Affiliate Industry
Exclusive Q&A with Reza Shojaei, the founder of Value Marketing
As Value Marketing enters its third financial year under their new business model, they have already conquered 12 countries. 2020 is going to bring more exciting plans and goals, and the founder, Reza Shojaei, is ready to expand the company’s casino portals across the globe. The journey so far has been interesting and meaningful – and there is more to come.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Reza Shojaei and I am the founder of Value Marketing. I have been an avid poker player for the past 15 years, which is why operating a business in the iGaming market is a great passion of mine.
Value Marketing changed its business model in 2017. It used to operate in the face-to-face sales market. What made you want to switch business models?
Face-to-face marketing was an excellent field to operate in, but it was not really a passion of mine. iGaming is something I really like and playing poker is one of my favorite hobbies. So, when it was time to figure out future plans for Value Marketing, switching to the iGaming market was only natural. Though I am a fan of the market, it was not only a personal choice. We also saw a big problem in the iGaming market that we wanted to solve.
As the market grows more and more every year, new online casinos open constantly, and so do other gambling related companies, like software providers. Competition is wonderful, but sometimes it is hard for players to pick and choose the trustworthy casinos that are also high quality. In fact, starting out in the world of online casinos can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. The mission of Value Marketing was to change that.
So, what does Value Marketing offer its readers that other affiliate sites do not?
The biggest difference between us and many others is that our two brands, CasinoTopp.net and CasinoTop.com only recommend online casinos that are 100 percent safe and secure. Also, we review the casinos honestly and ensure that each review is transparent and thorough. We pick the online casinos that are high-quality and a great choice for players.
In addition, we want to build a big network of casino portals that covers multiple countries globally. Right now, we service 12 countries, but in 2020 the goal is to open more markets. This allows us to provide valuable information for players internationally.
Another thing we do is that we allow our readers to contact us and share their experiences. This is not something that all affiliate sites do.
How do you see the next few years in the iGaming market? Any new trends we should wait for?
The iGaming industry changes all the time and new trends can take over the market very quickly. Recently, pay & play casinos have been a big hit, so we can definitely see more of them. Also, more and more software providers have improved their game selection and especially the graphics are stunning. NetEnt has done excellent job with that for a long time, and we are excited to see what happens in the next couple of years.
In terms of regulations in the iGaming market, we might see some countries relaxing the regulations a bit. Sweden already opened their markets by offering their own license, and we hope that Norway and Finland follow in their footsteps, too. The US opened Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to online gaming as well, so change is in the air.
Another interesting thing to see is what happens with Brexit. It might also affect the iGaming market a little bit.
What does it take to run a big global iGaming business like Value Market?
It takes a lot of work, honestly. CasinoTop.com services 12 countries so far, and there is more to come. We have multiple copywriters for each country, editors, designers, and developers. We produce new content constantly, as we want to keep our readers up-to-date and stay relevant. Also, as all countries and areas have different regulations, it is important to keep up with all the ever-changing laws and rules. This helps us to give valuable information for our leaders.
Days are sometimes pretty long, as many of our copywriters live in different time zones. But as iGaming is a great passion of mine, I look forward to work every day.
Is Value Marketing going to take on the US market as well?
At the moment, CasinoTop.com services Canada, but we have not entered the US market yet. The biggest reason for this is that in the US, online gaming is not yet allowed in all the states and it is still strictly regulated. Hopefully, in the future, the US will relax their laws more and allow online gaming and we can get our foot in the door, too.
What is Value Market looking to achieve in the next year?
We are looking to improve our existing content and to improve ranking for our current sites and countries. Also, we want to open more markets and extend our network of casino portals. Making new connections and partnerships is important in terms of success and staying relevant, which is what we will also be working for.
What is the key to succeeding in the area of iGaming?
I believe that succeeding in business, no matter the market, the key is putting people first and money second. The bottom line is that when you put people first, money will follow. That is how we look at our business as well, and the main aspect is to put the readers first. As they know they can trust us and communicate with us, they will recommend us and come back to us. Evidently, that will result in profits in our part. But money cannot be the only driving factor, whether we talk about iGaming or anything else.
AffPapa, the ultimate platform connecting iGaming operators and affiliates, has announced the addition of SuperiorShare to its growing directory.
SuperiorShare is an affiliate Programme known for its top-tier marketing solutions. Created by former affiliates, it provides an opportunity to drive traffic to high-converting casinos, expand their reach and earn substantial revenue.
“We are thrilled to begin our partnership with AffPapa. At Superior Share, we continuously strive to align ourselves with industry leaders, and we believe that AffPapa offers an exceptional product that provides significant value to operators seeking growth and expansion opportunities,” SuperiorShare said.
By joining AffPapa’s extensive directory, SuperiorShare gets a chance to reach even more iGaming operators, creating fresh opportunities for collaboration and growth. As both companies aim to connect key players in the industry, the partnership is expected to create significant value for both affiliates and operators alike.
Yeva Avagyan, Head of Commercial at AffPapa, said: “We are excited to welcome SuperiorShare into our directory. AffPapa remains dedicated to creating meaningful connections in the iGaming business, supports growth, and ensures long-term success for both operators and affiliates. SuperiorShare’s addition is another step in strengthening this vision.”
The post AffPapa Signs Deal with SuperiorShare appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
What Has the Affiliate World Turned Into? The Evolution of iGaming Over the Years
By Dima, Head of Growe Partners
If you’ve been in iGaming affiliate marketing for a while, you will agree with me that things have changed drastically. I’ve been in the industry long enough to remember when conferences felt more like circus shows than business events, traffic quality wasn’t always a priority, and short-term profits were often the main goal. But those days are long gone.
Over the last five to ten years, we’ve seen the industry mature. Flashy gimmicks have been replaced by networking, data-driven decision-making, and long-term partnerships. The game has changed — and so have the rules for success.
From Wild Shows to Professionalism: The Evolution of Industry Events
I remember my first industry events — let’s just say, they were memorable. We’re talking about conferences where organizers brought in wild animals, eccentric performers, and over-the-top entertainment to grab attention. And, honestly, back then, it worked. The industry was still finding its feet, and the focus was more on making noise than making deals.
But if you walk into an iGaming event today, the atmosphere is completely different. The focus has shifted towards high-quality networking, serious business discussions, and insightful panels. Operators, affiliates, and service providers are no longer looking for a spectacle — they want valuable conversations, real partnerships, and data that can help them scale. This shift isn’t just anecdotal; attendance data from major events like iGB Affiliate London and ICE reflects this new industry mindset.
To put the tendencies in the niche perfectly: “The days of pure entertainment are over. Now, events are about meeting the right people, discussing market trends, and sharing insights that actually drive business forward. Everyone wants to learn, not just party.”
This change also reflects growing competition. The industry has matured, and operators expect affiliates to be strategic business partners rather than opportunistic traffic sources. As a result, industry gatherings now prioritize collaboration over spectacle, allowing attendees to gain actionable insights and form meaningful business relationships.
The End of “Quick Wins” and the Rise of Long-Term Partnerships
A decade ago, the affiliate model was simple: drive traffic as fast as possible, cash out, and move on. High churn rates weren’t a problem, and long-term value (LTV) was barely part of the conversation. The goal was short-term profit.
Now, that approach just doesn’t work anymore. Operators have become much more selective. They want affiliates who bring in high-quality players, not just a flood of short-term sign-ups. Retention has become just as important as acquisition, and brands want partners who can deliver sustainable results. Recent trends indicate that operators are increasingly focusing on retention strategies to maintain player engagement and profitability.
Some affiliates have completely overhauled their strategies, moving towards content-driven approaches, CRM integration, and player engagement tactics. Email marketing, push notifications, and tailored offers are now essential tools in the affiliate playbook. The shift to lifetime value-driven metrics means that affiliates must analyze data, optimize player journeys, and work closely with operators to maintain long-term profitability.
Raising the Bar: Quality Traffic Is Now the Standard
It’s not just about partnerships — the standards for traffic quality have skyrocketed. Years ago, some affiliates could get away with gray-hat methods: things like incentivized traffic, bots, or misleading promotions.
Not anymore. Operators are demanding transparency and engagement metrics that actually matter. They want players who deposit, play, and stick around, not just one-time sign-ups.
“We’ve seen a massive shift in traffic evaluation. If your players aren’t engaging, operators will cut you off. There’s no room for low-quality traffic anymore,” commented Mykyta, Head Of Affiliates at Growe Partners. “Everyone is focused on LTV now, and if your traffic isn’t bringing in valuable players, you’re going to struggle to find good deals.”
This heightened scrutiny has led to the decline of black-hat techniques and a greater emphasis on compliance and ethical marketing. Affiliates now invest in data analytics to monitor traffic quality and ensure alignment with operators’ expectations. Some are even forming exclusive partnerships with brands to ensure traffic consistency and build a reputation for delivering high-value players.
The Mobile-First Revolution: Adapting to the New Reality
Ten years ago, desktop traffic dominated. Most players signed up through websites, and mobile gambling was still a niche.
Fast forward to today — mobile is everything. The majority of players now deposit, bet, and interact with brands directly from their phones. Recent studies show that mobile devices account for over 70% of global online gambling revenue, with mobile gambling projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% over the next five years.
One thing is clear: if your website, funnels, and marketing strategies aren’t optimized for mobile-first, you’re losing a massive percentage of potential players. Affiliates have had to rethink everything, from ad placements and UX design to the way they track and analyze player behavior across different devices.
AI and Automation: The Affiliate Game-Changer
One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen is how much AI has changed our approach to marketing. Years ago, affiliate marketing was all about manual testing — setting up campaigns, running A/B tests, and figuring things out through trial and error.
Now, AI-driven tools handle campaign optimization, ad targeting, and even content creation. AI can analyze thousands of data points in real-time, adjusting campaigns to find the most profitable audience segments. According to a 2023 report from McKinsey, AI-driven marketing strategies have increased conversion rates by up to 35% for affiliates who integrate them effectively.
“AI isn’t replacing affiliates — it’s giving them the tools to work smarter and make better decisions,” said Anna-Mariia, Affiliate Team Lead at Growe Partners . “Today, AI can generate ad creatives, predict user behavior, and even automate entire campaigns. The affiliates who are leveraging these tools are gaining a huge competitive advantage.”
New Markets, New Opportunities: The Rise of LATAM
One of the biggest industry shifts in recent years has been the explosive growth of Latin America (LATAM). Markets like Argentina, Chile, and Mexico have become prime territories for iGaming, offering huge potential for affiliates who know how to localize their approach. Market data shows that LATAM’s iGaming sector is growing at an annual rate of 20%, outpacing most European markets.
Chile and Argentina, which we are actively working with, have emerged as some of the most promising markets in Latin America. As iGaming adoption continues to rise, these countries present significant opportunities for affiliates who can adapt to local regulatory requirements and cultural preferences. And, of course, affiliates who understand regional payment preferences, player behavior, and localized marketing strategies will have a clear advantage over those applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
What To Expect Next?
Looking back at how the industry has evolved, one thing is clear: affiliate marketing isn’t as easy as it used to be, but it’s more rewarding than ever. The days of quick wins and shady tactics are over. Success now requires long-term thinking, high-quality traffic, and strategic partnerships. Affiliates who embrace AI, mobile-first strategies, and new markets like LATAM will be the ones leading the next decade of growth. The affiliate world has changed, but for those willing to adapt, the opportunities are bigger than ever.
The post What Has the Affiliate World Turned Into? The Evolution of iGaming Over the Years appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
A lot has changed since the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA (The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992) as being unconstitutional, effectively ending Nevada’s near-monopoly on sports betting in the country. With every US state now free to legalize and launch its own sports betting market, in-person, online, and mobile sports betting grew at a neck-breaking pace.
This explosive growth saw the emergence of ‘affiliate companies’ – marketing agencies specializing in performance marketing and promoting licensed sports betting operators. However, as the market entered a new phase and growth slowed, some affiliates have been seeing mixed results in the past year.
We sat down for a chat with Shmulik Segal, Founder and CEO of Media Troopers, an advertising agency specializing in sports betting and iGaming in North America, to hear his views on the gambling marketplace and what the future holds for affiliates. Segal takes a realistic approach and acknowledges the days of insatiable growth are gone, but he still sees great potential in the market.
Looking at the bigger picture, how bad were things for affiliates in the past year?
Segal: “I won’t tell you the past year hasn’t been challenging for marketing agencies like ourselves. Looking at 2024 earning reports of publicly traded marketing agencies in the gambling industry, the results are a mixed bag, Segal says. “While some of the largest players in the space saw their US revenues drop by over a third compared to 2023, the earnings of others just flatlined.”
What causes you to be optimistic then?
“But on the flip side of the coin, there were also companies that saw double-digit growth in earnings,” Segal compares. “So what does that mixed bag of results tell us? Although the days of explosive growth are over, the market is certainly not on a one-way street. I still see tons of opportunities for companies that are adjusting and doing the right things.”
So what are the main challenges the affiliate market is facing?
“I can divide the challenges into two main categories: objective and subjective. Objective categories would be anything that’s ‘man-made’, such as legislation (new states that open up), increased regulation (restrictions on advertising, increased taxation), the evolution of technology (Artificial Intelligence and further mobile personalization), competition (both operators and other marketing channels and companies), and all other factors that are created by governments, companies, and individuals,” he explains.
“The subjective factors are more geographical or permanent. Let’s take sports betting as an example. According to the American Gaming Association’s state tracker, Out of 51 potential jurisdictions across the country (50 states + Washington DC), 38 have legalized sports betting. However, only seven states have legalized iGaming.”
So, how do you treat these challenges differently?
“As an affiliate, you understand the fundamental difference between the two types of challenges: your level of control. While you can mitigate objective challenges, you must adapt to subjective ones.”
How do you stay relevant as an affiliate amidst these challenges?
“The first thing we must always keep in mind is that we make a living out of providing our customers with additional value, i.e. unique knowledge and expertise that the operator doesn’t have and fits perfectly into its marketing mix. We must provide our customers with a competitive, cutting edge.”
“Case in point: we constantly strive to be ahead of the curve in everything we do. Our technology platform constantly adapts and upgrades to include more powerful AI tools for segmentation, targeting, and personalization. A huge part of our media teams’ job is to look for the ‘next big thing’ be it a fresh marketing channel or a new source that will enable us to expand our reach and tap into new markets.
Our commercial teams work closely with existing and potential operators to find new ways to bring value to players, be it new games, news, or promotions. And it goes without saying that our compliance team takes great care of ensuring we adhere to the highest standards of safe advertising and responsible gaming.”
“But no less important,“ he concludes, “is the operations team that ties all the pieces together and executes everything. That’s one of the biggest challenges, given operations can be slow-moving, we constantly need to improve our execution to keep up with the changes the other parts of the team bring.”
What about other types of challenges? The ones you can’t mitigate?
“When it comes to subjective challenges, however, you have much less control, and this is where companies must brace themselves and adapt quickly. Case in point, there are 38 sports betting states, while a portion of the remaining ones, such as Hawai, Utah, Texas, and California, won’t introduce sports betting or iGaming in the foreseeable future.
With fewer states regulating gaming in the foreseeable future, is the market bound to shrink?
“I don’t see it that way. Long gone are the days when a new market opened every few months. What would you do? You can’t ‘magic up’ more states. But you can certainly adapt and brace yourself to improve and grow your share in existing markets, which is exactly what we are focusing on doing,” he explains. “Along with acquiring new players through new and existing markets, we are constantly looking for new channels that will bring our customers (operators) loyalty and higher lifetime value.”
You are talking about increasing share and value, does that mean there are no new opportunities?
“We see huge potential, with opportunities constantly coming to knock on our door. North Carolina and Vermont were the two new markets that launched in 2024, and we are already seeing a lot of growth there. For example, North Carolina, which only went live with sports betting in March 2024, but by the end of the year, already clinched ninth place in the Top 10 sports betting states, reporting revenues of over $583.
This is why we treat every state as a standalone ecosystem with its unique set of challenges, requirements, and potential. The next exciting challenge (and opportunity) we are preparing for is Missouri, which legalized sports betting at the end of 2024 but has yet to launch. We have already been hard at work since the ballot was approved in November, so we can hit the ground running and start sending our MO sportsbook partners newly depositing customers from day one.
What about organic growth in existing markets?
“There’s certainly that also. While every new state that launches sports betting can potentially bring a spike in growth, we are certainly seeing organic growth and improved results across the board year after year. Take as an example the Super Bowl. In 2025, legal US bets on the Super Bowl grew 10% year-on-year. Or March Madness, on which best are expected to grow 13% from last year.
So, is there still organic growth in existing markets? For us, it’s a big, fat yes.”
Are you planning on staying within the iGaming and sports betting markets in the near future?
“That’s a very good question I ask myself every day, Segal smiles and immediately corrects himself. “Actually, scratch that. I ask myself this question many times over the course of a day in the office.”
He elaborates: “iGaming is tangent to other gaming verticals, and sports betting has an overlap with a whole universe of sports and its related verticals. Every website in these verticals needs traffic, and we know how to provide it. So new opportunities knocking on our door. But how do we capitalize on these without losing our focus and commitment to our core business? We keep our ears and eyes open, but never lose focus.”
The post Affiliates in the US Sports Betting Market – Has The Game Gone Cold? appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
Aristocrat Interactive7 days agoAristocrat Interactive Delivers Custom Branded Game “Caesars Ultimate Stars” for Caesars Sportsbook & Casino
-
Latest News7 days ago
Embark on an Epic Adventure with Jenny Nevada in the Diamond Temple at SlotsCapital.lv – Enjoy a 150% Deposit Bonus
-
Cryptocurrency7 days ago
Slotland Entertainment Rolls out Dazzling New Slot, 8 Crystals, Across Multiple Brands with new Cryptocurrency Integration
-
Anthony Sanfilippo7 days ago
Wynn Resorts Announces Nomination of Anthony Sanfilippo to the Board of Directors
-
AGCO4 days ago
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
-
Latest News7 days ago
Week 13/2025 slot games releases
-
CT Gaming7 days ago
CT Gaming with First installations in Guatemala
-
Latest News7 days ago
GoldenRace Launches New Virtual Football for Retail
