Summer 2026 is set to be one of the hottest periods for sports traffic, with every major sporting headline creating fresh scaling opportunities for affiliates.

N1 Partners is launching the first edition of the N1 Sports Digest series, featuring an up-to-date sports calendar along with practical traffic-driving insights from industry experts to help partners make the most of the hot season. Use this calendar to plan your campaigns and maximize your earnings with N1 Sport Promo running from June 10 to July 20.

Summer 2026 sports calendar

June

July

August

Expert insights on sport traffic

N1 Partners team gathered key tips from industry experts. They’ll share what affiliates should focus on and how to maximise profitability throughout the summer 2026 sports season.

Daria Smirnova, Affiliate Team Lead, N1 Partners

Season trends and peculiarities:

• The biggest highlight of summer 2026 will be the expanded FIFA World Cup format. With more participating nations, new audiences and GEOs that have historically been less engaged with football-related content will enter the spotlight. This creates additional opportunities for testing and scaling.
• Special attention should be paid to localisation. Thanks to the expanded geography of the World Cup, audiences will become less universal, making language adaptation, localised creatives, and region-specific triggers even more important for campaign performance.
• It is essential to prepare multiple creative concepts for different sports and audience segments rather than building an entire strategy exclusively around football.
• Despite the massive interest surrounding the World Cup, affiliates should not limit themselves to football. Audience attention throughout the summer will also be focused on tennis, including Wimbledon, as well as major esports tournaments in Counter-Strike, Dota 2, VALORANT, and other disciplines.
• Esports may become a particularly attractive direction due to its younger audience and relatively lower CPMs across a number of GEOs.
• The season will be packed with major events, meaning competition for user attention will intensify. As a result, creatives and offers are likely to burn out faster than during regular periods.

How to maximise profit: 

• Leverage not only football-related news hooks but the entire summer sports calendar.
• Continuously test new GEOs and audience segments that may show increased interest driven by major international sporting events.
• Focus on retaining users between matches and tournament stages. During quieter periods, virtual sports, fast-paced simulations, and similar engagement mechanics often perform exceptionally well.
• Take advantage of additional seasonal opportunities. For example, N1 Sport Promo covers the biggest sporting events of the summer and offers increased payouts for sports traffic, including Prediction Markets traffic.

Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates, N1 Partners

Season trends and peculiarities:

• Summer 2026 is set to become one of the most event-packed sports seasons in recent years. Users will be drawn to FIFA World Cup matches, headline UFC events, and numerous other international competitions.
• The major sporting events’ abundance creates an almost continuous stream of audience interest while simultaneously increasing competition for user attention.
• In an environment of heavy information overload, it is especially important to monitor the news cycle closely, including roster changes, athlete injuries, match postponements, and other developments that may influence audience behaviour.
• Major tournaments always carry the potential for unexpected outcomes and major upsets, where favourites are eliminated earlier than expected and underdogs achieve the best results in their history.

How to maximise profit: 

• Plan campaign launches in advance and prepare for peak periods of sports-driven demand.
• Avoid focusing on a single tournament and instead capitalise on opportunities across the entire sports calendar.
• Continuously test new traffic combinations and evaluate performance based on EPC rather than focusing solely on bid amounts.
• Utilize additional monetization opportunities throughout the sports season. In particular, participation in N1 Sport Promo can increase overall profitability through enhanced payouts and special conditions for sports traffic.

Ksenia Gaikova, Team Lead BDM, Alfaleads Network

Season trends and peculiarities:

• When working with major sporting events, it is important to remember that the highest traffic volumes typically occur during the opening stages of a tournament rather than during the final rounds. Users are most actively supporting their favourites when the number of participants is at its maximum.
• For affiliates who primarily work with casino traffic and want to capitalise on the sports wave, choosing partners with strong retention mechanisms is especially important. This makes it possible not only to monetise sports-related interest in the moment but also to effectively cross-sell users into other products.
• Conversion rates during sporting events can exceed standard benchmarks, but media buying economics differ significantly from casino traffic. As a result, bidding strategies require additional adjustments to account for the specifics of the sports vertical.
• During major events, virtually every market participant is working with the same news hooks and narratives. Therefore, bonuses, promo codes, boosted odds, themed landing pages, and other promotional tools become critical competitive advantages.
• The market continues to evolve rapidly while traffic source stability declines. Under these conditions, the strongest teams will be those capable of adapting quickly to emerging trends and adjusting their strategies in real time.

How to maximise profit: 

• Launch campaigns as early as possible rather than waiting for the decisive stages of tournaments.
• Work with partners that offer strong player retention and high-performing retention funnels.
• Adapt bidding models and acquisition strategies to the specifics of the sports vertical.
• Fully integrate the advertiser’s marketing advantages into your funnels.
• Closely monitor trends and test new approaches before competitors have the opportunity to scale them.

Roman Cpa Kill, Founder & CEO, THE GODS GROUP

Season trends and peculiarities:

• Prediction Markets should not be viewed as a separate vertical. Instead, it represents another monetisation tool that naturally complements traditional sports traffic.
• The key success factor is the ability to react quickly to trends, breaking news, and major sporting events.

How to maximise profit: 

• Identify new opportunities and market inefficiencies before competitors do.
• Test hypotheses quickly and avoid delaying the launch of new traffic combinations.
• Adapt creatives rapidly to align with current sports narratives and trending topics.
• Scale successful campaigns immediately after validating results in order to maximise performance during periods of peak demand.

Considering the density of the sports calendar and the enormous potential of Tier 1 GEOs, summer 2026 is one of the most promising periods for scaling sports traffic.

For affiliates looking to secure higher payouts on sports and Prediction Markets traffic, N1 Sport Promo can serve as an additional monetization tool, where increased FTD volume directly impacts CPA rates.

The summer sports season has already started — join N1 Sport Promo!

N1 Partners team will participate in iGB L!VE 2026 in London, July 1-2. At booth K50, N1 Partners will present exclusive art collaborations with trendy British illustrator Clym Evernden and designer Yoomoota, a new collection of branded merch drop and the N1 Sport Promo opportunities.

N1 Partners exclusive collaborations at iGB L!VE 2026

One of the main events at the N1 Partners booth on July 1 will be an art performance with the participation of Clym Evernden, a BAFTA Award winner known for his collaboration with fashion brands Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Vogue, Diptyque, and Hermes.

Within the framework of iGB L!VE, the artist will create a large-scale artwork in his signature continuous line technique. Guests of the stand will be able to watch the process in real time as well as receive signed postcards and the author’s sketches.

N1 Partners has also prepared an exclusive limited-edition collection with Clym Evernden, which will be included in a select series of gifts for partners.

Another premiere will be a collectible toy created in collaboration with Yoomoota, an art project by artist and designer Taras Yoom, winner of the A’ Design Award and the Good Design Award. His work has been exhibited at PAD London, Art Miami, and the Red Dot Museum and has been featured in Forbes, Hypebeast, Vice, Elle Decor, and Designboom.

Scale sports traffic with N1 Sport Promo

One of the key business topics of the conference will be N1 Sport Promo, which runs from June 10 to July 20.

The promo was created for partners working with sports and Prediction Markets traffic, and is timed to coincide with one of the busiest sports seasons of the year. The FIFA World Cup 2026, UFC, Formula 1, Wimbledon, and other major sporting events open up additional opportunities for scaling campaigns and increasing traffic profitability.

The campaign participants receive additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, which allows them to increase payouts during the period of maximum demand.

N1 Duality: booth concept and activities 

At iGB L!VE 2026, N1 Partners will present a new creative concept, N1 Duality, exploring the intersection of opposites: strategy and intuition, technology and creativity, business and art. It is at this juncture that new ideas, partnerships, and growth opportunities are born.

The concept will be reflected in the new limited-edition merch drop SPLIT: London.

The N1 Partners booth will be a visual continuation of N1 Duality. The space will combine business communication, creative activations, and interactive mechanics, reflecting the idea of finding new opportunities through a combination of different approaches and views.

One of the central mechanics will be the interactive DICE game with the opportunity to win instant prizes and limited gifts from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners shortlisted in iGB Affiliate Awards

During iGB L!VE 2026, the results of the iGB Affiliate Awards will be announced. N1 Partners is represented in two categories at once:

• Best Affiliate Program;

• Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Being shortlisted for one of the most prestigious awards in the affiliate industry has become a recognition of the company’s achievements in developing an affiliate program and implementing large-scale marketing projects.

Book a meeting with N1 Partners

Guests of the booth at the conference will be able to learn more about working with more than 14 casino and betting brands of the partner program in 10+ Tier-1 GEO with flexible cooperation models for different types of traffic.

Guests can discuss the following with the N1 Partners team:

• New opportunities for casino, sports and prediction traffic;
• Individual terms of cooperation;
• Product updates;
• Strategies for scaling and increasing traffic profitability.
• Current promos and special offers from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners invites existing partners and those interested in cooperation to meet at booth K50 at iGB L!VE 2026.

Contact the team in advance to schedule a convenient meeting time:

• Alexa – Head of Affiliates
• Vlad – Deputy Head of Affiliates
• Vladislav – Affiliate Team Lead
• Daria – Affiliate Team Lead
• Alina – Affiliate Team Lead
• Polina – Affiliate Manager
• Victoria – Affiliate Manager
• Artem – Affiliate Manager
• Pavel – Affiliate Manager
• Alexandr – Affiliate Manager
• Shirin – Affiliate Manager
• Aleksandrs – Affiliate Manager

If you wish to discuss marketing activities, content projects, media placements or other collaboration formats, N1 Partners’ marketing team will be happy to meet you at iGB L!VE 2026.

• Tatiana – Head of Brand Marketing (B2B & B2C)
• Maria – Team Lead of PR, Event, Production
• Oleksandra – Head of SMM & Content

See you at booth K50 in London.

Start working with N1 Partners — become number one!

Every brand requires its own approach, which is why in the N1 Brand Series, the N1 Partners team breaks down products through a practical, hands-on lens.

In this episode let’s look inside N1 Bet: its core strengths, audience specifics, and approaches to improving traffic efficiency. In addition, the team has prepared a traffic setup for N1 Sport Promo, a new promotion aligned with the upcoming high-intensity sports season and FIFA 2026.

Within the campaign running from June 10 to July 20, partners will be able to earn additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, increasing their potential rewards alongside the number of acquired FTDs.

N1 Bet: Product breakdown

N1 Bet combines classic sports betting, casino, and Prediction Markets into a single product, offering users a wide variety of markets, an intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and attractive promotional mechanics designed to boost engagement.

• Brand name: N1 Bet
• GEOs: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE, NO, IT
• Main verticals: Casino, betting, prediction markets
• Target audience: Users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots, and live games, oriented toward a fast and seamless gaming experience.
• User value: Ease of use, fast access to games, bonuses, and promotional mechanics
• Features/advantages: Simple and fast registration flow, smooth UX, wide selection of slots and live games, fast deposits/withdrawals, and regular promotions.
• Reg2Dep:
  PPC: 40–60%
  FB: 22–30%
  SEO: 40–45%

• Retention Rate: 25–35%
• LTV: up to €1500

Player’s portrait

N1 Bet audience is primarily composed of Tier-1 GEO users, which directly influences their behaviour and expectations toward the product. From a payment behaviour perspective, Tier-1 audiences demonstrate a higher average deposit compared to Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the DACH region.

Another key product characteristic is strong mobile dominance. On average, 87% of active users play from mobile devices. In English-speaking GEOs, this share is even higher:

• AU — 95%
• NZ — 96%
• CA — 95%

In practice, this is mostly a mobile-only audience. In the DACH region, mobile traffic is also dominant, although desktop still retains a presence:

• DE — 89% mobile
• AT — 91% mobile

Peak player activity occurs in the evening — from 19:00 to 23:00 local time.

Player characteristics by GEO

Austria

• A premium audience segment.
• 91% of users play on mobile devices.
• High interest in slots, especially classic titles such as Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra.
• Higher rates with fewer deposits.
• Behavior is close to a VIP segment.

Germany

• Also a premium segment.
• 89% mobile traffic, while maintaining a noticeable desktop share.
• The most balanced mix of slots, live casino, and sportsbook.
• Slots share is lower than in other GEOs, but classic slots remain in demand.

Australia

• 95% mobile users.
• High average revenue per user.
• Main interest focused on slots and crash games.
• Branded games, including Chicken Road 2 x N1 Bet, are among the most popular products.

Canada

• 95% mobile audience.
• Average ARPPU is comparable to Australia.
• Gaming behaviour is mostly slot-oriented.
• High interest in branded content.
• Lower sensitivity to bonus offers compared to other markets.

New Zealand

• The most mobile-driven audience — 96%.
• Lower ARPPU and average bet size.
• The only GEO with a consistently high share of live casino activity — 17% to 56% vs 10-22% in other markets.
• The most diverse gameplay behavior overall.

New players’ behavior

New user behaviour largely depends on traffic source:

• Facebook Crash campaigns — users start with crash games (Chicken Road, Aviator, etc.) and then gradually move into slots.
• Facebook Slots campaigns — users immediately engage with slots without switching categories.
• PPC — most common mix: slots + live casino.
• Influence — mixed interest across slots, crash games, and live casino.
• SEO — primarily focused on slots and live games.

General trends

• Slots remain the main driver of new player activity, accounting for 60–80% of playtime (higher in AT and AU, lower in DE and CA).
• Crash games work extremely well as a primary conversion tool, especially for Facebook traffic.
• Live casino becomes more popular after the 2nd–3rd deposit, especially among users from DACH and NZ.

High-LTV Player Behavior

High lifetime value players are not characterised by single large deposits but by consistent product engagement:

• more than 4 active gaming sessions per week;
• use of multiple verticals simultaneously (slots + live, slots + sportsbook, sportsbook + prediction markets);
• active participation in VIP and loyalty programs;
• use of cashback and loyalty systems instead of bonus hunting;
• strong interest in new providers, tournaments, and product updates;
• stable deposit patterns without sharp promo-driven spikes;
• engagement in onsite activities (tournaments, bonus shop) and CRM communications.

This category of users forms the most stable and long-term LTV for partners.

Top 3 Working Funnels for N1 Bet

Funnel 1

This funnel is designed for a broad audience and performs well due to a simple and clear message. The main focus is the ability to start with a small amount and potentially win big. This approach helps maintain a low FTD cost and quickly scale traffic volume.

• Traffic source: Facebook
• GEO: AU
• Page type: PWA
• Audience: Men and women 25+
• Approach: The creative is based on a dynamic video. It starts with a stack of cash in front of a smartphone or computer screen, then shifts to gameplay featuring slots, bonuses, and winning combinations. A voiceover explains the low entry threshold, easy start, and the ability to play directly from a smartphone. The main goal is to create a sense of accessibility and highlight potential winnings.
• Why it works: Users immediately see core triggers — money, wins, and a low entry barrier. The funnel appeals to the desire for fast results with minimal investment.
• Key funnel element: Slots and PWA
• Performance indicators: CPC, FTD cost, and average player value
• Scaling method: Duplication of successful ad campaigns
• Risks/limitations: May attract lower-quality traffic
• Common mistakes: Launching too many campaigns at once with high budgets
• Expert note: This funnel should be scaled gradually. The best approach is to start with a single campaign and allow algorithms to gather sufficient data. If stable FTD and average value metrics are achieved over several days, scaling should be done through duplication rather than abrupt budget increases.

Funnel 2

This approach can attract higher-quality audiences thanks to a combination of a recognizable influencer, a real casino environment, and a native-style product presentation. When executed properly, it can maintain an acceptable FTD cost while bringing in users with strong long-term engagement potential.

• Traffic source: Facebook
• GEO: AU
• Page type: PWA
• Audience: Men and women 25+
• Approach: The creative features a well-known influencer inside a physical casino. They play a slot, share their experience, show bet sizes and winnings. The atmosphere is important: other casino visitors react emotionally, creating a sense of real entertainment and leisure. The entire video is positive and demonstrates that this experience is accessible to anyone.
• Why it works: Users see a familiar face and recognizable environment, which increases trust in the ad.
• Key funnel element: Creative and PWA
• Performance indicators: CPC and FTD cost
• Scaling method: Duplication of working campaigns
• Risks/limitations: Improper scaling may significantly increase FTD cost
• Common mistakes: Rapid budget increases instead of gradual scaling
• Expert note: This funnel often delivers higher-quality audiences compared to standard gaming creatives. However, scaling should be done carefully. If performance is stable, it is better to increase volume gradually through duplication while keeping winning campaign settings.

Funnel 3 (for N1 Sport Promo traffic)

During the N1 Sport Promo campaign, sports traffic funnels become especially important.

Below is an approach that can perform well during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

• Traffic source: Facebook Ads
• GEO: Canada
• Page type: PWA with content tailored to a specific World Cup match
• Audience: Men 25–45 interested in football, sports betting, sports news, and international tournaments. Focus is on users actively following the World Cup, discussing matches, and looking for predictions.
• Approach: The creative is built in a news or analytical format centered around a specific World Cup match. It includes predictions, team statistics, starting lineups, injury updates, team form, and expected outcomes. The content must be tightly linked to an upcoming match or trending topic actively discussed by the audience.
• Why it works: Users engage with content they are genuinely interested in. Instead of a standard betting ad, they receive relevant match insights and become part of the analysis process. The high interest in the World Cup enables broader reach and high-quality sports traffic.
• Key funnel element: Creative relevance and match context
• Performance indicators: High CTR, strong registration conversion, and high percentage of users placing bets after registration
• Scaling method: Continuous creation of new creatives for each match day, teams, popular fixtures, and trending tournament news
• Risks/limitations: Creatives quickly lose relevance and require constant updates
• Common mistakes: Using generic sports creatives without match context, scaling too early, and failing to update after the news cycle ends
• Expert note: During the World Cup, funnels built around specific matches or teams perform best. Users respond more strongly to events happening today or tomorrow than to generic sportsbook ads. Fast content updates and relevance are key success factors.

Final Takeaways

N1 Bet consistently performs well across Tier-1 markets when using the right approach. Simple gaming creatives drive volume, influencer-based funnels improve traffic quality, and sports-driven funnels effectively capitalize on major event interest.

With the right strategy, N1 Bet remains a strong product both for scaling volume and for working with high-quality audiences.

Run traffic to N1 Bet with N1 Partners and maximize results during the hot sports season:

• 14+ casino and betting 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!