News
Will The Coronavirus Lead To More Legalized Online Casinos?
The Coronavirus has affected the gambling world in a drastic way. Sports betting has effectively been halted in the United States, with all major sports postponing their seasons. Las Vegas and every other land-based casino in the country have also shut their doors.
Instead of March being the massive wagering month that Nevada and sportsbooks around the country are used to, the cancellation of March Madness led to the worst sports betting handle since 1993 in the Silver State.
However, there has been one sector of gaming that has been flourishing in a big way, and that is legit online casinos.
Online Casino Revenues Explode Amidst COVID Pandemic
Although gambling revenues are down for states across the board, one area that is exploding is online casino gambling. Poker has seen a surge as well, but nowhere near where casino gambling has gone in the past two months.
For example, with Atlantic City casinos closing their doors, revenues have skyrocketed for online casinos in the month of March in New Jersey. Gambling sites took in $64.8 in revenue that month. It was a near 25 percent increase from February and over a 65 percent increase from March 2019 numbers.
In Pennsylvania, we see similar numbers for online play. Though overall gaming revenue was down 51 percent, the state set new records for online casinos, bringing in over $24 million in revenue, setting records for monthly revenue, and the total amount wagered.
There are states around the country with similar marks for revenue and amount wagered.
Will This Spur Online Gambling Legalization Across the US?
It’s possible, but just because it becomes more economically viable or the opportunity presents itself, it doesn’t mean states will act.
One could draw the comparison to sports betting legalization, which has happened rapidly in the country after the Supreme Court overturned the Federal sports betting ban in May 2018. Since then, 16 states have regulated and legalized recreational betting in some form in their states.
However, we have to remember that the green light for legal online casinos and poker sites has been around since 2011.
The Wire Act Flip Flop
After much of the online poker world got wiped out by the US Department of Justice, in what became known as the “Black Friday” of poker, the online gambling world changed dramatically.
However, the DOJ quickly changed course on the legality of online poker and casino gambling. They stated in December of the same year that only sports betting fell under the scope of the 1961 Wire Act.
That was changed with the 2018 decision for sports betting, but the ability for states to legalize online casino gambling has been around since 2011. However, only 13 states have decided to tax and regulate the activity within their borders.
Will More States Act Now On Online Casino Gambling?
It’s possible but still seems unlikely. Most states that have legalized sports betting often don’t have an online component for wagering sports, making online gambling an afterthought.
As it stands now, only three of the 16 states that have regulated sports betting have also legalized online casinos. So, even though states are moving quickly with sports betting, casino gambling has not been a part of these gambling expansions.
Don’t Worry, Players Still Have Options
Regardless of how states act in regards to online gambling expansion – players have all sorts of options for online casino gambling. There are lots of legal online casinos operating that accept players from all 50 states and across the globe.
Their games offered, bonuses and casino software are also better than land-based options. Most of them also offer sports betting and poker from the same account.
Players may be moving towards online casinos because of the Coronavirus, but it’s been the better choice, all along.
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Wins Prestigious “Best Affiliate Software 2025” at SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards
A milestone achievement as ReferOn continues to impress
ReferOn, the next-generation affiliate management platform, has taken the title of “Best Affiliate Software 2025” at the SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards, held in Rome.
The award recognises ReferOn’s rapid growth in becoming a leader in iGaming. It distinguishes the platform for its cutting-edge architecture, exceptional product innovations, and measurable impact on affiliate operations.
Redefining Affiliate Management
In a short amount of time since its inception, ReferOn has become one of the most recognised names in affiliate technology, leading the way by creating user-centric features that help the real needs of affiliate managers.
The platform recorded rapid adoption, supporting an influx of tens of thousands of affiliates and millions of clicks while continuously evolving and growing with new features and refinements. The platform’s approach to innovation and user-facing experiences is its new living interface, Refie. Refie brings awareness and human-like interaction to the platform, helping make affiliate operations more personable and accessible.
Building Beyond the Standard
Alex Bukin, General Manager at ReferOn, commented on the win, “This award is more than recognition. It empowers and validates our team, encouraging us never to stop building. At ReferOn, we always aim to shape how affiliate marketing should work. At its core, it should be simple, transparent, and powerful. Every new integration and feature comes from a team that deeply understands the product and what real affiliate managers need. This helps us refine our platform to be the best it can be. And we’re only getting started!”
Continued Momentum
ReferOn’s win at SiGMA Central Europe marks another significant achievement. In 2025, the platform conducted multiple migrations and released groundbreaking features to transform affiliate operations. Its sights are set on 2026 — a year that will be focused on product refinements, sustainable growth through key industry partnerships, and delivering more key solutions for real affiliate managers.
Affiliate Success
Casino Guru secures SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards’ Best Affiliate 2025 distinction
Casino Guru has won the “Best Affiliate 2025” category at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards, distinguishing the company’s efforts in delivering the best online casino database and guiding players to the safest casinos of their choice.
Via Tuscolana hosted the ceremony on Tuesday, November 4, in Rome, Italy, distinguishing a number of companies, among which was Casino Guru, which secured the landmark accolade for itself.
Commenting on the win, Casino Guru’s Head of Casino Research, Matej Novota, said: “Winning the Best Affiliate 2025 award at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards is a meaningful milestone for us as we approach the end of the year. At Casino Guru, we are honored to be recognized in this category. Our mission has always been to build the world’s most comprehensive online casino database and to offer impartial insights that empower players to make informed decisions. This award strengthens our resolve to continue serving as a trusted bridge between players and operators, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and fairness in everything we do.”
Casino Guru has been awarded for its unflagging commitment to providing players with the most reliable up-to-date information about casinos and bonuses.
At its core, Casino Guru is committed to making the gambling industry safer and promoting best practices in Responsible Gaming. The company plays an active role in shaping these standards, drawing on its extensive experience, expertise, and firmly held values of fairness, integrity, and transparency.
Platforms such as the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative and Casino Guru Academy have been created to foster a better understanding of Responsible Gambling and how players and industry professionals can leverage it to their benefit.
Notably, the Casino Guru Awards have become a trend-setter in actively encouraging change on the part of industry stakeholders, and distinguishing deserving individuals and companies across numerous categories, such as Rising Star in Responsible Gambling, Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative, Fairest Bonus Policy, Industry Culture Shaper, and more.
Casino Guru has worked tirelessly, developing the world’s most complicated ranking system, the Safety Index, which carefully examines each casino’s offer, focusing on criteria favored by players, and issues an objective score that is also regularly updated.
Besides the Safety Index, Casino Guru has launched and maintains a world-beating independent adjudication service, the Complaint Resolution Center, which has returned more than $50m to players, including closing cases that involved more than $1m disputed by a single player.
Casino Guru is proud to receive the latest accolade from the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards, celebrating the company’s commitment to making gambling safer and better for everyone out there.
Conferences
Palms Bet Takes Center Stage as General Sponsor of the EEGS Affiliate Conference
The Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) is proud to announce Palms Bet as the General Sponsor of this year’s Affiliate Conference, taking place alongside EEGS 2025 – where innovation, regulation, and strategic collaboration converge.
As one of Bulgaria’s leading gaming and entertainment brands, Palms Bet has played a pivotal role in shaping the local and regional iGaming landscape. Its continued investment in digital innovation and affiliate partnerships reflects a deep commitment to responsible growth and industry excellence.
The Affiliate Conference at EEGS will gather affiliate leaders, operators, digital marketers, and regulators to explore the evolving landscape of player acquisition, data-driven marketing, and compliance in regulated markets.
Through its support, Palms Bet reinforces the mission of EEGS — to create a dynamic space for learning, networking, and advancing the future of the gaming and affiliate ecosystem across Europe.
🎯 Save the date:
🗓️ 26 November 2025
📍 Inter Expo Center, Sofia
Join us for an inspiring edition of EEGS and the Affiliate Conference, powered by Palms Bet!
Let’s shape the future of iGaming together – where innovation meets collaboration, and affiliates lead the way!
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News1 week agoN1 Partners at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 Results: A Key Pit Stop on the Road to the Helicopter
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Affiliate Success6 days agoCasino Guru secures SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards’ Best Affiliate 2025 distinction
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Conferences1 week agoPalms Bet Takes Center Stage as General Sponsor of the EEGS Affiliate Conference
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Affiliate Success2 days agoReferOn Wins Prestigious “Best Affiliate Software 2025” at SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards

