Hi fellow engineer,
my first hen came after a few days, but that occured almost five years ago when there were no restrictions (UIGEA) at all. The data you mention above will not help you much I think. Everyone is different, some work full time and spend money on promoting their websites (banner ads, paid links) while others use free methods (reciprocal links) for example.
First, you need to determine for which keywords your site(s) shall rank. For example, if you target online casino it could take years until you get your first visitor for that term, if ever.
In my opinion, the most important aspect in our industry, regarding SEO, is to get as many links to your websites as possible. And if they are thematic, even better. Of course good, informative content does not hurt, but without incoming links every gaming website remains a desert.
I think you should attend a conference (Budapest, London), take part in the sessions and network with other webmasters and affiliate program managers. Many of your questions would be answered.