The Affiliate Marketing Podcast

In the Season 27 opener of The Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann is joined by Trackdesk Sales Director Sandesh Gunjal to discuss which iGaming affiliate metrics matter beyond first-time deposits (FTDs). They explore how reliable tracking and real-time reporting on betting activity, player lifetime value, and revenue can help affiliates assess traffic quality and build trust with operators.
Sandesh also explains where AI can support affiliate management, when human judgment matters, and how operators can choose technology that helps their programs scale across brands and markets.

Key Talking Points on Tracking, Trust, and Growth Beyond FTDs

What reliable tracking actually means in iGaming
Why operators need to look beyond FTDs
How real-time data can help affiliates improve traffic quality
The importance of postback integrations and accurate reporting
Why AI should assist decision-making rather than replace human review
The biggest mistakes brands make when scaling affiliate programs
Why manual spreadsheets and outdated tracking can limit growth
How operators can manage multi-brand and multi-market programs
What to consider when choosing a technology partner
Why affiliate programs should be built with long-term growth in mind

1. Why Affiliate Trust Matters to iGaming Operators

Trust is one of the central themes of the conversation.
Sandesh explains that operators should not approach affiliate programs simply as a way to acquire traffic or FTDs. Instead, the focus should be on building quality, trustworthy relationships that can continue over the long term.
When these relationships are properly developed and maintained, affiliates are more likely to stay with a program and contribute to its growth.

2. Why Postbacks Matter for iGaming Affiliate Tracking Beyond FTDs

In iGaming, tracking is more complicated than simply recording a sale or conversion.
Sandesh highlights the different layers that operators need to connect, including registrations, FTDs, player account management systems, attribution models, and commercial agreements such as CPA, RevShare, and hybrid deals.
Postback integration is particularly important because the system needs to continuously communicate accurate information back to the affiliate.
If reporting becomes inaccurate or stops communicating properly, the impact can quickly extend beyond technology and into the affiliate relationship.
For Sandesh, reporting needs to be clean, clear, and real-time, with the relevant information reflected accurately.

3. iGaming Affiliate Metrics to Track Beyond FTDs

FTDs remain an important metric, but Sandesh argues that operators should not treat affiliates simply as a source of first-time depositors.
There are other metrics that can help affiliates understand the quality and value of their traffic, including: Bets, Spend, Losses, LTV and Total revenue generated.
While sensitive information such as customer IDs, IP addresses and user agents can remain protected, Sandesh believes affiliates should have access to the performance information they need to optimise their traffic.
This allows affiliates to make better decisions about where to invest their resources, whether that means SEO, paid channels, websites, comparison platforms or AEO.
Better information can ultimately help affiliates improve the quality of the traffic they deliver.

4. Where AI Helps in Affiliate Program Management

AI is already becoming part of affiliate technology, and Sandesh sees clear opportunities for automation and optimisation. He highlights AI-assisted workflows for performance summaries, AI agents for analysis, and tools that can help identify suspicious activity, fraudulent conversions, and other issues.
However, Sandesh makes an important distinction: AI should help people make decisions faster, rather than making sensitive decisions on their behalf. He specifically cautions against relying on AI to make final compliance, legal, payment, or affiliate approval decisions.
The future, in his view, is about combining AI capabilities with experienced people who can carry out the final review.

5. Choosing Technology to Scale iGaming Affiliate Programs 

One of the biggest challenges for operators is making sure their technology can support the growth of their affiliate program.
Sandesh highlights several common mistakes, including unclear acquisition strategies, poor allocation of budgets, and continued reliance on manual spreadsheets and basic tracking.
As programs grow from a small number of affiliates to thousands of partners across multiple brands and markets, these processes can become increasingly difficult to manage.
Technology should therefore reduce operational work rather than create more of it.
When choosing a technology partner, Sandesh recommends looking beyond the product itself and considering factors such as the company's roadmap, infrastructure, team, certifications, data protection, investors, and long-term vision.
The key is to choose infrastructure that supports future growth rather than limiting it.

What You’ll Learn From Sandesh Gunjal

Why affiliate trust is becoming increasingly important
What reliable tracking looks like in a complex iGaming environment
Why FTDs are only one part of affiliate performance
How AI can improve affiliate management and reporting
Why human review remains essential for sensitive decisions
The mistakes operators make when scaling affiliate programs
Why manual tracking can become a barrier to growth
Why long-term planning is essential when building an affiliate program

Episode Timestamps

02:00 – Why trust is becoming a scarce commodity
05:15 – How inaccurate reporting impacts affiliate relationships
07:35 – Why operators need to look beyond FTDs
12:10 – What happens when affiliate and operator data don't match
16:40 – AI for automation, optimisation and analysis
20:10 – How AI and AEO are changing the industry
24:33 – Why outdated technology can hold affiliate teams back
33:10 – Practical advice for operators starting or rebuilding programs
35:40 – Why affiliate programs need a long-term perspective

Listen to the Full Episode With Sandesh Gunjal

Building a successful affiliate program requires more than acquiring traffic and tracking FTDs. In this episode, Sandesh Gunjal explains how strong infrastructure, accurate data, transparent reporting, and long-term relationships all play a role in creating sustainable affiliate growth.
Listen to the full episode to learn how trust, data and technology are shaping the next generation of affiliate programs. Moreover, see how operators can use tracking and technology to give affiliates better insight, improve program management, and prepare their infrastructure for future growth. For more information on Trackdesk, visit their website HERE.
Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.
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Affiliate marketing has changed dramatically over the past two decades. What was once viewed as a simple performance channel has evolved into a broader partnership ecosystem powered by technology, data, influencers, mobile, and now AI-driven discovery. AI visibility in affiliate marketing is raising new questions about which partners influence consumers before they click.
In this episode, Lee-Ann is joined by Matthias Stadelmeyer, President & CEO at NYORDA, to discuss how the industry is evolving and what brands need to understand about the future of performance marketing.
With more than 15 years at the company and experience navigating major industry changes, Matthias shares his perspective on why affiliate marketing remains one of the most valuable but often underestimated channels for brands.
Together, they discuss how technology and data have transformed affiliate marketing, why measuring the full customer journey is becoming increasingly important, and what AI-driven discovery means for publishers and advertisers.
As search behaviour shifts towards large language models (LLMs), Matthias explains why brands need to understand not only where their traffic comes from, but also which publishers influence AI-generated recommendations and consumer decisions.

Key Talking Points: AI Visibility in Affiliate Marketing

How affiliate marketing has evolved into partnership marketing
Why affiliate remains an undervalued channel despite strong growth
The role of data and technology in measuring performance
Why last-click attribution is becoming less relevant
How brands can understand the wider publisher impact on consumer journeys
The rise of AI visibility and LLM-driven discovery
How publishers are influencing brand recommendations in AI search
Why smaller niche publishers can have a significant impact
The future of mobile acquisition and app marketing
How brands can prepare for the next phase of performance marketing

1. How Affiliate Marketing Evolved Into Partnership Marketing 

Affiliate marketing is no longer just about sending traffic and measuring conversions.
According to Matthias, the channel has matured significantly because technology now allows brands to understand much more about customer journeys, sales validation, and publisher impact.
While the fundamentals remain the same, the data behind the channel has transformed how brands approach partnerships.
Affiliate marketing has also historically acted as an incubator for new marketing trends. Matthias explains that areas such as retargeting, search, influencer marketing, and social media marketing have all developed connections with the affiliate ecosystem before becoming their own established channels.
Today, the focus is moving towards a wider partnership ecosystem where different types of publishers and creators contribute across the customer journey.

2. Why Last-Click Attribution Misses Publisher Influence

For years, last-click attribution has been the dominant measurement model in affiliate marketing.
However, as customer journeys become more complex, brands are looking for better ways to understand the influence different partners have before conversion.
Matthias explains that user journey reporting has returned as an important topic, but implementing it remains challenging because brands need consistent measurement technology and clear decisions around how commissions should be allocated.
The goal is not simply knowing who delivered the final click, but understanding which partners helped move customers towards a purchase.

3. AI Visibility in Affiliate Marketing: The Publisher Opportunity

One of the biggest changes discussed in the episode is the rise of AI-powered discovery.
As consumers increasingly use LLMs to find recommendations, brands need to understand how visible they are within these systems.
Matthias explains that NYORDA’s AI visibility solution helps brands understand their share of voice in LLM responses and identify which publishers are being used as sources of information.
The surprising insight is that influence does not only come from large media companies.
Smaller blogs, niche publishers, and comparison websites can also play an important role in shaping how brands appear in AI-generated answers.
This creates a new opportunity for publishers who can create valuable, trusted content.

4. How Brands Can Measure AI Visibility and Find Publisher Partners

Traditional search rankings have historically required years of investment.
However, Matthias explains that AI-driven search creates a different opportunity because new brands can potentially gain visibility much faster if they become relevant sources for AI recommendations.
The challenge is that brands now need to understand:
which content influences AI responses
which publishers contribute to visibility
how to optimise content for this new environment
NYORDA’s approach focuses on helping brands identify publishers that already influence their AI visibility and work with them to improve content structure and relevance.

5. Why Mobile Acquisition Remains an Opportunity for Brands

Beyond AI, Matthias highlights mobile as another area with significant growth potential.
He explains that mobile is one of the fastest-growing areas within NYORDA’s business, but many brands still fail to properly track and market their apps.
For many app-first businesses, this represents a missed opportunity.
Better measurement and stronger acquisition strategies could help brands unlock additional growth.

Listen to Find Out More About

Why affiliate marketing continues to grow despite changing consumer behaviour
How technology has transformed performance partnerships
Why brands need to move beyond last-click attribution
How AI is changing search visibility and discovery
Why publishers will play a key role in AI-generated recommendations
How brands can measure influence across the customer journey
Why mobile acquisition remains an underused opportunity

Episode Timestamps

01:30 – Matthias’ journey from Tradedoubler employee to CEO
05:10 – Why affiliate marketing remains an undervalued channel
06:11 – How data and technology transformed performance marketing
08:00 – How partnership marketing is expanding beyond affiliates
12:00 – The return of user journey reporting
17:30 – Why NYORDA developed its AI visibility product
20:25 – Measuring AI visibility and share of voice
33:20 – The future of partnership marketing and AI
36:00 – Why mobile acquisition remains a growth opportunity

Listen to the Full Affiliate Marketing Podcast Episode 

Affiliate marketing is entering a new phase where data, technology, and AI are changing how brands discover, measure, and work with partners.
In this episode, Matthias Stadelmeyer shares his perspective on the evolution of performance marketing, the rise of AI visibility, and why publishers will continue to play an important role in shaping consumer decisions. To find out more on NYORDA and their market launch of EMNA AI, click HERE.
Listen to the full episode to discover how brands can prepare for the next era of partnership marketing. Also, you can check out Affiverse’s Huawei/Tradedoubler webinar on revenue growth HERE.
Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.
Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.com
Already subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.
Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.
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Casino affiliate marketing continues to grow, but with more brands, publishers, and competition entering the market, finding reliable partners has become increasingly challenging.
In this episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann is joined by Oleksandr Kulyk, VP of Partnerships at Makeberry Affiliates, to discuss the publisher side of the casino affiliate ecosystem. Their conversation explores the challenges facing new affiliates and what separates sustainable traffic sources from short-term opportunities.
Makeberry Affiliates works across several areas of digital acquisition, including media buying, SEO, ASO, influencer marketing, affiliate networks, and direct advertiser partnerships. This gives the team insight into both sides of the market: what advertisers expect from publishers and what publishers need from brands to build successful casino affiliate partnerships.
Oleksandr explains why trust has become one of the industry’s biggest challenges, how affiliates can assess potential partners, and why quality affiliate traffic matters more than simply chasing volume.
The discussion also examines AI in affiliate marketing, including its effect on content creation and casino affiliate SEO. Oleksandr considers how publishers can adapt their strategies and where new opportunities may emerge as consumer behavior evolves. 
Key Talking Points: Casino Affiliate Growth Strategies and Insights
How Makeberry evolved from media buying into a full-cycle acquisition partner
Why trust has become a major challenge between affiliates and advertisers
The biggest challenges facing new publishers entering the casino market
Why quality traffic matters more than volume
How smaller affiliates can find the right brand partnerships
What makes a publisher attractive to advertisers and networks
Why affiliates should focus on niches instead of competing everywhere
How AI is changing SEO, content creation, and publisher strategies
Why publishers need to think long term when building traffic assets
The importance of due diligence when choosing affiliate partners
1. Why Trust Matters in Casino Affiliate Marketing 
The affiliate industry has never had more opportunities, but rapid growth has also created new challenges.
Oleksandr explains that one of the biggest issues in the market today is a lack of trust between affiliates and advertisers. With more brands launching and more publishers entering the space, both sides can struggle to identify reliable partners.
From the advertiser perspective, some companies invest heavily in acquiring traffic without fully understanding how to manage those campaigns or generate a return. This can create problems when brands are unable to maintain payments or build long-term relationships with publishers.
For affiliates, the challenge is choosing brands they can trust and knowing whether their traffic is being valued correctly.
Oleksandr highlights that networks and experienced partners can help bridge this gap by connecting publishers with suitable brands and providing better market knowledge.
2. Why Quality Affiliate Traffic Beats Volume 
One of the biggest lessons from the episode is that affiliate success is not always about sending the highest number of users.
Oleksandr explains that Makeberry focuses on paying for quality rather than simply quantity because even a smaller number of valuable players can generate significant results.
For smaller affiliates, this creates an opportunity.
A publisher does not necessarily need thousands of users to become valuable. Understanding a specific audience, building expertise in a niche, and delivering high-quality traffic can create stronger partnerships.
Oleksandr advises affiliates to avoid spreading themselves too thin and instead focus on finding where they can provide unique value.
3. How to Build a Sustainable Casino Affiliate Business 
The affiliate industry often creates unrealistic expectations.
Oleksandr warns that many people see stories of overnight success online, but building a successful publishing business usually requires testing, learning, and continuous improvement.
His advice for new affiliates is simple: start.
Find a niche, understand your audience, test ideas, and build expertise over time. Waiting for the perfect opportunity can mean missing the chance to learn while the market is still available.
Long-term thinking is essential. Oleksandr shares examples where significant investment and testing were required before seeing meaningful results, highlighting that sustainable growth does not happen overnight.
4. How AI Is Changing Casino Affiliate SEO and Publisher Growth 
AI has lowered the barrier for creating websites and content, allowing people to move faster than ever.
However, Oleksandr explains that this also creates new challenges. With more websites being created, competition increases and publishers need to focus more on authenticity, expertise, and differentiation.
Looking ahead, he believes publishers need to think beyond traditional search traffic and understand how AI-driven recommendations could influence user journeys.
Makeberry is already exploring how websites can become visible within AI-driven search experiences, rather than relying only on traditional search engines. 
Listen to Find Out More About Casino Affiliates
How MakeBerry supports both publishers and advertisers
Why trust has become one of the biggest challenges in affiliate marketing
What smaller affiliates can do to attract better partnerships
Why quality traffic matters more than volume
How affiliates can identify valuable niches
Why due diligence matters before choosing a brand partner
How AI is changing SEO and publisher strategies
Where new affiliate opportunities could emerge in the next 12–24 months
Timestamps
02:35 – How Makeberry became a full-cycle acquisition partner
05:45 – Why trust has become a major issue in affiliate partnerships
07:00 – How AI is changing the affiliate market and lowering barriers to entry
09:50 – Why smaller affiliates often struggle to find the right partners
11:38 – Why Makeberry focuses on quality traffic over quantity
13:00 – How affiliates can find the right platforms and partnerships
15:20 – Why finding a niche can help smaller publishers compete
18:15 – The future of SEO, AI and new traffic opportunities
25:00 – What affiliates need to understand before switching campaigns
29:11 – Advice for affiliates starting today
Listen to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast 
Building a successful affiliate business requires more than finding traffic and signing partnerships.
In this episode, Oleksandr shares practical advice on choosing the right partners, focusing on quality audiences, building sustainable traffic sources, and adapting to the changes AI is bringing to the industry. 
Listen to the full episode to learn how affiliates and advertisers can create stronger partnerships and grow together in an increasingly competitive market. Check out Makeberry Affiliates HERE.
Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.
Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.com
Already subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.
Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.
Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."

Send me a text with your questions

Paid media is changing quickly. With AI in paid media reshaping how campaigns are created, analysed, and optimised, advertisers have more opportunities than ever but also more questions around how to use these tools effectively.
In this episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann Johnstone is joined by Andrei Blosh, Business Development Team Leader at PropellerAds, to discuss the evolving world of paid acquisition, AI-powered marketing, and what advertisers need to consider before investing their budgets.
With 15 years of experience in the advertising space, PropellerAds works with performance marketers across multiple verticals, including iGaming, finance, mobile apps, utilities, and lead generation. Andrei shares his perspective on how advertisers can build an effective paid media strategy rather than treating campaigns as a simple “turn on and wait” process. 
The conversation explores how AI is helping advertisers analyse performance, optimise campaigns, and make faster decisions, while also discussing why human creativity and preparation remain essential. From spotting AI-generated creatives to understanding the importance of testing budgets, tracking, and localisation, Andrei shares practical advice for businesses looking to scale their acquisition strategies.

AI in Paid Media: Key Talking Points

How AI is changing paid media optimisation and campaign management
Why AI-generated creatives still need human input and strategy
The importance of preparation before launching paid campaigns
Why paid media is not a quick-win channel
How advertisers should approach testing budgets and optimisation
The role of multi-format campaigns in acquisition strategies
Why tier-three markets are becoming increasingly attractive
How localisation impacts paid media performance across different regions

How AI Is Changing Paid Media Strategy and Optimisation

AI in paid media is becoming increasingly important, helping advertisers analyse data, identify patterns, and optimise campaigns faster.
Andrei explains that AI has already changed how teams work by reducing the time needed for tasks that previously required hours of manual analysis. Advertisers can now use AI tools to understand what is working, what is not, and where campaigns should be adjusted.
However, AI is not a replacement for marketing strategy.
Andrei highlights that advertisers still need to understand their audience, prepare their landing pages, build effective creatives, define their user journey, and have the right tracking systems in place before investing in traffic.
The biggest mistake businesses make is assuming AI can fix a weak foundation. Technology can support optimisation, but it cannot replace preparation.

Why Paid Media Strategy Requires Testing, Patience, and Partnership

One of the biggest misconceptions about paid media is expecting immediate returns.
Andrei explains that advertisers often approach campaigns expecting to put in one dollar and immediately receive three dollars back. In reality, successful campaigns require testing, optimisation, and time to gather enough data.
A strong paid media strategy involves testing different formats, analysing results, adjusting campaigns, and understanding what works for a specific audience.
For advertisers, this means having realistic expectations and allocating enough budget to properly evaluate performance.
Andrei also highlights that successful campaigns come from collaboration between advertisers and traffic partners. The best results happen when both sides work together towards a shared goal rather than treating traffic acquisition as a simple transaction.

Paid Media Market Expansion: Why Localisation Matters

As competition increases in established markets, more advertisers are exploring opportunities in tier-three regions.
Andrei explains that countries across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly attractive because of growing digital adoption and expanding consumer markets.
However, entering these markets requires a localised paid media strategy.
Successful campaigns need to consider more than language. Advertisers must understand local preferences, payment methods, creative styles, device usage, and cultural differences.
For example, Andrei highlights that payment methods such as Pix in Brazil and M-Pesa in Kenya can play an important role in adapting campaigns for local audiences.
The opportunity is significant, but success depends on understanding the market rather than simply replicating campaigns from other regions.

What You Will Learn About AI in Paid Media

How AI is helping advertisers optimise campaigns faster
Why AI-generated creatives can sometimes hurt performance
The preparation checklist businesses need before buying traffic
Why paid media should be treated as a long-term strategy
How advertisers can test campaigns effectively
Why tier-three markets are attracting more attention
How localisation impacts paid media success

Podcast Timestamps: AI, Paid Media and Market Expansion

 04:56 – How AI is helping advertisers analyse and optimise campaigns
 06:35 – Why AI-generated creatives can be easy to spot
 11:02 – Why AI does not replace marketing preparation
 16:45 – Why paid media is about long-term partnerships, not quick results
 19:05 – How paid traffic can influence brand visibility and SEO
 25:10 – Understanding testing budgets and campaign optimisation
 30:15 – Why tier-three markets are becoming growth opportunities

Listen to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast

Paid media success is not just about buying traffic — it is about understanding your audience, testing strategically, and building campaigns that are designed to improve over time.
In this episode, Andrei Blosh shares practical advice on how advertisers can approach AI, campaign optimisation, and market expansion with a smarter strategy. Visit PropellerAds to find out more.
Listen to the full episode to discover how paid media is evolving and what businesses need to consider before investing in their next acquisition campaign.
Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.
Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.com
Already subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.
Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.
Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."

Send me a text with your questions

AI is creating new opportunities for affiliate marketers — but it is also lowering the barriers for AI affiliate fraud.
In this episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, Lee-Ann Johnstone sat down with Tautvydas Vasiliauskas, Head of Marketing at FirstPromoter, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing affiliate marketing, from improving productivity and automation to creating new challenges around fake partners, fake content, scalable fraud, and affiliate partner vetting.
With more than a decade of experience across affiliate marketing, SaaS, e-commerce, and subscription businesses, Tautvydas shares his perspective on why the industry needs to prepare for a new wave of AI-driven risks while still embracing the opportunities the technology creates.
The conversation covers how AI can help affiliate managers automate reporting, analysis, outreach, and campaign management, while also discussing why relationships remain one of the most important parts of successful affiliate programs.
They also explore how AI is bringing back old affiliate fraud techniques in new forms: fake websites, private blog networks, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content. Tautvydas explains what affiliate managers can do to strengthen affiliate fraud prevention and identify suspicious partners before they affect their programs.

Key Talking Points: AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner Vetting

How AI is improving affiliate program management and productivity
Why relationship building remains the core responsibility of affiliate managers
How AI is bringing old fraud tactics back at a much larger scale
Why fake websites, AI-generated influencers, and synthetic content are growing risks
The importance of creating partner quality checklists
How affiliate managers can identify suspicious traffic and engagement patterns
Why quality over quantity should become the new mindset for partner recruitment
How AI will impact partner vetting and fraud detection in the future

How AI Is Changing Affiliate Program Management

AI is changing the way affiliate teams operate.
Tautvydas explains that many companies are using AI to become more efficient, especially as teams become leaner and businesses look to achieve more with fewer resources. Affiliate managers are already using AI for tasks such as partner discovery, outreach creation, reporting, analysis, and automating repetitive workflows.
However, the biggest opportunity is not replacing relationships. Tautvydas highlights that building connections with partners will always remain a key responsibility of affiliate managers.
Instead, AI can remove time-consuming operational tasks, allowing managers to focus more on strategy, partnerships, and growth.
The same technology that improves efficiency, however, can also be used by bad actors.

How AI Is Scaling Affiliate Fraud

Affiliate marketing has always faced fraud challenges.
Tautvydas explains that many of the tactics the industry has seen before are returning in a new form. Previously, creating fake websites, manipulating SEO, or building private blog networks required technical skills and significant effort.
AI has changed that.
Today, anyone can create multiple websites, generate content, build social profiles, or create fake influencers without needing advanced technical knowledge. The biggest change AI brings is scale.
For affiliate managers, this creates a new challenge: distinguishing genuine partners from those using AI to appear legitimate.

Why Affiliate Partner Vetting Should Prioritize Quality 

Affiliate managers are often under pressure to grow programs quickly and recruit as many partners as possible. But Tautvydas believes this mindset needs to change.
The focus should move from quantity to quality — taking the time to properly evaluate partners before allowing them into a program.
This means creating stronger vetting processes, checking content quality, analysing traffic patterns, and looking for genuine engagement signals.
A smaller number of trusted partners can create better long-term results than a large number of unknown publishers that could create risk.
Listen to Learn More About AI Affiliate Fraud and Partner Vetting 
How AI is helping affiliate managers automate everyday tasks
Why relationships remain the most important part of affiliate marketing
How fake websites and AI-generated content are changing affiliate fraud
The warning signs of fake publishers and influencers
Why affiliate programs need stronger partner quality checks
How AI could shape the future of partner vetting and fraud prevention
Episode Timestamps 

05:40 – How AI is helping affiliate managers improve productivity
 10:45 – The history of affiliate fraud and why old tactics are returning
 12:20 – How AI lowers the barrier for creating fake websites and content
 17:00 – How affiliate managers can identify suspicious partners
 22:10 – Building a partner quality checklist for affiliate programs
 25:58 – Why quality over quantity should guide partner recruitment
 27:27 – What the future of AI and affiliate fraud could look like
Listen to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast 
AI is changing affiliate marketing — creating new opportunities for efficiency while introducing new challenges around trust, transparency, and partner quality.
Tautvydas shared practical advice on how affiliate managers can use AI effectively while protecting their programs from emerging fraud risks. Find out more about this AI Shift in FirstPromoter’s guide HERE.
Listen to the full episode to learn how to balance innovation with better partner evaluation and build stronger affiliate programmes in the AI era.
Interested in taking part in the Affiliate Marketing Podcast? Contact our team to find out sponsorships opportunities and how we can help get your brand seen and heard in front of the right audience - contact sales@affiverse.com for more information.
Sign up for the Affiverse Newsletter at affiversemedia.com
Already subscribed? Share this episode with any affiliate, operator, or affiliate manager working to build trust in online gaming.
Subscribe to the Affiliate Marketing Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to gain insights into scaling campaigns with accountability, sensitivity, and trust, even in the era of AI and automation.
Click here to rate and review, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review."

Send me a text with your questions