— Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into the iGaming industry?
— Initially, I worked in a different field-I managed an e-commerce site selling watches. I got into the world of iGaming through a startup. They needed a developer, and I became one, and eventually became the head of the partner relations department. And that’s it — I got caught. iGaming isn’t just an industry; it’s a unique community, and I’ve been following its rhythm ever since.
— AffPapa is a directory of operators and partners. This is stated on the company’s website. Can you tell us more about what AffPapa does?
— AffPapa is like Tinder for iGaming. However, instead of dating, you are looking for profitable partnerships. We connect operators and affiliates-almost like a matchmaking service, but we have fewer awkward conversations and a greater return on investment. Affiliates find the best operators, and operators connect to the right partners for their target market. It’s simple, efficient, and saves everyone a lot of time and money.
— Where did the idea of creating it come from?
— I noticed a lot of inconveniences in the sphere. Affiliates and operators spent their time just trying to find each other. There was a place for such a project that would allow affiliates and operators to find each other without paying any intermediary commissions to the networks. So our project was born.
— How is the selection of affiliates for the catalog performed?
— They must meet certain standards — have a solid history, real traffic and meet our values. Our team carries out a thorough check before allowing anyone into the network. Quality is more important than quantity.
— What do you think is the most effective way to attract traffic foronline casinos and bookmakers?
— Provide the highest conversion rate for the target GEO. If you have the best conversion rate, then all traffic will be directed to your site. It’s very simple!
— We see that AffPapa is actively creating platforms for cooperation in the gambling industry. Tell us about iGaming Club.
— iGaming Club started out as a network event that accompanies major shows in our industry. We bring together affiliates, operators, and other key contributors in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s not just about panels and presentations, but also about creating real connections. After a couple of years of hosting such events, we have made an important decision to organize a separate conference in 2024 in Malaga. Its results exceeded our expectations.
— Several events are planned for 2025. They will be held in Barcelona, Malaga, London and Cancun. Are conferences aimed at different audiences?
— The audience varies depending on the location. Our main event, the Malaga Conference, brings together affiliates and operators from all over the world. It doesn’t target specific geos. But the event in Cancun is intended for an audience from Latin America. It will bring together branches and operators operating in these markets.
— How much has the scale of upcoming conferences increased compared to the first iGaming Club meetings?
— The iGaming Club conference in Malaga doubles every year. In 2025, we expect to receive about 1200-1400 delegates. The demand is very high, as the feedback after our first event was positive. The delegates continued to recommend our event to their friends and acquaintances.
— Why should representatives of companies attend thematic forums and conferences?
— To get more information from experts in your niche, rather than listening to extensive panel discussions about irrelevant verticals in our industry. To find the person they are looking for, and not stumble across irrelevant products and services.
— Do you make your own bets? What kind of gambling games do you prefer?
— Mostly I bet on sports competitions, sometimes I launch slots in land-based casinos. I prefer other, more productive activities than gambling.
— What can you recommend for beginners?
— Don’t look for easy solutions in our industry. Don’t take a successful company as a model and repeat the same steps to achieve similar goals. Try to come up with something new, something unprecedented and/or innovative. Remember: outstanding results require bold actions.