Predatory Affiliates The Hidden Architects of Gambling Harm
The conventional narrative on dangerous online gambling focuses on player psychology and regulatory gaps. However, a more insidious and systemic threat lies within the industry's own marketing supply chain: predatory affiliate networks. These third-party marketers, paid per player acquisition, have evolved from simple advertisers into sophisticated architects of harm, exploiting regulatory arbitrage and behavioral data to target the most vulnerable with surgical precision. Their operations, often obscured behind layers of shell companies, represent the primary engine fueling the present crisis, a reality starkly revealed by recent data. A 2024 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report indicates that 68% of high-risk…
