For Japanese casino enthusiasts, they now favor an online environment for many reasons. Partly due to the strict laws and casino regulation around playing games in physical casinos – an online environment offers way more variety. Equally through the recent global pandemic, many online businesses have seen growth and the online casino space is no different, giving players the ability to play their favorite games from the comfort of their own home – online casinos don’t need to close for social distancing or any other virus related measure.
Vera & John have mastered the art of entering into a new market, a new culture and timing it to perfection and the results speak for themselves. Needless to say, competition has increased significantly of late as other casinos have seen the opportunity and appetite of the Japanese players. Only time will tell if Vera & John can stay top of the pile.
News
LEONBET and Simon Msuva Continue the Journey with a Nationwide Media Tour Following The Msuva Story
Following the release of The Msuva Story documentary, LEONBET and its brand ambassador, Simon Msuva, are continuing the campaign with a nationwide media tour to share the footballer’s inspiring journey and encourage young Tanzanians to pursue their dreams with determination and confidence.
The media tour saw Msuva visit leading radio stations across Tanzania, where he discussed his football journey, the challenges he overcame, and the message behind the documentary. Through these conversations, LEONBET and Msuva encouraged young Tanzanians to believe in their ambitions, work hard, and never give up on their dreams.
The documentary chronicles Msuva’s rise from a young football enthusiast to one of Tanzania’s most recognisable professional players, highlighting the determination, discipline, and resilience that shaped his career.
“As someone who started with a dream, I want young people to know that every challenge can become an opportunity if you keep believing in yourself,” said Simon Msuva. “I hope my story inspires the next generation to pursue their goals with confidence and determination.”
As part of the campaign, LEONBET and Msuva also hosted a special community football event featuring local teams Taifa King (Temeke) and Wekewa FC (Kinondoni). Held at Mwembe Yanga Grounds, the friendly match brought together football, entertainment, and community engagement, with Simon Msuva attending as the guest of honour and meeting young fans throughout the day.
The initiative reflects LEONBET’s ongoing commitment to supporting sports development and creating opportunities that inspire young talent across Tanzania. Beyond sponsoring professional athletes and sporting initiatives, the company continues to invest in projects that strengthen local communities and promote positive role models.
Through The Msuva Story and the accompanying media tour, LEONBET and Simon Msuva hope to remind young Tanzanians of one simple message:
“Every dream is possible if you believe.”
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Wins “Best Affiliate Management Platform” at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026
ReferOn has been named the Best Affiliate Management Platform at the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, marking another major milestone in the company’s growth. Announced live at iGB LIVE, the recognition follows a year of relentless product innovation, customer growth, and a continued focus on simplifying affiliate operations.
Turning Complexity into Clarity
Managing high-volume affiliate programs requires processing millions of data points every day. ReferOn was built to eliminate that complexity through automation, real-time insights, and streamlined workflows.
This year also marked the introduction of Refie, ReferOn’s integrated UX layer. Instead of forcing affiliate managers to navigate complex backend data, Refie turns raw operational data into clear, actionable insights. From onboarding to daily performance tracking, it helps teams spend less time on administration and more time driving strategic growth.
Alex Bukin, CEO of ReferOn, commented: “Winning the iGB Affiliate Award is a remarkable achievement for our entire team. As affiliate programs grow, so does the complexity behind them. From day one, our ambition has been to remove that complexity, so operators can focus on growth instead of operational friction. This recognition reinforces our belief that great B2B technology should be simpler, more intuitive, easier to work with, and built around the people who use it”.
Having secured major industry awards over the past 18 months, — including ‘Affiliate System of the Year’ at AffPapa and ‘Best Affiliate Software’ at SiGMA — ReferOn looks ahead with a roadmap that remains focused on making affiliate management even more intelligent, transparent, and effortless. Our upcoming developments will continue to simplify complex workflows, expand AI-powered assistance, and provide operators with even greater visibility and control over their affiliate operations.
Affiliate Success
Kongebonus becomes first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at iGB Affiliate Awards 2026
Kongebonus has become the first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, a landmark recognition that names the independent Norwegian guide as the world’s leading casino affiliate for 2026.
The award was presented on 2 July during iGB L!VE London, where the iGB Affiliate Awards celebrated the affiliates, programmes, networks, suppliers and individuals helping to drive the iGaming sector forward.
iGB Affiliate described first-time contestant Kongebonus as a “Norwegian local hero”, noting that the platform claimed the award in a close race and ended Gambling.com Group’s two-year reign in the highly competitive category. Independent judges praised Kongebonus’ “super smart” approach, highlighting its combination of innovation, engaged player community, and strong editorial presence across Google News and the media.
The recognition reflects Kongebonus’ focus on detailed operator testing, transparent casino reviews, community-led content and player protection. The platform tests casinos with its own money before reviewing them, publishes its full methodology and continues to invest in responsible gambling resources, including practical guidance and support signposting for players.
David Nilsen, Editor-in-Chief at Kongebonus, said: “Winning Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards is a huge moment for Kongebonus and for everyone who has helped build the platform. To be recognised in a category alongside some of the biggest and most respected names in the affiliate industry is something we are incredibly proud of.
“I’ve spent more than ten years on the inside of this industry, and I’ve seen how big the gap can be between what a casino promises and what the player is actually left with. Closing that gap is the whole reason we test the way we do.
“What this award tells us is that being the most trusted guide matters more than being the biggest one, and that’s the only thing we’ve ever set out to build.”
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