GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 1 - May 2007

3 8 Affliate Program Manager Interview Series BETFRED’S BEACONATOR GETS IT DONE T ell us how you got into the industry. I was w orking as an affiliate manager in the loans a nd finance sector, absolutely nothing to do w ith gaming, but it did have an element of a gamble to it. I was made redundant from t hat job due to a takeover in which the new b oss saw no future in affiliates . . . that’s right — the guy had no clue! Well at this point I had a mortgage to pay for, a car and also a wife. All I could rely on for in come was my poker ability and ta king the cash off my mates in F riday night games. Finally, when I w as really getting in the way of the w ife after five weeks unemployed, I was called about a position as D eputy Affiliate Manager with B etfred. I came for the interview, i mpressed them with my boasts o f living off my mates and past a chievements with affiliates, and w as offered the job before I even re ached home after the interview! T hinking back, maybe I am r ubbish at poker and my mates let m e win because they felt sorry for m e! W hat do you like about the gaming in dustry? I love this industry. It’s fa st paced, and there are some g reat people working on both t he affiliate side and also for the o ther gaming companies out there t hat we get to meet at conferences a nd through forums such as the G PWA. Although there is a lot of c ompetition out there, everyone ( well, almost) gets on and has a g reat time on the social scene. T he main thing is I have an interest in my jo b and an interest in the industry. I want m y affiliate program to work and I hope that af filiates also see this and want to work with B etfred even more. W here do you see this industry in 2008? By 2 008 I believe that there will be big changes in the way the U.S. government views the g aming laws and something will have been d one to turn the current situation around. I believe that this industry has many, many y ears left in it as there is just too much fun to lo se out on. W hat TV shows do you watch? I watch a v ariety of stuff ranging from “The Simpsons” a nd “South Park” to things like “Police C amera Action!” and “Hollyoaks.” I enjoy w atching “Top Gear.” For those who are not fa miliar it’s a programme about cars where three presenters and a dog test out new cars and put both new and old to random tests. Of course, I also watch poker, lacrosse (when it’s on) and other such sports. Tell us a little about Betfred.com . Betfred dates way back to 1967 as a High Street bookmaker and was started by Fred Done and his brother, Peter. Since then Betfred (formally known as Done Brothers Limited) has grown from strength to strength, forming mass ive sponsorship deals with Manchester Unit ed Football Club and also Wembley Stadiu m. Betfred now has well over 600 shops acro ss the UK and is known as the world’s bigg est independent bookmaker, with turnover in excess of $2.8 billion. Betfred joined the online phenomenon la te (2004), but has seen a lot of success sin ce then, firstly with the sports betting, then w ith the casino and poker followi ng in 2005, and bingo more recen tly (2006). We have a great reputati on in Europe. With regards t o the future of Betfred, Fred h as committed $125 million to t he expansion of the company ov er the next five years. How well do you know Fred? Cou ld you take him at the poker tab le? Fred is a hands-on type of guy. H e has his finger on the pulse! W ith regards to taking him at poker, his stakes are a little higher than min e. And if I did beat him on a tab le, I’m not sure I’d have a job to com e back to. How do you approach worki ng with portal webmasters? I like to be completely open with all o ur affiliates and I also like to think I am very approachable, especia lly with a pair of cans on my head … Red Bull cans, that is! It’s not a ca se of “us and them,” but of buildi ng up relationships and giving back as much, if not more, as the affilia tes put in. We are completely flexib le with our program and look t o incorporate new ideas and offers from o ur affiliates; after all, they are part of the team ! OVERVIEW Betfred offers fast on-time monthly payments; live detailed reporting; banners and promotional material; an Affiliate Manager; a free Learn to Play Poker guide; and 24-hour live support. Software: Playtech, Finsoft, Electracade, Dynamite Idea Brands: Betfred, Betfred Casino, BetFred Poker, Betfred Bingo, Manchester United Sportsbook, Manchester United Casino, Manchester United Poker, Manchester United Lotto Martyn “ The Beaconator” Beacon “The Red Bull cans are firmly wedged, I am afraid; I struggle finding hats that fit these days!” Position: Affiliate Manager, Betfred Age: 29 Sex: “Great fun, isn’t it!” Marital Status: Married, one child Favourite Gambling Game: Texas Hold’em (“but now have to limit as I have to budget for nappies!”) Contact Info: affiliates@betfred.com Preferred Pastimes: Lacrosse (currently out with knee injury, “hoping to get back to full fitness after a couple of operations—all I want is to be able to run again!!!”), computers (gaming, PCs, creating websites for family and friends), going out “for meals with the wife and beers with my mates,” playing with daughter Macey (born Dec10 2006) GPWA TIMES | BETFRED | Martyn Beacon