Google’s March update may impact gambling sector

Jenny Ortiz March 8, 2024

SiGMA news

Google’s March update may impact gambling sector

Google’s recent adjustments to its spam policy, announced in the March update, are causing ripples in the affiliate marketing sphere, particularly within the gambling sector.

A Gambling Intelligence article said that revisions, designed to elevate the quality of search results, target issues such as expired domain exploitation, regulations surrounding third-party pages, and the abuse of scaled content.

Google’s objective with these changes is to refine its services in accordance with regulatory standards.

The Implications of the updates

On the surface, Google’s March update appears to introduce benign improvements aimed at enhancing user experience and ensuring more pertinent search outcomes.

One of the key aspects of this update is the crackdown on expired domain exploitation.

Another significant measure introduced by Google is the increased scrutiny on the abuse of scaled content, which could have a substantial impact on affiliate marketers and the broader gambling industry.

Google is aiming to crack down on the creation of numerous pages intended to manipulate search rankings rather than provide valuable content to users.

This practice is prevalent among gambling affiliates who optimize content to achieve favourable search rankings.

Google’s ongoing updates to gambling policy

Although the recent spam policy updates do not specifically target the gambling sector, Google has a history of refining its search results in response to industry dynamics.

A notable instance is the recent amendments to the company’s Gambling and Games policy in Romania, imposing significant restrictions on online advertising for operators and affiliates.

SiGMA Africa starts next week!

The highly anticipated SiGMA Africa event kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa on the 11th of March, the gaming industry is abuzz with excitement. Building on the success of its inaugural edition in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2023, SiGMA Africa is strategically positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s burgeoning gaming landscape. With the continent’s market poised for exponential growth, driven by a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and increasing mobile connectivity, SiGMA Group recognizes the need to foster collaboration and innovation within the industry. By bringing together leading stakeholders and visionaries in gaming, SiGMA aims to catalyse progress and propel Africa toward a new era of prosperity and opportunity. As the countdown to the event begins, anticipation mounts for what promises to be a landmark gathering of gaming enthusiasts and innovators in the vibrant city of Cape Town.