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 scanning indirect channels and mirror sites. Direct access is restricted, but the tool exposes 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 of blocked casino sites shows a simple reality: the ANJ's measures do not eliminate the audience, they displace it. By cross-referencing Similarweb data with the lists of blocked sites in France, we see that unique visitors persist via VPNs, while international traffic channels remain active. This visibility maps the underground gambling 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 barred from accessing the main domain, Similarweb captures the global traffic generated by the site from other jurisdictions or via secure connections. The data is aggregated and estimated, offering an overview rather than first-party metrics. This makes it possible to identify 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. The latter feed the statistics through the use of VPNs or proxy servers, masking their real location. For an analyst, the drop in overall traffic on a site targeted by the ANJ does not mean a disappearance of the audience, but rather a geographical fragmentation.

A distinction must be made between residual "ghost" traffic and real organic traffic. Unique visitors coming from abroad or using encrypted tunnels remain accounted for 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 their 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 inferred indirectly through the geolocation of affiliate partners and the nature of the advertisements displayed, which are often oriented towards anonymous payment solutions.

Identifying mirror sites and casino traffic migration

The analysis of similarweb traffic of blocked casino sites shows that illegal operators do not passively submit to ANJ restrictions, but actively migrate their audience to mirror domains. 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 through traffic similarities

Mirror sites often share the same keyword profiles and unique visitors 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 generated terms. When a new domain appears with a semantic signature identical to that of a sanctioned site, it is likely a strategic redirection to capture the 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 search engine optimization strategies to attract traffic. By comparing unique visitors and geographical distribution, one can confirm whether the traffic indeed originates from the initial target or if it is a new and unqualified audience. This method makes it possible to see beyond simple visit volume to understand the real loyalty of users 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 occupies the first 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. The study of these markets shows 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 the bounce rate on new domains

A high bounce rate on a new domain can indicate a forced migration of traffic rather than natural engagement. The bounce rate, defined as the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing a single page, is an indicator of the quality of the user experience. During a migration to a mirror site, a sudden increase in this metric often signals that users are experiencing technical difficulties, redirection 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 this rate to be compared with that of competitors to evaluate relative performance. If a mirror site shows an average bounce time consistent with the old main domain, this 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 hold users' attention.

Optimizing competitive analysis with Manus integration

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

Automating monitoring of unregulated gaming sites

Manus acts as an intelligent orchestrator that queries Similarweb databases using 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 substitute domains. This automation is useful because illegal operators frequently change URLs to escape ISP blacklists.

Unlike a 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 visits via social networks 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, thus 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. In contrast, Similarweb and SEMrush function as market intelligence tools, providing external estimates based on data panels and crawling algorithms.

While SEMrush excels in the 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 geographical origin. For casino sites in Turkey, for example, Similarweb allows you to see rankings and market shares, offering a point of comparison to understand gambling behaviors in jurisdictions with different regulations.

Setting up alerts for mirror traffic spikes

Responsiveness to the emergence of new mirror domains is a major competitive advantage. Manus allows you to configure automatic queries to detect when a mirror site starts 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 makes it possible to anticipate competitors' strategies and adjust 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 remember that online gambling 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 difficulty related to gambling, resources such as Joueurs Info Service or SOS Joueurs are available to support players.

Interpreting traffic data in the French regulatory context

The analysis of similarweb traffic of blocked casino sites shows 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 the actually captive audience. Understanding this nuance is essential to evaluate the resilience of unlicensed operators against ANJ measures.

The difference between theoretical traffic and real 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 Gaming 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 use 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 blocklists, while illegal operators migrate their audience to new domains. Thus, "Direct" traffic may actually mask a redirection to a mirror site that is not yet blacklisted, distorting traditional loyalty analysis.

Analysis of bypass and mirror search keywords

Keywords constitute a major opportunity signal to detect bypass attempts. Blocked users actively search for specific terms like "mirror", "alternative access", or the name of the casino 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 remains the main lever for these sites, as social networks are often moderated more strictly. For the analyst, identifying these terms makes it possible to map the survival strategy of non-compliant operators and anticipate their next domain movements.

Limits of analysis for completely invisible sites

Similarweb estimates traffic via data panels and ISPs, which implies limitations for blocked sites that frequently change URLs. If a casino operates on a recent domain with no history, the tool may underestimate its real audience due to a lack of sufficient panel data. Furthermore, 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 the stability of the domain: the more a site changes its address to escape the ANJ, the more obsolete the historical data becomes. This volatility makes comparison with stable markets, such as Casinos in Turkey, difficult, as the latter benefit from measurable long-term traffic continuity.

About this article - Writing & responsibility

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino tester & bonus analyst

Verified by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming compliance analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-10.

This article on "similarweb traffic of blocked casino sites" was written by Sarah Weber and reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both update the content regularly to reflect regulatory changes, licenses, and bonus conditions. All references to licenses, authorities, or legal frameworks refer to public sources (ANJ (National Gaming 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. Areas: bonus mathematics, wager analysis, player protection systems.

Responsible gambling

Gambling can become addictive. If you feel you are losing control, contact Joueurs Info Service, SOS Joueurs, or use the national self-exclusion register (file of prohibited players (FIJ)). Set deposit and loss limits before playing with real money. Breaks and cooldown tools are levers for sustainable enjoyment.

Legal disclaimer

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 rules.