What is the future for poker affiliates?

[Laurence]

I think all these changes are encouraging the people that are cut out for it to take the business more serious and diversify / innovate more. If you didn't like a challenge, you shouldn't have stepped in in the first place. It's the road to riches that makes life interesting. Aside from getting into the casino business, I think the sportsbetting market is a safe bet to diversify into.

[pokerprop]

Personally right now I am not all that comfortable investing heavily in either poker or sports betting. Casino and bingo on the other hand I find very smart investments right now. I'll still be doing plenty with poker i just view the resale values so low right now in that niche that I am not longer able to exit on demand as I always was able to in the past when something comes up. That market may or may not stabilize itself after this initial scare and still might be strong even at lower CPA and Rev share though I feel it is too hard to predict. One thing you'll notice is those with six or seven figure investments into poker are not all that quick to comment in threads such as this one.

[Jeremy]

I think the poker affiliate market will still be a very profitable market for many affiliates in the years to come. But I also think that as internet marketers it is stupid to have all your eggs in one basket.

Personally I am diving head first into other high growth markets such as precious metals (gold/silver). I remember back in the days when online poker was initially blowing up, it was awesome.

Online gambling will always be a profitable market unless it becomes completely illegal in the demographic you are promoting within. But as poker affiliates, we are very smart at working in competitive markets, it's pretty simple to parlay those skills into other niche's.

With that, I am still going long on the poker affiliate market. Might just have to deal with changes, what's new really.

[MJ]

A highly profitable business with significant levels of competition and consistent growth is not going anywhere. The boom may very well still be on the horizon, The changes suck but nobody can claim we aren't still engaging in a lucrative business.

[PTC]

I almost left altogether and had sold all my gambling projects but am launching gambling sites at record pace now. I think even in worst case scenario, it would still be worth my effort to do this for a while. Im starting to buy some .co.uk domains and move into casino niche more than poker... I guess diversifying within the industry in anticipation of something bad happening. For me personally, I still have niches to learn about and im finding more profit as time goes by, so I think there is still just lots of room in the industry to make money, regardless of uncertainty. IMHO, the boom is over though.

[opoker]

I have been on the poker affiliate business for a few years and i noted that it takes more effort now to make money but it is still very profitable. I have no plans to stop advertising poker sites for many years to come, i also have other ways of revenue not related to gambling.

[Newjabber]

The strong will survive and the rest will move on to other stuff

[Squizzel]

i find it hard to believe the poker market is growing by 9% a year now. I think its probably stayed about even through the last few years. With stars gaining and all the other sites losing out slightly.

[ThePower]

Guys and Gals - the market is as good as ever if you ask me! Yes its changed, and yes it'll change again - but the cash is still there to be made!

Big players are still around to be picked up, and CPA's and rev share can still make you a better than decent living if you negotiate and put the right business plan behind them.

For me, whilst diversification maybe a good idea - i'm reluctant to give less than 100% to my poker business - thats when I see it failing.