N1 Partners

What matters more in affiliate marketing: performance or partnerships? At first glance, the answer seems obvious. But in reality, one rarely exists without the other. Sustainable growth is built on trust, transparent communication, and a shared commitment to moving forward together.

In this new edition of N1 Faces, Polina Bogatko, Affiliate Manager at N1 Partners, shares how she quickly found her place in the industry, why stress management remains one of the most underrated skills in affiliate marketing, and what truly separates a strong partnership from just good cooperation.

How did you get into affiliate marketing, and when did you realise this was the industry you wanted to grow in?

I entered affiliate marketing from an Account Manager position. It was a completely new industry for me, so I set myself an ambitious goal: to dive in as quickly as possible and understand how everything worked.

I spent a lot of time diving into industry content, watching interviews, talking to colleagues, and absorbing new knowledge every day. Within just a month, I had grown into the Affiliate Manager role.

That was the moment I realised I had found the right industry for me. I enjoy the combination of analytics and communication, the challenge of solving complex problems, and the opportunity to work with different people. I’ve also always loved starting from scratch and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone – those challenges are what keep me motivated.

What brought you to N1 Partners, and why did the opportunity seem so attractive?

I’ve always been drawn to companies where you’re not just completing tasks but continuously learning and growing. When the opportunity to join N1 Partners came up, I was immediately impressed by the strength of the team, the business scale, and the company’s reputation within the industry.

What stood out most was the culture. Initiative, expertise, and professional growth are genuinely valued here, and that’s exactly the kind of environment where I wanted to build a long-term career.

Looking back at the start of your career, what turned out to be completely different from your expectations? And what advice would you give yourself during your first month on the job?

At the beginning, I assumed affiliate marketing was all about moving fast and seeing results quickly if you worked hard enough.

In reality, every meaningful achievement is backed by consistent, systematic work. It takes time to fully understand a product, build trust with affiliates, and develop a real feel for the market.

If I could go back to my first month, I would tell myself one simple thing: don’t rush and don’t stress if everything doesn’t click immediately. Success in this industry isn’t about quick wins — it’s about consistency, patience, and showing up every day. The more comfortable you are with the learning process, the faster you’ll get where you want to be.

What changes in affiliate marketing do you consider the most significant over the past few years?

In iGaming, one of the biggest shifts has been the impact of AI on advertising platforms and on the way traffic moderation works

Facebook and Google have become much more precise in analysing user behaviour, creatives, and campaign setups, which has significantly affected both PPC and Facebook traffic acquisition.

A few years ago, scaling campaigns through proven approaches and rapid testing was relatively straightforward. Today, algorithms identify risky patterns much faster, accounts face stricter restrictions, and moderation standards continue to tighten.

As a result, traffic acquisition has become more expensive, while finding stable, scalable campaign setups requires far more resources and expertise.

On one hand, this has made life more challenging for affiliates. On the other hand, the industry has become more mature and professional. Today, the biggest winners are those who can analyse data deeply, test hypotheses methodically, and build long-term strategies rather than simply chasing volume.

What separates a truly strong partnership from simply good cooperation?

A strong affiliate partnership isn’t just about everything running smoothly. It’s about both sides being genuinely invested in achieving a shared outcome.

A great affiliate manager doesn’t simply reply to messages — they understand what’s happening with the traffic, identify growth opportunities, and help solve challenges when they arise. At the same time, successful affiliates don’t jump between offers every few days; they give campaigns enough time to optimise and reach their full potential.

Trust, commitment, and ongoing collaboration are the foundations of any lasting partnership.

Has there been a person, case study, or experience that significantly influenced the way you work with partners?

For me, that person was my first team lead, Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates.

He laid the foundation for how I approach affiliate management today.

One of the most valuable lessons he taught me was to evaluate traffic objectively, without emotions or bias, and rely on data and logic instead.

His communication style also had a huge impact on me. He always emphasised providing structured, actionable feedback rather than opinions or gut feelings.

Most importantly, he taught me not to be influenced by promises or pressure and to stay focused on actual performance.

What do you consider the most underrated part of an affiliate manager’s job?

Stress management. From the outside, the role may seem like a combination of chats and calls, but in reality, you’re constantly balancing the interests of partners, products, and internal performance expectations.

The industry moves incredibly fast, and maintaining a clear head during periods of pressure or fluctuating KPIs is essential.

This is one of those professions where long-term success depends not only on knowledge and experience but also on your ability to stay mentally resilient.

What mistakes most often prevent long-term relationships from developing?

One of the most common mistakes is avoiding difficult conversations.

Instead of discussing challenges openly and finding solutions together, people often stay silent with frustration building over time.

In long-term partnerships, that’s especially dangerous. Any uncertainty or lack of transparency quickly turns into distrust.

It’s always more effective to address issues openly, even when the conversation is uncomfortable, and work toward a solution together.

What helps you stay energised and avoid burnout in an industry that changes every single day?

Energetic affiliates give me a lot of motivation.

There are partners I regularly speak with through calls and chats, and those conversations are always dynamic and engaging.

We can laugh about industry situations, get frustrated by market challenges together, and then switch straight into problem-solving mode.

That combination of genuine human connection and shared focus on results helps me maintain momentum and avoid burnout.

If you had to describe your job in affiliate marketing without using the words “traffic”, “affiliate”, or “conversion”, what would you say?

I’d say it’s about turning chaos into a structured system. You communicate, analyze behavior, test different approaches, and identify what drives results.

It’s a mix of fast decision-making, constant interaction, and the ongoing belief that every process can be improved by optimizing the right details.

If you weren’t in iGaming…?

I would probably move into events or project management. I enjoy fast-paced environments where you have to bring people, tasks, and deadlines together into a system that works. Events offer excitement and constant decision-making in real time, while project management provides more structure and process control — but both come with the same sense of ownership and responsibility for the final outcome. What attracts me in both fields is the combination of organization, accountability, and measurable results.

TOP-3 

Which qualities do you value most in partners?

1. Deep expertise
2. Flexibility
3. Responsiveness

Which skills are most important for an Affiliate Manager today?

1. Analytical thinking
2. Ability to adapt to new rules and changing conditions
3. Negotiation skills

Which tools or habits can you not imagine your workday without?

1. A calculator 🙂
2. My personal Telegram notes chat where I keep everything important
3. Affiliate launch pings!

Blitz 

New affiliate or growing with an existing one?

Growing and scaling existing partnerships.

Intuition or analytics?

Analytics.

Calls or messages?

Messages every day, calls once a week.

High volume or predictable results?

High volume with controlled quality.

Cooperate with N1 Partners!

For affiliates who value transparent communication, long-term collaboration, and hands-on support, strong partnerships start with a team that is genuinely invested in your growth.

Whether you’re looking for new scaling opportunities, tailored commercial terms, or a high-converting offer to test, Polina would be happy to discuss a potential partnership.

Become a partner

N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate platform and direct advertiser that brings together more than 14 casino and sportsbook brands. The company operates across Tier-1 markets and offers competitive commercial terms, including CPA payouts of up to €700 and RevShare of up to 55%.

With more than 14,000 affiliates worldwide, N1 Partners is trusted for its transparency, flexibility, and partnership-first approach. Long-term relationships, quality communication, and a shared focus on performance remain at the core of cooperating with the company.

N1 Partners

Connect with N1 Partners at G Gate Conf 2026 

The N1 Partners team will participate in G GATE CONF 2026, one of the largest affiliate conferences in the region, held on June 26-27 at Expo Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The conference will bring together more than 7,000 representatives of the affiliate industry, advertisers, arbitration teams, webmasters, and partner programs for networking, sharing experiences, and discussing current market trends. More than 100 booths will be presented at the event, as well as more than 50 speakers will be announced.

N1 Partners is a sponsor at the G Gate Conf of one of the zones and invites guests to take a look at the branded coconut station. You can find it to the left of the entrance, opposite the reception desk.

There is also a special offer for the company’s partners: the N1PARTNERS promo code provides a 15% discount on the purchase of a ticket to G Gate Conf.

Also, follow N1 Partners on Instagram for a chance to win one of five G Member tickets!

Why meet N1 Partners?

In Tbilisi, the N1 Partners team will discuss new scaling opportunities, current offers, and the N1 Sport Promo, a special promo for partners pouring sports traffic and working with the Prediction Markets vertical.

The promo runs from June 10 to July 20, 2026, and covers the biggest sporting events of the season, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup. As part of the promotion, partners can increase their CPA rate based on the number of FTDs generated and earn higher payouts.

Book a meeting with N1 Partners

Schedule a meeting with the team in advance and find out more about offers and promotions to get the most out of the conference!

N1 Partners team contact:

• Alexa Bond — Head of Affiliates 
• Vlad Zilitskyi — Affiliate Team Lead
• Pavel Sysoev — Affiliate Manager 
• Alexey Gusarov — Team Lead of Affiliates 
• Oleksandr Havrylov — Affiliate Manager 

Join N1 Partners and reach a new level:

• 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!

N1 Partners

Every brand requires its own approach, which is why in the N1 Brand Series, the N1 Partners team breaks down products through a practical, hands-on lens.

In this episode let’s look inside N1 Bet: its core strengths, audience specifics, and approaches to improving traffic efficiency. In addition, the team has prepared a traffic setup for N1 Sport Promo, a new promotion aligned with the upcoming high-intensity sports season and FIFA 2026.

Within the campaign running from June 10 to July 20, partners will be able to earn additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, increasing their potential rewards alongside the number of acquired FTDs.

N1 Bet: Product breakdown

N1 Bet combines classic sports betting, casino, and Prediction Markets into a single product, offering users a wide variety of markets, an intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and attractive promotional mechanics designed to boost engagement.

• Brand name: N1 Bet
• GEOs: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE, NO, IT
• Main verticals: Casino, betting, prediction markets
• Target audience: Users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots, and live games, oriented toward a fast and seamless gaming experience.
• User value: Ease of use, fast access to games, bonuses, and promotional mechanics
• Features/advantages: Simple and fast registration flow, smooth UX, wide selection of slots and live games, fast deposits/withdrawals, and regular promotions.
• Reg2Dep:
  PPC: 40–60%
  FB: 22–30%
  SEO: 40–45%

• Retention Rate: 25–35%
• LTV: up to €1500

Player’s portrait

N1 Bet audience is primarily composed of Tier-1 GEO users, which directly influences their behaviour and expectations toward the product. From a payment behaviour perspective, Tier-1 audiences demonstrate a higher average deposit compared to Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the DACH region.

Another key product characteristic is strong mobile dominance. On average, 87% of active users play from mobile devices. In English-speaking GEOs, this share is even higher:

• AU — 95%
• NZ — 96%
• CA — 95%

In practice, this is mostly a mobile-only audience. In the DACH region, mobile traffic is also dominant, although desktop still retains a presence:

• DE — 89% mobile
• AT — 91% mobile

Peak player activity occurs in the evening — from 19:00 to 23:00 local time.

Player characteristics by GEO

Austria

• A premium audience segment.
• 91% of users play on mobile devices.
• High interest in slots, especially classic titles such as Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra.
• Higher rates with fewer deposits.
• Behavior is close to a VIP segment.

Germany

• Also a premium segment.
• 89% mobile traffic, while maintaining a noticeable desktop share.
• The most balanced mix of slots, live casino, and sportsbook.
• Slots share is lower than in other GEOs, but classic slots remain in demand.

Australia

• 95% mobile users.
• High average revenue per user.
• Main interest focused on slots and crash games.
• Branded games, including Chicken Road 2 x N1 Bet, are among the most popular products.

Canada

• 95% mobile audience.
• Average ARPPU is comparable to Australia.
• Gaming behaviour is mostly slot-oriented.
• High interest in branded content.
• Lower sensitivity to bonus offers compared to other markets.

New Zealand

• The most mobile-driven audience — 96%.
• Lower ARPPU and average bet size.
• The only GEO with a consistently high share of live casino activity — 17% to 56% vs 10-22% in other markets.
• The most diverse gameplay behavior overall.

New players’ behavior

New user behaviour largely depends on traffic source:

• Facebook Crash campaigns — users start with crash games (Chicken Road, Aviator, etc.) and then gradually move into slots.
• Facebook Slots campaigns — users immediately engage with slots without switching categories.
• PPC — most common mix: slots + live casino.
• Influence — mixed interest across slots, crash games, and live casino.
• SEO — primarily focused on slots and live games.

General trends

• Slots remain the main driver of new player activity, accounting for 60–80% of playtime (higher in AT and AU, lower in DE and CA).
• Crash games work extremely well as a primary conversion tool, especially for Facebook traffic.
• Live casino becomes more popular after the 2nd–3rd deposit, especially among users from DACH and NZ.

High-LTV Player Behavior

High lifetime value players are not characterised by single large deposits but by consistent product engagement:

• more than 4 active gaming sessions per week;
• use of multiple verticals simultaneously (slots + live, slots + sportsbook, sportsbook + prediction markets);
• active participation in VIP and loyalty programs;
• use of cashback and loyalty systems instead of bonus hunting;
• strong interest in new providers, tournaments, and product updates;
• stable deposit patterns without sharp promo-driven spikes;
• engagement in onsite activities (tournaments, bonus shop) and CRM communications.

This category of users forms the most stable and long-term LTV for partners.

Top 3 Working Funnels for N1 Bet

Funnel 1

This funnel is designed for a broad audience and performs well due to a simple and clear message. The main focus is the ability to start with a small amount and potentially win big. This approach helps maintain a low FTD cost and quickly scale traffic volume.

• Traffic source: Facebook
• GEO: AU
• Page type: PWA
• Audience: Men and women 25+
• Approach: The creative is based on a dynamic video. It starts with a stack of cash in front of a smartphone or computer screen, then shifts to gameplay featuring slots, bonuses, and winning combinations. A voiceover explains the low entry threshold, easy start, and the ability to play directly from a smartphone. The main goal is to create a sense of accessibility and highlight potential winnings.
• Why it works: Users immediately see core triggers — money, wins, and a low entry barrier. The funnel appeals to the desire for fast results with minimal investment.
• Key funnel element: Slots and PWA
• Performance indicators: CPC, FTD cost, and average player value
• Scaling method: Duplication of successful ad campaigns
• Risks/limitations: May attract lower-quality traffic
• Common mistakes: Launching too many campaigns at once with high budgets
• Expert note: This funnel should be scaled gradually. The best approach is to start with a single campaign and allow algorithms to gather sufficient data. If stable FTD and average value metrics are achieved over several days, scaling should be done through duplication rather than abrupt budget increases.

Funnel 2

This approach can attract higher-quality audiences thanks to a combination of a recognizable influencer, a real casino environment, and a native-style product presentation. When executed properly, it can maintain an acceptable FTD cost while bringing in users with strong long-term engagement potential.

• Traffic source: Facebook
• GEO: AU
• Page type: PWA
• Audience: Men and women 25+
• Approach: The creative features a well-known influencer inside a physical casino. They play a slot, share their experience, show bet sizes and winnings. The atmosphere is important: other casino visitors react emotionally, creating a sense of real entertainment and leisure. The entire video is positive and demonstrates that this experience is accessible to anyone.
• Why it works: Users see a familiar face and recognizable environment, which increases trust in the ad.
• Key funnel element: Creative and PWA
• Performance indicators: CPC and FTD cost
• Scaling method: Duplication of working campaigns
• Risks/limitations: Improper scaling may significantly increase FTD cost
• Common mistakes: Rapid budget increases instead of gradual scaling
• Expert note: This funnel often delivers higher-quality audiences compared to standard gaming creatives. However, scaling should be done carefully. If performance is stable, it is better to increase volume gradually through duplication while keeping winning campaign settings.

Funnel 3 (for N1 Sport Promo traffic)

During the N1 Sport Promo campaign, sports traffic funnels become especially important.

Below is an approach that can perform well during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

• Traffic source: Facebook Ads
• GEO: Canada
• Page type: PWA with content tailored to a specific World Cup match
• Audience: Men 25–45 interested in football, sports betting, sports news, and international tournaments. Focus is on users actively following the World Cup, discussing matches, and looking for predictions.
• Approach: The creative is built in a news or analytical format centered around a specific World Cup match. It includes predictions, team statistics, starting lineups, injury updates, team form, and expected outcomes. The content must be tightly linked to an upcoming match or trending topic actively discussed by the audience.
• Why it works: Users engage with content they are genuinely interested in. Instead of a standard betting ad, they receive relevant match insights and become part of the analysis process. The high interest in the World Cup enables broader reach and high-quality sports traffic.
• Key funnel element: Creative relevance and match context
• Performance indicators: High CTR, strong registration conversion, and high percentage of users placing bets after registration
• Scaling method: Continuous creation of new creatives for each match day, teams, popular fixtures, and trending tournament news
• Risks/limitations: Creatives quickly lose relevance and require constant updates
• Common mistakes: Using generic sports creatives without match context, scaling too early, and failing to update after the news cycle ends
• Expert note: During the World Cup, funnels built around specific matches or teams perform best. Users respond more strongly to events happening today or tomorrow than to generic sportsbook ads. Fast content updates and relevance are key success factors.

Final Takeaways

N1 Bet consistently performs well across Tier-1 markets when using the right approach. Simple gaming creatives drive volume, influencer-based funnels improve traffic quality, and sports-driven funnels effectively capitalize on major event interest.

With the right strategy, N1 Bet remains a strong product both for scaling volume and for working with high-quality audiences.

Run traffic to N1 Bet with N1 Partners and maximize results during the hot sports season:

• 14+ casino and betting 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!

N1 Partners

N1 Partners team will participate in iGB L!VE 2026 in London, July 1-2. At booth K50, N1 Partners will present exclusive art collaborations with trendy British illustrator Clym Evernden and designer Yoomoota, a new collection of branded merch drop and the N1 Sport Promo opportunities.

N1 Partners exclusive collaborations at iGB L!VE 2026

One of the main events at the N1 Partners booth on July 1 will be an art performance with the participation of Clym Evernden, a BAFTA Award winner known for his collaboration with fashion brands Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Vogue, Diptyque, and Hermes.

Within the framework of iGB L!VE, the artist will create a large-scale artwork in his signature continuous line technique. Guests of the stand will be able to watch the process in real time as well as receive signed postcards and the author’s sketches.

N1 Partners has also prepared an exclusive limited-edition collection with Clym Evernden, which will be included in a select series of gifts for partners.

Another premiere will be a collectible toy created in collaboration with Yoomoota, an art project by artist and designer Taras Yoom, winner of the A’ Design Award and the Good Design Award. His work has been exhibited at PAD London, Art Miami, and the Red Dot Museum and has been featured in Forbes, Hypebeast, Vice, Elle Decor, and Designboom.

Scale sports traffic with N1 Sport Promo

One of the key business topics of the conference will be N1 Sport Promo, which runs from June 10 to July 20.

The promo was created for partners working with sports and Prediction Markets traffic, and is timed to coincide with one of the busiest sports seasons of the year. The FIFA World Cup 2026, UFC, Formula 1, Wimbledon, and other major sporting events open up additional opportunities for scaling campaigns and increasing traffic profitability.

The campaign participants receive additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, which allows them to increase payouts during the period of maximum demand.

N1 Duality: booth concept and activities 

At iGB L!VE 2026, N1 Partners will present a new creative concept, N1 Duality, exploring the intersection of opposites: strategy and intuition, technology and creativity, business and art. It is at this juncture that new ideas, partnerships, and growth opportunities are born. The concept will be reflected in the new limited-edition merch drop SPLIT: London.

The N1 Partners booth will be a visual continuation of N1 Duality. The space will combine business communication, creative activations, and interactive mechanics, reflecting the idea of finding new opportunities through a combination of different approaches and views.

One of the central mechanics will be the interactive DICE game with the opportunity to win instant prizes and limited gifts from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners shortlisted in iGB Affiliate Awards

During iGB L!VE 2026, the results of the iGB Affiliate Awards will be announced. N1 Partners is represented in two categories at once:

• Best Affiliate Program;
• Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Being shortlisted for one of the most prestigious awards in the affiliate industry has become a recognition of the company’s achievements in developing an affiliate program and implementing large-scale marketing projects.

Book a meeting with N1 Partners

Guests of the booth at the conference will be able to learn more about working with more than 14 casino and betting brands of the partner program in 10+ Tier-1 GEO with flexible cooperation models for different types of traffic.

Guests can discuss the following with the N1 Partners team:

• New opportunities for casino, sports and prediction traffic;
• Individual terms of cooperation;
• Product updates;
• Strategies for scaling and increasing traffic profitability.
• Current promos and special offers from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners invites existing partners and those interested in cooperation to meet at booth K50 at iGB L!VE 2026.

Contact the team in advance to schedule a convenient meeting time:

• Alexa – Head of Affiliates
• Vlad – Deputy Head of Affiliates
• Vladislav – Affiliate Team Lead
• Daria – Affiliate Team Lead
• Alina – Affiliate Team Lead
• Polina – Affiliate Manager
• Victoria – Affiliate Manager
• Artem – Affiliate Manager
• Pavel – Affiliate Manager
• Alexandr – Affiliate Manager
• Shirin – Affiliate Manager
• Aleksandrs – Affiliate Manager

If you wish to discuss marketing activities, content projects, media placements or other collaboration formats, N1 Partners’ marketing team will be happy to meet you at iGB L!VE 2026.

• Tatiana – Head of Brand Marketing (B2B & B2C)
• Maria – Team Lead of PR, Event, Production
• Oleksandra – Head of SMM & Content

See you at booth K50 in London.

Start working with N1 Partners — become number one!

N1 Partners

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.
• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

N1 Partners

N1 Partners is preparing a new promo for its partners, N1 Sport Promo, for the hot summer sports calendar and the main football event of the year, FIFA World Cup 2026.

The promo starts on June 10 and runs until July 20, when audience interest in sports reaches its peak and sports and prediction traffic gets strong potential for scaling.

During the same period, Wimbledon, the NBA finals, Formula 1 races, UFC Freedom 250 at the White House and the N1 Hype tournament will also take place, attracting the attention of millions of players worldwide.

N1 Sport Promo: first details

Within six weeks, partners will be able to receive additional bonuses for traffic to sports betting and Prediction Markets. The more high-quality FTDs a partner brings, the higher their potential reward.

The key mechanic of N1 Sport Promo is the opportunity to increase current rates.

Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates N1 Partners, comments on the upcoming promo: 

“Major sporting events traditionally increase interest in betting and prediction markets, opening up additional opportunities for partners to attract traffic. With N1 Sport Promo, we have focused on mechanics that reward scaling and strong results. This promo is for those who are ready to work actively with traffic and get the most out of the sports season.”

All details, terms of participation and bonus amounts will be announced soon.

The countdown to the start has already begun.

Existing partners can contact their manager now to prepare for the campaign launch and learn more about the opportunities of working with sports and prediction traffic.

Haven’t joined N1 Partners yet? Contact the manager, get involved and make the most of the 2026 sports season.

Start working with N1 Partners:

• 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;

Be number one with N1!

N1 Partners

Picked a brand but not sure how to turn your traffic into profit? Looking for really working bundles? Want to understand the iGaming product better in order to scale efficiently?

N1 Partners team has launched N1 Brand Series — practical product reviews from experts with a focus on real working approaches, metrics, and peculiarities.

This article is dedicated to RollXO — read how to get the most out of the brand!

RollXO: product review

RollXO focuses on modern user experience, a wide range of game content, fast onboarding of players, a user-friendly interface and a diverse bonus program.

• Brand: RollXO
• GEO: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE
• Main vertical: casino, betting
• Target audience: users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots and live games, focused on a fast and convenient gaming experience
• Player value: ease of use, quick access to games, bonuses and promo mechanics
• Features / advantages: simple and fast registration form, user-friendly UX, a wide selection of slots and live games, as well as the speed of deposits/withdrawals and regular promos
• Reg2Dep:
  PPC 40-55%
  FB: 25-35%
  SEO: 40-45%
• Retention Rate: 25-35%
• LTV: up to 1500 EUR

Conversion and user behaviour 

Conversion is influenced by traffic quality and relevance, registration speed, first deposit bonuses, the convenience of payment methods, and the level of trust in the product.

For retention at RollXO, the most effective tools are personalized bonuses, VIP/loyalty programs, as well as communication through SMS, push notifications, in-app messages, email, stories, and inbox channels with continuous updates of gaming content.

After the first deposit, player behavior largely depends on their initial experience: some continue actively following promotions through communication channels, while others engage with on-site offers within the product itself, such as promotions, tournaments, bonus offers, and other mechanics available on the website.

Bonus policy

The RollXO brand uses a variety of bonus mechanisms: welcome and reload bonuses, free spins, free bets, cashback, VIP/loyalty rewards, lotteries, tournaments, loot boxes, wheel of fortune, a bonus shop, and limited-time promotions.

• Best-converting: simple and easy-to-understand bonuses that provide clear value to the player — enhanced welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback, and personalised offers.
• Less effective: complex mechanics with unclear conditions or overloaded/insufficient communication.
• Common mistakes: overly long communication texts without specific details or clear bonus requirements. In addition, an excessive volume of promotional communications can lead to lower player engagement.

Creatives and traffic types

At RollXO, creatives that focus on clear and specific value propositions perform best, for example, those that highlight a bonus or reward. It is also important to adapt creatives to the specific GEO, audience, and gaming preferences.

Creatives overloaded with bonuses perform poorly: three or more bonuses displayed on a small image can confuse players and discourage them from engaging with such communications. Additionally, the effectiveness of creatives declines over time if visuals and offers are not refreshed.

The most effective traffic sources depend on the region, creative quality, and audience-product fit. The primary channels are SEO, PPC, Influence, and Facebook.

Top 3 traffic setups for RollXO

Setup #1

This setup pays for itself due to the high quality of traffic. Despite a potentially high deposit cost (slightly above average), it can deliver strong results and attract an active audience.

• Traffic Source: Facebook
• GEO: AU
• Page Type: PWA
• Approach: The creative is built around the Dragon Train slot. Large multipliers x15 / x10 / x5 appear on the screen from the very first seconds, drawing attention to the possibility of a significant win.
  The lower part of the creative displays the new player bonus as well as the payment methods available for making a deposit.
• Why it works: A static creative with a clear visual structure. The game and bonus are immediately visible, while all key information can be understood within 1-2 seconds without unnecessary visual noise.
• Risks / Limitations: Potentially higher deposit cost.

Setup #2

This approach can attract a broader audience, while its key advantage is a significantly lower deposit cost compared to average benchmarks.

If acquisition costs can be maintained at a low level, this approach can work effectively for scaling and blending traffic with higher-quality audiences.

• Traffic Source: Facebook
• GEO: NZ
• Page Type: PWA
• Approach: A popular influencer is selected based on the target GEO and age group, after which a high-quality deepfake with accurate lip-syncing is created. In the creative, the influencer talks about fast gameplay and winning opportunities: “If you have X amount of money, you can try this slot/casino.”
  It is important that the mentioned amount exceeds the minimum deposit, as this helps attract a higher-quality audience. The video then showcases gameplay, including bonuses, multipliers, and winning spins.
• Why it works: Trust in the influencer, their recognisability, the visual appearance of a physical casino, and the slot demonstration work together to capture audience attention effectively.
  An additional advantage is the low entry threshold: the creative mentions a relatively small amount that users can potentially start with and still have a chance to win.
• Risks / Limitations: Lower audience quality.

Setup #3

This setup can attract a higher-quality audience, but the key factor is the consistency of the funnel. The PWA, FP, and domain should visually align with a specific land-based casino. This increases trust in the offer and positively impacts conversion rates.

• Traffic Source: Facebook
• GEO: CA
• Page Type: PWA
• Approach: The creative is centred around a well-known land-based casino shown from a visually striking angle that is immediately recognisable to the audience.
  Bonuses and payment methods are displayed at the bottom, while the top section features the message “(Name of the land-based casino) is now officially online.”
• Why it works: Recognition of the land-based casino increases trust in the offer, while all key information is communicated quickly and without unnecessary visual clutter.
• Risks / Limitations: Ad rejections.

Based on the RollXO review, several key factors make the brand a strong product for scaling. The brand delivers strong performance thanks to its user-friendly product, high player engagement, and effective retention mechanisms.

With proper creative adaptation, a well-structured funnel, and high-quality traffic, the brand can consistently generate profit and successfully scale volumes in Tier-1 markets.

Launch RollXO with N1 Partners, and scale your campaigns with top conditions:

• 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;

Be number one with N1!

N1 Partners

June is one of the most volatile months for iGaming: major sporting events overheat auctions, competition for high-quality traffic intensifies, while Facebook and Google begin reallocating traffic and CPM significantly faster.

In the latest edition of N1 Insights, N1 Partners’ experts break down where competition will intensify the most and how to maintain ROI in an overheated market.

Learn about new growth opportunities, strategies that are already losing relevance, and what will actually help you scale in June!

1. GEOs, Auction Dynamics, and Search Results

Facebook

1.1 Unstable GEOs in June
Facebook remains volatile: some GEOs are declining, while others present new growth opportunities. The key is not to become dependent on a single region and to continuously expand your GEO pool.

In June, the European auction is expected to be heavily overheated by sportsbooks due to the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, and the UFC event at the White House. CPMs may increase by 2-3x within a single day. The holiday season further reduces engagement among Tier-1 audiences.

1.2 Which markets will make FB traffic significantly more sensitive to creatives and funnel quality?

“Australia, New Zealand, and Canada traditionally remain the most sensitive to creative quality, as they are among the most competitive Tier-1 GEOs. In these countries, it is especially important to constantly test new visual approaches and audience retention mechanics,” says Polina Bogatko, Affiliate Manager.

At the same time, more niche markets such as Ireland, Norway, and Denmark are becoming increasingly attractive for media buyers. These GEOs are more challenging, but they allow affiliates to establish relationships with advertisers earlier.

1.3 GEOs with unstable economies during scaling
In Germany, due to new content filtering protocols, Facebook’s algorithm begins expanding beyond a narrow safe audience much faster when budgets are scaled.

IP restrictions are also becoming more aggressive: as campaigns scale, the share of users unable to access the product increases. This directly impacts CPA per deposit and negatively affects profitability.

1.4 Are there GEOs where it will become noticeably more difficult to warm up a new account even with a strong setup in June?
Australia stands out in particular. With the FIFA World Cup taking place in June and additional advertising restrictions during broadcasts, the auction becomes even more overheated. New accounts with low Trust Scores find it extremely difficult to compete with established agency accounts.

1.5 How much harder will it be to maintain a competitive edge over time even with a strong setup?
Due to auction overheating caused by the 2026 World Cup and AI-powered cloning, maintaining a competitive advantage will become increasingly difficult.

“A unique setup now survives for only 2-3 days rather than weeks. It is then displaced either by large brand budgets or thousands of AI-generated copies. The advantage is shifting from creators of isolated winning setups to teams that have the infrastructure to generate hundreds of new iterations daily and deploy them at scale through automated launching systems,” says Polina Bogatko, Affiliate Manager.

PPC (Google / UAC / Search)

1.6 GEOs experiencing the strongest PPC auction changes in June
Football-driven GEOs are expected to be the most volatile, particularly Austria and Germany. The World Cup directly impacts auction dynamics, causing CPCs to rise significantly.

1.7 Markets where traffic quality will become harder to maintain even with budget growth
Canada can be classified as one of these markets. When campaigns scale, Google broadens audience targeting: costs increase, while repeat deposit volume remains flat.

1.8 Which GEOs currently require the deepest PPC structure adaptation?
Denmark and Norway deserve special attention. Deep localisation and local-language optimisation are becoming increasingly important despite high English proficiency levels among users.

1.9 Changes in Tier-1 competition compared to the beginning of the year

“Many teams that previously did not operate in PPC are now entering Google to diversify their traffic sources. Teams that have been working with PPC for years are already feeling the increased competition, although they are gradually adapting to the new market conditions,” says Vlad Zilitsky, Affiliate Team Lead.

SEO

1.10 Changes in search competition ahead of the summer season
During summer, pressure from major media holdings decreases, but competition among affiliate teams increases as they rapidly test AI-generated content and local content clusters. At the same time, rising CPCs are pushing some market participants toward parasite SEO traffic, particularly within the betting vertical.

1.11 Where can affiliates currently find undervalued SEO traffic with low competition?
Opportunities remain within local-language clusters and non-Tier-1 GEOs using English, French, or German, provided they are not the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, or Germany.

1.12 Are there GEOs where SEO remains the most stable acquisition channel?
Yes. This primarily applies to less overheated local markets. The strongest performance comes from localized GEOs with stable CACs, including Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Norway, and Australia.

Despite regulatory restrictions, Australia continues to demonstrate stable conversion rates and a minimal number of website and cross-domain bans.

1.13 Impact of KYC changes on conversion and scaling
Stricter KYC requirements negatively affect first-time deposit conversion rates, particularly on mobile traffic. As a result, the role of pre-landers, retention funnels, and strong homepage experiences continues to grow.

2. Traffic Formats and Audience Behavior

Facebook

2.1 Placements that will unexpectedly lose efficiency in June
Facebook Right Column is a clear example. The European holiday season reduces desktop traffic share by approximately 15-20%.

2.2 Traffic formats delivering higher-quality audiences over time
SEO, ASO, and PPC remain the strongest channels. In June, when Facebook becomes unstable again due to platform updates, users who independently search for queries such as “best online casino AU/DE” through Google Search or Google Play continue to represent the most qualified and long-term audience segment.

2.3 Changes in traffic quality from short-form videos compared to the beginning of the year
By June, standard money-and-slots video creatives become saturated. High-quality traffic remains concentrated within UGC formats featuring real people, native storytelling, and a sense of authenticity.

Traffic itself is becoming more impulsive and expensive, as users spend more time scrolling social feeds while on vacation, at bars, or on the beach.

“To maintain quality in June, interactive elements must be added to filter out accidental clicks. Additionally, Facebook increasingly classifies overly bright overlays and aggressive messaging as spam content”, says Polina Bogatko, Affiliate Manager.

2.4 Which advertising angles is Facebook currently prioritising through its algorithms?
Facebook increasingly favours videos that do not resemble traditional advertisements. Examples include front-camera videos with minimal editing. A human face increases Trust Score and reduces checkpoint risks.

Moreover, these ad formats often achieve the highest Ad Relevance Scores, allowing the algorithm to perceive them as more valuable and reduce auction costs. Formats without direct deposit calls-to-action also perform well, where content is positioned as an educational explanation or a “life hack”. For example: “Where to Find Hidden Bonuses”. This type of content passes gambling-vertical filters more easily.

PPC (Google / UAC / Search)

2.5 Campaign types that may appear weak initially but deliver higher traffic quality

“We deliberately build longer payback windows into PPC traffic because a more expensive acquisition cost is offset by higher LTV. Our strategy is not to panic when performance starts slowly but to analyse the situation correctly and adapt when necessary,” says Vlad Zilitsky, Affiliate Team Lead.

2.6 The changing role of Demand Gen and UAC within overall PPC strategy
Demand Gen is increasingly used as a warming stage. YouTube creates the first touchpoint, while Search closes the user and drives the final conversion.

2.7 Traffic formats most dependent on creative quality
Demand Gen is the clear leader here. Visual quality plays a decisive role: creatives must be highly engaging, attractive, and visually polished.

2.8 User behavior changes that will have the strongest impact on PPC in June
With the start of summer, users in Scandinavia and the DACH region will spend significantly less time at home and on their mobile devices. Sessions will become shorter as people spend more time outdoors and less time on their phones.

This is precisely why bonus mechanics and engagement hooks capable of capturing attention quickly and encouraging users to return to the app become especially important.

SEO

2.11 Impact of AI Overviews on iGaming traffic in June
AI Overviews continue to occupy the top portion of informational SERPs, particularly for queries such as “best casino”, “how to bet”, “slot RTP”, and “bonuses explained”.

“For iGaming, this means a continued decline in organic CTR even when maintaining Top-3 rankings. Sites with templated reviews and weak expertise are suffering the most.

Today, the winning strategy is semantic coverage that delivers deeper information than competitors. The value of pages containing unique data, live statistics, product comparisons, user signals, calculators, local expertise, and clearly opinion-based content continues to grow,” says Aleksandr Ohtins, Affiliate Manager.

In addition, self-promotion within listicle-style content continues to perform well in Google AI Overview, AI Mode, and Perplexity.

2.12 Page types losing rankings after Google’s spring updates
The strongest declines are observed among mass-produced SEO landing pages targeting identical keywords, AI-generated reviews without real product testing, certain parasite SEO pages, affiliate pages lacking brand authority and trust signals, and outdated comparison pages without fresh offers or updates.

2.13 Content formats that best preserve CTR in a zero-click environment
The strongest performers include comparison tables; rankings featuring numerical data and regular updates; FAQs with unconventional questions; opinion-driven content; and pages with strong title-level promises such as “tested”, “updated”, and “real payout data”.

2.14 Traffic sources showing the highest volatility in June
The most unstable traffic sources remain Facebook Ads within grey-hat verticals, SEO traffic from informational queries, TikTok traffic, and parasite SEO.

2.15 Top hybrid funnels by performance right now
The best-performing combinations are:

• SEO → Telegram channel;
• SEO → Community;
• SEO → Email capture → CRM;
• YouTube → SEO;
• TikTok → SEO reviews;
• Reddit/X discussions → Branded SEO.

3. Content and AI

SEO

3.1 How critical is updating old content after Q1?

“Extremely critical. Following the spring updates, this type of content is indexed significantly worse, especially in competitive niches.

Updating existing URLs often generates higher ROI than publishing new pages. The most effective improvements include updating statistics, adding new content blocks, and restructuring content around search intent,” says Aleksandr Ohtins, Affiliate Manager.

3.2 Content mistakes that most frequently lead to performance declines in June
The most common reasons for traffic declines include the mass publication of AI-generated pages without editorial review, the absence of an author or subject-matter expert, GEO- and bonus-related inaccuracies, and poor mobile UX.

AI and Automation

3.3 AI tools that are currently accelerating SEO and website launches
The most valuable tools currently include:

• Wix AI — website builder;
• Semrush AI Copilot — SEO strategy;
• Surfer SEO — content optimisation;
• AirOps — content generation;
• SEO.ai — content and automation.

3.4 Processes in SEO and affiliate marketing that can already be fully automated
The following processes are now largely automated: keyword clustering, technical audits, SEO strategy development, content updates, SERP monitoring, and the generation of templated landing pages.

3.5 How does AI impact the speed of testing new GEOs and setups?
AI helps validate GEO hypotheses and reduce operational costs for SEO teams. Artificial intelligence significantly accelerates GEO validation and lowers SEO team expenses.

4. Marketing Strategy and Brand Growth

4.1 The main growth driver for iGaming brands in June
The key growth driver is the combination of product quality and marketing execution. Brands that genuinely improve their products and effectively communicate their value proposition to users will lead the market.

4.2 Why is performance marketing alone no longer sufficient for sustainable brand growth in summer 2026?
A pure performance approach no longer guarantees long-term growth. The market is shifting toward product quality, retention, and user experience.

4.3 Which marketing strategies will be most effective in the battle for audience attention?

“The most effective approach is focused full-funnel marketing tailored to specific audience segments. Mass communication is gradually giving way to personalised engagement scenarios,” says Stase Blitz, Chief Marketing Officer.

4.4 Which signals indicate that a marketing strategy is losing effectiveness?
The primary signal is deteriorating audience engagement quality despite stable traffic volumes. Additional indicators include declining retention metrics, fewer repeat deposits, and reduced communication efficiency in the lower stages of the funnel.

4.5 What distinguishes iGaming brands that continue to achieve sustainable growth?
Such brands typically maintain focus across several areas simultaneously: product development, account management, reputation management, and the quality of long-term user communication.

June clearly demonstrates that the iGaming market is becoming increasingly volatile: Facebook and PPC auctions are overheating due to football-related events, SEO is losing a portion of informational traffic because of AI Overviews, and successful approaches are being copied and saturated much faster.

Against this backdrop, the advantage belongs to teams that can test new GEOs faster, invest in localisation, build hybrid funnels, and prioritise product quality, retention, and long-term traffic value.

Work with N1 Partners and stay one step ahead of the iGaming market:

• 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;

Be number one with N1!

N1 Partners

How to choose a product for Tier-1 GEOs and work with these markets specifics? What really affects revenue and how to avoid mistakes and losses when launching a campaign at early stages? Which payment models actually work?

In the first N1 Product Voices article, you will be able to look at the product from the inside: Anastasiya Bakhantsova, N1 Chief Revenue Officer, answers these and other relevant questions in as much detail as possible. 

In this series of materials, product experts share their experience in the first person: N1 Partners raises important topics, while partners receive practical benefits and insights from the inside.

Role of the CRO as a product decision-maker

Products choice for Tier-1

In Tier-1, a good offer does not guarantee anything. The main question is whether the product is able to retain the player after the first deposit and scale without drawdown in the economy.

We look not only at the conversion rate but also at the user behaviour: their return, repeated deposits, and the cohorts’ stability. It is important to keep in mind the main risk — scaling fast cash flow that can lead to audience quality decrease.

Therefore, we evaluate not only the initial payback but also the player’s behaviour at a distance: retention, ARPU dynamics and LTV stability after 30/60/90 days. If a product has low trust, slow payments, or an inconvenient user path, marketing can’t hide it for a long time.

Product solutions with the highest revenue growth

The most noticeable growth usually comes from working on audience retention, not from changing the product.

In practice, the strongest growth is seen in brands where the product, analytics, and CRM are  connected with each other. When a user receives a clear path after registration, personalised offers, and a convenient experience, the result is more stable than simply relying on aggressive traffic acquisition.

The maximum effect is achieved when the product, CRM, and segmentation are synchronised.

Tier-1 markets specifics

Tier-1 audience behaviour

A Tier-1 user is used to a high level of digital services.

Here, speed, a clear interface, convenient payments, and a sense of reliability are extremely important.

Short list of important factors for Tier-1 users:

• speed and stability
• simple onboarding
• terms transparency
• payments reliability
• trust in the brand

Mistakes in Tier-1 GEO

From my experience, the main mistake is trying to “buy” Tier-1 users with bonuses.

Partners underestimate UX, the product itself, and retention, relying on aggressive bonus policies and short-term ROI. This leads to high traffic costs and weak user return rates.

Changes in Tier-1 economics

It is important to note that Tier-1 means more expensive traffic, longer payback periods, and higher LTV.

It is harder to see quick results here, which is why decisions cannot be made based only on the first week’s data. The quality of cohorts, retention stability, and long-term profitability are much more important.

Products choice

How to evaluate a product’s potential: CRO insights

I look at a product as a system, not just a set of metrics.

What matters is not only the amount of users that make the first deposit but also what happens next: how often the player returns, their activity changes over time, and the economic sustainability during scaling.

Products with the best ROI 

The most effective products are those that are convenient to use every day. First of all, these are mobile-first solutions, strong sportsbook products, and platforms with good CRM and personalization.

If the user experience remains convenient and clear over the long term, the product wins.

Signals to change the product

The main signal is when growth is sustained only by increasing traffic volumes or bonus expenses.

If there are no audience engagement mechanics and the economics worsen during scaling, the model reaches its ceiling. Sometimes changing the product earlier is far more profitable than continuing to scale a weak product.

Revenue losses

How to recognize revenue losses and where they start

The main losses usually occur during the first days after the deposit. This is exactly the moment when the product-using habit is formed.

If the user does not understand what to do next, does not receive clear communication, or encounters difficulties in the interface, the probability of churn increases sharply. Another alarming signal is when bonus expenses grow, but users do not become more valuable to the business.

This means that the product either retains the audience poorly or attracts the wrong traffic.

Mistakes that hurt the revenue most 

The most common mistake is investing only in acquiring new users while doing almost nothing with retention.

If the product does not build long-term interaction with the player, bonuses begin to work only for the first deposit. As a result, the company spends more and more money on acquisition, while profitability does not grow.

Monetization models: CPA / RevShare / Hybrid

Choosing a monetization model for a specific product and market

The choice of model always depends on traffic quality, product maturity, and how effectively the product is able to bring the player back over time.

• CPA works well where fast return on investment, clear unit economics, and aggressive scaling are important. But if the user remains active for a long time, a fixed payout begins to limit the partner’s earning potential.
• RevShare is more profitable in products with strong retention and high audience engagement. Yes, this model requires more time to pay off, but it allows partners to earn from the player’s entire lifecycle.
• Hybrid model is especially effective in Tier-1 markets, where traffic is expensive and ROI takes more time. The CPA component helps recover investments faster, while RevShare maintains stable long-term earnings.

As a result, the key question is always the same — if the product is able to engage the user and turn traffic into a stable income.

Work with N1 Partners — scale under top-tier conditions:

• 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!

N1 Partners

How to move from Tier-3 to Tier-1 with SEO traffic without losing volume and increase revenue x4? It sounds unrealistic, but affiliates at N1 Partners achieved exactly that within 12 months through the right strategy and scalable execution.

In a new series featuring affiliate success stories, N1 Partners team shares a real SEO traffic case study — discover how to grow from 60k to 180k monthly visits, achieve +170% FTD and +30% LTV, and maintain a stable ROI of up to 160%.

Find exact scaling strategy to reach the level of the N1 SEO Traffic Cups and transparent performance metrics inside this case study.

Goals and initial setup 

The key challenge for the SEO team at the beginning of their collaboration with N1 was strategic — they wanted to transition from Tier-3 markets to Tier-1 without losing ROI while scaling SEO to the level that would allow them to compete in N1 Traffic Cups.

• Main vertical: iGaming (100% focus)
• Traffic type: SEO (no paid channels)
• GEOs: Germany, Scandinavia, and other Tier-1 countries
• N1 Partners brands promoted: Slot Lounge, Slot Mafia, RollXO, N1 Bet

About the partner

The affiliate is an SEO team in the iGaming niche focused exclusively on organic traffic: content projects, casino reviews, top lists, game pages, and cross-page funnels.

They primarily operate in Tier-1 European markets, where competition is extremely high and traffic quality and product standards are significantly above the industry average.

• Affiliate experience: 3.5 years
• Dedicated teams: for review sites, top lists, game pages (slots/pages), cross-linking SEO networks
• Results over the past year:
  – expanded the number of SEO specialists
  – increased the active websites amount
  – expanded the semantic core

Main challenge at the launch stage

At the beginning, the main difficulty was to fully adapt all processes to an entirely new level of competition.

1. Transition from Tier-3 to Tier-1
Moving into Tier-1 turned out to be the biggest challenge. Competition increased dramatically: previously, the affiliate operated in markets with relatively low entry barriers, but now they had to compete against projects with DR 60–80+.

At the same time, costs rose sharply:

• content expenses increased by approximately 45%
• link-building costs increased by more than 60%
• requirements for page quality and overall website expertise became significantly higher

2. Scaling without losing efficiency
As the team nearly tripled in size, classic scaling issues started to emerge:

• decision-making became slower
• communication became more complex
• average content efficiency began to decline

At peak difficulty, traffic per page dropped by around 18%, making it clear that the old processes were no longer effective.

3. Stability amid external factors
Additional pressure came from external changes:

• search engine updates
• regulatory changes
• closure of certain GEOs

Before process optimisation:

• up to 30% of pages lost rankings after updates
• up to 20% of traffic depended on unstable GEOs

Growth strategy

After analyzing existing workflows, it became clear that further growth would only be possible through a systematic restructuring of the team and operational processes.

1. Process automation
Automation became one of the key factors that enabled scaling without a sharp increase in costs.

The team first implemented:

• automated semantic clustering
• templated page structures
• partial content generation (with editorial oversight)

As a result:

• new page launches became 2.5x faster
• cost per page decreased by approximately 35%

2. Team restructuring
The next important step was rebuilding the internal team structure. It became obvious that a universal approach no longer worked effectively at scale.

After several iterations, they arrived at the following model:

• teams were divided by direction (reviews / slots / GEOs)
• a strong layer of team leads was introduced

Results:

• output per employee increased by 40%
• project launch time decreased from 6-8 weeks to 3-4 weeks

3. Monetization strategy segmentation
This allowed the team to utilise different traffic and page types more effectively.

Eventually, they built several separate monetisation models:

• review sites → high LTV / RevShare
• top lists → hybrid models
• game pages → volume + CPA

This produced the following results:

• revenue per user increased by approximately 28%
• overall traffic profitability grew by 35% without traffic volume growth

4. Managing external risks
Special attention was paid to reducing dependency on unstable markets and external factors.

To achieve this, the team implemented several strategies:

• proactively accounted for regulatory risks
• diversified GEOs
• rapidly redistributed traffic between markets

Results:

• dependency on a single GEO decreased from 35% to 18%
• update-related traffic drops fell from -30% to -10–12%

5. Resilience to algorithm updates
For long-term growth, it was important not only to scale but also to maintain results after search engine updates.

The team:

• strengthened E-E-A-T signals
• implemented regular content updates (every 30-45 days)
• restructured website architecture

Result:

• up to 70% of pages retain or improve rankings after updates

Case results

Over 12 months, the team achieved not only significant growth in core metrics, but also made that growth stable and manageable.

Key results:

• revenue growth: x3–x4 (+300–400%)
• SEO traffic: from ~60k to 180k+ visits per month (+200%)
• FTD growth: +170%
• average LTV: +30%
• ROI consistently maintained at 130–160% despite rising costs

The main achievement was not just growth itself, but building a scalable and sustainable system without sacrificing efficiency.

Case study conclusion

The key factor behind this case was not only the scaling strategy but also a strong partnership built on trust, flexibility, and fast communication.

According to the partner, among several affiliate programs, it was specifically with N1 Partners that they managed to build the most stable and predictable growth model. High brand conversion rates, stable LTV, flexible terms, and fast communication were especially important for the team — and the collaboration with N1 fully met those expectations.

As a result, they managed to create a rare combination: high profitability, comfortable day-to-day operations, and a flexible partnership where both sides are genuinely focused on shared results and long-term growth.

Grow your SEO traffic revenue together 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 affiliates

Be number one with N1!