News
What do Affiliates Need to Consider in NZ from a Regulatory Perspective?
Online gambling remains an increasingly popular pastime in New Zealand, thanks to a peculiar and surprisingly commonplace set of regulations in the market.
More specifically, while the country’s gambling laws currently prohibit natives from wagering within a private online casino based in New Zealand, there’s nothing in the Gambling Act of 2003 to prevent players from registering with an accessible international brand such as Betway.
This also creates an opportunity for affiliate marketers in the NZ iGaming space, although things may be about to change in the wake of a comprehensive legislative review by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). We’ll explore this in a little more detail below:
Can You Become a Gambling Affiliate in New Zealand?
Currently, there appear to be no restrictions on operating as an iGaming affiliate in New Zealand, while this is becoming an increasingly lucrative career option in the digital age.
After all, the figures demonstrate that New Zealanders have poured huge amounts of money into overseas casino websites and sportsbooks over the course of the last 18 months, wagering approximately $381 million during this period alone.
There are also numerous types of affiliates available in NZ, including platforms such as Onlinecasinonewzealand.nz. This operates broadly as a standalone and independent review site that compares reputable and accessible gambling brands online, while it is also categorised as an affiliate website.
This means that the platform receives commission from the virtual casinos that it lists, through the various links, products and verticals provided.
When visitors click on these links and subsequently open an account with the online casino in question, the commission is paid out at the agreed percentage and within a predetermined timeframe.
You will also find a large number of prominent casino affiliate programs in New Zealand, some of which promote a number of competing overseas operators and payout at various rates of commission.
Typically, however, these programs will offer a revenue share between 25% and 50% to affiliates, while some will provide two-tier commission plans and customised bonus plans depending on the players making deposits.
The availability of affiliate programs in NZ should not come as a surprise, with this innovative marketing channel widely accessible even in nations that have taken a more stringent approach to advertising in the iGaming space.
Take Italy, for example, as while the so-called “Dignity Decree” has placed a stringent ban on iGaming advertising of late, affiliate marketing continues to create a handy workaround for operators.
Will Affiliate Marketing Continue in New Zealand?
As we’ve already touched on, the review by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is well underway in NZ, while a number of potential reforms have been proposed to help expand the marketplace in line with its increasingly digital nature.
The good news is that none of these are likely to affect affiliate marketers in New Zealand adversely, and in fact, they are far more likely to boost affiliates and create more opportunities within the sector.
The most likely reform would actually create additional licenses for both domestic and operators in NZ, for example, while broadening the market considerably and removing control away from centralised agencies like Lotto and TAB (who regulate lottery games and sports betting respectively).
This would create an increased demand for affiliate marketers and reputable programs in New Zealand, allowing established affiliates to scale their market shares and newcomers to carve themselves a lucrative niche within the industry.
Even if the legislation was adjusted to simply grant additional licenses to international casino and betting brands, this would also boost demand for affiliates while enabling existing programs to snap up new operators with the minimum of fuss.
Perhaps the only potential reform that would not directly benefit affiliates would see the government agencies Lotton and TAB extend their centralised offering to provide more gambling products to customers.
This would probably only see a single, centrally controlled online casino enter the NZ marketplace, creating little in the way of additional money-making opportunities for affiliates in the region.
Ultimately, however, it is clear that iGaming affiliates in NZ have little to fear from the current DIA review of the 2003 Gambling Act.
In fact, they’re most likely to benefit from any reforms, irrespective of any additional controls or regulatory measures that may be conceived much further down the line.
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Shortlisted for “European Corporate Services Supplier” Category at EGR EUROPE Awards 2026
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management platform, has been named on the EGR Europe Awards 2026 shortlist in the “European Corporate Services Supplier” category, recognising the platform’s solutions that help real operators with their operations and growth.
Continuing 2025’s Momentum
The nomination reflects a busy 2025 for ReferOn, one that was highlighted by significant product updates, rapid growth, and an ascent to becoming one of the most recognised affiliate management platforms in the industry.
Going into the new year, the ReferOn team has ambitious plans to accelerate this positive momentum by scaling alongside its growing partner base with advancements to its product vision around clarity, transparency, and ease of use. The EGR Europe Awards 2026 marks a pivotal start to 2026, and an award win demonstrates that the platform’s direction truly resonates with operators and affiliate managers worldwide.
Refie’s Human Impact
Refie, the platform’s human layer, transcends a mere surface-level companion. It hops around dashboards and workflows, providing relevant assistance, such as fixing reward logic, identifying anomalies, and making suggestions to the user.
In 2026, ReferOn plans to enhance Refie’s functionality with advanced platform gamification, engaging users and transforming how affiliate managers interact with their day-to-day operations. These developments will pave the way for personalised, smart intelligence on the platform and set an industry standard for affiliate tech.
Alex Bukin, General Manager, commented on the nomination and plans for 2026, “ReferOn made great strides in the past year, with major product developments, key recruitments, and a rapidly growing partner base. With this growth, our expectations have risen, and we want to establish ourselves as a platform that accelerates affiliate tech across the board. Being nominated for the ‘European Corporate Services Supplier’ category solidifies our ambition and is a meaningful start to our new year. With Refie driving more innovation, we look forward to driving our goal of transparency, clarity, and customer-facing features even further.”
Conferences
Aff.Tech Wraps Strong ICE & iGB Affiliate, Earns AIBC Eurasia Shortlist
Aff.Tech, the affiliate management platform by GR8 Tech, closed out ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026 with over 30 meetings—connecting with new prospects, aligning on growth plans with existing partners, and visiting client booths to celebrate their recent wins firsthand.
Market Signals That Match the Roadmap
Across both events, several themes dominated conversations: AI-driven automation across affiliate operations, heightened focus on compliant and transparent tracking, demand for flexible commission structures, and a clear shift from short-term acquisition toward long-term, value-driven partnerships.
For Aff.Tech, the signals validate recent product direction. Updates showcased at ICE—including new fixed-fee commission plans for tighter budget control, a third-party CRM integration API, and redesigned reporting for real-time performance visibility—speak directly to what operators said they need: infrastructure that supports diversified affiliate ecosystems without the operational drag.
“The conversations at ICE confirmed what we’ve been building toward,” said Mariia Shmelova, CEO of Aff.Tech. “The industry is moving away from short-term acquisition thinking. Operators want partnerships they can measure, manage, and grow over time—and they need platforms that make that sustainable at scale. That’s the direction we’re committed to.”
Industry Recognition Follows
Shortly after the event, Aff.Tech was shortlisted for Best Affiliate Software at the AIBC Eurasia Awards 2026—recognition that aligns with the momentum the team is carrying into the rest of the year.
News
N1 Puzzle Promo by N1 Partners Named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards
N1 Partners is proud to announce that N1 Puzzle Promo has been awarded Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards, recognizing the campaign as one of the most impactful and innovative marketing initiatives in the iGaming industry.
The European iGaming Awards celebrate excellence across the European iGaming industry, honoring companies and projects that demonstrate outstanding performance, creativity, and contribution to the sector.
N1 Puzzle Promo stood out as a large-scale global affiliate marketing campaign that became one of the most visible and performance-driven initiatives in iGaming in 2025. Built around a competitive, leaderboard-based mechanic, the campaign featured a total prize pool of €500,000, with a Robinson R22 helicopter as the ultimate reward. This ambitious concept motivated affiliates worldwide to actively scale traffic and compete for top positions across multiple Tier-1 markets.
The campaign was supported by a strong and continuous online presence throughout the year. N1 Puzzle Promo was actively promoted via leading iGaming media, digital advertising, and social media channels. This ensured consistent 360-degree exposure across all key touchpoints, keeping both existing partners and new affiliates highly engaged. The campaign drove sustained activity across Tier-1 and growth markets, with affiliates increasing their monthly FTD volumes by 150% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The campaign culminated in a grand final party and winner announcement event in Barcelona, where top-performing partners gathered to celebrate the results together. This transparent and public conclusion reinforced trust, credibility, and community within the affiliate network, transforming months of competition into a shared industry milestone.
“Winning Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards is a powerful validation of our vision for N1 Puzzle Promo,” said Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “This wasn’t just a promo, it was a global journey that united partners and drove strong, measurable growth. We’re grateful to our partners and proud to set a new benchmark for affiliate marketing in iGaming.”
This award further strengthens the position of N1 Partners as a team that consistently delivers bold, high-impact marketing solutions and continues to set new benchmarks for affiliate campaigns in the iGaming industry.
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News1 week agoN1 Puzzle Promo by N1 Partners Named Best Advertising and Marketing Campaign at the European iGaming Awards
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Awards1 week ago2RBO Affiliates Secures Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026
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Press Releases6 days ago
N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona
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Conferences6 hours agoAff.Tech Wraps Strong ICE & iGB Affiliate, Earns AIBC Eurasia Shortlist
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Affiliate Success6 hours agoReferOn Shortlisted for “European Corporate Services Supplier” Category at EGR EUROPE Awards 2026

