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SEON, the command centre for immediate Fraud Prevention and AML Compliance, has unveiled AI Reality Check: 2026 Fraud & AML Leaders Report, the second iteration of its sector research, derived from a worldwide survey of 1,010 leaders in fraud, risk, and compliance spanning payments, fintech, financial services, retail, eCommerce, and gaming.

The figures reveal an unforeseen narrative: AI is ubiquitous, yet operations are not becoming easier to manage. Currently, 98% of organizations utilize AI in fraud and AML processes, with 95% expressing confidence in its effectiveness; meanwhile, headcount plans rose from 88% to 94% year-over-year, and 83% anticipate budget increases in 2026.

Complexity Is Surpassing Automation

AI has not lessened the workload — it has revealed the extent of work that has always existed. Fraud losses are increasingly approaching revenue growth, threats are advancing more rapidly, and disjointed systems restrict the true potential of AI at scale. Key year-over-year shift:​

Leadership’s confidence in their teams’ performance is lagging. The number of leaders who disagreed with the statement, “fraud losses are growing faster than revenue,”​ dropped by almost 40% from the previous year

Inside the Numbers:​

AI is baseline, not experimental​

• 98% already integrate AI into daily workflows (only 2% still planning)​
• 95% are confident AI can detect and prevent fraud (52% very confident)​
• Top use case: AI/ML for transaction monitoring (30%)​

Fraud and AML investment keeps climbing​

• 83% expect fraud/AML budgets to increase in 2026​
• 94% plan to add at least one full-time hire (up from 88% in 2025)​
• 85% plan to add a vendor, 49% plan to replace one​

Fragmentation is the bottleneck​

• 95% claim “some integration” between fraud and AML systems​
• Only 47% run fully integrated workflows; the rest rely on partial connections​
• 80% say getting a unified view of data is challenging​

For many, time-to-value remains slow​

Only 10% go live in under two weeks​
38% take 1–3 months, 24% take 4+ months​
When implementations run long, top impacts include increased costs (52%) and prolonged fraud exposure (47%)​

Teams are growing, not shrinking​

94% plan to increase headcount despite automation gains​
85% see AI agents as support/augmentation, not replacement (only 12% see eventual replacement)​

Top fraud threats reported:​

• Account takeovers: 26%
• Promo/discount abuse: 18%
• Return fraud: 18%​

“Fraud and financial crime were supposed to become more manageable as AI matured,” said Tamas Kadar, CEO and co-founder, SEON. “Instead, 2026 is the year leaders are confronting a more complicated reality. AI adoption is real, confidence is high, but the scale and pace of fraud — compounded by fragmented systems — continue to drive increased investment rather than reduced overhead. The bottleneck is no longer whether AI works. It’s everything around it: disconnected data, siloed teams, slow implementations. The organisations that pull ahead will be the ones that unify fraud and AML intelligence, shorten the distance between threats and controls, and treat integration as strategy, not plumbing.”​

Fast-Growing Companies Invest in Integration Early​

Organisations growing 51%+ are nearly twice as likely as slower peers to report that achieving unified visibility is “not very challenging.” They treat integration as infrastructure, not an IT project.​

What’s Next: From “Does AI Work?” to “Can We Trust It?”​

With adoption near-universal, the conversation is shifting to governance, explainability and accountability:​

• 78% say decentralised digital identity will become central to fraud/AML​
• 33% cite data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) as the biggest external force shaping AML​
• 25% point to criminals’ advancing use of AI and obfuscation techniques​

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Growth in affiliate marketing is easy to promise, but sustaining it over the long term is another story. Real results are built on consistency, clear communication, and relationships that can withstand market shifts, changing traffic sources, and rising competition.

In the latest episode of N1 Faces, the N1 Partners team introduces Shirin Mammadov, Senior Affiliate Manager — a specialist dedicated to creating structured, trust-based collaborations with affiliates. Shirin shares his journey into the industry, the principles guiding his work today, and what it takes to maintain performance and clarity in high-pressure environments.

How did you get into affiliate marketing, and when did you know this was your path?

“It started unexpectedly. At the time, I was running my own startup and wasn’t actively looking to move into affiliate marketing. The industry felt fast-paced, competitive, and performance-driven — exactly where I thrive. I’ve always enjoyed communication, negotiation, and building relationships, and affiliate marketing combines all of that. Over time, I realized it wasn’t just a temporary step — it was a field where I could grow and challenge myself long-term.”

What brought you to N1 Partners, and what was the deciding factor?

“Before joining N1 Partners, I was on the affiliate side, and N1 was one of my partners. From the beginning, the team was transparent, professional, and performance-minded, while also maintaining a genuinely friendly atmosphere. Trust was the key factor — I knew their standards and approach to growth. It wasn’t a risky move; it was strategic.”

Advice to your first-month self as an affiliate manager

“Focus less on proving yourself immediately and more on deeply understanding the product, numbers, and traffic quality. Strong partnerships take time, and trust matters more than quick deals. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and the faster you understand the bigger picture, the faster you grow.”

How do you spot long-term partners versus one-off deals?

“You can often tell from the very first conversations. If a partner is transparent about traffic sources, open to feedback, and focused on optimization rather than only the highest CPA, that’s a good sign. Long-term partners think strategically, test continuously, and plan for growth. When trust and goals align, the partnership naturally becomes sustainable.”

Separating normal volatility from a real problem

“I look at trends over time instead of reacting to a single day’s numbers. Minor fluctuations are normal, but consistent drops or unusual patterns are red flags. External factors like seasonality or campaign changes are considered before jumping to conclusions. If a pattern is concerning, I dig into the data and communicate with the partner to find the root cause.”

A time communication “saved” a partnership

“Yes, a partner was frustrated with underperformance. Rather than focusing on numbers alone, I scheduled a conversation to understand their concerns. Aligning on goals, explaining strategy, and suggesting practical adjustments rebuilt trust and improved results. Proactive, transparent communication can turn challenges into stronger, strategic partnerships.”

Personal motto

“Work smart, communicate clearly, and always aim for long-term results.”

Staying balanced under pressure

“I stay active — at the gym or through consistent movement — and take short breaks from work to reset. Planning my day carefully and focusing on one task at a time helps manage stress. Physical activity and structured focus keep me calm and effective.”

If you weren’t in iGaming

“I’d probably be a seaman. I’m drawn to the sea — the adventure, challenge, and discipline appeal to me. Both paths require focus, navigating uncertainty, and taking responsibility for outcomes.”

Top-3 Blitz: Biggest Red Flags in Leads

1. Unclear traffic sources — ask detailed questions and require transparency.

2. Inconsistent performance — monitor closely and set clear KPIs.

3. Lack of communication — address directly, set expectations, and decide if the partnership is viable.

What affiliates value most in a program

• Timely and transparent payments

• Clear communication and support

• Growth opportunities with competitive offers, incentives, and scalable tools

Essential tools for affiliate managers

• CRM / affiliate tracking platforms

• Spreadsheet & analytics tools

• Communication platforms (email, chat, video calls)

Join N1 Partners

Partners interested in launching, exploring tailored terms, or testing an offer can reach out directly to Shirin.

N1 Partners provides everything affiliates need to stay ahead: high-converting products, ongoing analytics with optimization guidance, and hands-on support from managers focused on long-term performance.

More than just an affiliate program, N1 Partners is a multi-brand platform and direct advertiser, uniting 14+ casino and betting brands, operating across Tier-1 GEOs, delivering Reg2Dep rates up to 70%, and offering competitive deals for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45%. Trusted by over 14,000 partners, N1 Partners is recognized for transparency, flexibility, and a partner-first approach — where people and communication quality are the foundation of long-term success.

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