News
Online poker: the biggest winner during the coronavirus pandemic
The gambling industry has experienced both extremes during the coronavirus pandemic. On one side, land-based casinos and sportsbooks have been hit extremely hard.
The effects of lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions and social distancing measures have meant casinos have been forced to close for more than three months – and the financial consequences have been devastating. From Las Vegas to New Jersey, London to Macau – casinos all around the world are posting all-time low revenues.
Similarly, the lockdown of the vast majority of professional sport has seen sportsbooks grind to a halt, with sports betting companies in the United Kingdom and Europe experiencing slumps between 40 and 60 percent since March.
While the return of sport has helped the sector rebound to an extent, the cancellation of Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics have presented other challenges as such major, international events are prime opportunities for sportsbook companies to attract new customers.
However, while land-based casinos and sportsbooks have felt the full force of the Covid-19 outbreak, other areas of the gambling world have thrived.
Online gambling in the United States, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe has seen a record surge in the past few months as the very reasons that have damaged land-based casinos – such as lockdowns and social distancing – have directly benefited online operations.
For instance, New Jersey recorded record revenues in May for online casino betting, as companies, like BetAmerica, who offers this service profiting from the lockdown. Meanwhile The Stars Group in the UK reported a 92 percent increase in revenue the same month compared to 12 months ago.
While slots and gambling games have seen a major rise during the past few months, the big winner has been online poker.
Three of the four states in the US with legal online poker operations have reported a huge spike in revenues, while the fourth – Nevada – has not released the figures, but one can safely assume that they, too, have experienced an increase.
New Jersey saw online poker revenue jump from $1.57 million in April 2019 to $5.2m 12 months later, while Pennsylvania enjoyed 68 percent and Delaware 48 percent increases when comparing the same two months.
The trends are similar in Europe. In France, for example, online poker revenue is up 44.1 percent compared to the same month last year while UK-based gambling giant 888 has seen its share price surge.
Of all the online gambling games, poker has been uniquely placed to benefit from the current situation.
As friends and family members have been kept apart, poker has been a popular means of socializing. It explains the increased popularity of Poker Stars’ Private Home Games and the rush of competitors to launch similar services.
“It’s only natural. People are stuck at home, they’re bored and even though there are more live poker options starting right now, people are just hesitant to jump right back in because of the health risk implications,” said professional poker player Danielle Andersen.
Then there has been the move online for prestigious professional events which would otherwise have been cancelled or postponed.
It was announced in June that the World Series of Poker – which had been scheduled to take place from May 26 to July 15 at the Rio Convention Center in Las Vegas – would be held online throughout July through to the first week of September.
By taking the 2020 WSOP online, it has also increased the size of the player pool, allowing players from outside the United States to compete for WSOP bracelets.
While poker great Daniel Negreanu said the move online was a “classic case of making the best of it”, it has still allowed professional poker to continue – a luxury many other sports and competitions do not have.
Meanwhile, professional poker’s other flagship event, PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, has been canceled.
Aware of the surge in popularity of online poker during these unprecedented times, operators have poured greater investment, marketing, and technology into their poker operations, which will only benefit the game in the long term and help attract and retain more customers.
As life gradually returns to normal, online poker will naturally see a relative decline in interest as millions of people are no longer confined to their homes and professional players are once again able to attend live events.
But what this pandemic has shown is that poker has not only been able to survive under such trying circumstances but has thrived.
News
N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic
With less than two weeks remaining until N1 Sport Promo by N1 Partners comes to an end, the biggest sporting events of July are still ahead: the decisive matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Wimbledon Final, the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, and the closing stages of the Tour de France.
During this period, every additional FTD not only increases your overall payout but also boosts your CPA rate.
- SEO & PPC — +€50 CPA for every 10 FTDs, with no cap on CPA increases.
- Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email & SMS — +€10 CPA for every 30 FTDs, up to +€100 above your base CPA.
The full promotion terms are available via the link below.
The N1 Partners affiliate team has shared practical recommendations to help affiliates make the most of the final stage of the promotion.
Strengthen Campaigns That Already Deliver Results
The final weeks of N1 Sport Promo are the best time to increase the volume of successful campaigns and take full advantage of the promotion’s progressive CPA mechanics.
Focus on traffic sources and creatives that are already delivering consistent results. Their growth can be supported by expanding into additional GEOs, regularly refreshing creatives, keeping offers up to date, and reacting quickly to major sporting events.
Even a moderate increase in high-quality traffic can significantly improve your final payout: the more FTDs you generate before the promotion ends, the higher your CPA rate becomes.
Speed Is a Competitive Advantage
The strongest results typically come from campaigns launched ahead of key matches and kept relevant throughout the tournament. Preparing campaigns before kickoff and responding quickly to shifts in audience interest helps affiliates capitalize on peaks in sports traffic and generate more high-quality FTDs.
Mobile users deserve particular attention during this period, as a significant share of the audience engages with sports content while matches are taking place.
Player Activity Peaks in the Final Hours Before Kickoff
During major sporting events, many users register just a few hours before a match begins. That’s why timely creative updates and a strong focus on the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures are essential for maintaining campaign performance.
Key Sporting Events Before the Promo Ends
The sports calendar remains packed over the coming weeks:
- July 9 — France vs Morocco (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 10 — Spain vs Belgium (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 11 — Norway vs England (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 14–15 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals;
- July 19 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Final;
- July 12 — Wimbledon Final;
- July 19 — Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix;
- Through July 26 — Closing stages of the Tour de France.
Each of these events traditionally drives spikes in search demand, social media engagement, and player interest. As a rule, the best-performing campaigns are those that are already delivering results. The final weeks of the promotion are the ideal time to strengthen them through continuous, data-driven optimization.
Looking for even more scaling opportunities? The N1 Partners team has also prepared a comprehensive July guide featuring the month’s biggest sporting events and practical recommendations to help affiliates plan campaigns more effectively and drive additional Tier-1 traffic.
If you haven’t joined N1 Sport Promo yet, contact your affiliate manager or reach out to LeadGen Chris and make the most of the final weeks of the promotion.
Why choose N1 Partners?
- 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
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.
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