How to Make Money from Casinos (Legally) Through Affiliate Programs

How to Make Money from Casinos

Important context: When people say they “make money from casinos,” the sustainable (and legal) route is usually casino affiliate marketing—not playing casino games. In affiliate marketing, you earn a commission for sending qualified users to a casino/sportsbook, under strict advertising, consumer-protection, and responsible-gambling rules (plus the casino’s own affiliate terms).

This article explains:

• how casino affiliate programs work (RevShare, CPA, Hybrid, etc.);
• the main promotion channels and content formats;
• legality, taxes, disclosures, privacy/cookies, and responsible promotion;
• prohibited methods (spam, self-referrals, misleading claims, motivated traffic, brand bidding, branded SEO, etc.);
• examples of affiliate cooperation for: 1win, 4rabet, Mostbet, Lucky Star, Pin-Up, Stake, LeonBet (R2D Partners), 1xSlots, Fairspin (Bona Fides), JeetBuzz.

Not legal/tax advice. Laws vary widely by country/state. Many programs require partners to be 18+ and to avoid targeting minors (for example, Stake explicitly prohibits marketing to minors and even including minors in content).
If you plan to operate in any market, consult local counsel/accountants and always follow the operator’s affiliate agreement.

1) What “Earning from Casinos” Really Means: Affiliate Marketing

Casino affiliate marketing is a performance partnership between:

• Operator / brand (casino or sportsbook),
• Affiliate / publisher (you: website, app, channel, community),
• Player / user (the end customer).

You promote an operator using tracking links or promo codes. If your referred users perform “qualifying actions” (register, deposit, wager, become active), you earn commission.

Affiliate marketing is attractive because it can scale like a media business. It is also risky because:

• it is a regulated, age-restricted industry;
• ad platforms and regulators apply extra scrutiny;
• programs can suspend accounts for traffic violations, brand misuse, or misleading promotion.

2) How Casino Affiliate Programs Pay: RevShare, CPA, Hybrid (and More)

Most programs offer some combination of these models:

Key terms you must understand before you promote any program:

• GGR / NGR definitions. Different programs define “revenue” differently (bonuses, payment fees, admin fees, local taxes, game-provider fees can be deducted). Pin-Up’s agreement, for instance, explicitly defines RevShare and mentions administrative/payment fees in how they calculate GGR.
• Negative carryover. Some programs reset negatives monthly; others carry them forward. (Always confirm.)
• Minimum activity rules. 1xSlots’ terms, for example, include conditions like weekly payments and a minimum number of active players to qualify for commission.
• Traffic rules. Many programs ban spam, cookie stuffing, brand keyword bidding, and misleading claims (more below).

3) Promotion Channels That Affiliates Use (and How to Use Them Responsibly)

Below are the major channels—and the compliance realities you must plan for.

A) SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

What it is: You publish informational content and rank in search results for non-branded queries (e.g., “how to withdraw winnings,” “casino RTP explained,” “Aviator game rules,” “best payment methods for online betting,” etc.).

Responsible, durable approach:

• Focus on user-intent, real comparisons, transparent pros/cons, and responsible-gambling warnings.
• Avoid “fake official” positioning, brand impersonation, and unrealistic promises.

Common restrictions:

• Many programs explicitly restrict brand keyword tactics (brand bidding and sometimes branded SEO patterns). Stake forbids bidding or sending traffic on Stake-branded keywords/search terms.
• 1xSlots’ affiliate terms prohibit contextual ads using the brand name and prohibit domains that mention the brand; they also explicitly warn against certain “SEO-made-to-rank” setups.

B) Content Platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch)

What it is: Reviews, explainers, game demos, payment guides, “how it works” videos, livestream commentary (where legal).

Compliance requirements:

• Age-gating and avoiding underage audiences is critical. Stake explicitly forbids marketing to minors and even including minors in content.
• In the UK, the Gambling Commission emphasizes controls for affiliates/influencers, including age/geo gating and formal accountability.

C) Communities (Telegram, Discord, Forums)

What it is: Community-driven traffic and retention.

High-risk zone: Communities are where affiliates often cross the line into:

• spammy mass posting,
• misleading “guaranteed wins,”
• or targeting underage audiences.

Pin-Up specifically flags misleading Telegram promotions as grounds for termination and mentions keyword restrictions.

D) Email Marketing (Only Opt-in)

What it is: Newsletters, retention emails, content updates.

Hard rule: No spam / unsolicited mail. JeetBuzz bans spamming and unsolicited email marketing.
If you use email in regulated markets, you must also comply with applicable spam laws and opt-in requirements; Stake requires compliance with spam-related legislation in its affiliate terms.

E) Paid Advertising (PPC, Display, UAC)

Reality check: Paid ads for gambling are heavily restricted.

• Google requires gambling advertisers to comply with local laws, obtain certification where required, and never target minors.
• Many affiliate programs also ban brand bidding or restrict PPC to approved use-cases. Stake explicitly bans bidding on its branded keywords.

F) Influencer Partnerships / Media Buying

What it is: Paying creators or running managed campaigns.

Best practice: Have written agreements, require compliant scripts/disclosures, and enforce age-gating. UK regulator guidance highlights strong controls around affiliate/influencer promotion.

4) Content Types That Convert Without Misleading Users

If you want a “clean” long-term affiliate business, the best content usually fits one of these:

1. Operator reviews (who it’s for, who it’s not for, licensing/geo limits, payment methods, support, KYC).
2. Payment method guides (how deposits/withdrawals work, fees, verification timeframes, common failure reasons).
3. Game explainers (rules, volatility, RTP concepts, demo vs real mode).
4. Bonus education (wagering requirements, max cashout, bonus abuse risk, “what to check before you claim”).
5. Troubleshooting (app not installing, verification issues, withdrawal pending, geo restrictions).
6. Responsible gambling pages (limits, self-exclusion, warning signs, where to get help).
7. Comparisons (transparent tables: fees, withdrawal time, support hours, KYC steps, allowed geos).

Disclosure matters. In the US, the FTC’s Endorsement Guides emphasize disclosing material connections (like affiliate relationships) so users aren’t misled.

Cookie/analytics compliance matters too. In the EU/UK context, marketing cookies generally require consent and clear explanations.

5) Legality, Licensing, and Taxes: What You Must Consider

A) Legality depends on the user’s location and the operator’s licensing

Online gambling is legal in some jurisdictions, restricted or illegal in others. Even where gambling is legal, marketing it can be regulated separately.

In the UK, gambling advertising must be socially responsible and comply with advertising codes.
Regulators increasingly hold operators accountable for affiliate behavior, which means programs enforce strict affiliate rules and may require documentation of your traffic sources.

B) Taxes: affiliate income is usually taxable

Affiliate commissions are typically treated as business income (or self-employment income), meaning you may need to:

• register a business or declare as self-employed (varies by jurisdiction),
• keep invoices/statements,
• report income and pay tax accordingly,
• consider VAT/GST rules where applicable.

Some programs state explicitly that the affiliate is responsible for taxes. Stake’s terms put tax responsibility on the affiliate.
JeetBuzz also notes you must ensure compliance with tax obligations under Bangladesh law.

C) Disclosures and consumer protection

If you publish “reviews,” “top lists,” or comparisons, you must disclose affiliate relationships clearly and early (not hidden in a footer). FTC guidance is a widely used standard for disclosure best practices.

D) Privacy and cookies

Affiliate tracking often uses cookies or similar identifiers. In many regions, you need:

• a cookie banner,
• an explanation of tracking purposes,
• and a way to manage consent.

6) Prohibited (or High-Risk) Promotion Methods You Should Avoid

Below are methods that are commonly prohibited by affiliate programs, regulators, or ad platforms—and often lead to bans, withheld payments, or legal trouble.

A) Spam mailings and unsolicited messages

JeetBuzz bans spamming and unsolicited email marketing.
Stake requires compliance with opt-in/out and spam legislation.

B) Self-referrals and “friends & family” schemes

Many programs prohibit registering yourself via your own link. Stake explicitly forbids registering your own personal account using your referral link.
1xSlots defines a “new user” and explicitly excludes the affiliate, employees, relatives, and friends from being treated as “new users.”

C) Misleading claims and “non-existent conditions”

Examples of misleading promotion:

• claiming “guaranteed wins,”
• advertising bonuses that don’t exist,
• hiding wagering requirements,
• suggesting gambling is a career or investment.

Stake’s standards explicitly prohibit misleading/deceptive marketing and even forbid implying gambling is a career, a way to recover losses, or a form of investment.
JeetBuzz prohibits false claims and misrepresentation.

D) Motivated / incentivized traffic (unless explicitly allowed)

This includes paying users to deposit, forcing sign-ups for rewards, or “task” traffic. Pin-Up explicitly flags motivated traffic as a reason for suspension.

E) Cookie stuffing, tracking manipulation, bots, fake registrations

• JeetBuzz bans cookie manipulation.
• Pin-Up bans cookie stuffing.
• Stake bans bots, fake users, and other fraud tactics.

F) Contextual advertising / PPC on branded keywords (brand bidding)

This is one of the fastest ways to get banned:

• Stake explicitly bans bidding or sending traffic on Stake branded keywords/search terms.
• 1xSlots prohibits contextual advertising where the brand is mentioned and prohibits domains containing the brand name.

G) Branded SEO that impersonates “official” pages

Some affiliates try to rank pages like “BrandName Official / BrandName Login / BrandName App.” Programs often treat this as trademark abuse or user deception.

• Stake forbids impersonation and registering confusingly similar domains/social accounts.
• 1xSlots forbids domains mentioning the brand.

7) A Practical Compliance Checklist (Before You Join Any Program)

Use this checklist to avoid preventable bans:

Business & legal

• Do you have the right to promote gambling in your target GEO?
• Do you need an advertising license, local registration, or specific disclaimers?
• Can you implement age gates and avoid underage audiences?

Traffic

• List every channel you’ll use (SEO, YouTube, Telegram, PPC, email).
• Confirm each channel is permitted in the affiliate agreement (some require written approval).

Content

• Add affiliate disclosures (FTC-style best practice).
• Add responsible gambling messaging and avoid “guaranteed win” framing.
• Avoid brand impersonation and misleading “official” pages.

Privacy

• Use cookie consent where required.

Documentation

• Keep copies/screenshots of ads, landing pages, and approvals.
• Keep records for tax reporting (many programs place tax responsibility on you).

8) Example Affiliate Programs (1win, 4rabet, Mostbet, Lucky Star, Pin-Up, Stake, LeonBet/R2D, 1xSlots, Fairspin/Bona Fides, JeetBuzz)

Below are structured overviews based on publicly available pages and agreements. Always verify inside the affiliate dashboard and the current official agreement before launching traffic, because terms change.

8.1) Stake Affiliate Program

Positioning & model

Stake describes its affiliate program as commission based on bets placed by referred users across Casino and Sportsbook, and shows a default commission rate of 10% with transparent formulas (house edge / theoretical edge approach).

Registration (high-level)

Stake states that to register interest you must log in to a Stake account and then apply to become an affiliate.

Compliance highlights (very explicit)

Stake’s affiliate terms include strict standards. Key prohibitions include:

• marketing to or targeting minors, and including minors in content;
• brand keyword bidding (“bid or send traffic on Stake branded keywords”);
• encouraging VPN use to access the site;
• impersonation or confusingly similar domains/social accounts;
• misleading claims, “gambling as a career/investment,” “guaranteed outcomes,” etc.

Stake also requires compliance with laws, opt-in/out requirements, and spam-related legislation.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who can operate with strict compliance, age/geo gating, and conservative messaging.

8.2) Pin-Up Partners

Pin-Up has multiple public-facing documents, including a Partner Agreement and standard affiliate terms.

Models & definitions

Pin-Up’s Partner Agreement defines CPA, RevShare, and Hybrid and explains RevShare mechanics in GGR terms (including referenced administrative/payment fees).
The broader “Affiliate Program Standard Terms and Conditions” also outlines standard affiliate structures and definitions.

Notable restrictions & risk controls

From the Partner Agreement, examples include:

• 18+ requirement;
• bans on cookie stuffing;
• motivated traffic risks;
• self-registration via your own promo materials is prohibited;
• keyword restrictions in organic and PPC for specific geos;
• misleading Telegram promotions and impersonation triggers termination.

Payments (example structure)

The Partner Agreement mentions a bi-monthly reporting period and a minimum withdrawal amount (e.g., $50) as described in that document.

Registration (high-level)

Pin-Up provides login/registration links and describes standard onboarding: register, accept terms, use approved materials, and provide traffic-source details when requested.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who can provide transparent traffic-source documentation and avoid high-risk channels (motivated traffic, misleading community promos).

8.3) 1win Affiliate Program

Commission models & payout cadence (as publicly described)

The 1win partners site publicly advertises:

• RevShare from 50% and CPA up to $250;
• a stated payout cadence where RevShare payments are processed on Tuesdays and CPA has a hold period (as described in their FAQ on that page).

It also notes geographic limitations (example: excluding EU countries, advising to confirm current GEO list with representatives).

Registration (high-level)

The page indicates you can sign up, after which a manager contacts you to help you start.

Compliance notes

Even when a program’s public page is less explicit than Stake’s, assume standard iGaming restrictions apply:

• no brand impersonation,
• no spam,
• no misleading claims,
• no underage targeting,
• no motivated traffic unless explicitly permitted.

(Always confirm in the actual affiliate agreement and dashboard.)

Who it fits

• Affiliates with strong GEO targeting outside restricted markets and a capacity to support manager-led onboarding.

8.4) Lucky Star Affiliate Program

Lucky Star has public affiliate pages describing models, payouts, and support.

What Lucky Star advertises publicly

Lucky Star’s affiliate page describes:

• up to 60% revenue share, plus CPA/Hybrid options;
• payout frequency options and a minimum payout example (e.g., $100) on the affiliate page;
• support, promo materials, dashboards, and multiple payment rails.

The same page includes an operator disclosure indicating operation by 1Win N.V. and licensing-application details as presented on that site.

Registration (high-level)

Sign up via the affiliate page, then access tools (links, banners) and track performance in the dashboard.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who want a dashboard-driven partner program and can promote responsibly in allowed geos.

8.5) 4rabet Affiliate Program

Public affiliate portal messaging

The 4RABET affiliate portal landing page publicly displays:

• a RevShare example (“30% from the profit”) and “up to 50%” type messaging;
• a link to “terms and conditions” and references to “terms of advertising activity,” though the publicly visible text may not fully expose affiliate restrictions.

Practical note

With limited public terms visible, treat 4rabet like any other iGaming program:

• get written confirmation of allowed traffic channels,
• avoid brand bidding and spam,
• use truthful bonus messaging only,
• implement age gating and geo compliance.

Who it fits

• Affiliates working with manager approval and clear, documented traffic sources.

8.6) Mostbet Partners

Public positioning

Mostbet’s guidebook content describes Mostbet Partners as an official affiliate network and references models like RevShare, CPA, and Hybrid, plus weekly payments as described there.

Limitation

The full partner agreement page appears difficult to view without scripts in some environments, so you should treat the affiliate contract inside the partner platform as the primary source of truth.

Who it fits

• Affiliates focused on markets where Mostbet is active and where compliant gambling promotion is permitted.

8.7) LeonBet Affiliate Program via R2D Partners

Leon affiliate cooperation is commonly represented through R2D Partners, which publishes accessible terms.

Official terms and registration

R2D Partners provides:

• a public terms page describing the contractual basis of the affiliate relationship;
• a public registration page for affiliates.
  R2D also publicly describes itself as a multi-brand program including LEON (and others).

Commission models (as described in industry listings)

Public listings commonly reference CPA/RevShare options and ranges, but you should confirm your exact deal in the R2D dashboard and insertion order.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who prefer a network-style structure with explicit published terms and a multi-brand portfolio.

8.8) 1xSlots Partners

1xSlots provides an affiliate terms page that spells out restrictions very directly.

Key terms visible on the public “Partners-1xSlots” terms page

Examples include:

• 18+ only participation;
• prohibition on spam;
• prohibition on contextual ads that mention 1xSlots and prohibition on domains that include the brand;
• prohibition of cookie stuffing;
• prohibition of self-registration and collusion;
• weekly payment timing and thresholds, plus a note about delays for verification/technical issues and minimum activity rules;
• definition of “new user” explicitly excluding the affiliate, employees, relatives, and friends.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who can operate in a very rule-driven environment (especially avoiding brand bidding, spam, and “official” style branding).

8.9) Fairspin Affiliate Cooperation via Bona Fides

Bona Fides positions itself as a blockchain-oriented affiliate ecosystem and publishes detailed terms.

Public positioning and transparency claims

Bona Fides describes “blockchain-powered” transparency, partner brands, and up to 45% revenue share messaging on its site.

Terms & conditions highlights

The terms define:

• “Insertion Orders” (IOs) and how offers, remuneration models, and allowed marketing channels are specified;
• that channels like email/SMS/push/social may require written approval in advance;
• data protection and compliance language, with references to GDPR and related frameworks in definitions.

Who it fits

• Affiliates who want documented channel approvals and who can run clean, auditable campaigns.

8.10) JeetBuzz Affiliate Program

JeetBuzz publishes clear affiliate terms that are easy to interpret.

Notable clauses

JeetBuzz’s terms include:

• 18+ eligibility;
• responsibility to promote ethically and not make false claims;
• explicit prohibited activities: spam/unsolicited emails, misleading content, cookie manipulation, promotion to underage users/restricted territories.
• tax responsibility language (Bangladesh jurisdiction context).

Who it fits

• Affiliates who can comply with explicit anti-spam/anti-misrepresentation rules and Bangladesh-focused legal framing.

9) Comparison Tables (At-a-Glance)

Table A — Publicly visible highlights (verify in-dashboard)

10) A “Clean” Growth Framework (No Tricks, No Rule-Breaking)

If you want longevity in iGaming affiliate marketing, the “winning” strategy is not a hack—it’s operational discipline:

1. Pick GEOs you can legally advertise in.

2. Choose 1–2 programs and learn their rules deeply (brand bidding, social approvals, messaging constraints).

3. Build a content library focused on:

• payments/withdrawals,
• verification/KYC education,
• bonus literacy,
• responsible gaming,
• troubleshooting and FAQs.

1. Implement:

• clear affiliate disclosures (FTC-style transparency)
• cookie consent where required
• age/geo gating (especially on social/video)

1. Document everything:

• campaign URLs,
• creatives,
• approvals,
• and traffic sources (some programs can request these).

This approach won’t make you “instantly rich,” but it is the one most consistent with regulator expectations, ad-platform rules, and program survival.

11) Why Affiliates Get Banned (and How to Avoid It)

The most common ban triggers:

• Brand bidding (Stake explicitly forbids it).
• Underage exposure (Stake explicitly forbids marketing to minors / including minors).
• Misleading bonus claims or “guaranteed” language (Stake explicitly forbids misleading and “career/investment” framing).
• Spam (JeetBuzz explicitly bans it).
• Cookie stuffing / tracking manipulation (Pin-Up and JeetBuzz explicitly ban it).
• Self-referrals / friends-and-family schemes (Stake and 1xSlots address this directly).

Conclusion

You can make money “from casinos” without gambling by building a compliant affiliate business: education-first content, transparent disclosures, legal GEO targeting, and strict avoidance of prohibited methods like spam, motivated traffic, cookie manipulation, and brand bidding.

The fastest path to failure in this niche is trying to “game the system”:

• programs increasingly publish explicit restrictions (Stake is a prime example),
• regulators expect strong controls over affiliate marketing,
• and major ad platforms limit gambling advertising and prohibit targeting minors.