The online gaming industry has become the epitome of online success stories. Whilst gambling or gaming has always been a popular pursuit, its online incarnations of the popular industries have truly revolutionised the idea of gambling. Few online industries have developed so far and so quickly in terms of turnover and membership as that of online poker. Whilst the offline standard game of poker has always been played by players around the world, the increased opportunity afforded by the virtual realm has offered up a whole new array of options and opportunities. Online players have become accustomed to fast paced matches at any time of the day and against anybody from around the world. These new online poker players have the opportunity to play for any amount of money, and whilst some may miss the sportsmanship involved in face to face play, the new chat forums and message boards have opened up a new range of opportunities ready to be explored.

The explosion of online poker was not an accidental occurrence, it came in on the back of the success of the gaming industry in general. One of the primary reasons for this online success can be attributed to the marketing method that is unique to the online game. Affiliate marketing programs are a great way for any industry to reach a large audience without have to spend much money on expensive advertising campaigns. It works by creating a network of small sites, which host banners and links leading straight to the poker sites. The affiliate site owners are rewarded in turn when they produce a new customer. The affiliate can expect to receive a percentage of up to 35% of a player's total money generated, having forwarded them on to the relevant site.

Because the affiliates are rewarded so handsomely for their part in the business deal, they are encouraged to promote themselves and subsequently the sites that they represent. It is through this business ethic that the poker industry has been able to flourish. With the number of affiliates increasing each month, the poker sites can broaden their range of influence. So even if the visitors to sites fail to click on the links there and then they are getting across the brand name, and even sewing the seeds of temptation in peoples minds. The more affiliates the poker sites can attract the greater the number of people that they can potentially reach. In terms of the affiliate, the greater the number of members generated the higher the profits. So in effect the two industries are complementing each other perfectly and have no doubt increased the visibility and popularity of both. Without the affiliate program it is hard to think what the online poker industry would be like. The affiliate marketing industry is one of the most successful and risk-free forms of advertising, both on and offline.