The Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association (RGAA) announced recently that it will be launching a new membership initiative at SBC Summit North America. With the help of the program, RGAA wants to keep fostering a stronger community of affiliate companies while at the same time prioritizing consumer protection.

RGAA Expands Membership to Strengthen Integrity and Consumer Protection Efforts

Max Bichsel, Chair of RGAA, emphasized the importance of the fresh program, stating: “The launch of our membership program is a pivotal moment for the RGAA as we strive to promote responsible gambling practices and advocate for equitable regulation in the industry. With each new affiliate that joins our ranks, we fortify our efforts to ensure that integrity and consumer protection remain at the forefront of our sector.”

RGAA was founded in 2023 by a consortium of industry giants including Better Collective, Catena Media, FairPlay Sports Media, Gambling.com, Spotlight Sports Group, and XLMedia and since then it has upheld a commitment to promote integrity and responsible marketing practices. 

With this new expansion of its membership rooster, RGAA wants to enhance its influence and build upon the foundation of the goals set by its initial members. New affiliates can reap the benefits of united representation in the gaming industry and will be able to access a wide range of resources such as regulation updates, educational materials, and tools designed to empower their businesses.

Better Collective CEO Highlights Industry Dedication to Player Welfare

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC Gaming, also expressed enthusiasm regarding the collaboration, stating: “Last year’s Summit was a huge success and brought together industry leaders throughout North America eager to exchange ideas, collaborate and make lasting change. I am confident that this year will be no different and our collaboration with the RGAA will further elevate the conversation surrounding responsible gambling practices and player protection.”

Members are obliged to make a commitment to upholding responsible gambling standards. This also includes a yearly compliance audit. The membership also means that all participants receive the esteemed RGAA Standards of Excellence certification, which shows the member’s dedication to championing responsible gambling marketing and advertising practices, and safeguarding consumer interests.

Marc Pedersen, CEO of North America for Better Collective and RGAA board member, underlined the collective dedication to player protection the RGAA propagates and underscored that Better Collective as a founding member has over 20 years of experience in the industry. He further mentioned that he expects many new members to join the RGAA as the organization continues its work to ensure the improvement of safer gambling practices and the protection of players.

The post Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association Unveils New Membership Program appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Leading iGaming tech company Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) has announced the completion of its acquisition of KaFe Rocks, a major online casino affiliate. The announcement was first announced in November and saw the tech giant acquire the affiliate in a EUR 35 million deal.

According to GiG, the new acquisition will position its proprietary media division, GiG Media, as the leading iGaming affiliation brand. The move will also cement GiG’s position in the key North American market, the company added.

As previously announced GiG will pay a total of EUR 35 million (roughly $38.5 million current rates) for the acquisition. This includes an upfront cash payment of EUR 15 million (16.5 million), followed by semi-annual payments totaling EUR 20 million ($22 million). GiG may also issue EUR 2.5 million ($2.75 million) in own shares to the sellers in Q1 2024.

KaFe Rocks’ assets are consolidated as of December 21, 2023.

The Deal Is in Line with the Company’s Overall Strategy

The acquisition of Kafe Rocks follows GiG’s takeover of AskGamblers, previously owned by Catena Media.

The growing affiliate strength of GiG Media positions it to drive KaFe Rocks’ growth, allowing it to expand substantially. GiG also believes that the natural synergies with KaFe Rocks will allow the latter brand to secure revenue of $25 million, as well as an EBITDA margin of over 45%.

The acquisition of KaFe Rocks is also in line with GiG Media’s business diversification efforts. Diversification remains an important strategic goal for the company, which seeks to solidify its business by having a wide customer base, multiple websites and businesses in many key jurisdictions.

Jonas Warner, Gaming Innovation Group’s group chief executive officer, commented on the completed deal, expressing his satisfaction with the new acquisition. He said that the transaction is in line with the company’s goal to maintain its leadership position in the world of casino affiliation and expand GiG’s presence across the lucrative North American market.

The inclusion of KaFe Rocks aligns perfectly with these objectives. We’ve identified a thriving business led by an exceptionally skilled team. We eagerly anticipate integrating KaFe Rocks into the GiG family, unlocking additional business value to benefit our partners and investors.

Jonas Warner, group CEO, GiG

In other news, GiG just completed the issuing of an $81 million senior secured bond issue. Shortly after, the company announced the appointment of Matthew Saxon as its new chief technology officer.

The post GiG Completes KaFe Rocks Deal, Sets Out to Conquer the Casino Affiliate Sector appeared first on Keno Wizard.

In a move that adds intrigue to the recent acquisition of a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks by Las Vegas Sands Corp. matriarch, Miriam Adelson, it has come to light that an entity linked to the gaming giant purchased a significant parcel of land in Irving, Texas, just months prior to the high-profile sports deal.

Village Walk RE 2 LLC’s Acquisition Signals Sands’ Strategic Move Near Former Texas Stadium Site

The 108-acre property, located across from the former Texas Stadium site, was procured by a limited liability corporation named Village Walk RE 2 LLC in July, according to state records. The LLC’s address, 5420 S. Durango Dr. in Las Vegas, coincides with the business address of Sands, indicating a clear association between the two entities as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

While the intended use of the acquired land remains undisclosed, city officials in Irving have long sought a standout project for the area, envisioning a transformational development. The former Texas Stadium site, which was demolished in 2010, has been in use as a highway construction staging area.

Ron Reese, a spokesperson for Sands, affirmed the purchase, emphasizing the company’s enduring interest in the Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth region. Reese clarified that the acquisition was independent of the Adelson family’s Mavericks deal and was made with the anticipation of realizing Sands’ long-standing goal of constructing an integrated resort property in the D-FW area.

Efforts to expand gambling, including Sands’ envisioned resorts, have faced obstacles in the state legislature for years, but recent progress during the legislative session signals a potential shift. Sands remains committed to its vision of an integrated resort in the area and hints at future acquisitions in the region.

Irving Wants to Transform 108-Acre Property from Trucking Terminal to Urban Oasis

Irving’s economic development director, Beth Bowman, refrained from divulging details about the buyer back in July, but now acknowledges the transaction. She emphasized the city’s enthusiasm for developing the former stadium site into a mixed-use space, encompassing housing, retail, and entertainment.

The 108-acre property, previously a North Texas trucking terminal, is connected to the old Texas Stadium site by a new $45 million bridge. The city plans to develop over 400 acres, including the former stadium site, into a vibrant urban environment.

Mark Cuban, the current owner of the Dallas Mavericks, expressed interest in collaborating with Sands to build a new arena in Dallas, potentially integrated with a casino resort. However, legislative approval for gambling in Texas remains a prerequisite for realizing this ambitious vision.

As Sands continues to shape its footprint in the region, the recent land acquisition and the Mavericks deal have ignited speculation about the future of legalized gambling and sports betting in Texas. 

Analysts suggest that Texas, a substantial untapped market, could benefit from gambling tourism, with the Adelson family’s political and financial clout potentially playing a pivotal role in pushing for legislative changes.

The post Las Vegas Sands Affiliate Acquires Land in Irving Ahead of Mavericks Deal appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The anticipation for the iGB Affiliate 2024 Awards is reaching its peak as the shortlist of contenders is revealed. This prestigious event, hosted by Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director for iGB Affiliate, promises an evening of recognition for outstanding talent in the industry.

Set against the backdrop of the Grade II-listed Art Deco Troxy music venue in East London, this black-tie affair will not only feature a three-course sit-down dinner but also a night filled with joy.

A Star-Studded Shortlist

The shortlisted entries represent a roll call of exceptional individuals and companies in the iGaming affiliate space. The selection process was meticulous, ensuring that only the most deserving nominees made it to the final list. The diverse categories span various aspects of the industry, recognizing achievements across affiliate marketing, innovation, and customer experience.

As iGB Affiliate prepares to bid farewell to London and move its operations to Barcelona, the 2024 Awards mark a poignant moment in the organization’s history. The relocation adds an extra layer of significance to the event, making it a must-attend for those wanting to celebrate the achievements of the international iGaming affiliate community.

The response to the upcoming ceremony has been overwhelming, with a surge in early demand for table bookings. Industry leaders, affiliates, and enthusiasts are eager to be part of this grand finale in London, making it clear that this event will be a memorable farewell to the city.

Save the Date: 8 February 2024

Mark your calendars for the 8th of February 2024, as the iGB Affiliate 2024 Awards promise an unforgettable evening filled with glamour, recognition, and celebration. It’s not just an awards night; it’s a grand send-off to London and a warm welcome to the vibrant city of Barcelona, where iGB Affiliate’s journey continues!

Looking ahead to the prestigious evening Naomi Barton said: “It’s totally fitting that the last iGB Affiliate Awards to be held in London has attracted a record 338 submissions from across the international community. The Awards are an integral part of the iGB Affiliate experience and celebrate everything that’s so unique and compelling about the igaming affiliate sector, recognizing the industry’s outstanding individuals, brands, games, networks, tech vendors and marketing campaigns. It promises to be another inspirational Awards evening and a perfect way to complement the exhibition which will feature approximately 155 exhibitors occupying 11,757 square meters of space and a raft of show initiatives created to highlight new strategies, new partnerships, new sectors and new jurisdictions all culminating in the delivery of new business opportunities for the thousands of customers who will be part of what will be an historic edition of iGB Affiliate.”

Source: ”Outstanding talent’ underpins iGB Affiliate Award shortlist”. European Gaming. December 1, 2023.

The post iGB Affiliate 2024 Awards Shortlist Just Released! appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Sports betting operator Novig has formed a new partnership with Intelitics. Under the deal, the performance specialist will power Novig’s affiliate programs and paid channels. The operator will also secure access to the provider’s award-winning platform and product and feature suite.

The agreement comes ahead of Novig’s launch in Colorado and will help it manage all affiliate and paid media activity. Thanks to this, the operator will be able to channel more players toward its platform and reinforce its acquisition and retention rates.

Intelitics’ platform offers state-of-the-art real-time campaign monitoring and player tracking in addition to automated reporting and personalized dashboards. All data is delivered in real-time through a single platform, providing its clients with unparalleled convenience.

Novig will hit the Colorado market as an online sportsbook, as agreed with the Colorado Division of Gaming. However, the operator’s true ambition is to launch a high-frequency betting exchange in the future, allowing players to set their own odds.

Novig Is a Tech Company at Heart

Intelitics’ chief executive officer, Allan Stone, commented on the agreement, saying that Novig is about to disrupt the Colorado online sports betting market with best-in-class markets and products. Stone added that his team is thrilled to be supporting the operator’s customer acquisition efforts through affiliates and paid media.

Our platform and suite of tools have been designed to allow operators such as Novig to maximize the potential of affiliates and paid media through real-time data that provides the insights needed to dial up successful campaigns and dial down those that are not working.

Allan Stone, CEO, Intelitics

Stone concluded that this is “another great partnership” for his team and one that will prove Novig’s potential and ambitions.

Meanwhile, Catherine Dougherty, Novig’s head of growth marketing, said that Novig and Intelitics are a perfect match.

We are a technology company at heart and in Intelitics we have a partner that understands the power of technology and data when it comes to effective affiliate marketing and paid media.

Catherine Dougherty, head of growth marketing, Novig

Dougherty praised Intelitics’ highly capable platform and toolset and said that they will be integral to driving new customer acquisition at scale and for a fraction of the cost of other marketing channels. Dougherty concluded that this would provide Novig with a huge boost in Colorado.

The post Intelitics to Power Novig’s Affiliate Programs in Colorado appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Six like-minded US affiliates have joined forces to form the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association (RGAA). The newly created body’s job will seek to help affiliate companies serve the online gambling market in a responsible way.

The RGAA is comprised of six major affiliates, including Better Collective, Catena Media, Gambling.com, Oddschecker Global Media, Spotlight Sports Group and XLMedia. The six companies believe that affiliates have a responsibility to promote safer gambling and balance between effective marketing and customer protection.

The RGAA acknowledges the current regulations but believes that improvements can be made. It has organized its goals into five strategic pillars, including the promotion of competitive gambling markets, industry education, consumer protection, advertising codes of conduct and responsible business practices.

The RGAA is currently searching for a permanent president who will represent the organization as it seeks to shape the future of affiliate marketing. The organization promised to release a notification as soon as it makes an appointment.

Executives Are Excited about the RGAA

Representatives of the six affiliate companies comprising the RGAA released statements on the matter.

Mark Frank Pedersen, Better Collective’s chief executive officer of NA said that his team is doing everything possible to empower the industry and promote gambling as entertainment. He praised the opportunity to join forces with other affiliates and promote better standards and guidelines.

Not only is this the right thing to do for our customers, it’s the best thing to ensure the success and longevity of the industry and our businesses.

Mark Frank Pedersen, CEO, Better Collective

Michael Daly, Catena Media’s chief executive officer, also commented on the matter, highlighting the ever-changing nature of the US market. He said that Catena Media is proud to be one of RGAA’s founding members and promote responsible and positive wagering experiences alongside other affiliates that share the same values.

Charles Gillespie, Gambling.com’s CEO, on the other hand, noted that all shareholders in the US iGaming market must understand the critical role of affiliates in helping operators grow. He added that his team is proud to be part of the RGAA and set higher standards.

Meanwhile, Oddschecker’s CEO, Stuart Simms, said that consumers are at the heart of everything his team does. Because of that, he is glad to join forces with the other founding members of the RGAA and promote social responsibility. He said that his ambition is that the RGAA will “support fair play for all.”

Mark Renshaw, Spotlight Sports Group’s CEO, also expressed his thoughts, noting that his team has always been at the forefront of responsible gambling.

We are extremely proud to be a founding member of the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association, which I believe will play a key role in ensuring the highest standards are set among the affiliate industry.

Mark Renshaw, CEO, Spotlight Sports Group

Last but not least, David King, XLMedia’s CEO, commented on the matter. He noted that affiliates play a critical role in providing consumers with choice while supporting regulated operators.

The post Six US Affiliates Join Forces to Form the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association appeared first on Keno Wizard.

After six months of bidding, the process of choosing the host city for Clarion Gaming’s ICE and iGB Affiliate conferences is finally over. From 2023, Barcelona will take over the role of the host, and at the same time, iGB L!VE will be held in London.

A tough choice

The shortlist of candidates contained four cities: London, Madrid, Paris, and Barcelona, and it wasn’t easy to agree upon the final decision, and there were more than 30 factors to consider.

The relocation process of the ICE was conducted along with Equimore, a famous event strategy, and location specialist, and the decision was made by the ICE advisory board. By 2025, the 12-year tenure in London will expire, so it’s the right time to relocate. After ExCeL in London, the event will take place at Fira de Barcelona, a space that is placed across 240,000 square meters. A five-year contract is signed with the property, with the start date set for January 20 and January 22.

Clarion Gamin didn’t want to take any chances, so the company already booked 40,000 hotel rooms for the event, and they will inform stakeholders beginning in September.

And why was Barcelona chosen? According to the source, Alex Pratt, the Managing Director at Clarion Gaming, highlighted the city’s magnificent facilities, as well as great infrastructure and logistics. One of the main reasons was ROI for customers and the ability to scale. He stated he was grateful for the efforts the stakeholders made to make the process smooth and come to the right decision. All of the shortlisted cities’ applications were professional and overall good.

Pratt commented: “This was a complex, customer-led undertaking. The process enabled us to identify the city that our customers believe is best equipped to be our strategic partner for the future and is able to host two world-class events which meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and locations across every part of the gaming and ICE community.”

Grateful to ExCeL

Barcelona isn’t the only city that gets a new event. The famous iGB L!VE is moving to London in 2025 after taking place in Amsterdam.

Prat thanked ExCeL London, highlighting all of its help during the last 12 years, saying: “We remain committed to ExCeL London as a great destination and are looking forward to bringing iGB L!VE to London in July 2025 to continue this legacy and provide the perfect backdrop for this fast-growing event’s future in key gaming territory. Now this process is complete, our exclusive focus is on continuing the ICE and iGB Affiliate success stories in partnership with our international stakeholders and delivering an amazing experience in London in 2024.”

The following ICE will be held in London from 6 to 8 February, while the iGB event will take place on 7 and 8 February.

Source: Harrison, Robin. “ICE and iGB Affiliate moving to Barcelona from 2025”. iGaming Business. August 1, 2023.

The post ICE and iGB Affiliate Conferences in New Cities from 2025 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

ICE, Clarion Gaming’s famous B2B industry show, will no longer take place in London. After careful consideration, the company decided to relocate the event to Barcelona starting in 2025. Clarion Gaming noted that it also considered either moving the event to Madrid or Paris, or keeping it in London.

The company noted that its iGB Affiliate conference will also move to the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. The events will be hosted there for five years, in accordance with the agreement with Fira de Barcelona, the city’s trade fair institution.

Equimore, a proven event specialist, will assist Clarion with its relocation project. The move was greenlit by ICE’s advisory board.

Meanwhile, iGB L!VE will instead relocate to London in 2025.

The Relocation Will Create New Opportunities for the Industry

Addressing the elephant in the room, Alex Pratt, Clarion Gaming’s managing director, said that the event will relocate to Barcelona because of the city’s “world-class facilities, outstanding hospitality infrastructure, logistics, ROI for customers and ability to scale.”

The move will effectively conclude a 12-year tenure at ExCeL London. Instead, the event will now be hosted at the 240,000-square-meter Fira de Barcelona property. The 2025 edition of ICE is planned to run for three days between January 20 and 22.

In addition, the move will form an alliance between the international gaming industry, Fira de Barcelona and stakeholders across Spain. Finally, Clarion Gaming noted that ICE and iGB Affiliate will be the only major events in Barcelona at the time, providing the industry with additional exposure.

Barcelona Was the Best-Equipped to Accommodate ICE

Pratt added that all four cities on Clarion’s shortlist had submitted “highly professional and impressive bids.” As a result, the decision to move the event to Barcelona didn’t come easily.

In the end, Clarion decided that Barcelona was “the best equipped” to be ICE’s strategic partner for the future. Pratt thanked ICE’s stakeholders for helping Clarion reach a decision and Equimore for its assistance.

The process [of selecting a location] enabled us to identify the city that our customers believe is best equipped to be our strategic partner for the future and is able to host two world-class events which meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and locations across every part of the gaming and ICE community.

Alex Pratt, MD, Clarion Gaming

In the meantime, iGB L!VE will move to London in 2025. Previously hosted in Amsterdam, the event will now be hosted at ExCeL London. Pratt noted that his team believes ExCeL London to be a “great destination” and believes that it will provide an amazing backdrop for the event.

Now that Clarion Gaming has reached a decision, it will focus on organizing next year’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate. For reference, the first event will run from February 6 to 8, 2024, while the latter will follow on February 7-8.

In other news, Clarion Gaming recently extended its ICE agreement with the European Casino Association.

The post ICE, iGB Affiliate Move to Barcelona, iGB L!VE Relocates to London appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Gambling and betting giant bet365 has penned a partnership extension with Rightlander, a leading provider of innovative affiliate compliance solutions. The deal highlights the operator’s desire to promote safer gambling, as well as its commitment to high compliance standards.

Rightlander and be365 have worked together for some time with the former company providing its comprehensive cutting-edge compliance tools to the operator. The partnership has since become an important part of bet365’s affiliate program.

As agreed, Rightlander will continue to leverage its solutions to help bet365 maintain ethical advertising standards and navigate the complex regulatory landscape. Rightlander offers many advanced features and tech solutions that are designed to help bet365 and other partners remain compliant and stay in touch with regulatory changes.

In addition, the extended contract is expected to provide a boost to bet365’s compliance infrastructure while driving innovation in affiliate compliance within the iGaming sector. According to the official announcement, the partnership between the two parties will continue to be exemplary for industry standards of affiliate compliance.

The extended agreement highlights the two companies’ desire to promote safer gambling.

Last year, Rightlander announced a new partnership with the international affiliate marketing network Tradedoubler, expanding its global reach. In October 2022, the company updated its library of solutions with a new marketing compliance tool.

The Companies Are Happy to Deepen Their Ties

Nicole Mitton, Rightlander’s head of customer success, commented on the partnership extension. She said that she is thrilled by the opportunity to continue working with the operator and deepen its relationship with her company.

According to Mitton, the new agreement underscores the effectiveness of Rightlander’s tools.

This renewed agreement is a testament to the effectiveness of our compliance solutions, and we look forward to continuing to help bet365 promote responsible gambling and adhere to regulatory requirements.

Nicole Mitton, head of customer success, Rightlander

A spokesperson from bet365 also commented on the matter, saying that they are very excited to renew the operator’s contract with Rightlander. The representative applauded the solutions provider’s comprehensive compliance solution, which has become “an integral part” of bet365’s affiliate program.

The extended partnership reinforces our commitment to responsible gambling and our dedication to providing a secure and fair environment for all our customers.

Bet365 spokesperson

In other news, bet365 just launched a new fantasy game together with Scout Gaming. A few days earlier, the company unleashed “Unleash the Mercenary,” a brand new casino title developed in partnership with Incentive Games. 

The post Rightlander, bet365 Extend Affiliate Compliance Deal appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Online casino operator and games developer, Spiffbet AB, announced it has signed an agreement with the affiliate marketing agency, TAG Media, hiring the agency to provide affiliate management services for the group’s Supernopea, Metal Casino and TurboVegas gaming brands.

Elevate Presence, Attract New Players

Spiffbet hired TAG Media to provide affiliate marketing services and help the group elevate the presence of its three brands, as well as ensure new user acquisition across markets in Finland, Sweden, the UK and Spain.

“We’re excited about bringing these unique brands to our affiliate partners,” commented TAG Media’s managing director, Client Services, Elaine Gardiner-Ruddock, adamant that the brands “are ideal fit in the markets they target, combining [an] exceptional, innovative localized product with brand positioning that really stands out.”

Convinced that TAG Media, in collaboration with the Spiffbet team, will be able “to build substantial performance growth across the respective affiliate programs,” Gardiner-Ruddock was looking forward to commencing work with its new partner.

Renowned for its distinct heavy metal branding, Metal Casino recently teamed up with the representatives of iconic rock bands Kiss, Dio, Mötley Crüe and Sabaton, Metal Department, for a marketing campaign, advertising and special band theme content.

Spiffbet’s other brand, Supernopea, offers sports betting and online casino gaming and is known as the fastest online casino in Finland. TurboVegas also emphasizes its super-fast speed of gaming while prioritizing the speed of payments as its major attractor for players.

Good Fit for the Business

On behalf of Spiffbet, the group’s chief executive officer, Henrik Svensson, was equally “excited to kick off” the partnership with TAG Media, explaining that the services the affiliate firm provides would make for a good fit for the business.

“We instantly felt that we could see a very good fit between our brands and the affiliate marketing services provided by TAG Media,” Svensson said, highlighting the partnership as “a vital step” in the company’s “forward-leaning approach to growth” in its core markets, as well as TAG Media’s “capability to open up new markets” due to the firm’s “strong international reach.”

The collaboration with TAG Media makes Spiffbet the sixth fully managed client of the affiliate firm. The agency also provides affiliate business development services to 12 other operators.

Earlier in the month, Spiffbet held its annual general meeting (AGM) where some important decisions about the business were made, including the re-election of board members and auditor and their remuneration packages.

Spiffbet shareholders also issued an authorization for the board to decide on the issue of new shares, warrants and/or convertibles, on one or more occasions before the next AGM.

The post Spiffbet Hires Affiliate Marketing Services from TAG Media appeared first on Keno Wizard.