The same questions can be answered in different ways, right? Let’s take a look. We asked Anita, BDM at Rockit Media, and Martin, TL at RevDuck, about changes in the relationships between affiliate programs and arbitrage teams.
Rockit Media is a Ukrainian media band that has been consistently performing in the affiliate marketing market for over 6 years and generates leads daily in the gambling vertical.
We work with key traffic sources: PPC/UAC, Facebook, ASO, and In-App, covering Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 GEOs.
Their main focus is building long-term partnerships with advertisers. Thanks to slot-based approaches, they provide partners with large volumes of high-quality traffic.
RevDuck is a next-generation affiliate program for iGaming professionals who value speed, transparency, and growth. We make partnerships simple, scalable, and fair. This means clear terms, flexible commission models, and a “partner-first” approach — without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Our team combines deep market knowledge, real support, and the ability to act fast. We work closely with partners to adapt deals, optimize campaigns, and scale intelligently across Tier-1 European markets.
Whether you work with SEO, PPC, email, or social media — we help turn quality traffic into long-term revenue.
How would you describe the relationship between affiliate programs and arbitrage teams in the past and now?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: Previously, relationships were purely transactional. Today, it’s about trust and shared responsibility — without this, cooperation cannot scale.
Martin, TL RevDuck:
A few years ago, these relationships were strictly transactional: arbitrage teams were seen as a source of fast traffic, and affiliate programs as a monetization platform. Both sides worked with a short planning horizon and minimal trust.
Today, we see a shift toward a partnership model. The focus has moved from “pour traffic and collect payouts” to building stable, long-term relationships where success is measured not only by ROI but also by player quality and lifetime value.
What became the main trigger for these changes?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: Traffic has become more expensive, accounts are banned more often, and regulation has tightened. In such conditions, deep cooperation and analytics are essential.
Martin, TL RevDuck: The main trigger was the loss of efficiency of the old model. Mass, low-quality traffic stopped paying off, and “short-term play” began harming both brands and arbitrage teams themselves. The business realized that fast profit without quality control directly affects product reputation and long-term economics.
At a certain point, the market forced everyone to move from experiments and chaotic launches to systematic work — with forecasting, clear rules, responsibility for traffic quality, and a focus on sustainable growth rather than one-off wins.
How has the value of an arbitrage team for an affiliate program changed?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: Today, a team is expertise, fast testing, and an understanding of GEOs and audiences. Often, teams provide feedback that directly impacts the product and final results.
Martin, TL RevDuck: Today, a strong arbitrage team is not just a traffic supplier. It is a carrier of expertise — in channels, creatives, GEOs, and user behavior.
For affiliate programs, such teams have become strategic partners that help test new approaches, scale working models, and adapt to market changes faster.
What does the “ideal” interaction model between a team and an affiliate look like today?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: When there’s no feeling that you’re “on opposite sides.” There are transparent numbers, proper communication, fast decisions, and flexibility.
Martin, TL RevDuck: The ideal model is transparent rules of the game and clearly defined expectations on both sides. It is based on regular communication, flexible terms for specific traffic, and joint growth planning.
It’s important that interaction is not limited to payouts and reports but built around a shared goal — scaling profitable traffic.
What mistakes do affiliate programs and teams still make in cooperation?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: Affiliates sometimes underestimate decision-making speed. Teams chase fast ROI without building a system.
Martin, TL RevDuck: On the affiliate side, it’s often unclear rules, slow payouts, or formal service without real involvement.
On the arbitrage side — focus only on short-term results, ignoring traffic quality, and lack of dialogue in difficult situations. As a result, both sides lose.
How important is data transparency and analytics sharing today?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: It’s not just important — it’s the basic minimum 😁 Without transparent analytics, there’s no scaling, only random success.
Martin, TL RevDuck: Transparency has become the foundation of partnerships. Without access to basic data, it’s impossible to make the right decisions, optimize campaigns, or build trust.
Even partial analytics sharing — under clear agreements and NDAs — significantly increases cooperation efficiency.
How is the role of account managers and BD teams changing in the new partnership model?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: It’s no longer “support.” These are people who connect business logic, the team, and the product into one system where everyone earns.
Martin, TL RevDuck: The role of account managers has shifted from operational to strategic. Today, these are people who don’t just “manage” a partner but help them earn more — analyzing results, offering solutions, and acting as a bridge between the team and the brand.
A strong BD team is one of the key factors in retaining top arbitrage teams.
What matters more for long-term partnerships today: terms or service?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: Service. Good terms without service are a one-time story. We stay with those we’re comfortable working with.
Martin, TL RevDuck: Terms matter, but service becomes the deciding factor. Even imperfect numbers can be compensated with quality communication, fast decisions, and the feeling that the partner is genuinely interested in your growth.
Poor service, on the contrary, can destroy cooperation even with attractive terms.
How do you see relationships between affiliates and arbitrage teams in 1–2 years?
Anita, BDM Rockit Media: More integrations, private deals, exclusives, and strategic alliances.
Martin, TL RevDuck: The market is moving toward even deeper integration. We will see fewer random teams and more long-term partnerships with custom terms, shared KPIs, and deeper responsibility for results.
In practice, arbitrage teams will increasingly become an extension of a brand’s internal team rather than an external traffic source.
