If you’ve been in the ad network game for a while, you’ve probably heard of Back Button Hijack. And if you’re running gambling offers, chances are you’ve considered using it.
This technique captures the user’s "back" click, the one that would normally return them to the previous page, and instead redirects them to a new monetized destination. For advertisers, it’s just another way to squeeze a bit more value out of the traffic they bought. But for publishers? Not so much.
Why Most Publishers Don’t Like It
When a user clicks a popunder ad and lands on your page, the publisher’s hope is that if the user navigates away and later decides to go back, they’ll return to the original content on the publisher’s site. After all, that’s where the user started and potentially still wants to be. That return visit can lead to additional engagement, more time on site, and extra monetization.
Back Button Hijack breaks this flow. Instead of letting the user return to the original session on the publisher's site, it pushes them further down the advertiser’s funnel or redirects them elsewhere. That is a hard pass for many popunder traffic publishers, and it’s why, as an ad network, we generally don’t allow Back Button Hijack in regular popunder traffic campaigns.
But There’s an Exception
We do allow it in skimmed traffic campaigns, and here’s why.
In skim traffic, the setup is different. There’s no single publisher site with a consistent structure and user session. Instead, it’s often a mix of sources, and users come through via image thumbs like a “play video” button or thumbnail from a content wall or CJ. Clicking a thumb opens a new tab, usually to a different site where the promised video is supposedly hosted.
In this context, it makes sense. Users can always go back to the previous tab with the CJ wall and try another video or thumb if they didn’t like what they got. The back interaction isn’t about resuming a publisher session. It is part of the exploration. The hijack here feels less like a hijack and more like part of the journey.
Why Gambling and Dating Offers Are So Interested in This Type of Traffic
Back Button Hijack is especially popular among advertisers in gambling and dating. Here’s why it fits their strategy:
Maximum monetization per click
These verticals rely on aggressive funnels. If a user tries to leave the landing page, hijacking the back click gives one more chance to redirect them to another offer or presell. It’s about squeezing extra value from the same traffic.
Impulsive user behavior
Users in gambling and dating often act on emotion. Even if they try to leave, a new page triggered by the back click might recapture their attention. That second chance can convert.
Low return rate
Unlike e-commerce, where users may return voluntarily, gambling and dating users rarely come back on their own. Back Button Hijack gives advertisers another shot before the user is gone for good.
Our Policy (Summary)
❌ Back Button Hijack is not allowed in popunder traffic campaigns.
✅ It is allowed in skimmed traffic campaigns.
We want to respect the intentions of the publisher and the user journey. If your campaign is running on direct publisher sites, do not hijack the back button. But if you're working with skimmed, it's fair game.
If you’re not sure whether your setup qualifies, contact your account manager. We’re happy to help clarify the best way to buy traffic with us and make the most of our advertising network.
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