The Danish Gambling Authority has become aware that money laundering can occur through affiliates who market for gambling operators. Gambling operators that use affiliates should therefore consider whether this gives rise to updating their risk assessment.

An affiliate is a marketing channel where a person or company makes money by marketing for, for example, a gambling operator. The general consumer protection and marketing rules and the Gambling Act’s rules on marketing and communication also apply to affiliates. An affiliate earns money from the agreement by, for example, attracting new customers via their own website or through their own social network to the gambling operator’s website with a link. The link is generated specifically for the affiliate. The affiliate receives payment for the referral (pay per click), or a certain percentage of the amount the new customer deposits into their account.

How criminals can exploit affiliate agreements with gambling operators

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In affiliate agreements with an individual or a company, there is an inherent risk that a gambling operator will be misused for money laundering. Particularly organized criminal networks can exploit an affiliate agreement. Networks of organized criminals can refer a large number of people within their criminal network as customers using the link to a gambling operator. A larger amount of illegal funds can be deposited into customers’ gambling accounts, which will not initially look suspicious, as the amount is distributed among several people in the criminal’s network. The deposited funds can subsequently be paid out to customers, possibly after play-through from their gambling accounts. This approach will make it look like legitimate winnings from gambling, and at the same time the affiliate increases its profit by having brought more new customers to the gambling operator, who according to the affiliate agreement is usually paid per additional new customer.

Signs of money laundering through affiliates

The Danish Gambling Authority points out that gambling operators may risk being misused for money laundering through these affiliate agreements. It may indicate that a gambling operator is being misused for money laundering by its affiliate if a majority of the customers referred by the affiliate only use the gambling operator’s website once and then no longer use the gambling operator’s services. It may therefore be relevant to assess whether entering into an affiliate agreement gives rise to updating one’s risk assessment.

SOFTSWISS, an international tech company with over 15 years of experience in iGaming, announces that Affilka by SOFTSWISS wins Affiliate Company of the Year at the International Gaming Awards 2025. The comprehensive software platform helps manage, track, and analyse affiliate performance in the most convenient way.

The event recognises leading industry experts, both online and land-based. This achievement came as a well-deserved gift for the platform’s 7th anniversary. The award reflects the platform’s dedication to optimising affiliate program management and elevating the operational efficiency of its clients. By helping operators optimise affiliate partnerships, Affilka by SOFTSWISS has established itself as a technology-driven leader in the iGaming realm.

Powering over 440 iGaming brands, the platform currently has more than 360,000 affiliate accounts and 85 million registered players. One of its most impactful updates is the Geo-Distributed Redirect feature. This innovation accelerates redirects up to five times, reduces bounce rates and increases conversions by up to 7%. By enabling players to access casino sites faster, the feature drives higher registrations and deposits.

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Other notable platform functionalities include built-in payment processing, which helps streamline financial operations with trusted payment systems and bank transfers. The flexible commission constructor and near real-time reporting features enable operators to tailor their strategies according to constantly evolving business needs.

“We are honoured to receive recognition at such a prestigious level,” said Anastasia Borovaya, Head of Affilka by SOFTSWISS. “This award reflects our unwavering dedication to delivering the best affiliate management solutions in the industry. With over seven years of expertise, a highly professional team, and a passion for innovation, we’ve built a platform that ensures exceptional service and continuous product enhancements for our clients. We’re committed to maintaining this momentum and supporting the growth of our partners worldwide.”

Now, Affilka by SOFTSWISS is showcasing its latest features and achievements at iGB Affiliate in Barcelona. On 21–22 January, the team welcomes partners and clients at stand C10.

About SOFTSWISS

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SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.