Affiliate marketing performs well for a lot of verticals, but online gambling seems to be on the rise these days. The vertical is taking over, with the market revenue projected to reach $107.70 billion in 2025, according to reports by Statista. There's plenty of scope for new users to join and existing ones to expand their horizons.
Moreover, gambling businesses are favoring online gambling affiliate marketing over other forms of promotions as they want to make the most of their budget. So to speak, this is the best time for you to start affiliate marketing. The plus point is that you don't actually have to play the games to be a gambling affiliate; many programs out there are free to enter and promote.
So, if you're a beginner to online gambling affiliate marketing, read on to find out how you can get started.
The Basics of Online Gambling Affiliate Marketing
Online gambling affiliate marketing is all about promoting gambling platforms and games for commission. As an affiliate, you sign up for affiliate programs, promote them, get the gambling business new players, and earn a commission in return for it. These promotions are usually carried within the affiliate's networks.
It's a win-win deal for both gambling businesses and affiliates. Businesses get extra exposure and an increase in the number of players, and affiliates earn an extra stream of revenue for themselves.
Finding Gambling Affiliate Marketing Programs
Gambling is a broad vertical, with a variety of new games being added to it every day. This makes things a bit confusing when it comes to finding the right affiliate programs. But on the brighter side, there's a higher chance of you bagging a high-paying online gambling affiliate marketing program. You can easily find the best ones on a gambling affiliate network.
Let's discuss a few factors based on which you can make your choice.
Subcategories
Subcategories help you differentiate between the various forms of gambling businesses. Knowing them can help you identify which ones will be easier for you to promote. Broadly, we can divide them into: casino games, sports betting, poker and card games, bingo, and lotteries. While there's some overlapping in the audience for each, there still are some major differences. For instance, sports betting is usually something that interests sports fans more.
Most affiliate marketers like to choose ones they themselves have knowledge and preference for, as they already have a community to promote within.
Payout Conditions
When it comes to payouts, gambling affiliate programs are a bit interesting. You get paid commissions:
on the basis of losses: when the player you referred to loses the game
on the basis of activity: when the player makes a first-time deposit or wins the game
You will find most gambling businesses are using either of these or a mix of both. Choose one that feels the most fair to you.
Cookie Lifespan
Cookies represent the length of time for which a user's information is present after they click on an affiliate link. It tracks how much time a customer takes from clicking on the link to becoming a registered user, making it easier for affiliates to get credited for that.
Ideally, it's best to opt for affiliate programs that offer a minimum of 15 days lifespan. Even better if it goes further up to 30, 40, and 60 days. The best ones would offer no time limits when it comes to cookies.
Commission Rates
Commission rates vary depending on the size and nature of the gambling business. Many will offer you commission rates ranging between 10% to 35%, which can even go up to 55% with some of them. Although affiliates find it best to choose a high-commission affiliate program, we would recommend you to look out for other criteria like payout and withdrawal conditions as well to ensure a stable income.
Withdrawal Amount
Sometimes, the withdrawal amount becomes the dealbreaker. Many affiliate programs have a minimum withdrawal limit of $500. But thankfully, that isn't the case when it comes to online gambling affiliate marketing programs. You can start as low as $30 to $50 and avoid wasting your hard-earned money.
Finding the Right Audience for Programs
Now that you have selected the program, you probably have a rough idea of who the target audience will be. A one-size-fits-all approach will get you nowhere, so it's better to focus only on a very specific, interested audience. We have segmented the audience into various groups to give you some more clarity.
Based on Experience
On the basis of experience, gambling audiences can be divided into novice and experienced players. Novice players are ones who are just starting out and aren't familiar with the rules yet. They're a bit more cautious, but if you play the cards right, you can get them as a referral. Experienced players, on the other hand, know how things work and won't fall for silly promotions.
Based on the Frequency of Play
Gambling players can also be classified based on how much they play.
Casual players gamble occasionally and play only a few bets for leisure without taking many risks.
Regular players gamble from time to time in hopes of earning profits.
Professional players who have a habit of gambling and earn their living off of it.
If you refer a player who plays a lot, you have a higher chance of earning better affiliate income.
Based on Risk Tolerance
Based on the risks players users are willing to take, they can be divided into-
Risk seekers who play aggressively and are equally likely to lose and win. Recurring payouts and loss-based affiliate programs are best suited for them.
Risk-averse players who like to keep it safe would work better with activity-based affiliate programs.
Based on GEOs
GEOs not only define the audience but also the legality of gambling. Many countries and states have banned it, and others frown upon it. It's best not to promote in GEOs where gambling is heavily restricted and instead switch to ones where it's legal.
Promotional Techniques to Opt For
There are multiple techniques and platforms you can use to promote affiliate gambling. Opt for one that matches your audience base and where you see yourself building your authority.
Social Networking
Social media platforms can be the best place to start. You can post about it, explaining all the features and benefits, if you have a decent number of followers. Otherwise, you can also go on other relevant posts about gambling games and paste your affiliate link or code there. If you want, you can also directly connect and talk to gambling enthusiasts.
Blogging
If you have a way with words and sufficient knowledge about gambling, then starting a blog can be your best bet. You can first build your search engine presence by posting informative blogs and generating traffic to your website. Once you start affiliate promotions, you can place links within your content, write promotion blog posts and case studies, or place banners on your blog website.
Advertising
Advertising is another effective promotion technique used by most affiliate marketers. They invest in running ads so that they may reach a very specific audience, get a better quantity of referrals, and ultimately improve their earnings. Most marketers use display advertising for this and place their ads on similar niche websites.
But remember that advertising gambling is a risky venture, and you need to pay attention to all the guidelines to avoid getting restricted. Ad networks like 7Search PPC work best for this vertical.
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Word to Word
If you already know a few people who gamble or are part of an active gambling community, then spreading the word about it personally would be much better. You can explain the gambling game in depth and convince people to become players, too. This not only serves as a better level of trust but also increases your chances of earning commissions.
Conclusion
Online gambling affiliate marketing is a great source of income for those who do it right. This includes finding high-paying affiliate gambling programs, knowing who to promote to, and using effective promotional techniques that reach the right audience and make you seem like a trustworthy person to listen to.
As we see a fresh wave of gamblers starting to arise, this could be your time to shine and introduce them to new gambling games. Similar to gambling, all you need is a bit of luck and lots of strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is online gambling affiliate marketing?
Ans: Online gambling affiliate marketing involves promoting gambling businesses like casinos, lotteries, sports betting, bingo, and poker games in return for a commission. You earn each time you bring in a new player, and they transact.
How do I find the best gambling affiliate programs?
Ans: To find the best gambling affiliate programs, look out for high commission rates, longer cookie lifespan, payout conditions, minimum withdrawal amount, and subcategories that are easy to promote.
What promotional techniques can I use for online gambling affiliate marketing?
Ans: You can use social media networks, blogs, and ads to promote gambling businesses.
Is gambling affiliate marketing legal?
Ans: The legality of gambling affiliate marketing varies from one GEO to another. In places where gambling is illegal, advertising for it automatically becomes illegal. Others provide certain restrictions on how to promote, so keep that in mind.
How much do gambling affiliates earn?
Ans: The earnings of gambling affiliates depend upon the programs they are a part of, their skills in convincing people, and the kind of referrals they bring in. On average, it can be anything between $50 and $400 for every referral.
