Catena Media Cuts Five Positions in Technology, Marketing and Regional Teams
TL;DR — Catena Media eliminated five positions in technology, marketing, and regional sites teams as part of ongoing restructuring. This follows roughly 50 layoffs in Q2 2025, or a quarter of staff, with projected annual savings of EUR 4.5-5 million and an 18% drop in Q1 2026 personnel expenses. The moves respond to Google algorithm changes and US market challenges.
SCCG Take — Sustained cost cuts at Catena Media underscore margin pressure on affiliates tied to search-driven acquisition. Operators must track whether reduced headcount erodes content coverage in regulated US states.
Catena Media has eliminated five positions. The cuts hit its technology, marketing, and regional sites teams. Responsibilities from the regional sites team have been redistributed across the business.
The company confirmed it is providing direct support to the affected employees. The move continues a strategy to focus on core products while boosting operations, according to reporting by GamblingNews.
Scale of 2025 Staff Reductions
Catena Media’s Annual Report for 2025 showed approximately 50 employees were laid off in the second quarter of last year. That total represented about a quarter of its staff. The reductions included senior management positions and the removal of an entire management layer.
Those changes are projected to deliver annual savings of between EUR 4.5 million ($5.18 million) and EUR 5 million ($5.76 million). First-quarter 2026 results showed personnel expenses declining by 18%.
Persistent Pressure on Affiliate Operations
The latest layoffs follow several years of restructuring. Google search algorithm updates and heavy reliance on the US market and new state launches contributed to a sharp decline in revenue and EBITDA. The company has since shown signs of recovery after a stronger fourth quarter and strategic reset that lifted its shares.
Several other companies in the online gambling and affiliate marketing sectors have announced layoffs this year. The actions reflect rising costs, changing market conditions, and evolving digital acquisition strategies.
Reporting: GamblingNews
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Search-dependent affiliate models are under real existential pressure; operators relying on them need backup acquisition channels now.
We've spent three decades watching lead-gen evolve, and this cycle is different. When a publicly traded affiliate sheds 25% of headcount in one quarter, that's not trimming—it's survival mode. Operators banking on affiliate volume in new states need to understand the content pipeline is shrinking fast.
- 50 layoffs in Q2 2025 — roughly 25% of Catena's workforce — targeting senior management and entire layers
- Projected savings of EUR 4.5–5 million annually; Q1 2026 personnel costs down 18%
- Driven by Google algorithm shifts and overreliance on volatile US state launches
SCCG angle: SCCG has worked both sides of the affiliate equation for years—we connect operators to diversified lead-gen partners and help performance marketers pivot when search dries up. If your acquisition strategy leans too hard on one channel, we'll map you alternatives before the pipeline goes dark.