Is Twitch the next big thing for affiliates?

[MissExposé]

Hi AGD's,

In the recently published article about Twitch it is said that:
"Twitch is still relatively new and an innovative marketing tool. As long as your target audience matches the demographic that uses Twitch every day then there is a chance that you will increase your ROI by incorporating Twitch into your marketing strategy. 55% of Twitch users are aged between 18-34 and 81% of Twitch users are male."

LCB has recently launched their own Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/latestcasinobonuses

What are your thoughts and experiences regarding live streams in the igaming business?
Is it better to cooperate with the existing streamers and use them as influencers or to create your own stream channel instead?

 

[BetOnlineUK]

I have been a viewer on Twitch (Casino/Slots) for the last couple of years and seen some of them grow to be very succesful such as CasinoDaddy and Letsgiveitaspin. I will be interested in viewing your channel at some stage.

CasinoDaddy are a standalone channel and are really entertaining, as for Letsgiveitaspin he is part of the Casinogrounds group where there are several streamers under there watchful eye.

You have a strong brand name in the industry so would make more sense to go it alone. Then once you have your base followers and understand the market more then maybe bring in other streamers under you umbrella.

 

[melcb]

Good advice @BetOnlineUK. It will take time and lots of hard work to get our channel to the level of CasinoDaddy and the likes. I do think streaming will play a big part in the future for the industry. Better to start off early!

If any other affiliates have started a channel we would love to hear about your journey and I'm sure your fellow affiliates (including LCB) would appreciate any advice, tips.

 

[danniee]

Personally I don't think streaming will be able to continue for too long. It's way too problematic in terms of compliance and age restriction. If the general public finds tv commercials provocative, streaming is 10 times worse and is being carried out on a platform for kids and young adults. There are ongoing discussions in both the UK and Sweden about it.

https://www.svt.se/kultur/twitch

 

[Ryders]

The idea is so-so. All niches are already taken.
Although if you consider what resources and team you have, then something can come of it.
Anyway good luck!

 

[edgarf76]

There have been a lot of rumors about that casinodaddy on twitch going back to 2018. A lot of people are saying that people are placing real bets. Any see anything like that on the platform?

 

[melcb]

Thanks for the article @danniee. You are right the compliance implications will be an issue but are unknown as this time. I think Twitch will be obligated to add some sort of age restriction protocol soon enough.
Affiliates will just have to adapt as the rules are made. There have been a few emails from programs stipulating rules about marketing though twitch for example
"no affiliate is allowed to use Twitch in the English language (without exception including banners, voiceover, creatives and promotional material).If you use Twitch and promote (either directly, or indirectly) our brand(s) in English, we are asking you to refrain from doing so."
"You are not permitted at any time, to market and/or advertise any of 888's websites and/or applications using and/or through the Twitch live streaming website and/or application to any person located in the United Kingdom."

 

[xecutable]

Twitch are famous for banning big time streamers for absurd things.

While it's another revenue stream would one really like to put an effort on a third party platform owned by Amazon that can vaporize your account in a second?

If you are entertaining and enjoy streaming casino games, sure. Otherwise it will be a tedious task to keep a streaming schedule to the point it becomes a 9 to 5 the very reason most made websites in the first place.

 

[KasinoKing]

No.

Who the flip has time for all that bollocks????
I know I don't.

KK

 

[PROFRBcom]

We tried a dozen or so times to hire people to stream online poker. Only once was it mildly successful, unfortunately that player ended up retiring from the digital felt in order to pursue a very nice opportunity elsewhere.

We have rented banners on decent streams, sponsored both pro and recreational players, with streamers playing multiple forms of the game.

It was all a big waste of time for us in the end. I do suspect it could work, but it's so damned hard to find someone to do it full time. And that is what it would take. A full-timer (or more) who have cool enough personalities that will attract views.

 

[NDG]

It is way too time consuming. Some of these streamers are playing slots for many hours each day.
I'd much rather funnel in players to the casinos using a web site or some other method that doesn't
require me to be in front of the computer all day long. I think this is a new fad and that is why its
popular now. Over time, I think that people will lose interest in watching others play the slots.

 

[Imre]

Some of these streamers are playing slots for many hours each day.

I think these streamers do this nearly as a full time job. For them it pays off nicely.
I worked with some of these guys and they are bringing in awesome number of players.

Twitch is growing fast, and they are adopting things like crypto tipping and other useful things which youtube is lacking. Plus Youtube has been kicking out gambling related channels from the platform so there's clear demand for a place that can take over this niche.

 

[danniee]

I don't think it's the next great thing. I believe it has already been the next great thing so to speak. With all these increasing regulations and the public opinion on gambling, it's probably just a matter of time before gambling gets the boot on Youtube (already closing channels and removing videos) and Twitch. That's just what I think. To build your entire business around it is extremely risky and quite frankly, extremely boring to do night after night.

Besides, I don't agree that the value on Twitch is all that great. It might be for the top 3-5 streamers since they bring in such large quantities, but in general the value is low with a lot of bonus hunters (virtually no retention).

 

[BetOnlineUK]

It might be for the top 3-5 streamers since they bring in such large quantities, but in general the value is low with a lot of bonus hunters (virtually no retention).

I am not sure if that is strictly true (bonus hunters), there are streamers that have giveaways and comps for those that have signed up and been active for the last month or so. This is obviously a good tactic to keep the casinos happy and your rev share increasing. But I should imagine that most of these streamers are on a CPA or hybrid deal. But I could be wrong.

Also with the top streamers they do encourage you to use the forums they have set up on their websites. Some of these forums are extremely active.

I hope LCB will keep us updated and their own views on how their channel is progressing and if it is a viable source of affiliate income.

 

[danniee]

It is a known fact that the quality of players on Twitch is low in general with a lot of bonus hunters there only for the giveaways. Giveaways and comps are usually a bad deal for casinos and casinos that used to be generous with this are not so much anymore, especially since the increase in taxes.

When it comes to brand awareness, sure it's a decent place for operators and game developers to market themselves, but in terms of player value it's quite bad actually, unless you're one of the bigger streamers that attract large quantites. You can ask any affiliate manager and they will probably confirm this. If Twitch was so successfull, they would be throwing money at you to start streaming, which they dont anymore. Some have even pulled out and others are offering fake money instead. Also, keep in mind that some streamers use fake bots to boost their viewer count, making streaming seem bigger than it really is.

Either way, with all these regulations and all, it's very risky to build your business around streaming. It's a relatively aggressive form of marketing that is very provoking to a lot of people (especially on platforms popular with young adults) and surely the UKGC and other regulatory authorities are keeping an eye.

So no, I personally don't believe that it's a viable source of affiliate income (unless you belong to the very top). To be honest, your best income will likely come from the EV+ that a good streaming bonus might offer you.

 

[PROFRBcom]

I am not sure if that is strictly true (bonus hunters), there are streamers that have giveaways and comps for those that have signed up and been active for the last month or so. This is obviously a good tactic to keep the casinos happy and your rev share increasing. But I should imagine that most of these streamers are on a CPA or hybrid deal. But I could be wrong.

I think some of them are using "fake" "house money" to gamble with. And that their wins or losses are just zero'd out in the end. I imagine it would be hard to monetize a Twitch Stream if one were constantly gambling in -EV games. Going higher and higher in bets in order to satisfy one's audience.

It is a known fact that the quality of players on Twitch is low in general with a lot of bonus hunters there only for the giveaways. Giveaways and comps are usually a bad deal for casinos and casinos that used to be generous with this are not so much anymore, especially since the increase in taxes.

I did note a lot of low dollar poker players when we used the platform for poker. "Freerollers" and "bonus whores" were definitely a good part of the traffic we got with our successful streamer.

On the other hand, we also got a couple medium pros out of the deal. And those did generate some revenues.

In the end, I imagine it's just like hunting for players via SEO. Most players are garbage low value players. But you really aren't hunting minows, or even tuna. You are hunting for WHALES. You can break even on everything else, but it is those 1 or 2 whales per 1,000 sign ups that produce the profits!

 

[AussieDave]

I think some of them are using "fake" "house money" to gamble with. And that their wins or losses are just zero'd out in the end.

Casino etc., etc., are known to pay super affiliates BIG listing fees. So, it's very conceivable that Streamers with BIG followings, would have 'deals' too. I agree the money they flaunt is probably "house money".

Remember, not everything in life is the real-deal, even when it's dressed up to look it

 

[PROFRBcom]

Casino etc., etc., are known to pay super affiliates BIG listing fees. So, it's very conceivable that Streamers with BIG followings, would have 'deals' too. I agree the money they flaunt is probably "house money".

Remember, not everything in life is the real-deal, even when it's dressed up to look it

One would have to be an utter and absolute fool to play -EV casino games all day with their own money in order to gain commissions from that online casino in order to feed their stream/show's losses.

Then again... the world is full of fools!

FWIW, I do not think any of the Twitch gambling streamers are pulling anything close to the amount of players needed to be qualified as a "super-affiliate" and gain those kinds of big money fees.

 

[Thomas Andreas]

you cannot set age restrictions on Twitch, like you can on youtube?

 

[xecutable]

you cannot set age restrictions on Twitch, like you can on youtube?

You can. Then the stream says "This stream is tagged for mature audience only". But then again anyone can click "I accept. View Stream".