Backlinks are important in SEO (search engine optimisation) because they signal to search engines that a website is trustworthy and high-quality. The more backlinks a site has, especially from other authoritative sites, the higher it will rank in search results.
There are many ways to get backlinks, including through casino sites and private blog networks (PBNs). This article will compare casino niche backlinks and PBN backlinks in-depth, looking at how well they work for SEO, the risks involved, and costs.
What Are Backlinks and Why Are They Important?
Backlinks are links that go from one website to another. If Website A has a link pointing to Website B, this is a backlink for Website B. Backlinks act as “votes” for a website. The more votes or backlinks a site gets, especially from reputable sites, the more trustworthy it appears to Google and other search engines. This trustworthiness translates into higher search engine rankings.
Backlinks have been important in SEO ever since Google started using them as a ranking factor in the late 1990s. While Google’s algorithms have grown more advanced, backlinks remain a core part of its efforts to surface the best, most authoritative content for searchers.
In 2012, Google released a major update called Penguin that changed how backlinks were evaluated. Previously, the sheer volume of backlinks mattered more. With Penguin, backlink quality became the priority.
Penguin analysed if backlinks pointing to a site were genuine or purchased to manipulate rankings. This created a seismic shift in SEO. Techniques like buying links that once added SEO value were now penalised. If Penguin detected artificial links, Google assigned a negative ranking value to that site.
There are many different types of backlinks, including:
- Editorial backlinks – Naturally placed links within blog posts and articles
- Relationship-based backlinks – links obtained by building relationships with journalists or web administrators who have already linked to your website
- Backlinks in business profiles – links obtained by creating a profile on a business directory or social media platform
- PBN backlinks – Links from a network of sites created specifically for backlinks
- Gambling industry backlinks – Backlinks acquired from online casino/gambling sites
Now, let’s define casino industry backlinks and PBN backlinks and compare their benefits and drawbacks.
Gambling Niche Backlinks
Casino industry backlinks come from online gambling and casino-related sites like 32Red and Bitstarz. Many of these sites allow webmasters to pay for backlinks. For example, a webmaster could pay Bitstarz to place their site link within Bitstarz’s payout reports or casino reviews.
Benefits of Casino Industry Backlinks
- Come from established sites with decent authority
- Relatively low risk if done carefully
- Anchor text can be controlled
Drawbacks of Casino Industry Backlinks
- Limited options – backlinks only come from casino/gambling sites
- Need to watch for over-optimization (avoiding too aggressive anchor text)
Casino industry backlinks can be effective for rankings, but they need to be acquired carefully. They work best for temporary boosts combined with other backlinks.
There are risks of penalties if casino links appear unnatural. But carefully used, casino links have less risk than PBNs or spammy techniques.
Costs for casino industry backlinks vary but tend to fall in the range of $50-$250 per backlink depending on factors like:
- Domain authority of casino site
- Competitiveness of keyword/niche
- Type of placement on casino (e.g. footer vs content links)
PBN Backlinks
A private blog network (PBN) is a network of sites created specifically to build backlinks. For example, a webmaster could quickly create a few dozen “mini-sites” on various topics and then link them together and back to a target website.
PBNs allow for full control over backlinks, but running a successful PBN takes lots of work like:
- Buying aged domains or creating new sites
- Researching topics and writing unique content
- Hosting, maintaining and managing the sites
A case study shows that PBN backlinks can be powerful in ranking a site and driving traffic.
Source: Website Income
Another study on PBN effectiveness claims they can deliver major ranking boosts. However, after two years and 1 month, the site was penalised.
Source: Skip Blast
Now, results depend heavily on factors like site diversity, content quality, and link velocity (speed of acquiring links). Low-quality PBNs with obvious patterns risk manual penalties.
Google is adept at detecting artificial link networks, so PBNs must be carefully managed to appear natural. Tactics like varying content, registration dates, and IP addresses are needed.
Costs for PBN links include:
- Domain registration/hosting fees
- Outsourcing content creation
- Monthly maintenance and management
Larger PBNs can cost thousands per month to run when accounting for labour and overhead. But when used correctly, PBNs grant the most control over link building.
Verdict: Casino vs. PBN Backlinks, Which Strategy is Best?
In most cases, a balanced backlink approach combining several strategies is best Casino niche backlinks allow for greater control over anchor text and link positioning but still carry risks if over-optimized. They should be used wisely. Here is a guide to gaining a widespectrum of casino niche links
PBN backlinks, on the other hand, can provide temporary ranking boosts but come with high risks of penalties if site patterns are detected. They should be used cautiously and not relied on long-term.
The ideal strategy depends on budget, risk tolerance, and short versus long-term goals. With the right framework, both casino and PBN links can be valuable additions when used ethically as part of a larger SEO strategy. But a natural linking profile built over time beats any short-term gains from manipulative strategies.