N1 Partners is launching a new series of traffic tournaments called N1 Traffic Cups, with the first event starting this March.
Throughout 2026, partners can participate in a...
N1 Partners’ new iGaming insights series launched
N1 Partners launched a new series with monthly iGaming market insights, and from March 2026, the team will continue to share practical analytics, with iGaming affiliate marketing experts breaking down developments in traffic sources, GEOs, content, technologies, and regulation, based on real data, campaign statistics, and the experience of the industry’s strongest players.
The market is moving out of the testing mode and going towards precise optimization and scaling. From now on, the focus will be on the efficiency of funnels, resilience to platform updates, and process technological maturity.
Part 1: Traffic and performance
Trending traffic sources in March 2026 and future tendencies
Facebook continues to have the highest level of stability among traffic sources, with TikTok and ASO also showing strong results periodically.
Three trends can be highlighted in SEO traffic:
- Ongoing content optimization aligned with E-E-A-T principles. Cases where websites generate clicks but fail to convert traffic because Google does not perceive them as sufficiently useful or authoritative for users are prevalent.
- A growing interest in the cross-brand approach. Such projects tend to adapt more easily to market and algorithm changes. An increase in sports-related traffic driven by a packed events calendar in Q1 2026 can also be observed.
- There is a continued gradual cleanup of PBN websites from search results, along with a refocus from traditional link-building toward the development of high-quality content.
Brand requirements for traffic quality
Brands are starting to change their performance evaluation approach from a 3-4 month horizon to analyzing results in the current month. Although 100% ROI is not expected in the first month, traffic still has to show positive dynamics and bring in real players. Early engagement metrics and audience quality indicators are becoming important factors for making decisions about scaling and collaborations.
KPIs and traffic evaluation metrics
ROAS and Average Deposit Count are the main metrics in determining further activity and potential caps, as they assess both initial conversion and the real value of the acquired player.
For Facebook, PPC, and ASO, the focus is changing from volume to quality. A lot of attention is paid to the deposit-to-redeposit ratio, player LTV, and stream profitability in weeks two, three, and four. When it comes to scaling decisions and budget allocation, monetization depth and behavioral metrics are the decisive factors.
Scaling approaches that will give the best results in March 2026
A lot still depends on the GEO and the traffic source, and the method of performance evaluation is chosen based on the acquisition channel.
5 consistent trends can be noted from an SEO perspective:
- Parasite SEO – Across most of the key GEOs, a sharp increase in new content published on high-authority platforms such as Trustpilot, Reddit, Yahoo, and other domains is visible.
- SEO funnels with YouTube channels – Despite some skepticism, this format delivers both volume and stream profitability. Video content improves trust and organic traffic conversion rates.
- Niche review websites – Big portals are entering narrow segments less frequently, while smaller players are successfully getting rankings for highly specific keyword searches. These are often simple, strictly keyword-optimized one-page websites that show strong performance.
- Local keyword queries – These perform especially well in smaller but high-income GEOs like Denmark, Norway, Austria, and Switzerland. In these markets, a localized approach results in much higher conversion rates as a result of the audience’s strong purchasing power.
- Cross-brand strategies – They are effective only with strong coordination: a responsive affiliate manager on the webmaster’s side and a strong product manager on the brand’s side who can quickly evaluate traffic quality and give feedback on the funnel. Without fast communication, this model loses its effectiveness.
Part 2: GEO priorities
Tier-1 GEOs with high growth potential in March 2026
Players in Austria and Germany demonstrate consistent activity and strong monetization on Facebook, PPC, and other paid traffic sources. Talking about SEO, Canada, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Slovenia are showing good potential. In these GEOs, parasite SEO, cross-brand strategies, and niche review websites are gradually developing.
GEOs that are hard to enter in March 2026
Germany, Australia, and Canada continue to be highly competitive and have increased regulatory risks, while in Europe, GDPR compliance requirements are still in force.
Facebook traffic is likely to remain stable and continue to show good performance with appropriate ROI management. However, PPC in Tier-1 is seeing a rise in competition, stricter platform policies, and auction costs.
Regulatory changes impacting SEO strategies in Tier-1 GEOs
Stricter regulatory measures continue to be the trend in Tier-1 markets. Increased taxes and lower deposit limits are pushing European players toward grey operators.
Restrictions are also narrowing traditional funnels and limiting promotional opportunities in conventional SEO. This is pushing the market to use hybrid models, where organic traffic is mixed with Facebook, Telegram, social sources, and parasite SEO funnels.
Part 3: SEO content and algorithms
How the effectiveness of classic link building will change
In the past, it was possible to buy 100 backlinks and get 50 of them indexed and 10 ranked. Now, there is a high chance none of the 100 backlinks will bring a measurable impact.
Search engines are starting to focus on the internal quality of a website instead of external factors. Usability, page load speed, well-structured content architecture, clear information formatting, and genuine user value are now the priorities. These conditions force a move from mechanical backlink growth strategies to more comprehensive approaches focused on product quality and user experience.
Which SEO approaches will stop working as effectively as before?
- PBNs and mass purchasing of cheap backlinks are losing relevance.
- A broad keyword set doesn’t guarantee high traffic volume.
- Long-form content created just for volume is becoming ineffective.
- Generic, one-size-fits-all content is giving way to highly niche, specialized content.
Part 4: Economics, costs, and ROI forecasts
How traffic costs will change in March 2026 compared to January 2026
As the holiday season ends, traffic costs become more manageable. March 2026 is expected to be a favorable period for operations, but it’s still important to monitor global events, as auctions are very sensitive to external factors.
Which factors will have the biggest impact on ROI in March 2026?
The most important factor will be player engagement with the product, as the depth of interaction directly affects economics, retention, and long-term user value.
Because of this, many advertisers are testing tailored approaches that focus on the quality of the product rather than the volume of acquisition. Top development priorities include optimizing onboarding, simplifying deposit processes, and strengthening retention strategies.
How open will brands be to flexible deals for high-quality traffic in March 2026?
With high-quality traffic becoming increasingly scarce, partners are becoming more selective when they’re choosing brands to work with. Those who are willing to negotiate individual terms, respond quickly to traffic quality feedback, and avoid imposing strict caps without objective reasons have priority. Flexibility and openness to dialogue are acting as competitive advantages in attracting and keeping strong webmasters.
How will the balance between traffic volume and margins change in March 2026?
The market is moving towards stabilization, so no big changes are expected in March 2026. As active periods end, market players balance their performance metrics and establish more predictable unit economics.
Although there’s still enough traffic volume in the market, a shift from quantity to quality is noticeable. No one wants to pay just for traffic anymore; the most influential factors now are efficiency, audience engagement, and actual profitability.
To sum up, 2026 is expected to be a year of optimization and selection. Those who are able to adapt to change, work closely with partners on the product side, and build strategies around real player value will be the ones who succeed.
The N1 Partners team is ready to build flexible terms, respond quickly to market changes, and help partners maintain stability. N1 Partners offers over 14 casino and sportsbook brands with Reg2Dep up to 70%, more than 10 Tier-1 GEOs, and CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% with NNCO for top partners and hybrid models.
N1 Partners organized an interesting gastronomic experience for its top partners, inviting the Seven Group media buying team to a dinner in the sky, which is listed by Forbes...
