How to Collaborate with Influencers in iGaming

Affiliate marketing is a constant hunt for new profit sources. Some bet on push notifications and native ads, while others test pop-ups and teasers. But there’s another method many underestimate: influencer marketing. Yes, working with bloggers is harder than launching another Facebook ad, but the results can be exponentially better. In this article, the 888STARZ Partners team will explain how affiliates can use so-called “influence marketing”, its benefits, pitfalls, and, most importantly, how to squeeze maximum value from this traffic source. Let’s go!

What is influencer marketing?

In affiliate marketing, traditional sources like targeted and contextual ads still work, but the market is getting more competitive. Influencer marketing is a way to get high-quality leads by leveraging the audience’s trust in bloggers and opinion leaders.

Why does it usually brings more conversions? Followers perceive ads not as banners or pre-rolls but as personal recommendations. A social media influencer talks about a product, shares their experience, demonstrates it in action — and the audience becomes more receptive to the offer. As a result, you get warm traffic with high conversion.

This method works great for iGaming, but it’s crucial to choose the right blogger and structure the collaboration properly. Options include fixed payment for placement, revshare, or long-term contracts. We’ll break down the pros and cons of this type of offer promotion next.

Pros and cons of influencer marketing

It might seem like influencer marketing is almost the best way to promote Gambling and Betting offers. If you’re still not in the loop, it’s time to learn why influencer marketing is so powerful. Key advantages include:

• Native selling power:

Followers trust their favorite bloggers. When ads blend organically into their content, they don’t feel intrusive. Unlike banners or standard teasers, influencer ads are perceived as personal recommendations. This means your leads will be far more warmed up.

• Precise targeting:

By choosing the right blogger, you attract highly relevant users interested in your product, getting quality, targeted leads.

• Quick feedback:

Influencers can quickly share audience reactions to ads, allowing you to optimize campaigns and product promotion strategies.

• Long-term play:

While traditional ads end when the campaign finishes, influencer marketing can keep working long after payment. Videos, posts, and stories can generate leads for months. If a blogger is engaged in long-term collaboration, it guarantees a steady flow of new clients.

This method has clear advantages, but it’s not all perfect. The downsides of influencer marketing include:

• No quality guarantees:

If a blogger has mediocre marketing skills, approaches promotion irresponsibly, or lacks experience, their ads will be low-quality. For example, new bloggers often create blunt ad integrations that trigger negative audience reactions. That’s why it’s critical to pick a good social media influencer and review how they integrate ads into their content beforehand.

• Anti-advertising:

If a blogger has negative experience with your product or dislikes the niche, they might deliberately create anti-ads, exaggerating the offer’s flaws. To avoid this, choose influencers who are loyal to the product or niche. Discuss all ad details with them and ensure they won’t distort information.

• Cost:

Popular bloggers with millions of followers can demand astronomical sums for ads — sometimes prices reach $1,000 or more per integration. If you work with niche influencers, costs may be lower, but their reach will also be smaller. It’s important to balance: spend less for more targeted leads or invest in pricier, mass-scale ads.

Influencer marketing isn’t a “set it and forget it” tactic. It requires careful planning and thorough analysis. If you approach blogger selection and strategy correctly, risks are minimized, and the benefits become obvious.

How to launch an influencer marketing campaign?

Launching an influencer campaign with bloggers involves the following steps:

Setting goals: focus on real results, not just reach

The first step is to define clear campaign goals. You don’t just want “reach” — you need specific actions from your target audience. For example, you might want the influencer’s followers to click a link and register for your offer. Or you might aim to boost engagement and get people actively discussing your product.

Based on these goals, decide how the blogger will promote your offer — through reviews, videos, live streams, etc. Your strategy determines ROI, so stay focused on results.

Audience research: not all followers are equal

Every affiliate knows not all Influence traffic is equally valuable. To maximize returns, choose influencers whose audience aligns with your target. Break it down:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location. This helps fine-tune targeting.
• Audience preferences: Topics or channels your potential clients care about. This ensures the blogger integrates your offer organically.
• User activity: How often the audience engages with posts. High likes/comments mean high engagement — aligning with your goals.

The better you match the blogger to your audience, the higher the Influence traffic quality.

Choosing GEO

If you work in evergreen niches like betting or online casinos, selecting the right region is one of the trickiest steps. Why? Because you need influencers familiar with market nuances in the chosen GEO.

Don’t forget language! Campaigns in the blogger’s native tongue perform better. Managing multiple regions can be costlier and more complex, but with the right approach, you’ll control budgets and attract leads genuinely interested in your offer.

Selecting a platform for influencer marketing

Another critical step is choosing the platform where the blogger will promote your gambling offers. Common social media options include:

• Instagram: The “Mecca” of influencers. Thousands of daily sponsored posts with funnels. Plenty of traffic to experiment with.
• TikTok: Popular with younger audiences. Ideal for viral clips and short offer reviews.
• Facebook: Massive reach in every GEO, with high audience purchasing power.
• YouTube: A top choice for Gambling and Betting niches. Low traffic costs, easy bypassing of casino offer blocks. YouTube Shorts, with millions of views, can skyrocket campaign reach.
• Twitch: Influencers stream casino gameplay, watch matches, or showcase activities with embedded ads. Hugely popular with younger audiences.

Finding influencers

Start by listing 10-15 bloggers who might fit your offer. This saves time if some reject your proposal. Prioritize influencers in your niche — iGaming influencer audiences are more likely to engage with relevant ads. Avoid choosing bloggers solely by follower count (easily inflated to hike ad prices). Focus on engagement rates instead — higher engagement means better ad response.

Creating a collaboration plan

Your partnership must benefit both sides. Discuss pricing and payment models upfront: per post, revshare, barter, etc. Incorporate the influencer’s creative ideas — their input can boost results. Prepare a detailed promotion strategy and aim for long-term partnerships. Ambassador models work well for sustained, profitable collaborations.

Measuring performance

Track metrics regularly and adjust your strategy as needed. Use Google Analytics or built-in social media tools. Monitor the goals you set initially to optimize quickly. The faster you act on data, the sooner you’ll refine your campaign for better results.

Conclusion

Influencer marketing is a powerful tool for iGaming affiliate marketing, driving high-quality leads at scale. But success hinges on selecting the right influencer and crafting a smart collaboration strategy.

Done right, influencer marketing can lead to long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with opinion leaders to promote our iGaming offers. However, many affiliates struggle to build influencer strategies, sticking to tired, overused traffic sources instead.

If you want to leverage influencer marketing but face challenges in strategy development, don’t waste time. Contact your 888STARZ Partners manager. We’ll share top-performing tactics, help choose the ideal GEO, and even recommend influencers so you can start profiting from our iGaming offers much faster.