What mistakes do partners most often make at the start of ad campaigns? Why does scaling turn out to be harder than expected, and what stands on the way of getting faster profits?

The N1 Partners team presents the second article in the real case studies series (read the first one here), so you can apply the experience of N1 Partners affiliates in your own campaigns. In this section, you’ll get only practical knowledge and proven approaches from experts.

Read everything about ASO, FB, and PPC traffic in the article — no fluff, with real analytics and specific recommendations. Everything has been tested — take it and apply it!

CASE STUDY 1 (Facebook traffic)

Context

• GEO: AU
• Brand: N1 Bet
• Goal: Increase conversion and reduce duplicate users
• Bundle type: Creative + PWA App

Initial problem (“Pain”)

• What exactly wasn’t working?
  Most incoming players were already registered. CTR was quite low, while Reg2Dep remained decent.
• Where did the funnel break?
  At the creative viewing stage.

What did the analytics show?

• Which metrics indicated the problem?
  Low CTR and a high number of duplicates.
• What patterns were noticed (audience / timing / creatives)?
  Low CTR and a highly overlapping audience.
• What was the main hypothesis?
  The creative had lost its efficiency: due to high audience coverage, new users were no longer interested.

What exactly was tested?

Creative:

• Format: Video
• Style: Standard dynamic video featuring a very popular slot

Message:

• Main focus: Slot mechanics

Audience:

• Peculiarities: None — broad standard targeting

Problem solution

• What exactly was changed?
  The creative was replaced, made more unique, with a focus on a different slot.
• How was the creative aligned with the product?
  Audience activity for slots within the product was analyzed, and a more engaging slot was selected.

Results and insights

• Which metrics improved?
  CTR increased significantly. Reg2Dep remained stable. Duplicate users dropped substantially.
• How quickly were the results visible?
  Immediately, CTR and audience stabilised right after the creative became unique.
• Key insight:
  Don’t use top spy-service creatives without adapting them.
• Main mistake at the start:
  Rushing for results without proper analysis and preparation.
• How were campaigns scaled?
  By increasing the number of launched campaigns. Scaling was done quickly.

Final FAQ on Facebook traffic

• Which mistake or underestimated factor had the biggest impact at the start?
  The biggest issue was rushing. The desire to launch campaigns quickly led to insufficient attention to creative uniqueness, reducing initial performance and requiring additional resource optimisation later.
• If you were to relaunch this setup, what would you do differently?
  Focus more on creative uniqueness. It’s important not just to copy ideas but to refine presentation — keep the core message while experimenting with visuals, text, and triggers. This helps find more effective combinations faster.

CASE STUDY 2 (PPC traffic)

Context

• GEO: CA 
• Source: Google OfferWall
• Brand: RollXO
• Goal: Optimize FTD cost and increase conversion

Initial problem (“Pain”)

• What wasn’t working?
  Traffic was too expensive. Costs needed optimization.
• Which campaigns/keywords were problematic?
  There was a large number of irrelevant keywords.

What did the analytics show?

• Which metrics signalled the issue?
  The key metric was CPC. It was 3× higher than the CPC of other partners using the same source.
• Which keywords/segments performed the worst?
  Mainly keywords related to irrelevant slots and payment methods for the product.
• What was the main hypothesis?
  The focus was placed on high-CPC keywords that were not aligned with the product.

What exactly was tested?

Keywords:

• How did the approach change?
  The team added negative keywords and build a more conversion-focused landing page tailored to user intent.

Ads:

• What copy was tested?
  One example used was: “Best online casino — play and win right now!”
  It turned out to be too generic and not specific enough, which only drove up the cost per targeted click.

Problem solution

• What was optimized first?
  Keywords. Terms that were draining the budget without delivering results were removed and added a negative keyword list — something that hadn’t been used at all before.
• How was the campaign structure changed?
  No changes.
• Why was this decision made?
  As keywords were the key factor driving the high CPC.

Results and insights

• Were there changes in CPA / ROI / CR?
  On average, traffic acquisition costs decreased by €70–90.
• How quickly were results seen?
  The impact became noticeable within approximately 35–40 hours.
• What had the biggest impact?
  Adding the negative keyword list delivered the desired outcome.
• Main mistake at the start?
  Lack of experience. The partner was a newbie and wanted to scale profitable traffic as quickly as possible.
• Is there scaling potential?
  After this optimisation, scaling the campaign is only a matter of time. The partner is already actively working on it.

Final FAQ on PPC Traffic

• Who will benefit most from this case study: beginners or experienced teams, and why?

This case study is primarily useful for beginners. Experienced teams have usually already gone through these stages. For newcomers, it’s an opportunity to grasp the fundamentals faster, avoid common early mistakes, and not waste resources on the same pitfalls.

• Which insights are the most universal and applicable across different traffic sources?

The key takeaway: speed does not equal quality. Being faster than competitors doesn’t mean better, just as higher spend doesn’t guarantee results. Regardless of the traffic source, analytics, testing, and proper preparation are critical.

CASE STUDY 3 (ASO traffic)

Context

• GEO: DE
• Platform (iOS / Android): Android
• Brand: Lucky Hunter
• Goal: Increase user return after registration and the first deposit

Initial problem (“Pain”)

• What wasn’t working?
  Push notifications sent through the app were ineffective — users rarely returned to make their first or second deposit.
• Where were users dropping off?
  The main drop-off point was right after registration.
• Were there issues with ratings/reviews?
  Yes, but they were resolved quickly and ultimately had no impact on performance.

What did the analytics show?

• Which metrics indicated the problem?
  The key indicator was retention.
• What did the funnel look like?
  Unfortunately, the manager didn’t have full access to the funnel at that time, so the analysis relied mostly on available metrics and behavioral signals.
• What was the main hypothesis?
  Initially, it seemed that the issue was low motivation for users to make their first deposit. There were also assumptions about possible misleading communication, which may have caused users to misunderstand the offer.

What exactly was tested?

Visual:

• Visual component:
  Push notifications were sent without any visual support.

Texts:

• Text example:
  Different variations of headlines, descriptions, and key messages were tested. For example:“Dein Bonus wartet auf dich Hol dir +50% auf deine Einzahlung und versuche erneut dein Glück! Verpasse deine Chance nicht – das Angebot ist zeitlich begrenzt ”
  
  This was one of the push notification variants used by the partner to attract attention.

Problem solution

• What exactly was changed in the store?
  Changes in the store were minimal — reviews were slightly updated and refreshed.
• Which elements contributed the most?
  Push notification optimization and updated bonus information delivered the strongest impact.
• Why was this approach chosen?
  A mismatch was identified: users were receiving outdated bonus information in communications, which directly affected their expectations and subsequent behavior.

Results and insights

• How did performance metrics change (CVR / installs / organic)?
  The main growth came from first and second deposits. Within a week, Reg2Dep conversion increased from 14.77% to 31.17%.
• How quickly were results achieved?
  The first improvements were noticeable within 1–2 days.
• Which changes had the biggest impact?
  Adjustments to push communication and updating the bonus offer — these became the main drivers of conversion growth.
• Is there scaling potential?
  Yes, these results are scalable. As long as the offer remains actual and communication stays consistent, the model shows stable performance.

Final FAQ on ASO Traffic

1. What takeaway from this case study can be directly applied to other campaigns without losing effectiveness?
   The key takeaway is to always keep a bonus and offer information up-to-date and synchronised across all communication touchpoints. Even small discrepancies can significantly impact results.

1. At what point did it become clear that the approach was working, and what supported the decision to scale?
   The first signals appeared after test push campaigns, showing improved engagement with first and second deposits. This confirmed the hypothesis, and subsequent results reinforced confidence in the approach.

All of these case studies show that growth in Facebook, PPC, and ASO traffic comes down to systematic work with analytics, creatives, and communication at every stage of the funnel. Any performance drop is an opportunity for optimisation that, when handled correctly, can quickly turn into profit.

Start working with N1 Partners — here you’ll get not just offers, but full-scale expertise and support to help you find winning setups faster and scale with confidence.

Lula links Novo Desenrola to compulsory block on betting platforms

The Brazilian government announced a deep overhaul of its debt renegotiation programme.

The Novo Desenrola Brasil, introducing a measure that directly affects the operation of online betting platforms in the country.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed that any citizen joining the initiative to settle debts will be automatically barred from accessing betting sites for one year.

The measure takes effect next Monday and aims to prevent the financial breathing room generated by discounts of up to 90% and reduced interest rates of 1.99% per month from flowing back into the gambling market.

The decision was accompanied by pointed rhetoric from the president on the impact of bets on the budgets of low-income families earning up to five minimum wages.

“It is not fair that women have to work even harder to pay their husbands’ gambling debts,” Lula said.

The block will apply only to the 84 operators authorised by the Ministry of Finance. Lotteries and illegal sites fall outside the scope of the measure.

Despite the government’s narrative framing betting as a driver of household debt, recent data from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting and LCA Consultoria Econômica offer a more analytical picture.

In 2025, the regulated market recorded a GGR of R$37 billion, representing just 0.46% of total household consumption.

53.3% of bettors spending up to R$50 per month.

Specialists argue the financial impact does not justify the diagnosis that the sector alone is responsible for the record 29.7% of household income committed to debt.

Brazil closes three-day technical meeting on sports integrity

The Brazilian government concluded the II National Technical Meeting on Combating Sports Results Manipulation in Brasília.

The three-day event brought together the Ministries of Finance, Sport and Justice and consolidated the main interinstitutional forum for sports integrity policy.

A highlight was the announcement of a suspicious betting analysis system developed by the Federal Police, designed to organise strategic data and support complex fraud investigations.

The government also launched the second edition of the National Manual on Combating Sports Results Manipulation.

The formalisation of the National Prevention and Anti-Manipulation Policy (Portaria 1/2026) was presented as a concrete output of the working group.

Secretary Daniele Cardoso said the measure turns integrity into a state public policy.

The meeting also announced the first distance-learning course on the topic from the National Police Academy.

The presence of Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues and representatives from UNODC underlined the international dimension of the cooperation framework.

ANJL questions Desenrola 2 block and points to contradictions

A debtor with R$20,000 in credit card debt who bets R$50 per month will be blocked from licensed betting platforms under Desenrola 2, but will retain access to banks and finance companies charging even higher interest rates.

That asymmetry is at the centre of the critique from the Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL), which represents licensed betting operators in Brazil.

The association acknowledges the government’s intent but flags what it calls “extremely relevant” contradictions.

Studies from Pay4Fun and LCA Consultoria indicate that betting expenditure is not among the main drivers of household debt in Brazil.

The primary causes, the ANJL argues, are the revolving credit card and overdraft interest rates that Desenrola 2 does not restrict.

The association’s most concrete concern is operational: bettors blocked on the 84 licensed platforms are likely to migrate to the thousands of illegal sites still operating in the country.

This would strengthen a segment with no commitment to the financial or mental health of users.

The ANJL says it supports measures that combat the perception of betting as easy money or investment.

Its position is that such initiatives must be proportional to the real causes of household indebtedness.

Latin American iGaming lawyers make their mark at the world’s most important gaming law conference

A panel featuring five gaming law specialists from five countries was one of the highlights of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) Spring Conference, held April 29 to May 1 at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, in Arlington, Virginia.

The IMGL is an invitation-only association of 300+ members, including private practice attorneys, Chief Legal Officers of the world’s largest gaming firms, and advisors to national regulators.

Its biannual conferences are considered the premier forum for intellectual exchange and networking in global gaming law.

Neil Montgomery, from Montgomery, one of the most recognised names in iGaming law across the region.

They shared the panel with Tomás Enrique García Botta, Luis Portela de Carvalho, Jaime Rivera-Emmanuelli and Juan Camilo Carrasco.

They were representing Argentina, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Colombia, respectively.

Montgomery described the reception as strong: “Very pleased to see the panel I spoke on being acclaimed by those watching,” he said after the closing session.

“This was a great conference. Thanks to the organizers for another impeccable experience. See you next in Paris.”

The prominence of a Latin American bloc at IMGL reflects the region’s growing regulatory weight in the global debate.

Brazil, Colombia and Argentina are home to some of the most active licensing processes in the world over the past 24 months.

Their legal specialists are now claiming space in forums historically dominated by European and North American voices.

The next IMGL conference takes place in Paris.