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Can any of the upcoming slots dethrone Starburst in 2021
Starburst is the video slot created by NetEnt back in 2012. Despite its age, it is still one of the most popular slots currently, and probably the most played video slot game of all time! What makes this classic 5×3 slot so special that is still played by millions today, and can anyone find the secret behind its success, and create the slot which can dethrone Starburst in 2021? We will analyze the facts of what makes Starburst that popular, and take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases from the first quarter of 2021 and try to give an answer to that question. Also, if some of you, by any chance, still haven’t tried this amazing slot, Starburst free play is available. Try it now and see why it is so popular.
The Building Blocks behind Starburst Popularity
At first glance, we can see that Starburst’s graphics and design are impeccable. It is still modern, although it is more than eight years old! Although this is just makeup, it is very important for slot longevity.
With the fast evolution of technology and the fact that graphics are becoming more sophisticated, even slots that are only two or three years old can look outdated. After that, their player counts go to the abyss. With Starburst this didn’t happen, and we even believe that it won’t, because graphics are that sophisticated, and yet so simple, that we won’t see a huge dip in their popularity anytime soon.
The second reason behind Starburst slot popularity is its simplicity. Some of the slot game providers experiment with a huge number of reels and rows, many different features, and various cosmetic additions to keep the players entertained and happy. Starburst makes all the things simple, with its classic 5×3 design. Some players argue that Starburst is boring, but it is not a coincidence that the 5×3 design is the most popular slot design ever. It is not too plain and boring, and not too complicated as well, because slot game players want to win some cash, and not feel overwhelmed by design and gameplay.
Starburst has a huge betting range, from €0.01 to €100. That allows both casual players and high-rollers to play this slot. Although high-rollers don’t like this slot very much, because it is not volatile, casuals adore it. There are many more casual players than high-rollers, so they again targeted a broad audience.
We mentioned that Starburst has low volatility and therefore is not that popular with the players who want to win big. However, casuals love to see many small wins, because they have a feeling that they are generally winning, although they actually don’t – the wins you will get will often be smaller than the bet you made, but some of the players somehow don’t notice it. The sessions are usually long if you play for the smallest amounts, so you can have fun, even if you lose money.
For all these reasons, Starburst retained its popularity over the last eight years. Although it is not the best slot in terms of the chances of winning big, all the reasons we mentioned make it appealing for most players, which happen to be casuals.
We will now take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases and try to guess whether or not they have a chance for dethroning Starburst.
The Most Anticipated Slot Releases 2021
January is not over yet, and we already got some exciting slots this year. For example, we got an exciting video slot from Gamomat, an independent slot game provider, called Crystal Strike. It is a highly volatile slot, beautifully designed, with classic features such as respins and wilds.
Nolimit City released San Quentin xWays. This slot is based on the infamous US jail, which is a theme that wasn’t widely used, so it can be hit or miss, but we expect to be popular, especially among the younger audience.
iSoftBet, another award-winning games supplier, released Mighty Stallion Hold & Win, the Wild West theme-based video slot. It is another slot that uses their Hold & Win mechanic, but the theme is not inventive, nor the slot itself is offering something new – it is basically the type of slot we get from them all the time, only with a slightly altered theme.
Play’n GO released Miner Donkey Trouble, while Pragmatic released Mysterious Egypt. These slots feel like they were already seen before, and there is no chance that slots that use the same, boring theme, such as the Ancient Egypt flourish and dethrone Starburst.
Pragmatic Gaming has a more interesting release scheduled for February – Dragon Kingdom: Eyes of Fire. This slot should be way better and way more popular than Mysterious Egypt because it has a flawless design and many features attached. Dragons are still a popular topic, and they aren’t overused in video slots such as Ancient Egypt, so we can see this release gaining popularity right off the bat.
Another highly anticipated release should be the Playtech Age of the Gods series’s next release – Book of Oracle. This slot should be the first to come from Playtech in 2021, and they decided to go big right away. Age of the Gods series gained a significant amount of players which is getting bigger with every new slot release. We expect that this slot will be masterfully done in terms of the graphics and interface (since we still didn’t have an opportunity to see it), and the features should be similar to the ones from the previous slots. This is a volatile, progressive jackpot slot, so it will draw attention from the high-rollers.
What Features Should a Slot Have to Beat Starburst
Since we know what is behind Starburst’s popularity, and we saw what the first slot releases are in January 2021, the question arises – does any slot from this list have the features and traits required to dethrone Starburst? We can never know for sure, but the answer is probably – no.
To be as popular as Starburst, the audience must be predominantly casual players. There are some amazing, volatile slots you can make a fortune on, but there are not enough people who would risk big money to try it out. Long, interesting sessions, with lots of small wins, which give you the false impression that you are an overall winner, are the key to the slot popularity.
After that, the slot must have an impeccable design that will age well, so it can stay relevant with time, and must have simple, but yet unique and interesting features. You should overcomplicate, but the slot can’t have a dull theme or average graphics.
Summary
We eagerly expect more great slot releases in 2021. In January and February, we should get several amazing slots from the biggest slot games providers, but in terms of popularity, we don’t think that any slot will be able to dethrone Starburst anytime soon.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try out new slot additions, especially if you are a high-roller. There is a trend of more progressive jackpots, mega ways, and other great features incorporated in new slot releases, and in general, it seems that the average volatility is getting higher, which is excellent news for the ones chasing big wins.
G Gate Awards 2026
N1 Partners in Three G Gate Awards Nominations
N1 Partners has been shortlisted for the G Gate Awards 2026 in three categories. Following the first round of voting, N1 Partners remains in the race for victory in the following nominations:
- iGaming Advertiser of the Year
- PR Campaign of the Year
- Event of the Year
Reaching the final stage of the G Gate Awards 2026 reflects N1 Partners’ key achievements over the past year, including the growth of its affiliate program and product portfolio, the launch of the N1 Puzzle Promo with a €500,000 prize pool, and the organisation of the “Because We Can” Grand Final during iGB Affiliate Barcelona.
The second and final voting round is now open and will run until June 22. The winners of the awards will be determined at this stage, and every vote counts.
How to Vote for N1 Partners
Supporting N1 Partners in the final round takes just a few clicks:
- Visit the G Gate Awards website.
- Select N1 Partners in the following categories:
- iGaming Advertiser of the Year
- PR Campaign of the Year
- Event of the Year
- Click the “Vote” button.
- Enter your phone number.
- Confirm your vote via the incoming call or Telegram verification code.
Support N1 Partners at the G Gate Awards!
Each of these nominations reflects the work of the N1 Partners team, the trust of our partners, and the support of a community that continues to grow alongside the company.
There is not much time left until the final voting stage closes.
Your vote is very important — thank you for the support!
Why work with N1 Partners:
- 14+ casino and sportsbook 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!
The post N1 Partners in Three G Gate Awards Nominations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
N1 Partners x RAZE Case: ROI+ in Canada within 3 Days
Gambling traffic in Tier-1 markets rarely forgives mistakes. Especially when it comes to Facebook, where CPM costs are high, auction volatility is significant, and testing is expensive.
This was exactly the challenge the RAZE team faced when entering the Canadian market together with N1 Partners in spring 2026. The goal of the campaign was not just volume — the team needed to find a setup capable of maintaining FTD quality, preserving ROI, and scaling in one of the most expensive iGaming GEOs on the market.
In this case study, N1 Partners and RAZE will explain:
- why only 2 out of 10 tested slots remained profitable;
- how the acquisition strategy for Tier-1 Facebook was built;
- how the N1 Partners funnel influenced conversion rates;
- and what helped maintain ROI during scaling.
Initial Data
GEO: Canada
Vertical: Gambling (iGaming)
Traffic type: Facebook (PWA)
Campaign period: April, 20 – May, 8
Goal: FTD + ROI
Volume (FTD): ~300 deposits
N1 Partners brands: N1 Bet, RollXO, Slot Lounge, Slot Mafia, Lucky Hunter, Retro Bet и Goldex Casino
| N1 Partners comment: At the start, we decided not to limit ourselves to a single brand and tested seven brands simultaneously to identify combinations with the highest conversion rates and profitability for the RAZE team’s approach. This allowed us to collect a larger data sample and thoroughly analyse traffic behaviour across our brands. |
The main challenge remained traffic quality. In Tier-1 GEOs, generating deposits alone is not enough — it is crucial to understand how traffic performs over time and how players behave after making their first deposit.
Additionally, RAZE had limited historical data on running N1 offers in Canada, which created uncertainty regarding which approach, slot, and “creative + funnel” combination would deliver the best projected ROI.
Why Canada?
Canada was chosen as one of the most stable Tier-1 GEOs for the gambling vertical due to its highly solvent audience, large Facebook traffic volume, and consistent demand within the niche.
Another factor was the state of the Facebook auction. During the campaign period, competition in Canada was lower than in several other English-speaking GEOs, allowing for more comfortable CPMs and faster scaling of successful setups.
However, along with volume came the primary Tier-1 challenge — the high cost of mistakes. As a result, the team deliberately avoided a single-offer strategy and opted for broad testing instead.
RAZE Strategy
Facebook PWA is the core traffic source and key media-buying specialization for the RAZE team.
To begin, the team requested a list of top-performing slots for Canada from N1 Partners and analyzed them using spy tools: which approaches were already active in the auction, what mechanics competitors were using, and which creatives were generating the highest CTR.
| N1 Partners comment: Along with a list of top-performing slots, the RAZE team received recommendations regarding Canadian audience specifics, target metrics, and minimum data thresholds required to evaluate traffic quality from N1 Partners. This enabled RAZE to build tests based on advertiser-focused metrics rather than operating blindly. |
A custom funnel featuring N1 Partners bonuses was also created.
At the same time, three optimisation models were launched:
- Auto Bid
- Min CPA Cap (when triggered, budgets were aggressively scaled up to ~$10,000+ for optimal delivery)
- Max Bid
The primary goal was to quickly determine which model provided the best buying control and allowed Facebook’s algorithm to learn most effectively under expensive Tier-1 traffic conditions.
N1 Partners’ involvement extended beyond simply providing offers and slots.
| N1 Partners comment: In addition to recommendations regarding top slots and audience specifics, it was important for us to evaluate how partner traffic interacted with different brands. Therefore, from the very beginning, we established profitability benchmarks and KPIs that became our key reference points after the first tests. |
One of the main characteristics of Tier-1 Facebook traffic was its inconsistency even within high-quality traffic segments. Because of this, campaigns could not be evaluated too early — the algorithm needed sufficient time to accumulate data.
This later became one of the key factors behind the campaign’s success.
RAZE Strategy Analysis
At launch, the RAZE team tested 10 slots from N1 Partners. The slots were analyzed through spy tools to determine which creatives were running and which approaches were currently trending.
After evaluating the feasibility of each approach, the team selected 2 slots and developed custom creatives based on identified patterns.
However, initial tests revealed that most hypotheses were not economically viable.
Only two slots from the N1 Bet brand remained profitable:
- Gates of Olympus 1000
- Coin Volcano



Examples of Coin Volcano creatives that were used
Approaches That Worked and Why
The Coin Volcano funnel delivered the best results in terms of the traffic-to-FTD conversion path.
| N1 Partners comment: From the N1 product side, this performance was further supported by the funnel structure itself: users were sequentially presented with a welcome bonus, available payment methods, and the most popular games for their region.
On the N1 Partners side, the team evaluated not only the final number of deposits but also the efficiency of the entire funnel. Average campaign performance reached 39.83% for Click-to-Registration (Click2Reg) and 37.99% for Registration-to-Deposit (Reg2Dep). This made it possible to identify specific buyer–creative–product combinations with strong potential for further scaling. |
As a result, users understood the offer faster and the overall setup became more cohesive. This is especially important in Tier-1 GEOs, where the cost of mistakes at every stage is significantly higher.

PWA and landing page design featuring the advertiser’s bonus offer
| N1 Partners comment: One of the key success factors was a properly structured funnel. The landing page focused exclusively on essential information and guided users through a clear post-registration flow: a welcome bonus as the primary hook, payment methods, top regional games, and continued interaction with the product. |
Additionally, the N1 Partners team continuously monitored page loading speed and technical landing page performance to minimise traffic losses before registration.
Creatives and Approaches
During testing, the team experimented with several approaches:
- video creatives
- reaction-style scenarios
- offline casino aesthetics
- classic static ads
However, nearly all complex approaches underperformed compared to simple static creatives.
The best-performing setups were the most straightforward combinations: slot + bonus + winnings + clear CTA.
Static creatives offered lower installation costs, enabling faster offer changes, slot rotation, and testing of new angles without rebuilding production assets from scratch. As a result, most of the budget was ultimately shifted toward static creatives.
Scaling and Optimization
Initially, the team tested three acquisition models simultaneously: Auto Bid, Min CPA Cap, and Max Bid. The primary focus was not only deposit cost but also FTD quality, which meant decisions were made only after collecting sufficient data.
Working Approaches
-
- Min CPA Cap + aggressive scaling.
Once a stable CPA was achieved, budgets were increased aggressively, reaching approximately $10K in some cases. This allowed the team to capture volume while maintaining ROI.
- Min CPA Cap + aggressive scaling.
- GEO segmentation.
English-speaking provinces with lower CPMs delivered the strongest performance. - Time-based optimisation.
Most conversions occurred during evenings and weekends, so budgets were allocated more aggressively during those periods. - Delayed campaign evaluation.
Traffic quality improved after 30-40 deposits, so campaigns were not shut down prematurely. N1 Partners analytics played a major role here.
The product team analysed performance by individual buyers and setups, allowing them to assess traffic quality more deeply than standard CPA or initial deposit metrics and provide timely recommendations regarding scaling or stopping campaigns.
| N1 Partners comment: Across numerous tests, we observed that campaigns generating 40+ FDs were significantly more likely to deliver stable profitability. Prematurely stopping campaigns with limited volume often resulted in shutting down potentially strong setups before the algorithm had fully learned. |
At the same time, aggressive scaling only worked for proven setups. Increasing budgets too early caused CPM and CPA to rise faster than the volume of quality deposits.
N1 Partners comment: Before launch, we established the following profitability benchmarks:
Average deposit count: from 2.2. This enabled us, as the advertiser, to receive traffic of the required quality while allowing the partner to maintain profitability during scaling. |
Where Profit Was Lost
- Only 2 out of 10 tested slots remained profitable, meaning part of the budget was spent on ineffective tests.
- Video and reaction-based approaches lost to simple static creatives featuring slots and bonuses.
- Premature scaling of weak ad sets increased CPM and CPA without improving FTD quality.
- Some campaigns were stopped before Facebook had enough time to complete its learning phase.
Campaign Results
Over 18 days, the team achieved:
- FTD Volume: ~300 deposits
- Traffic: 2,659 installs
- CTR: 0.9–1%
- CPC: $2.5–4
- CPA: $140–156
- Best Optimization Model: Min CPA Cap + aggressive budget scaling
Positive ROI was achieved as early as the third day of traffic acquisition.
After the first 30 deposits, the team stabilized at approximately 30 daily FTDs and, on some days, reached up to 50 deposits despite account bans and market turbulence.

Ad Account #1

Ad Account #2
Day 1 of Ad Campaign

Day 3 of Ad Campaign
One of the key success factors from the N1 Partners side was the continuous feedback exchange between the media-buying and product teams.
| N1 Partners comment: Simply acquiring players is not enough. For long-term cooperation, traffic profitability must work for both the advertiser and the buying team. Regular feedback and in-depth traffic analysis by buyer and setup enabled us to quickly determine which campaigns truly deserved scaling. |
Case Takeaways
The RAZE × N1 Partners case once again proved that in Tier-1 markets, finding a strong creative or a winning slot alone is no longer enough.
Success comes only when several factors work together:
- strong Facebook media buying;
- deep traffic quality analytics;
- an effective product funnel;
- continuous data exchange between partner and advertiser;
- scaling only validated setups.
| N1 Partners comment: Even before launch, both teams established unified traffic quality criteria and scaling benchmarks. This approach accelerated decision-making, eliminated subjective evaluations, and helped focus on setups that were profitable for both parties. |
FAQ: RAZE x N1 Partners Case Study
1. What was the main insight of the campaign?
“The main insight was that in Tier-1 GEOs, you cannot rely solely on creatives or bidding. Canadian traffic is expensive, and if your funnel fails to meet user expectations, you start losing money.
We succeeded through a comprehensive approach: we took top-performing slots from the advertiser, validated them using spy tools, filtered out weak hypotheses through testing, built a custom funnel around a specific slot, and only then began scaling.
Ultimately, we realised that the right funnel can be just as important as the creative itself. It directly impacts FTD quality and overall profitability. “— Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.
2. What surprised you during launch?
“What surprised us was how traffic quality improved with scale. Initial deposits do not always provide an objective picture: campaigns may appear unstable, CPA fluctuates, and at that point the temptation to stop everything is very strong.
However, traffic quality turned out to be better than expected. After 30-40 deposits, it became clear that the algorithm was finding the right audience much more effectively. That was a very important signal for us.” — Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.
3. What is scalable from this campaign and what is not?
“From the advertiser’s perspective, it is crucial to monitor profitability benchmarks and quickly disable underperforming traffic. Before launch, we agreed with our partner on minimum acceptable traffic thresholds and adhered to them.
The percentage of players making only a single deposit (without repeats) could not exceed 70%. By strictly following these metrics during testing, we received traffic of the quality we required as an advertiser, while the partner maintained profitability.” — Alexey Gusarov, Team Lead of Affiliates, N1 Partners.
4. One piece of advice for affiliates and the market.
“Don’t stop campaigns too early. Keep driving installs and determine your acceptable deposit and install costs. This allows you to evaluate any funnel objectively and make informed decisions rather than guessing. It’s also important not to spread yourself too thin.
We tested 10 slots, but only 2 remained in active use. Growth started when we stopped distributing budget across numerous hypotheses and focused on setups that had already demonstrated proven audience interest.
It’s better to fully optimise one working funnel than to superficially test ten.” — Artem Mayskiy, Team Lead at Media Buying, RAZE.
“It’s important not only to monitor your own metrics as an advertiser but also to understand your partner’s needs.
Everyone talks about win-win relationships between advertisers and media-buying teams, but in practice, this only works when both sides genuinely understand each other’s objectives and make decisions based on overall traffic economics rather than isolated metrics.
This approach is exactly what allowed the team to become profitable by the third day and maintain stable volume in one of the market’s most expensive GEOs.” — Alexey Gusarov, Team Lead of Affiliates, N1 Partners.
Subscribe to the RAZE team on Telegram, where they share fresh case studies, campaign results, proven setups, and scaling insights based on real-world experience rather than theory.
Work with N1 Partners and scale gambling traffic alongside a team that helps build long-term profitable setups:
- 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with strong Reg2Dep performance
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be Number One with N1!
The post N1 Partners x RAZE Case: ROI+ in Canada within 3 Days appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
G Gate Awards 2026
N1 Partners in Three G Gate Awards Nominations
N1 Partners has been shortlisted for the G Gate Awards 2026 in three categories. Following the first round of voting, N1 Partners remains in the race for victory in the following nominations:
- iGaming Advertiser of the Year
- PR Campaign of the Year
- Event of the Year
Reaching the final stage of the G Gate Awards 2026 reflects N1 Partners’ key achievements over the past year, including the growth of its affiliate program and product portfolio, the launch of the N1 Puzzle Promo with a €500,000 prize pool, and the organisation of the “Because We Can” Grand Final during iGB Affiliate Barcelona.
The second and final voting round is now open and will run until June 22. The winners of the awards will be determined at this stage, and every vote counts.
How to Vote for N1 Partners
Supporting N1 Partners in the final round takes just a few clicks:
- Visit the G Gate Awards website.
- Select N1 Partners in the following categories:
- iGaming Advertiser of the Year
- PR Campaign of the Year
- Event of the Year
- Click the “Vote” button.
- Enter your phone number.
- Confirm your vote via the incoming call or Telegram verification code.
Support N1 Partners at the G Gate Awards!
Each of these nominations reflects the work of the N1 Partners team, the trust of our partners, and the support of a community that continues to grow alongside the company.
There is not much time left until the final voting stage closes.
Your vote is very important — thank you for the support!
Why work with N1 Partners:
- 14+ casino and sportsbook 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!
The post N1 Partners in Three G Gate Awards Nominations appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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