In 2027, Affiliate Managers in casino and sportsbook operators face a major macro challenge driven by tightening global regulations and rising compliance costs. Governments are imposing stricter rules around advertising, data usage, responsible gambling, and cross-border marketing, making it harder for affiliates to operate freely and for operators to scale acquisition efficiently. At the same time, increased competition and higher media costs mean that affiliates expect better commercial terms, deeper support, and more sophisticated tracking technology.

As a result, Affiliate Managers must balance compliance, profitability, and partner relationships while navigating a rapidly evolving and more expensive acquisition landscape.

The 3 key challenges facing Affiliate Managers right now are:

1. Rising Costs — CPA & Listing Fees
Acquisition is getting more expensive across the board. CPA rates continue to climb as competition for quality players intensifies, while premium affiliates and comparison sites command ever-higher listing and positioning fees. This squeezes margins, makes ROI harder to justify, and forces managers to fight for budget while proving the value of every partnership.

2. Top Affiliates Becoming Increasingly Selective
The best-performing affiliates now have their pick of operators and are far more discerning about who they promote. They expect strong brand reputation, fast and reliable payments, competitive terms, and genuine support before committing traffic. Winning and retaining these partners means standing out in a crowded market where affiliates hold more leverage than ever.

3. AI Changing the Affiliate Landscape
AI is rapidly reshaping how affiliates create content, drive traffic, and reach players—from AI-generated comparison content to shifting search behaviour and answer engines that bypass traditional affiliate sites altogether. Operators and managers must adapt to new discovery channels, rethink attribution, and work out how AI affects both the value affiliates deliver and the way partnerships are structured.

Who is this course for? iGaming Operators, Sportsbook Operators & Start ups

Role function ideas: General managers, Marketing managers, Affiliate executives, Affiliate managers, customer experience managers, Heads of customers acquisition, customer engagement managers, Customer retention managers