How Operators Lose Money on CPA Streamer Deals

Reach That Doesn’t Generate Value

More and more often, individuals with recognizable names on the Polish internet or the freak-fight scene approach operators and affiliate networks. Creators like Adrian Cios, Rafonix, Don Kasjo, and Adrian Polak offer to promote casinos through their communication channels: Instagram, Telegram or live streams.

The problem is that their reach is largely illusory. Although they have hundreds of thousands of followers, actual user engagement is minimal. This is exactly what initially misleads companies and managers who, seeing large follower numbers, agree to collaborate. In many cases, the audience consists of minors, random viewers or people who follow them solely for the controversies, not out of genuine interest in the offers promoted by the influencer. This results in very low conversion rates, even if the numbers may look impressive at first glance.

Despite this, these influencers often receive collaboration offers with payouts in the range of 200–400 euros per player (CPA). This amount is paid once after the user registers and makes their first deposit. For the operator, this presents a risk, as the cost of acquiring a player can be high, while their actual value is usually zero. In many cases, the cost of such a campaign is disproportionate to the results.

It happens that an operator pays tens of thousands of euros and receives only registrations from players who never return to the platform. Yet, the influencer uses the campaign data to present themselves as an “effective affiliate” and approaches subsequent companies with similar offers. Therefore, in this chase for streamers, it is worth keeping a cool head and not agreeing to every condition.

The Deposit Refund Scheme

One of the most popular and harmful mechanisms currently used by some influencers is the so-called deposit refund scheme. It is behind a vast number of fake CPA conversions that only outwardly appear to be effective campaigns.

This scheme has been used for months by the aforementioned influencers. In each case, the method is similar: the influencer arranges with their viewers that for creating an account and making the first deposit, they will receive a refund. The condition? They must contact the influencer directly after making the deposit.

The refund is usually made via BLIK (a Polish payment method). The player registers, makes a deposit and shortly after receives the equivalent amount back from the influencer, who has just earned few hundreds euros in CPA. The influencer gains instantly. The operator is left with an empty player account that will never log in again after playing through the deposit and any potential bonus.

The entire operation takes place outside the operator’s knowledge and control. However, we suspect that some affiliate managers are aware of the phenomenon in order to meet their company’s poorly set KPIs. That is why it is so important to measure acquisition through ARPU and not just empty FTD indicators that say nothing.

Information about the refund is shared privately. What is visible is: a click on the affiliate link, registration and deposit. For the operator, it is a loss. For the influencer, it is a quick profit, often repeated dozens of times. That’s how it works.

There are so many operators, and everyone needs traffic (especially in unregulated markets), that willing and naive individuals will always be found, seeing an influencer with a large number of followers. Influencers promise “Polish traffic,” but in reality, it is all about extracting as much money from the operator as possible.

What makes this scheme particularly dangerous is the difficulty in detecting it. From the affiliate’s perspective, everything looks correct: there is a new player, a first deposit, and all the conversion data. But it is merely a simulation of real user acquisition because the actual money flows outside the system. That is why control and setting a CAP at the beginning of the cooperation are so important.

Some influencers show illusory activities on streaming platforms, but this generates no benefits for the operator. It is only an apparent action intended to cover up the deposit refund method. You will be cheated, once the player base is exhausted for a given influencer/streamer, they will move on to the next operator. Although it’s highly probable you’ll spot that something isn’t right on your own first.

Image Versus Reality

Some of these individuals use their media image to suggest that they “can generate reach” or “have influence over people.” In practice, their communities are unstable, disloyal and often unrelated to real casino players.

There are cases where someone with hundreds of thousands of followers is unable to generate even a few valuable registrations, yet still demands thousands of euros in payouts for “collaboration.” Not to mention situations where an operator agrees to a flat-fee promotion right from the start. This is a dangerous phenomenon that misleads especially those operators and affiliate managers who are unfamiliar with the local context.

They see large numbers and known names and assume it guarantees success. However, without a thorough analysis of traffic quality and audience engagement, it is easy to succumb to the illusion. The persons mentioned above are known and recognizable, but they are not liked. And it is this second factor that is key when it comes to results.

Below you see Don Kasjo’s streamer stats (Take a look at the viewers boosted by bots yesterday).

Don’t Be Fooled

Foreign operators are often unaware of the local context and the actual reputation of some Polish influencers. Therefore, it is easy for them to trust follower numbers or a known name. However, it must be remembered that reach is not everything, and collaboration based on inflated numbers can end in financial loss and damage to reputation.

Foreign operators and affiliate managers should approach offers from creators such as Adrian Cios, Marcin Krasucki – Rafonix, Kasjusz Życiński – Don Kasjo or Adrian Polak with the utmost caution.

We are aware of the complexity of the iGaming industry. Not everyone pays attention to local regulations, but in this case, operators are being cheated, and the aforementioned individuals are spoiling this market. We will warn against similar situations. We are not afraid to name specific individuals.

Finally, we also want to add the fact that the above-described individuals have come into conflict with Polish law and will be prosecuted. Adrian Polak additionally recently used the image of Robert Lewandowski, the best Polish athlete, to promote a casino.

Stay away from these people.