Thank you all for the elequent replies.
Although my opinion is obviously biased, I think that, put aside poker, backgammon of all other “skilled games” or gambling products, has the biggest potential.
After all, both poker and backgammon share a very similar ratio of skill and luck. Unfortunately, poker is “outcasted” as gambling by Google, the credit card companies and other vital entities. Backgammon isn’t. The peer to peer element and the combination of skill and luck in one game create a very attractive opportunity for people to have fun on one hand, but to become professional players and make money on theo ther, unlike bingo, bejeweled and other arcades.
If you’re good on one specific skill game in the big skill-game sites (GameAccount.com, MidasPlayer.com), you won’t be good in other games or on other sites. But you’re good in real-life backgammon, you’ll also make a lot of money with it on GammonEmpire.
Regarding affiliates, I think that bg, like other skill games, is a lucrative market because of the conversion and cost effectiveness of the marketing. SEO is easier than poker / casino, and at the same time our non-gambling advantage enables us to produce much more business per traffic. Just have a look at GameAccount.com’s successful partnership with CJ.com (very good EPC, very good payouts) and you’ll see that many affiliates make money from skill games.
The big difference between bg and other skill games is that it’s easier for backgammon to grow – many people know the game, consider it sports, there’s a world championship in Backgammon with hundreds of thousands of $$$ prizes.
-Matan.