Gambling is a vertical that entices everyone. Whether you're new to the industry or an experienced affiliate marketer in other fields, everyone is drawn to gambling. It's often linked to a glamorous lifestyle, the potential for substantial profits, and the allure of making money effortlessly.
Is that really the case? How do you start gambling, and is it worth it to start as a solo affiliate? How much money do you need? Where should you turn to when starting out? Whom should you target? Where should you direct your traffic? Which source should you choose?
There are many questions, but not many specific answers. That's why we spoke to Kostya, an affiliate marketer and owner of the "netraff" channel. We asked him the questions that concern many newbies, and he provided detailed and honest answers. To find more answers to your questions you can also visit our Telegram channel.
If you're wondering where to begin, we recommend reading this article.
"I know guys who have been running one offer and one geo for 9 months, just changing their approaches," — Kostya, affiliate marketer, and author of the "netraff" channel.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you, what do you do, what do you promote, and what are your skills?
My name is Kostya, I'm 21 years old. I've been in affiliate marketing for over 2.5 years, especially when it comes to budget campaigns. I primarily run gambling campaigns on Facebook and manage my channel, "netraff".
Do you work solo or as part of a team?
I work as a media buyer within a team.
What traffic source do you use?
Currently, I'm using Facebook. In the beginning, I split-tested TikTok and Facebook, and it was going well. However, TikTok started to decline, agency accounts disappeared, and we had to run on self-registrations and auto-registrations. Plus, the ban rate increased.
Surprisingly, Facebook turned out to be more stable. There are storms, but solutions are found very quickly. The Facebook audience is broader, with many chat groups, websites, and channels. People share information, and problem-solving is easier.
TikTok had very few channels, and solutions in public forums took a long time to arrive. Often, you had to figure out how to solve your problems on your own. With Facebook, it's straightforward: someone finds a solution, writes a post, and it spreads through the groups. You try it, and it works.
Also, there's more expertise available for Facebook. You can quickly find out how to work with accounts and minimize bans, among other valuable information.
How much can you earn in a month?
I used to publish statistics from my campaigns on my channel, so you can search for screenshots and estimate my earnings. I can say that it's more than $1000 per day.
How long have you been in gambling, and why did you choose this vertical?
I've been in paid traffic for about two years, and it's always been in the gambling vertical. It all started when TikTok was a trending source for gambling. The conversions were great, there were agency accounts, and you could earn well. Those who were in the field at that time know what I'm talking about. If the ROI on nutra reached 300%, it was even higher in gambling. I began split-testing TikTok and Facebook, and it worked out really well. That's why I left nutra and switched completely to gambling.
Some may be disappointed that I don't have a rags-to-riches story, like taking a loan, running the first ad, and achieving a 500% ROI. I just saw an opportunity, tried it, and it worked out. I stuck with it because I enjoyed it. I also love watching gambling streams. I played at a casino once when I was little. My parents had a friend who owned a café with slot machines. When we visited, the man was losing a lot of money on those slots. They offered me a chance to try, and I agreed. I pressed the first button, the second button, the third button — and I heard coins dropping.
I didn't understand at first, but then I heard the sound of coins falling. It turned out I hit the jackpot.
I think I used up all my luck on that game; I've never been that lucky again. Now, I've been watching streams for about four years. I love the emotions people get. My dream is to switch completely to revshare.
Some believe that many choose Facebook as a traffic source simply because there's a wealth of manuals and guides available. Is that true?
To be honest, I agree with that. Because I'm that person who switched to Facebook because there's more content about it.
And consequently, it's easier to get started, even if you're completely new. You can comfortably sit in chat groups, read channels, and more or less understand where, what, and how to click.
When I joined Facebook, I read a lot of chat groups and channels. I didn't encounter any issues, for example, when it came to setting up the app. Launching it took a maximum of 10 minutes.
What about the opinion that Facebook traffic is very mediocre in quality?
As for the argument that the quality of Facebook traffic is mediocre, I disagree. Facebook traffic is better than UAC. I have acquaintances with both UAC and Facebook departments, so I know what I'm talking about.
It also depends on how fresh the geo is. Take Brazil, for example. A year ago, advertisers were buying vast amounts of traffic, giving out caps with their eyes closed. But when they realized it wasn't paying off, they imposed massive KPIs.
Can you name the top three traffic sources that one can tap into with minimal expenses?
Certainly, Facebook and ASO are definitely trending now, and I can also recommend UAC.
ASO involves minimal expenses. I know people who had a finance app. Development and getting it to the top cost them $1500. Unfortunately, the app got banned after 3 months due to their mistake. However, the app could have lived on for a long time and generated traffic. This is just one of many examples where ASO costs very little.
The development of an Android app specifically for ASO costs $500-1000. Promotion can cost $1000-2000, depending on the keywords you're targeting and the competition.
iOS apps are naturally more expensive. Development there costs $3500, and you'll also need to spend on promotion. That's why, I believe, the key sources are ASO, followed by Facebook, and then UAC.
Some ad networks publish case studies on running gambling offers with push traffic. What do you think about this traffic source?
I know that push traffic is working now, but I've never been interested in this source in my life. So, I don't know how profitable it is to work with it.
But affiliate marketers are running campaigns and making money there. So, the source definitely works. It's all about the approach.
What difficulties can a newcomer expect to encounter?
The main difficulty is working with accounts. Newcomers often don't understand which strategy to choose. They may mishandle link building and, in turn, kill trust accounts with auto-regs.
The second problem is the slow optimization process. Everyone is used to getting everything instantly. Newcomers come into the field thinking they'll start running campaigns, and everything will work out, and money will flow like a river. But things work differently.
For example, with TikTok, you can see results within 30 minutes. With Facebook, you need to optimize, and it takes 2-3 days to see results in the stats. This can be demotivating.
The third problem is traffic quality. Not every experienced affiliate can maintain quality, let alone newcomers.
Which geo locations do you recommend for beginners?
Certainly, Africa. Africa is the minimum entry threshold for the affiliate market in 2023. It's like Brazil a year ago — advertisers are buying up all the traffic.
Yes, the stakes are small — $6-12, but don't pay attention to that. What's important is learning to run campaigns on a budget, and understanding how things work. Even with these stakes, you can maintain a 300% ROI. If you can achieve such ROI and you have caps, you can earn quite well. Installs can cost ¢10, inst2reg can be 50%, reg2dep is 1k3.
And you can learn, work with a budget, conduct tests, and analyze offers - all with minimal expenses.
Africa isn't over-saturated yet, although there are regions that are getting tired, like Zambia. Eight months ago, installs were ¢10, but now the average install is over ¢20. So, as long as there's an opportunity, get into Africa, test, and earn. Almost all approaches convert there.
What's your take on the fact that affiliate networks are pushing the same geo locations one after the other? Is it worth it to follow this trend? Or, on the contrary, if affiliate networks are pushing a certain geo, does it mean that it's already been overused, but there are plenty of offers that require traffic there?
I'm fine with it. They're pushing goes not just for the sake of it but because advertisers are buying traffic in those regions.
It's an opportunity to attract more affiliates who will drive traffic to the affiliate network, making it profitable. In PPS (pay-per-sale), they might offer a not-so-great product that may not convert well regardless of the geo. But overused geos? Not really.
I react reasonably to this. If they start pushing a geo, it's an opportunity to get into the trend and test it. Like what happened with Canada, for example. Everyone remembers Fonbet and their $600 bet. Those who got in and ran campaigns did really well.
It all comes down to your approach. If you have a new, unique approach, you can continue targeting that geo without any problems. Yes, standard approaches die out, stop converting, and users become more demanding in terms of quality, and so on. You can completely redesign your funnel, and your offer will start converting again.
For instance, the Alpina offer. I know people who have been running it for 9 months, just changing approaches. It's still alive in Italy, surprisingly. It seemed like 9 months, but it's still working. Everything is clear.
Should newcomers without experience venture into tier-1 countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and others, where lead payouts can reach $600?
Definitely not. Because these can be very significant expenses. Testing offers in tier-1 can cost a minimum of $3 000, and that's just for one offer.
Now, imagine if your offer doesn't work — the first, second, third, fourth. How much money will you need?
If you don't know how to manage your budget, test offers, analyze your funnel, and optimize it, you'll end up losing a lot of money.
Newcomers should start with tier-3 countries, as I mentioned earlier, such as Africa. It's the easiest and most cost-effective way to learn how to work with a budget. You'll understand when to turn things on and off, whether to wait for profit, or stop a test and make changes. After that, you should learn how to analyze what you've poured, optimize your offer, and improve your funnel to increase conversions.
It's better to learn all of this on countries where you don't need such huge expenses. If you jump into, for example, the USA, you might have an install cost of $2-3 with a well-thought-out approach, but the CPM could be $60. Plus, on such geos, postbacks are processed at best within a day, sometimes it can take several days.
Now imagine pouring money for a day without seeing much statistics due to your lack of experience. There's a lot of potential for mistakes. So, it's better to start with tier-3, then move to tier-2, and only then transition to tier-1 while learning about the geos and traffic specifics along the way.
Is it possible to get into gambling CPA with good offers, good managers, and conditions without experience? What do you need for that?
There are two options. The first option is to lie, falsify statistics, and claim that you have experience. However, this is not advisable because it's better for the manager to know your level and what to offer you.
The second option is to have someone vouch for you, someone who is already running campaigns with that affiliate network and has their trust. They can recommend you. For example, they can say, "Let him in, I vouch for him, I'm helping him, he will run campaigns and won't seek refunds midway."
Which affiliate networks accept newcomers without experience? Can you recommend up to three affiliate networks and explain why you recommend them?
I can't recommend 2-3 specifically because I've only worked with one. My entire career has been as a team lead, head, and buyer. I was driving with Magic Click. Please say hello to them if they are reading this article. You can contact Artem and say that I referred you to them and start working with them.
I received payouts from them, so I can confidently say that you can go there, and that's why I recommend them. I don't want to and can't recommend anyone based on other people's reviews.
For instance, Magic Click provides free trackers from popular services like Trident, TD trackers, affiliate marketing trackers, WWA, NSQ. You simply choose a tracker, reach out to your manager. They provide offers based on your request or from the top. If you don't know what to promote, they can offer suggestions. They even help set up ads on Facebook if the affiliate is completely new. They have a complete guide for UAC. In general, this affiliate network is geared towards working with and assisting newcomers. It's easy to get in, and you can easily secure favorable conditions for work.
Is it worth trusting affiliate managers from affiliate networks? How often, in your experience, are they incompetent?
Yes, it's worth it, but not right away. If you know this affiliate network, you've worked with them before, or you have recommendations for the manager and the affiliate network from other top affiliates, then it's worth trusting them. If it's a new affiliate network or you can't get recommendations from anyone, it's better not to.
I'll give you an example from my experience of how managers can be incompetent, and I'll even compare it to HR. Why HR? Because affiliate managers and HR managers are positions that almost anyone can get into. The main thing is to simply know what affiliate marketing is, and you can start applying for such vacancies.
For example, you send your resume to HR, with a CV containing all possible sections and answers, including statistics. You describe what you can do, what you're skilled at, what you're not skilled at, your strengths and weaknesses. Then you receive a message: "Please answer the questions below." And there's a list of questions, the answers to which are already in your CV.
The HR manager doesn't want to read or study the candidate, they work purely from a template. Incompetent affiliate managers in affiliate networks can also be like this. They have a template, top offers, a KPI benchmark based on which you should provide traffic volumes. If there's no competence, they will assign these offers to you.
It doesn't matter if it's Facebook or not, they can even look at statistics across all sources and say something like, for example, their reg2dep is 1k3. But specifically for Facebook, it might be reg2dep 1k20. Yet they will give you that offer, claiming that others are running it successfully and making money. Only others are running it with UAC while you're losing money with Facebook. There are many such template-driven affiliate managers, just like there are template-driven HR managers, and it's risky to trust them.
How much money is typically spent on tests?
Let's discuss this within the context of a single offer because it's simpler that way. Firstly, it depends on whether you are part of a team or not. If you're running solo without any insider information, you'll need a lot of money. If you're part of a team, $200-300 should be enough because one of the buyers on the team is running a bundle, and it's shared among all team members.
In my case, tests always require three payouts for the offer. For example, if I'm paid $40 for the minimum deposit, I allocate $120 for testing that offer.
I don't stretch tests over 3-4-7 days. I run the campaign with the full budget. If I see a good cost per install and registration, I'll scale it to three times the bid. Then I stop the test completely, check if there are any overflows, and make a decision.
For instance, if there are overflows, and I break even or make a profit, I reach out to the manager and ask about a bump. If they grant a bump and I see that the ROI will be 50-60%, I continue running the campaign. If the ROI is 10-20%, there's no point. One storm and all expenses go down the drain, and these 10-20% can easily turn into 0 over 2-3 months.
What is the minimum budget needed for a newcomer to start with Facebook? Can you outline in detail what it's used for?
It's all individual. Let's assume that I'm starting from scratch with Facebook*. I'll need around $5 000, and now I'll explain how it's allocated.
$500 — Testing bundles for Africa. With this budget, I could conduct tests to find 2-3 bundles that can be scaled later on.
$200 — Accounts, assuming you're going for the cheapest farm + auto-reg bundle. This should be enough for a hundred accounts. If you're a complete newbie and don't know where to get accounts, chat with people, ask experienced folks, read channels. They share setups that are currently working.
You don't need a tracker right now, and if you're working with the affiliate network I mentioned, you won't need trackers either.
The remaining money goes towards revolving funds and payments. If you're from Ukraine or Europe, you won't even need to spend on payments. Ukrainian cards work great, they have good spend, no need to pay VAT and payment system fees.
In reality, you'll need $700 for tests and expenses, and the rest is working capital for scaling working bundles.
What do you recommend for anti-detection and cloaking?
For anti-detection (anti-fraud tools), you can use ADS Power and Dolphin. ADS Power is excellent for those who don't abuse trial versions, and Dolphin can be used for free or by those willing to pay. I'm currently using Dolphin myself.
Regarding cloaking, if we're talking about Facebook*, then a tracker like Keitaro is more than sufficient. You can cloak using filters. If we're discussing cloaking in mobile apps, it's typically done on the developer's side.
Where can you save money and how do you feel about people using cracked tools like Keitaro or abusing trial versions?
You can only really save money on anti-detection tools. You can use anti-detection tools for free, and having 10 profiles in Dolphin is the only area where you can cut costs.
If you try to save money by, for example, using a cracked or pirated version of Keitaro, it may work for a while, but sooner or later, something will break, and you'll lose a ton of traffic. If you can't afford to buy trackers, many affiliate networks provide all the necessary statistics. You can extract any information you need by asking your affiliate manager.
What should you consider when choosing a payment method? There are dozens of them, all claiming to have "trusted bins" and high fees.
The first thing my team looks at is whether the cards are free and if the fees are low. We work with FBTools, and it's crucial for us to receive cards in large quantities. Therefore, we choose payment methods where there are no restrictions, no need to pay for cards, and no need to go through 3DS verification.
Next, we test BINs. They vary from one method to another, so only testing can show which BINs are good and which are not.
How many creatives should you ideally test?
For a single test, I use three different approaches for one offer. I allocate a payout for each creative. Sometimes it's one payout, sometimes it's two payouts. It depends on the test cap and how I'm running it. Typically, it's three payouts.
If I'm driving to a minus, I stop everything. If I break even or make a profit and there's still cap left, I continue with a reliable and well-performing bump.
How do you know when a bundle is no longer converting, and can it be revived?
When you notice that your install cost is increasing along with the registration cost, something is off with your bundle. For example, you were buying installs for $0.10 at first, and now it's costing you $0.30. Registration used to be $0.50, and now it's $1. The deposit cost has also increased. These signs indicate that your approach is dying. You can revive a bundle by finding a new approach.
How should you start now, and what accounts should you buy?
I've been really into launching campaigns with rented accounts lately. I recently tested first billing, so I'm not reluctant to spend $10-15 on rentals.
I just take an account and start running ads. I can link the account, start running from it directly, and my spending limit increases over time. Rented accounts are very robust because they belong to real people. With a spend of $50, your limit can increase from $100 to $250.
Renting accounts means good limits, growing bills, and the opportunity to spend well. I'll even reveal where I rent accounts from, it's the girls from "KINGS by QUEENS 👑." Out of all the places I've tested, they offer excellent conditions. They pass checks, policies, and resolve other issues.
Can you share an example of a bundle that no longer works but brought you good profits?
Within the scope of the NDA, I can only mention the geography, which is Africa. I'm currently heavily focused on this geo, achieving pleasant ROI rates of 200-300%.
I believe everyone understands what an NDA is, and losing one's job isn't something desirable. So, I won't disclose specific bundles. However, I do share some tricks occasionally in my channel. For example, I recently discussed what to consider when working with a small audience, using Zambia as an example.
What approaches will work for a long time?
Approaches involving crash games and emotions will definitely continue to work for a long time. For example, looking at Aviator, Jet-x, and Plinko, we can see how crash games convert.
Also, traditional illustrated slots like Pragmatic Olympus, Big Bass Bonanza, and Sweet Bonanza will continue to be effective for a long time. Emotions, too, always resonate and convert regardless of the geo.
How difficult is it to work in gambling solo, and is it realistic in 2023?
Working solo is realistic, but it entirely depends on your capabilities. It's about how well you grasp everything, your intellectual development, and your ability to manage the technical aspects, expenses, trackers, and anti-detection tools — all of which will be on your shoulders. You must monitor and test accounts yourself, finding those that work well and can handle more than just a $100 spend.
You have to communicate with advertisers directly, seek out the best conditions available on the market, and know where to find insider information. If you're going solo, testing everything yourself is nearly impossible. While you're testing one thing, a team can test tens or even hundreds of times more.
Solo affiliates exist but are typically experienced veterans who have everything I mentioned earlier: connections, insider information, budgets, and everything set up like clockwork. Some even have their CRMs, where everything is integrated and automated. These are people who have been in affiliate marketing for more than 5-7 years and know what they're doing. They can identify and resolve problems quickly.
Starting solo as a beginner is not advisable. You can learn the ropes of solo work on a small scale, but if you want to earn, you should join a team.
How can a newcomer join a team, and what skills should they develop to have a chance of joining a good team rather than ending up with other newcomers?
There are three options. The first option is to go through farming. You start as a farmer, then after a while, you become the lead farmer. You might then be considered for a junior position, followed by a buyer role, and so on.
The second option is to gather a group of fellow newcomers. The key is to have a strong command of the language and be skilled in communication. You should understand the technical aspects and advertisers thoroughly, essentially mastering the entire affiliate market. This could take about a month. You then form a team of five people, determine who will be the team leader, present your statistics, submit your CV as a team, and you have a 90% chance of being accepted by an affiliate network. Affiliate networks are very eager to accept whole teams and do so quickly. Once you're in, you continue your training within the network. However, I don't highly recommend this approach, although it exists and is utilized. It works very well because, as I mentioned before, template HR managers don't understand the niche.
The third option is to get sponsored for your advertising budget. Again, you must thoroughly study the entire market, have a strong command of the language, and find insider information. You can approach an advertiser and request a budget, working for a small fee, such as on a CPI model or some other minimal rate. This way, you can learn, try your hand, and later join a team.
Is it true that it's easier to join a good team through farming than to apply directly without experience for vacancies?
No, the situations can vary. For instance, some teams may try to string along farmers, saying things like, "You'll become a buyer in a month, two months at most." They'll keep telling you that as long as you stay in your current position. Being a farmer is a job nobody wants to stay in for long. If someone enters the world of affiliate marketing, it's clear they want to become a buyer.
Good farmers are hard to find, especially excellent lead farm team leaders who can create good setups for you. Therefore, they may keep making promises to retain you in your current role for an extended period. However, someone who already knows how to work with accounts will be more in demand than a complete novice. At the very least, they understand what needs to be done to ensure an account isn't banned upon entry.
Where can a newcomer look for a job as a farmer or buyer?
I can recommend the "Jobs" section on Partnerkin. There, you can find current job listings, potentially discover a good team, send your CV, and secure a position quickly. Another option is various job search websites like work.ua, rabota.ua, hh.ru, and so on. You simply enter the position you're looking for in the search bar and browse the listings.
What is your stance on push traffic? How do you feel about push traffic? I know you experimented with it yourself. What were the results?
I have a neutral stance on push traffic. It exists, and that's that. Some people like push traffic, some don't, and some even have strong negative feelings about it. Personally, I'm indifferent.
Yes, I'm still experimenting with push traffic, running campaigns. I haven't been able to scale it up to a significant volume due to time constraints, but I'm intrigued by the fact that bills range from €20-40, and with 100 accounts, you can achieve a spend of €1,000 without any issues. However, I haven't achieved extremely high earnings with push traffic.
I run campaigns when I have the time. It's interesting to bid on bills in the €20-40 range. It's a unique kind of challenge. I'm trying to scale it and earn from it, so stay tuned for the results.
Recently, I read an article about ethical marketing. In your opinion, what are the most unethical approaches in gambling, and why?
I believe an unethical approach is when you convince players that they can make a lot of money in a casino. When you promise that they will definitely make millions for just $2.
An ethical approach involves showcasing real slots and conveying that the casino offers opportunities to win. Of course, you can win in a casino, but you can also show players the emotions they'll experience from the thrill of gambling. These are the approaches I consider reasonable.
Do you consider working in gambling a "deal with your conscience"?
I attract people to play in casinos using normal, reasonable approaches. I don't promise or guarantee anything to them. Of course, I provide some motivation, as it's essential, but my conscience is clear; it doesn't trouble me.
What advice can you offer newcomers and those transitioning from other verticals to the gambling industry?
Fully research the market. Engage with people in the field and ask them questions. This will help you avoid making mistakes. Ask about which offers convert best and learn about setups. This can save you money, which is crucial when you're starting out.
In our business, having expertise is very valuable, and it makes things easier. If you have acquaintances, friends, friends of friends, or family members who are already running campaigns and succeeding, ask them for advice. If you can gain expertise from someone, do it. Don't be afraid or shy.
The third piece of advice is not to rush and approach everything with a clear mind. Don't panic if you have good installs and registrations but no deposits. Try running 2-3 payouts at least, and see how things go. If it doesn't work out, leave the offer and move on. Most importantly, remember that if you have both installs and registrations but no deposits, in 90% of cases, the problem isn't with you but with the offer.
Can you share some of your mishaps or unsuccessful campaigns?
I haven't had any serious mishaps or unsuccessful campaigns. At most, what bothers me in my career is when I partner with people who definitely have money, and something always happens. Someone might lose $30 000 or change their mind, or something else occurs. Something interesting begins, and you think the money will start flowing, but it ends right at the start.
Sometimes, traffic may not perform as expected, but it's quickly resolved and stopped. Occasionally, an auto rule might not work somewhere, but we always find a solution. If it's the fault of the advertiser, they compensate for the losses; if it's the programmer's fault, we deduct it from their salary. If I'm at fault, then it's on me.
Conclusion
Getting started in gambling isn't as difficult as it may initially seem. It's important to be resourceful, patient, goal-oriented, and, of course, have a budget. You can earn money for the start in a couple of months by working in a factory or doing some digital side jobs while simultaneously learning the necessary information.
