GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 1 - May 2007

Affliate Program Manager Interview Series 31 T ell us about your program. Roxy Affiliates h as been in operation since 2002 and represents R oxy Palace and Casino Splendido, which fe ature fully translated software and support in English, French, Italian and German (more la nguages being added shortly). Both casinos are p owered by Microgaming Software on the Viper Pl atformandoffer over 180 games, very generous ja ckpots, outstanding player promotions and a re nowned reputation based on honesty, integrity a nd unsurpassed customer support. Si nce passage of the UIGEA, what h as changed and how has your pr ogramadapted? A lot has changed th roughout the industry, and both pr ograms and webmasters alike have h ad to re-evaluate their positions and br oaden their focus to include non- U .S. markets in their offerings. F ortunately, Roxy Affiliates has b een operating in the international ar ena for a number of years, so n o major changes were necessary a nd marketing efforts aimed at e xpanding existing markets have ju st been intensified. On the af filiate side, we are working with o ur webmaster partners to help th em to adapt and to broaden th eir promotional efforts. We ar e also helping them break into th e various language markets by s haring knowledge we’ve gained w hile operating in these markets. H ow do you approach working with p ortal webmasters? Openly and h onestly, as I believe those are th e keys to any good relationship. R oxy Affiliates has a very strong offering, so it pretty much sells itself, which is fantastic b ecause I can’t think of anything worse than h aving to corner webmasters and subject th em to a “hard sell.” I’ve seen the faces over th e years when that happens; they’re looking ar ound the room for an escape route because th ey feel like they want to run for miles! W hat has thewithdrawal of NETellermeant to the in dustry and your Program? It was a big blow, th at cannot be denied, and I think everyone saw a nd felt the impact in one way or another. For th e program on the U.S. side it has meant that w e have had to be a lot more pro-active when it comes to payment options and we are, of c ourse, investigating other methods. W hat do you hope to accomplish as a GPWA s ponsor? It enables us to be involved in the G PWA process — fostering communication a mong webmasters, programs, and the greater online gambling community — and provides us with valuable feedback. There is also the brand-awareness factor, which helps in recruiting new affiliate partners and growing our business. What advice would you give to would-be gaming affiliates? Do your homework (and there are many subjects) — nothing beats solid research. Focus on a single direction initially and expand as you go; build good solid sites with relevant content; be patient and tenacious…this is a tough industry and things take time. What makes your program a unique experien ce for its players? Both Roxy Palace and Casi no Splendido offer the entire player packa ge with safe secure transactions, exhilarati ng game play, generous ongoing promotio ns and above all, outstanding customer suppo rt where the needs of players are catered to in a prompt, professional, and caring manner. What do you see as the mo st essential things that an affiliate mu st be doing today to achieve lon g- term success? Diversification of marketing and promotional effo rts with a focus on the internation al player audience. What is your favourite tra vel destination (for business o r pleasure)? Definitely Las Vegas f or business! It’s probably one of t he most conducive places to do busin ess and have fun at the same time. T he grandeur of the city is captivating a nd I’ve got the best memories from m y last trip there as that’s where ma ny successful business relationships (re ad: friendships) began. And the place j ust has a certain magic to it that mak es you feel like an invincible party ing machine! Not to mention…it’s HO T! And when traveling for pleasu re nothing beats the beauty of the Sou th African coastlines! Just give me a patch of beach, the sound of t he waves, some sunshine and I’m happ y! R OXY’S FENWICK: “WEBMASTERS MUST ADAPT – AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK.” Overview Roxy Affiliates offers established, award-winning brands complete with fully translated software and support in English, French, Italian and German and years of experience in the foreign language markets; secure access to real-time stats; monthly payouts; fresh creative; free marketing tools; marketing expertise from a dedicated affiliate management team; and 24/7 customer support. Software Platform: Microgaming Earnings: Revenue Share Brands: Casino Splendido, Roxy Palace Online Casino, Roxy Poker Position: Affiliate Manager, Roxy Affiliates Age: 25 Marital Status: Single Hometown: “Johannesburg, and I now live in Sandton.” Preferred Pastimes: “I’m part of a group that works to uplift underprivileged communities and provides spiritual guidance/counseling/prayer for those in need – this is probably my greatest passion. Also reading, writing (when I do get the time you’ll find me scribbling down my thoughts) and Pilates when I can get out of bed in the mornings.” Favourite Sports: “Anything involving water… skiing, swimming. And to watch…definitely soccer, MotoGP and Xgames.” Nicole Fenwick “Openness and honesty are the keys to any good relationship.” GPWA TIMES | ROXY AFFILIATES| Nicole Fenwick