Stars and athletes in casino advertising: how to use big names to earn more in affiliate marketing
This phenomenon is called the attribution of authority effect, and it’s what marketers are using.
It’s not just about hobbies – it’s an effective way to disguise an advertising message in a positive emotional background, when you feel like you’re “on the team” with your idol.
Stars in casino advertising: from football heroes to unexpected ambassadors
Betting on authenticity is a trend. If a brand invites a popular athlete or blogger to advertise, it’s not just advertising – it’s a sign of quality.
Examples of major partnerships:
- 1xBet actively sponsored football clubs (Napoli, AS Roma) and used their images in promos;
- Betradar collaborated with football legends to present live bets;
- in other regions, collaborations with UFC fighters, extreme sports shows, and popular YouTube channels.
From soccer legends to the least expected ambassadors, casinos advertise themselves through anyone who can attract attention. And it works. Recognition and trust that are built through celebrity faces have a direct impact on conversions.
High-profile partnerships and sponsorships in casino advertising: when even porn stars work for the brand
The iGaming world has long gone beyond traditional advertising. Companies are looking for new tools to attract attention, and therefore they start cooperating not only with football players or actors, but also with porn stars, musicians, and scandalous bloggers. All of them are magnets of influence that make the target audience turn their heads and click the “sign up” button.
It works not only because of popularity. Partnership with a celebrity creates a sense of legitimacy, trust, and sometimes even involvement in the idol’s lifestyle.
The most common formats of involving stars in casino advertising are as follows:
- Ambassadorship of famous athletes. Famous boxers, footballers, and basketball players officially represent casino brands, participate in advertising campaigns, and appear in promos.
- Streaming via streamers and bloggers. YouTube or Twitch stars conduct gambling streams or simply demonstrate their “winning” experience.
- Sponsorship of football clubs. The casino logo on the uniform of a famous club is a powerful signal of trust for sports fans.
Promotions with porn stars. This is an atypical approach that attracts attention in certain audiences. An example is 1xBet’s cooperation with well-known models to launch separate lines of promotions.
The partnership between 1xBet and actress Stormy Daniels is particularly noteworthy. The advertising campaign was aimed at the Western audience and caused wide publicity, as the combination of the adult industry and betting looked shocking but quite logical in the context of the target audience.
How to use big names in affiliate marketing to earn more
In the world of affiliate marketing, the winner is always the one who attracts attention. Famous faces in advertising are not just a pretty cover. They are a powerful trigger for trust, interest, and inspiration. That is why iGaming affiliate programs allow their affiliates to work with ready-made campaigns featuring sports stars, showbiz personalities, or even unconventional ambassadors. If used correctly, this resource can become a source of stable income.
Before integrating a celebrity into your advertising funnel, there are a few things to consider. A big name is just a tool. And the result depends not only on the popularity of the ambassador, but also on how you use that image in your advertising.
Let’s look at effective formats for using famous personalities in affiliate marketing:
- Promotions with images of the star or mentions of their name in banners: If the affiliate program provides banners with photos of the star, the affiliate can legally use them on their pages, on social media, or even in advertising campaigns. A photo of Ronaldo or Tyson is not just a picture, it is a click trigger.
- Thematic content on social media or on the website linked to the celebrity: It is worth creating posts or articles that tell, for example, how this athlete became an ambassador for the casino, what he promotes, what bonuses or products. This adds value to your content and generates interest among your target audience.
- Advertising campaigns with references to famous names: In ad headlines or videos, you can write: “The casino Ronaldo loves,” “Bonuses from Iron Mike,” or “Porn star becomes the face of a slot — watch her play.” Such messages receive higher CTR and conversions.
- Use of video content with an ambassador: Some PPs (such as 1xpartners.com) provide video materials featuring celebrities. Such video content can be used on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. This gives a sense of officially and reduces players’ doubts.
- Creating special landing pages: Platforms often develop landing pages with the theme: “Play the game advertised by the star.” If a partner works with such a page, they can get a higher conversion rate, because trust in the personality is automatically transferred to the product.
Between a big name and money lies the right positioning. Here are some tips to get the most out of it:
- Know your audience — not everyone is interested in football players; for some, porn actresses are better, for others — MMA stars.
- Don’t exaggerate — blatant lies or fake mentions can lead to bans.
- Keep track of licenses — only use materials that are officially provided by the affiliate program.
- Test — change headlines, design, CTA. Even a photo of a star from a different angle can give you a +20% increase in CTR.
All these methods only work when the affiliate operates within a program such as 1xpartners.com, which provides legal materials and ready-made promo kits with famous faces. This gives the partner not only the right to use the content, but also an advantage over competitors who do not have such tools.
By using big names, the affiliate gets closer to the audience. Trust increases, performance improves, and, most importantly, income grows. That is why celebrities are not just a trend, but a real lever in the affiliate earnings strategy.
1xpartners.com as one of the most famous affiliate program
1xpartners.com is one of the most famous affiliate programs in the iGaming industry, actively using celebrities, sports clubs, and other media images in its advertising campaigns. Most importantly, it allows its partners to work with the same materials, increasing conversion and revenue.
This affiliate program is associated with brands that have collaborated or are collaborating with:
- Football clubs — Barcelona, PSG, Lyon, Napoli
- Famous fighters — Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Movie and entertainment industry stars
- Porn stars and models — used in alternative creatives for adult audiences
This creates space for affiliates who can adapt banners, landing pages, videos, images, and memes to an audience that responds well to “familiar faces.”
The most effective ways to use this AP:
- Search or native traffic for brand queries related to athletes or celebrities
- Themed TikTok videos or Instagram Stories with clips from promotional videos featuring celebrities
- Use of email newsletters or push notifications that mention the names of ambassadors
- Creating landing pages dedicated to collaboration with a specific celebrity or club
All this allows you, as a partner, too:
- stand out from other affiliates,
- gain access to official and legal materials,
- get better conversion on hot traffic,
- increase revenue without changing the payment model.
The 1xpartners platform allows you to flexibly combine models (Revenue Share, CPA, Hybrid), which further enhances the effect of the correct presentation of the star image.
Instead of competing only on price or bonuses, it is better to use the power of the brand and the face on the cover. And 1xpartners provides you with all the necessary tools for this.
