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Moon partners share insights on marketing trends in 2026

Published

1 month ago

January 16, 2026

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The Pantone Color Institute has announced the color of the year: Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a natural white. It feels like a very delicate way of saying that humanity is tired. Tired of intrusive content, “hustle culture,” and endless information noise. Cloud Dancer is calm and clean, like a “turn off the excess” button. We feel it too, so it’s only natural to ask ourselves: what will marketing look like in 2026 under these conditions? Let’s try to figure it out together.

If you happened to miss a real gem that’s been circulating online — don’t worry, we’ve got you. The ACIG team collected trends, predictions, and analytics from leading companies that have already done the heavy lifting and published their reports. There’s everything in there: AI, YouTube, and insights across almost every direction. You could easily get lost for a few hours. Huge thanks to those legends for their work — and if diving into all of it feels like too much, Moon partners will give you a short and clear summary right now.

AI becomes infrastructure, not a feature

If you look at the key messages from players like EDUMEDYA, Fratzke, and Onclusive, they’re all saying roughly the same thing: marketing and communications in 2026 are no longer about “launching a campaign,” but about proven business impact in a world of artificial distrust.
The biggest shift is that AI has become infrastructure, not a standalone tool. It automates targeting, creative, optimization, analytics, and reporting. But almost every prediction highlights the same paradox: AI speeds everything up, yet real value is still created by human decisions, strategy, and accountability. Most teams use AI only for “quick wins” — texts, images, reports — and barely apply it at a strategic level.
And this is the key point: AI does not replace affiliate managers or media buyers. Those who simply generate content with AI quickly dissolve into a sea of generic “AI noise.” The winners are the ones with a clear strategy — what traffic, which user, what value we deliver — who use AI to scale decisions, not replace them, and who keep humans responsible for risks like bans, brand safety, and legal issues.

Another major insight is that search and visibility are changing radically. Classic SEO isn’t “dying” because Google disappears, but because people no longer search — they ask AI questions or discover content on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. This is a shift from SEO to AEO / GEO: content needs to be good enough for AI systems to cite it, not just for search engines to index it. As a result, clicks are dropping, zero-click is growing, and the real fight is no longer for traffic, but for authority.

A new era of influence, trust, authenticity, and privacy

For affiliate marketing in 2026, content is no longer just “warming up” the audience — it’s a direct sales tool. Vertical video, live demos, streams, and short-form reviews with a clear CTA outperform classic approaches. Influencer-affiliate is becoming the norm: a real person, a face, personal experience, and a link. It’s no longer about who has more websites, but who has more trust in their personal brand, or access to creators people genuinely believe in. Influencers are no longer just “media faces” — they’re affiliate partners. That’s the new reality.

Data and privacy deserve special attention. Cookies are disappearing, tracking is shrinking, regulations are tightening. The only stable currency left is first-party data and voluntary user consent. For affiliate marketing, this means one simple thing: anonymous one-off traffic is dead.
Analysts at Reuters Institute note that most active users are moving from public content into private spaces: closed channels, micro-communities, and personal chats. That’s why email lists, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord communities, as well as brand-owned communities, will truly work. Top affiliates in 2026 are those who build their own audience, can re-monetize users, and are not 100% dependent on algorithms.

Trust and authenticity are moving to the forefront. In a world of AI slop, deepfakes, and content overload, it’s not the fastest who win, but the most real. That’s where ideas like Authentic AI and Valuable Friction come in: sometimes it’s useful not to be perfectly automated. A live email, an expert face, a human voice build loyalty where AI makes everything feel the same.

UNESCO points out that the world has entered a crisis of attention and trust as a result of global exhaustion and information overload. Over the last 10 years, the average attention span has nearly halved. People remember less, burn out emotionally faster, and lose inner stability more often. That’s why demand is growing for slower content, private communities, and conscious digital hygiene.

If we reduce everything to one formula for affiliate marketing in 2026, it looks like this:

AI + owned audience + human focus = stable income and scale.

Affiliate marketing in 2026 is no longer “launch traffic and wait for results.” It’s an ecosystem where you understand your audience’s needs, know why they trust you, and why they come back. AI helps scale processes, but it doesn’t create meaning. Content attracts attention, but it doesn’t guarantee loyalty. Algorithms give reach, but they don’t build relationships. All of this works only when there’s a human core — strategy, responsibility, and honest contact with the audience.
In a world where everyone uses the same tools, competitive advantage is no longer speed, but authenticity. Not the number of sites, but the quality of the community. Not aggressive scaling, but repeat value for the user. And honestly, there’s something very Cloud Dancer about all of this — less noise, more meaning. Maybe marketing is tired too. And that’s not a weakness, but a chance to finally do better, not louder.

The post Moon partners share insights on marketing trends in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Agganis Arena

RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History

Published

9 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

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The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.

Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.

Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone

The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:

Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers

This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.

The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.

A Grand Final Worthy of the Record

The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.

The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.

Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage

Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:

Multi-language broadcast streams
Cross-platform digital distribution
Strong in-arena attendance
Expanded regional fan engagement

Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.

What This Means for Rocket League Esports

The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:

Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.

As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.

The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Competitive Poker

David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador

Published

9 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

david-lappin-named-pokerstars-ambassador

PokerStars has officially named Irish poker professional David Lappin as the winner of its inaugural Live League ambassadorship, marking a major milestone for both the seasoned pro and the global poker brand. The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2025 PokerStars Live League season, where players competed across European events for leaderboard supremacy and a coveted ambassador position.

Lappin, widely respected as a poker player, writer, commentator, and industry voice, now joins the prestigious PokerStars ambassador roster after emerging as the standout candidate among top leaderboard performers.

A Season-Long Path to Representation

The 2025 PokerStars Live League introduced a structured, merit-based pathway for players to earn ambassador status. Competitors accumulated points across three buy-in-based leaderboard tiers — High, Medium, and Low — throughout major European live events.

Qualifying tournaments included stops on the renowned European Poker Tour (EPT), regional PokerStars Open events, and even the iconic Irish Poker Open, a long-standing highlight of the European poker calendar.

At the end of the season:

Top 30 players (Top 10 per tier) earned the right to audition.
A PokerStars judging panel selected the ultimate ambassador.
Lappin was chosen for his consistency, credibility, and player-first approach.

This structure reflects PokerStars’ growing emphasis on meritocracy and community representation rather than purely promotional appointments.

Player-Led Representation at the Core

As a PokerStars Ambassador, Lappin’s role extends beyond brand visibility. His focus will center on:

Competing in flagship EPT Main Events
Participating in PokerStars Open stops
Promoting online-to-live qualification routes
Engaging directly with the player community

PokerStars has made clear that this ambassadorship is rooted in authentic player representation. Lappin has long advocated that ambassadors should serve as bridges between operators and players — not simply brand spokespeople.

His reputation as a thoughtful commentator and outspoken industry analyst positions him as a natural intermediary between grassroots competitors and event organizers.

Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars, emphasized Lappin’s longstanding presence on the circuit and deep understanding of the live ecosystem. According to Billot, Lappin’s authenticity and alignment with PokerStars values made him a “natural fit” for the role.

Strengthening the Online-to-Live Pathway

A key component of Lappin’s ambassadorship will be highlighting PokerStars’ satellite ecosystem — a system allowing online players to qualify for major live tournaments at a fraction of the standard buy-in.

This online-to-live funnel remains central to PokerStars’ brand identity. By promoting satellite qualifiers and digital routes into live events, Lappin reinforces PokerStars’ commitment to accessibility and upward mobility within competitive poker.

For aspiring players, this messaging underscores an important truth: online grinders can convert modest investments into major live opportunities.

The 2026 PokerStars Live League Expansion

The announcement coincides with the launch of the 2026 PokerStars Live League season, which began at PokerStars Open Campione.

Key highlights of the 2026 league include:

€157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credits awarded
Prizes distributed across High, Medium, and Low tiers
A new €100,000 live freeroll at the first EPT stop of 2027
Expanded rewards structure benefiting top 30 finishers in each tier

The second stop of the 2026 season is currently underway at EPT Paris, offering players additional opportunities to earn leaderboard points.

League standings and live updates are available through the PokerStars Live app, further integrating digital tracking with live competition.

Strategic Implications for PokerStars

Lappin’s appointment reflects broader strategic shifts in the live poker landscape:

Community Credibility Over Celebrity Marketing
PokerStars continues prioritizing ambassadors with deep player roots rather than purely mainstream appeal.
Reinforcing European Live Dominance
By strengthening the Live League and EPT ecosystem, PokerStars consolidates its hold on Europe’s premier live poker circuits.
Retention Through Gamification
The leaderboard structure encourages year-long engagement, incentivizing consistent participation rather than one-off tournament attendance.
Expanding Reward Distribution
The 2026 freeroll addition broadens prize accessibility, rewarding loyalty across all buy-in levels.

Why This Matters for the Poker Industry

The poker industry has increasingly leaned into hybrid engagement models — combining online platforms, live tours, community ambassadors, and digital content ecosystems.

Lappin’s appointment symbolizes this evolution. As a hybrid figure — competitor, analyst, content creator — he embodies the modern poker ambassador archetype: credible, vocal, accessible, and community-oriented.

The Live League format itself may also influence competitor operators to rethink how ambassador programs are structured, shifting toward performance-based selection models.

The post David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area

Published

9 hours ago

February 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Three table games also added to the first and only smoke free gaming space in downtown Las Vegas

To highlight the excitement of its smoke free gaming area, the first and only one in downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with Vegas Live Casino Network to launch the only live streaming channel dedicated to broadcasting casino play in Las Vegas, seven days a week.

The Plaza has long promoted social media posting by guests and created the smoke free gaming area as a social media friendly space with vibrant backdrops and copyright free music. Now, the Plaza is partnering with Vegas Live Casino Network to be the first Las Vegas property with its own dedicated YouTube channel to broadcast the excitement players are having in its smoke free gaming space at https://www.youtube.com/@VegasLiveCasinoNetwork.

Thanks to the new broadcast stream from Vegas Live Casino Network, guests will be able to subscribe and share the video stream of themselves playing the slots machines or the new table games with friends and family to show the fun they are having at the Plaza.

The broadcast will stream live Sunday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. To learn more about the live streaming service, watch the launch video for the Vegas Live Casino Network at the Plaza at: youtube.com/watch?v=PfboeigVH_c.

The smoke free gaming space is home to dozens of the industry’s most popular slot machines, and now, the Plaza also added three table games, including blackjack, baccarat, and European roulette. Blackjack will offer bets starting at $25 to $2,000; baccarat will start bets at $25 up to $3,000; and European roulette will be a $200 progressive table. Outside bets: even money is $3,000 maximum and 2-1 is $1,500 maximum bet. The table games will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.

To learn more about the new offerings in the Plaza’s smoke free gaming area visit: plazahotelcasino.com/casino/smoke-free-slots/.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.