Back links

[baldidiot]

It's not a case that one domain = one site ranking. If you look at the backlink profiles for the ones that are ranking they're using the domains they buy in a few different ways:

1. Core site to rank for the main term (mainly non-gamstop, although they have been creeping into the generic terms as well)
- eg: mentoruk.org.uk

2. Redirects into the core site (although I guess these could have been ranking sites that were moved)
- eg: thebackbencher.co.uk

3. Rebuilds of an expired site with a sitewide link to the core site using the target anchor (there are tons of these per site)
- eg: glastonburyfm.co.uk

So it could be that for every site you see ranking they're actually using quite a lot of these domains to do it which is why they're so hungry for them.

That and stopping their competition.

 

[baldidiot]

So how do they still make money from them considering that the websites are being blocked?

For the non-gamstop stuff I'm assuming they're relying on people using a VPN. If you're the kind of person who knows about gamstop and you're trying to get around it, chances are you're a problem gambler who has self excluded and probably aware of what needs to be done to get around gamstop (ie: a lot of the non-gamstop casinos also require the use of a VPN to stay off the UKGC's radar).

So my best guess is that they're doing this to stop the UKGC submitting takedown requests to google, which was happening a lot in the early days of this nonsense (and may also explain the redirected domains in my post above).

EDIT - I stand corrected, ignore all that, it's much simpler than I thought

 

[Hook]

What i don't understand is that if you visit some of these domains converted into websites is that you get a popup stating that the page is blocked in the UK.

So how do they still make money from them considering that the websites are being blocked?

They are available, just on desktop resolution screen size browsers, they show you that message. On mobile (and mobile screen size in desktop browser) you see the actual site/offers. No VPN needed.

For the non-gamstop stuff I'm assuming they're relying on people using a VPN. If you're the kind of person who knows about gamstop and you're trying to get around it, chances are you're a problem gambler who has self excluded and probably aware of what needs to be done to get around gamstop (ie: a lot of the non-gamstop casinos also require the use of a VPN to stay off the UKGC's radar).

So my best guess is that they're doing this to stop the UKGC submitting takedown requests to google, which was happening a lot in the early days of this nonsense (and may also explain the redirected domains in my post above).

None of them are blocked, they just don't show on desktop - UKGC is too stupid to check on mobile is the thinking behind it.