BACK IN 2006, when the US closed its doors to the online gaming market, many predicted that affiliates would abandon ship and head for brighter, less competitive shores than those of Europe. They predicted that affiliates would branch out to other verticals and give those already in these areas a run for their money by using their knowledge and experience in SEO to beat them at their own game and dominate the retail rankings for 'elegant men's shirts' and 'breakaway holiday destinations'.
However, affiliates are a resilient bunch and this did not happen. One main reason is due to other verticals only being able to offer month-end payments in the hundreds of dollars rather than the thousands. Another is that affiliates enjoy a challenge and those who were good enough were able to do well in the fiercely competitive European market.
However, the online gaming landscape is about to change once again. The merger of PartyGaming and bwin, two industry giants, due to be completed by the end of ...[more]
