Affiliate Management: Affigates Boosts Trust and Efficiency with AI

The world of online gambling is complex, especially in affiliate marketing. Here, operators meet partners who refer players. Smooth collaboration is crucial but often marred by a lack of trust and inefficiency. This is precisely where Affigates steps in.

The company has been on the market for about a year and has set itself the goal of building a bridge between online casino operators and affiliates. Vahe Vardanyan, Chief Product Officer at Affigates, explains that the real progress lies in the effectiveness of their model: they combine software, an affiliate network, and a management service into a single end-to-end ecosystem. This provides operators not only with the software but also the personnel to run it and the associated traffic – all from one source.

Numbers and facts

Affigates has made rapid progress in its first year of operation. One of the most impressive figures is the network of more than 7,000 verified affiliates that the company has already built up. However, according to Vardanyan, this large number is only one part of the equation. The essential goal is to find and vet suitable affiliates for the respective markets of the operators.

The fundamental challenges faced by online casino operators when working with affiliates, according to Vardanyan, are primarily resource-related. Affiliate management is a full-time job that includes recruitment, tracking, payments, and fraud prevention. Many operators do not have the necessary personnel to do this efficiently, often leading to affiliate programs being left to run on their own after setup. Affigates relieves operators of this burden.

Background

Trust in affiliate marketing is often lost when it comes to payments and transparency. Affiliates leave networks when payments are slow or if fraudulent cases occur. Operators, in turn, withdraw when they cannot clearly see what they are paying for. Affigates aims to solve both these problems. They ensure reliable payments to provide security for both sides and establish transparency.

The fight against fraud is another central pillar of Affigates' strategy. Performance marketing only works if the performance is real. Affigates monitors traffic quality and screens for bot traffic and CPA abuse, ensuring that online casino operators never pay for fake acquisitions. This is done using AI tools complemented by human control.

“AI is best at two things: matching the right affiliate to the right operator and spotting fraud in real-time, but it won’t replace the relationship. Affiliates stay because of trust and reliable payments, and that’s the human element. AI runs the mechanism. Good people keep the relationship.” - Vahe Vardanyan, Chief Product Officer at Affigates

Regarding the most popular and successful traffic sources in 2026, Vardanyan has a clear opinion. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as it heavily depends on the market, the operating model, and the CRM strategy. Any traffic can work if one has the necessary knowledge and understanding to utilize it optimally. For the future, Affigates promises more new initiatives to strengthen its ecosystem and increase its presence in the affiliate and acquisition sectors.

Why it matters for German players

The work of Affigates does not directly affect German players, as they operate in the background, optimizing relationships between operators and referrers. However, the entire industry indirectly benefits from increased transparency and reduced fraud. This creates a fairer environment, which in turn can strengthen player protection.

In Germany, the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) is decisive. It strictly regulates the online gambling market, with provisions such as the 1-euro stake limit per spin in online slots and a deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month. Additionally, the central blocking system LUGAS ensures compliance with these limits and the exclusion of blocked players. Providers who adhere to these rules are placed on the so-called GGL whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States. When affiliates and operators collaborate more effectively and honestly, this strengthens reputable providers. This, in turn, helps players feel secure in GGL-licensed casinos.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For online casinos holding a German GGL license, the development of affiliate management systems like Affigates means potential relief. They can focus more on their core business and compliance with strict German regulations. Professional management of affiliate programs by specialized service providers reduces administrative effort and minimizes the risk of cooperating with fraudulent affiliates. Since GGL casinos are already under strict scrutiny and expected to be transparent, improved fraud detection and transparent payment processes fit well into their requirement profile. The ability to find verified affiliates who exactly match the German market can positively influence the reach of legal providers within the strict advertising regulations.