Gambling Affiliate Site Regulations

[nikohirvo88]

Hello,

Are there any regulations for betting/gambling/crypto casino affiliate sites? Found some info that in some US states your company needs to have licence for affiliate site. There are similar regulations for UK as well. Is it true? Google is full of contradictory info on this matter.

 

[Nut-Nights]

There is no such thing, just get offshore hosting and start your gambling affiliate site.

 

[nikohirvo88]

There is no such thing, just get offshore hosting and start your gambling affiliate site.

You mean domain which ends .io, .gg? Or park domain to offshore domain service?

 

[Nut-Nights]

You mean domain which ends .io, .gg? Or park domain to offshore domain service?

Get any domain on non us registrar and host on offshore hosting.

 

[nikohirvo88]

Up

 

[TooMuchTraffic]

in some US states your company needs to have licence for affiliate site

That's true. If you promote legal operators then you will need a license as an affiliate. The UK doesn't have that, yet.

Alternatively, you can promote offshore operators which mostly accept crypto.

 

[nikohirvo88]

That's true. If you promote legal operators then you will need a license as an affiliate. The UK doesn't have that, yet.

Alternatively, you can promote offshore operators which mostly accept crypto.

So basically it all depends on operators you promote?

 

[UserU]

EDITED

 

[nikohirvo88]

Hey @nikohirvo88, previously I used to promote gambling affiliate sites via Google Ads until the ads were disapproved once the restrictions set in.

Apparently you are only allowed to promote the site(s) as long as you're a licensed affiliate or obtain some gambling certification.

In addition, the countries are also taken into account. Some places, such as Indonesia do not allowed such ads to be displayed at all.

Thanks, but I am not talking about paid ads.

 

[UserU]

Thanks, but I am not talking about paid ads.

My bad, I'll edit my previous post then.

 

[TooMuchTraffic]

So basically it all depends on operators you promote?

Yes, and of course on the legal status, you want your operation to have.
Please feel free to ask any further questions. I will do my best to answer them.

 

[madzeee]

Interesting read thanks

 

[Sandie2018]

Does it mean I can’t promote a US casino if I live in the UK?

 

[nikohirvo88]

Yes, and of course on the legal status, you want your operation to have.
Please feel free to ask any further questions. I will do my best to answer them.

Thank you! I want to operate as a company and do everything in legal way or one foot in grey zone. I know that most countries have different regulations for gambling but still it is hard to understand some main regulations. So what I would need in order to have website targeted to USA, UK users?

 

[TooMuchTraffic]

Does it mean I can’t promote a US casino if I live in the UK?

You can promote a legally licensed casino in a state where online gambling is allowed if you are a legally licensed affiliate. Then it doesn't matter from where you operate. I assume you will probably need some sort of incorporation within the US too.

website targeted to USA, UK users

Regarding US, look above.

Regarding UK, there are also quite a lot of restrictions in place. You will have to keep an eye on a lot of things while advertising there whilst the UKGC is throwing out more and more restrictions. If you work with a legally licensed brand targeting UK players you will most likely have an affiliate manager who will of course provide you with a list of things too keep on mind while advertising.

So if you want to keep it legal, you just need a company, your IM skills and most importantly a shit ton of money.

 

[nikohirvo88]

You can promote a legally licensed casino in a state where online gambling is allowed if you are a legally licensed affiliate. Then it doesn't matter from where you operate. I assume you will probably need some sort of incorporation within the US too.



Regarding US, look above.

Regarding UK, there are also quite a lot of restrictions in place. You will have to keep an eye on a lot of things while advertising there whilst the UKGC is throwing out more and more restrictions. If you work with a legally licensed brand targeting UK players you will most likely have an affiliate manager who will of course provide you with a list of things too keep on mind while advertising.

So if you want to keep it legal, you just need a company, your IM skills and most importantly a shit ton of money.

So what I understand (please correct me if I am wrong), if I want to promote legally operating casino in like example New Jersey, I have to have license in that state. And if I do not have operator just wont cooperate with me. How about offshore casinos then?

 

[TooMuchTraffic]

So what I understand (please correct me if I am wrong), if I want to promote legally operating casino in like example New Jersey, I have to have license in that state. And if I do not have operator just wont cooperate with me. How about offshore casinos then?

Yes, New Jersey is one of the states where you need a license as an affiliate.

Offshores don't care - they don't have to but if you want to make your business entirely legal promoting offshores might cause problems.

 

[Luca Marketing Agency]

I think they can be overcome with a gray hat.

 

[nikohirvo88]

Yes, New Jersey is one of the states where you need a license as an https://sunshine-poker.com/news/how-to-apply-for-a-new-jersey-online-gaming-affiliate-license.html

Offshores don't care - they don't have to but if you want to make your business entirely legal promoting offshores might cause problems.

Yes, I am interested in these problems. I am trying to understand legal environment. Is there REAL legal threat running gambling affiliate? I am not talking about missleading marketing or something like that but more from licensing perspective.
Example: I set up affiliate site with offshore casinos and my site is accessible worldwide. I operate as a company. What are my risks here?

 

[TooMuchTraffic]

Is there REAL legal threat running gambling affiliate?

As long as you don't live in a cave where no one can find you, being sued by multiple US states is something I would consider as a threat. So a license would be desirable if you go for the official route.

Example: I set up affiliate site with offshore casinos and my site is accessible worldwide. I operate as a company. What are my risks here?

If it's possible to find out who is behind the site, so If you linked your company and your site reaches players which are not allowed to gamble/offers them an opportunity to gamble even though they shouldn't you might as well get sued by the states. If your site is offshore and the affiliate programs pay your company (if they care about tax things) then you might be safe.
I want to make clear - I do not run any operations like that and I never did so, neither I plan on doing so. The information I am giving to you here is what I have learned. By no means I want to claim that I am entirely right about what I am writing.