To raise awareness of the increasing issue of illegal affiliate marketing affecting licensed markets, Gaming in Europe will conduct a webinar called “Understanding the rise of illegal affiliate marketing: Techniques & solutions” on Thursday, April 16, at 14:00 CET.

An increasing issue

Due to the rising significance of online platforms – particularly in conjunction with limitations on broadcast and print advertising – affiliate marketing has emerged as a more vital route for participants to discover and locate the iGaming operators that suit their requirements.

The battle for recognition

Unauthorized affiliates, along with the larger entities supporting them, not only enhance the exposure of illicit offers; they frequently also manage to diminish the visibility of licensed operators and affiliates advocating licensed offers.

This webinar will detail the tactics that unlawful affiliates employ to enhance their own visibility while diminishing that of their legitimate rivals. Additionally, this webinar will examine the actions that legal affiliates, licensed operators, and regulators can implement to reduce the effects of unlawful affiliate marketing.

A problem affecting all of Europe

Since offshore online gambling operators and their related illegal affiliates typically function on a European or even worldwide scale, this webinar will be pertinent to stakeholders in all regulated or soon-to-be-regulated online gambling markets, such as Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, and others.

#TakeBackTheMarket

Founder Willem van Oort of Gaming in Europe stated: “Aligned with Gaming in Europe’s larger goal to assist legal stakeholders against unlawful and unfair competition – concisely captured as #ReclaimTheMarket – we have opted to examine more closely the reasons and consequences of the rising influence of illegal affiliate marketing.” We will examine some of the dubious tactics employed by illegal affiliates and also investigate what advocates of the legal market, including regulators and licensed operators, can do to combat this.”

Speakers

Timothy Malmros Genach, expert in SEO, Magenti Media

Dr. Andreas Ditsche, Chief Executive Officer, iGaming.com

Frank op de Woerd, Hoofdredacteur, CasinoNieuws

Sign-up

Participation in this webinar is complimentary. Tap here to sign up.

The post Gaming in Europe Webinar — Inside the Rise of Illegal Affiliate Marketing: Tactics & Countermeasures appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gamblers Connect, the acclaimed iGaming media and affiliate platform, is marking its fifth anniversary and currently ranks as one of the most prominent affiliate media brands in the iGaming sector.

Gamblers Connect was established with a distinct purpose: to create a transparent, player-centric platform. What started as a simple idea rapidly transformed into something much more important. In its inaugural year, the company had already obtained its initial industry accolade. Since that time, Gamblers Connect has kept broadening its services by introducing new sections, tools, and features, while consistently achieving significant milestones and enhancing its visibility at prominent industry events, conferences, and speaking engagements.

The launch of the Responsible Gambling Index enhanced the platform’s offerings, serving as a unique assessment tool that has become a key aspect, encompassing both game providers and casino operators.

This advancement has been evident in industry accolades, featuring several awards and nominations at major events, such as Casino Affiliate of the Year, News Affiliate of the Year, Crypto Affiliate of the Year, and Best Affiliate of the Year.

In the last five years, Gamblers Connect has transformed past the conventional affiliate framework. The platform currently functions as a comprehensive iGaming media brand, generating a wide variety of editorial content, industry news, interviews, and B2B-related coverage, catering to both players and industry stakeholders.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “2026 marks not just an anniversary, but a clear step forward. The launch of the GC Contributors Program, the introduction of the iHub, and an entirely new platform currently in development signal where Gamblers Connect is headed — deeper into the industry, more ambitious in scope, and built for what the next five years demand.”

The post Gamblers Connect Marks Its Fifth Anniversary appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Interview with Kateryna Rybka, Affiliate Team Lead

Ahead of HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, we speak with Kateryna Rybka, Affiliate Team Lead representing WinSpirit Casino, one of the fastest-growing brands in the global iGaming ecosystem. WinSpirit is a General Sponsor of the HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, boasting a portfolio now exceeding 17,000 games. Kateryna shares insights into WinSpirit’s product vision, marketing approach, and the role responsible gaming plays in building sustainable growth.

Kateryna, WinSpirit positions itself as a fast-growing brand built on player-centric technology. From your perspective, what are the key pillars currently driving the brand’s momentum in today’s competitive iGaming landscape?

The core difference is that WinSpirit doesn’t treat players as traffic — we treat them as people. Most operators optimize around bonuses and acquisition. We optimize around behavior. What keeps a user engaged beyond the first deposit? What makes them return because the experience is compelling, not just because there’s a promo? That’s our focus.

Speed is critical. Hypothesis-driven experimentation happens weekly, not quarterly. Product, marketing, and affiliates work in tight loops, and if something isn’t working, we adjust fast. We prioritize LTV over volume — affiliate partnerships are strategic, not transactional. We work with partners who value engaged players, not one-time depositors.

Responsibility is non-negotiable. Responsible gaming isn’t compliance for us — it’s a product principle. Session reminders, deposit limits, reality checks are core features, because if our audience burns out or loses trust, no bonus will bring them back. That balance — innovation with measured execution — is what drives our momentum. We’re building something sustainable.

With a portfolio of more than 17,000 games, content depth is clearly a major strength. How does WinSpirit ensure that scale translates into meaningful player engagement rather than just catalogue size?

Scale without curation is just noise. We don’t treat our portfolio as a static catalogue — we treat it as a personalized experience. Our UX adapts based on player behavior through intelligent filtering and recommendations. If someone gravitates toward high-volatility slots or live tables, the experience reflects that. We use data to understand which games retain players beyond the first session and optimize accordingly.

Provider partnerships give us an edge here. We work with top studios to secure exclusive conditions, early access, and unique variants — so our users get something they can’t find everywhere else. Genre diversity also supports retention. Players evolve, and a deep portfolio lets us keep them engaged as preferences shift from slots to live casino to crash games, without them looking elsewhere.

Scale is only valuable if it serves engagement. We’re building an experience that evolves with our players, not just a library.

WinSpirit emphasises experience-driven growth over short-term promotional tactics. How is this philosophy reflected in your marketing campaigns and affiliate strategy today?

Our campaigns are built around ideas and narratives, not just bonuses. We try to go where the industry doesn’t — creating experiences that feel emotionally engaging, not transactional.

For example, WishExpress was a feature where players could send virtual gifts to each other during the holidays. It wasn’t about driving deposits — it was about creating connections. UnValentine’s Day flipped the traditional romantic narrative and resonated with users who don’t buy into the Valentine’s hype. Both saw strong engagement because they tapped into something real.

WinSpirit works with emotion, not just CPA. Our affiliate strategy reflects that — we look for partners who understand storytelling and retention, not just volume. And we pay close attention to player feedback. Long-term reputation matters more than short-term spikes.

Responsible gaming is becoming a defining factor for sustainable operators. How is WinSpirit embedding responsible gaming principles into both the product experience and its broader marketing approach?

Responsible gaming isn’t a separate feature for us — it’s embedded in the product. Session reminders, deposit limits, self-regulation tools, transparent bonus terms — these are core, not optional. Beyond that, we’re actively collaborating on education. SmartPlay, our partnership with Casino Guru, focuses on helping our audience make informed decisions through educational content and tools. The response has been strong — players engage more when they feel empowered, not just marketed to.

We’re also working with the Digital Wellness Center, which specializes in behavioral health and digital well-being. This partnership is rolling out now, and it’s about providing users with resources that go beyond gaming — addressing habits, balance, and long-term health. It’s about balancing engagement with ethics. Growth that compromises player well-being isn’t sustainable.

As WinSpirit strengthens its long-term market positioning, what key developments – whether product, partnerships, or player experience – should the industry be watching from the brand in the months ahead?

We’re doubling down on brand positioning and experience innovation. There’s a new creative campaign launching very soon — I can’t spoil it, but it follows the same philosophy as WishExpress and UnValentine’s Day. Players should expect something unexpected.

On the product side, we’re deepening gamification and personalization. The goal is to adapt the experience to each user — not just through recommendations, but through mechanics and features that respond to individual behavior. We’re also optimizing retention tools and expanding our responsible gaming framework, including the Digital Wellness Center partnership I mentioned earlier.

Sustainable growth remains the priority. We’re not chasing shortcuts — we’re building infrastructure that scales responsibly. And innovation is ongoing. Recently, WinSpirit received Special Recognition as Most Innovative Online Casino Operator for AI-driven customer support, automated query handling, and behavioral analytics that improve service quality. For us, that’s just the beginning. We’re applying similar thinking across WinSpirit — smarter systems, better player experiences, stronger foundations. The industry should watch for a brand that’s moving with intention, not just speed.

And it’s worth noting — platforms like EEG Intelligence Hub play a role in that evolution. Congratulations on 11 years of holding this industry to a higher standard. That kind of journalism matters.

The post How WinSpirit Builds Sustainable Growth Through Player-Centric Innovation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.