How the March Google Update Affects iGaming Sites and What to Do About Search Traffic Changes

In March 2025, Google released a significant search algorithm update — Core Update 2025. This update will affect the rankings of websites, especially in niches such as iGaming and affiliate marketing. But how exactly will these changes impact your site? In this article, we will discuss what the update includes, how to assess its impact, and what actions need to be taken to adapt content.

The Impact of the March Update on iGaming Sites

Google continues to improve the quality of search results, which certainly affects iGaming and affiliate marketing sites. The update, which began on March 13, focuses on improving the relevance and value of content. Here are the changes you can expect:

Ranking drops for affiliate sites and bonus aggregators. These sites may experience a drop in rankings if their content is deemed low-quality or unhelpful to users.
Advantages for licensed operators. Sites with a high level of trust, as well as those that comply with licensing standards, may see an increase in rankings.
Decreased visibility for sites with poor-quality content. This will especially affect content that is automatically generated or lacks high informational value.

SEO experts predict that in 2025, Google will continue to tweak its algorithms, which may affect website rankings and search results.

What Are Core Updates and How Do They Work?

Google Core Updates are changes that occur several times a year and impact how pages are ranked in search results. Typically, these updates are designed to improve the quality and reliability of information available to users.

Example: Imagine you made a list of restaurants for a friend, but over time, new places have opened, or your preferences have changed. Just like your preferences for restaurants, search engines update their algorithms to reflect the most current changes in website content.

How to Check if the Update Affected Your Site?

If you notice that your website dropped in the search rankings after the update, here are a few steps to help you understand what happened:

Use Search Console. This will help you see when the update was completed and which pages experienced the most changes.
Analyze popular pages. Look at how the rankings of popular pages and queries changed before and after the update.
Compare data. Compare metrics before and after the update to see how much your pages’ rankings have changed.

What to Do if Your Site’s Rankings Have Dropped?

If you notice a drop in rankings, perform a self-diagnosis:

Evaluate your site’s content. Ask outsiders to evaluate your content and let you know how helpful and relevant it is.
Fix weak pages. If certain pages lost rankings, check their content and try to improve it.
Remove useless content. If certain sections or pages provide no value to users, it’s better to delete them.

Remember that changes may take time. Even if you improve your site, the effects might not be immediate and could take several weeks or months to show.

How to Adapt Your Site to Google’s New Requirements?

To avoid the negative consequences of updates, pay attention to the following recommendations:

Improve content quality. Make sure your site provides valuable information that answers users’ queries.
Improve site structure. Simple and clear navigation can enhance user experience and potentially lead to better rankings.
Be prepared for future changes. Google continues to update its algorithms, so it’s important to stay on top of new announcements and adapt content promptly.

Conclusion

The March Google update made significant changes to search algorithms, and many sites, especially in the iGaming and affiliate marketing niches, may notice changes in rankings. It’s important to analyze the changes using tools like Google Search Console and adjust content to meet new requirements. Don’t forget that improvements may take some time, but the right steps will help increase your site’s visibility in the long run.