Analyzing the traffic of blocked casino sites with Similarweb: Methodology and Insights

Similarweb estimates the residual traffic of casino sites blocked by the ANJ in France by monitoring indirect channels and mirror sites. Direct access is restricted, but the tool reveals unique visitors and persistent keywords via unblocked sources. This comparative analysis sheds light on the impact of ISP blocks on the audiences of unregulated operators.

Understanding the visibility of blocked casino sites via Similarweb

The analysis of similarweb traffic for blocked casino sites reveals a simple reality: ANJ measures do not eliminate audience, they displace it. By cross-referencing Similarweb data with the list of blocked sites in France, we see that unique visitors persist via VPNs, while international traffic channels remain active. This visibility maps the underground gaming economy, invisible to traditional tools like Google Analytics that rely on local scripts.

How does Similarweb detect traffic from restricted domains?

Unlike Google Analytics or SEMrush, which require the installation of tracking codes on the target site, Similarweb acts as an external competitive intelligence tool. It does not need to access the operator's server to estimate its audience. The platform uses a panel of user data, international crawlers, and information from Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

This method is used to analyze sites blocked by the ANJ in France. Even if a French IP address is denied access to the main domain, Similarweb captures the overall traffic generated by the site from other jurisdictions or via secure connections. The data is aggregated and estimated, providing a macro view rather than first-party metrics. This allows identifying the technical resilience of unregulated operators, who often migrate to mirror domains (.net, .io) to bypass DNS blocks while retaining a portion of their player base.

The impact of ISP blocks on unique visitor metrics

Blocks imposed by French ISPs reduce local direct traffic but do not eliminate unique visitors. These visitors feed the statistics via the use of VPNs or proxy servers, masking their real location. For an analyst, a drop in overall traffic on a site targeted by the ANJ does not mean the audience has disappeared, but rather that it has been geographically fragmented.

It is necessary to distinguish "ghost" residual traffic from real organic traffic. Unique visitors from abroad or using encrypted tunnels remain counted in Similarweb's estimates. This persistence proves that technical blocking is an imperfect filter. By comparing desktop and mobile performance, we see that player mobility facilitates this bypass, maintaining significant activity despite legal restrictions in France.

Analysis of residual traffic channels for unregulated operators

The study of traffic channels reveals which sources survive blocking measures. If direct traffic drops, international organic search and social networks remain powerful vectors.

For unregulated operators, international search keywords and backlinks from unblocked affiliate sites maintain constant visibility. The analysis shows that social traffic channels and external referrals are not affected by national IP blocks, as they redirect the user to the domain regardless of its local status. This dynamic allows illegal casinos to retain an invisible market share, relying on a decentralized content and acquisition strategy that tools like Manus can help automate and monitor.

Beyond web traffic, the persistence of activity is reflected in payment methods. Unregulated operators favor cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum) and international e-wallets, which bypass French banking restrictions. The analysis of financial flows, although not direct via Similarweb, can be indirectly deduced through the geolocation of affiliate partners and the nature of displayed ads, often geared toward anonymous payment solutions.

Identifying mirror sites and casino traffic migration

The analysis of similarweb traffic for blocked casino sites shows that illegal operators do not passively accept ANJ restrictions, but actively migrate their audience to mirror sites. By cross-referencing unique visitor data and keyword profiles, it is possible to map this technical resilience and identify the new entry points used by French players to bypass ISP blocks.

Spotting mirror sites via traffic similarities

Mirror sites often share the same keyword and unique visitor profiles as the blocked main domain. To identify these technical duplicates, the analyst must examine the "keyword mix" provided by competitive intelligence tools, which distinguishes brand searches from generic terms. When a new domain appears with a semantic signature identical to that of a sanctioned site, it is likely a strategic redirect to capture lost audience.

For example, the analysis of platforms like openguessr.com or playstake.io shows how these entities maintain constant visibility despite regulatory fluctuations. These sites, although operating in different jurisdictions, use similar organic SEO strategies to attract traffic. By comparing unique visitors and geographic distribution, one can confirm whether the traffic originates from the initial target or if it is a new, unqualified audience. This method allows looking beyond simple visit volume to understand the true user loyalty in the face of blocks.

Case Study: Analysis of Casinos in Turkey and Other Regulated Markets

The analysis of markets like Casinos in Turkey shows how traffic shifts to alternative jurisdictions, similar to the dynamics of blocked sites in France. The ranking of gambling sites in Turkey for May 2025 illustrates this volatility: openguessr.com holds the top position, followed by telkucton.org and playstake.io. This hierarchy demonstrates that players in restricted or regulated markets quickly migrate to platforms offering superior technical accessibility.

This dynamic is directly transposable to the French situation. Just as Casinos in Turkey must navigate a complex legal environment, operators targeting the French market use international domains (.io, .org) to escape local blocks. Studying these markets helps understand that traffic is not lost, but redistributed. Similarweb data confirms that playstake.io and openguessr.com benefit from traffic stability that suggests a loyal user base capable of following domain changes without major friction.

Monitoring bounce rate on new domains

A high bounce rate on a new domain may indicate forced traffic migration rather than natural engagement. The bounce rate, defined as the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page, is an indicator of user experience quality. During a migration to a mirror site, a sudden increase in this metric often signals that users are encountering technical difficulties, redirect errors, or a degraded interface.

Conversely, a stable bounce rate on a new domain suggests that the transition was seamless for the audience. Similarweb data allows comparing this rate with that of competitors to evaluate relative performance. If a mirror site shows an average bounce time consistent with the former main domain, it validates the hypothesis of a successful migration of the player community. This analysis is essential to distinguish genuine operational alternatives from simple temporary landing pages that do not retain user attention.

Optimizing competitive analysis with Manus integration

Integrating Similarweb into Manus optimizes the monitoring of similarweb traffic for blocked casino sites by automating the extraction of complex data. This synergy allows analysts to track audience fluctuations and bypass strategies of unregulated operators without repeated manual consultation, providing precise visibility into acquisition channels resilient to ANJ blocks.

Automating monitoring of unregulated gaming sites

Manus acts as an intelligent orchestrator that queries Similarweb databases via natural language, eliminating the friction of traditional dashboards. For an analyst monitoring the French market, it is possible to ask direct questions such as "Which mirror sites captured the most traffic this month?" to instantly identify substitution domains. This automation is useful because illegal operators frequently change URLs to escape ISP blacklists.

Unlike static analysis, Manus uses Similarweb signals (such as channel distribution, search keywords, and landing pages) to explain traffic movements. For example, if a blocked site sees its direct traffic drop but its social network visits increase, the tool can correlate this data with a new affiliate campaign. Manus Pro users access this integrated experience without requiring a separate Similarweb account, thereby simplifying the workflow for compliance and marketing teams.

Comparing Similarweb data with Google Analytics and SEMrush

It is essential to distinguish the nature of the data provided by each tool. Google Analytics is an internal measurement solution that requires proprietary access to the site's code. It is therefore useless for spying on blocked or illegal competitors to which you do not have access. On the other hand, Similarweb and SEMrush function as market intelligence tools, providing external estimates based on data panels and crawl algorithms.

While SEMrush excels in granular analysis of SEO and SEA keywords, Similarweb offers a macroeconomic view of traffic, including unique visitors, bounce rate, and average session duration. This complementarity is vital: SEMrush can identify high-performing generic queries, while Similarweb validates overall volume and geographic origin. For casino sites in Turkey, for example, Similarweb allows viewing rankings and market share, providing a benchmark for understanding gaming behaviors in jurisdictions with different regulations.

Configuring alerts for mirror traffic spikes

Responsiveness to the emergence of new mirror domains is a major competitive advantage. Manus allows configuring automatic queries to detect when a mirror site begins capturing a significant volume of traffic, signaling an active migration of French players. Instead of manually monitoring dozens of URLs, the analyst can set alert thresholds based on Similarweb data, such as a sudden increase in visits from France or a traffic spike on social channels.

This proactive approach allows anticipating competitor strategies and adjusting acquisition campaigns or compliance reports in real time. By cross-referencing Similarweb data with SEMrush insights, it becomes possible to see not only where traffic is going, but why it is migrating, whether due to an aggressive promotional offer or better technical availability. Let us recall that online gaming outside the ANJ framework exposes players to increased financial and psychological risks. The analysis of these flows should serve to strengthen consumer protection and compliance with the law of May 12, 2010. For any gaming-related difficulties, resources like Joueurs Info Service or SOS Joueurs are available to support players.

Interpreting traffic data within the French regulatory context

The analysis of similarweb traffic for blocked casino sites reveals a complex reality: the figures indicate persistent interest, but do not reflect legal accessibility from France. Aggregated data often masks the use of VPNs or mirrors, creating a gap between theoretical volume and truly captive audience. Understanding this nuance is essential to evaluate the resilience of unlicensed operators against ANJ measures.

The difference between theoretical traffic and actual access in France

Traffic channels identified by Similarweb, such as Organic Search, Direct, or Social Networks, illustrate potential acquisition vectors. However, in France, the ANJ (National Games Authority) imposes technical blocks that fragment this audience. A site may show high direct traffic, a sign of strong brand awareness, but a significant portion of these visitors uses bypass methods to access prohibited platforms.

This distinction is important: measured traffic often includes international users or automated tests, diluting the relevance of the data for the regulated French market. The ANJ monitors these flows to adapt its blocking lists, while illegal operators migrate their audience to new domains. Thus, "Direct" traffic may actually mask a redirect to a mirror site not yet blacklisted, distorting traditional loyalty analysis.

Analysis of bypass and mirror search keywords

Keywords constitute a major opportunity signal for detecting bypass attempts. Blocked users actively search for specific terms like "mirror", "alternative access", or the casino name followed by "france". These queries, visible in Similarweb's organic search data, indicate strong intent despite legal restrictions.

Semantic analysis shows that these Keywords are often linked to aggressive SEO campaigns aimed at capturing residual traffic. By cross-referencing this data with Traffic Channels, we observe that paid and organic search remain the primary lever for these sites, as social networks are often moderated more strictly. For the analyst, identifying these terms allows mapping the survival strategy of non-compliant operators and anticipating their next domain moves.

Limitations of analysis for completely invisible sites

Similarweb estimates traffic via data panels and access providers, which implies limitations for Blocked Sites that frequently change URLs. If a casino operates on a recent domain without history, the tool may underestimate its real audience due to insufficient panel data. Additionally, Blocked Sites that use advanced cloaking techniques may appear with zero or erratic traffic, making traditional analysis ineffective.

Supplement this data with active technical monitoring. The reliability of the analysis depends on domain stability: the more a site changes addresses to escape the ANJ, the more historical data becomes outdated. This volatility makes comparison with stable markets, such as Casinos in Turkey, difficult, as the latter benefit from measurable traffic continuity over the long term.

About this article - Authorship & Responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino Tester & Bonus Analyst Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst Last updated: 2026-07-02.

This article on "similarweb traffic blocked casino sites" was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content to reflect regulatory developments, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Games Authority), Law of May 12, 2010 on the opening of online gambling).

About the Author

8+ years of casino testing, 200+ platforms personally tested in the EU and internationally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, withdrawal processes, customer support evaluation.

About the Reviewer

12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years in compliance consulting for licensed operators under the French ANJ framework. PhD in Economic Mathematics. Fields: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection mechanisms.

Responsible Gaming

Gaming can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion registry (File of Banned Gamblers (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing for real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable enjoyment.

Legal Notice

The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparative purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Players remain responsible for complying with local regulations.