GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 14 - October 2010

ContinueD from page 56 times I spend several days on a small blurb. In reality, quality content doesn’t always translate into high player conver- sion rates. To offset this, I plan to build a few sites with extremely simple content and very aggressive advertising. How did you discover the GPWA? How has it helped you and why is it important to you? I found the GPWA on Google. The GPWA is very important to me be- cause it facilitates communication among webmasters from all over the world. It’s also a great motivator because you see how much revenue the more experienced webmasters are able to generate. Before I joined the GPWA, I knew that gam- bling was a lucrative business, but I was shocked when I found out just what kind of revenue is possible. What one thing would you change about the online gambling industry? I think it would be a good idea to create a chari- table fund to which webmasters and af- filiate programs would be able to make voluntary contributions to help prevent gambling addiction. It would be great if the GPWA spearheaded that initiative. A lot of people have a negative view of the gambling business, and the num- ber-one reason for that is gambling ad- diction. That’s pretty much the whole reason why webmasters can’t fully en- joy their work, and the reason the U.S. population isn’t protesting the adoption of UIGEA. There is an old Russian say- ing that goes, “You can’t keep all the money.” A charitable fund that helped children, for example, would be a way to improve the image of the gambling industry among the general public and lessen the moral burden that everyone in the industry carries. You once told us that your favorite hobby is . . . vodka! What’s your preferred brand? Do you like it straight up, in martinis, or some other way? My favorite vodka is “pepper gorilka,” which is a Ukrainian vodka with pepper. Dilution of vodka with anything is a mockery of the very idea of the consump- tion of vodka. Drinking vodka is a part of Russian culture, which when done correct- ly has nothing to do with intemperate use of alcohol. Correct consumption involves the following rules: First of all, don’t drink often. Also, you need at least three people whose company you enjoy. The vodka must be chilled in the freezer, consumed from shot glasses and never be diluted by ice or anything else. You should never drink on an empty stomach, but only with a meal or some kind of snack. Hot boiled potatoes, black bread, pickles and cole- slaw are ideal (the last two are essential because they help with the hangover). You drink the vodka in one shot, unlike cognac or whiskey. All participants take the shots simultaneously. It’s considered very bad etiquette to leave any vodka in the glass or the bottle. It’s hard to convey the full ex- perience in a paragraph because there are more rules to drinking vodka than there are in a Japanese tea ceremony. What’s your favorite movie? I have a lot of favorite movies; it’s hard to name all of them. Here are a few: “Once Upon a Time in America” (USA, 1984); “Runaway Train” (USA, 1985); “Spring, Summer, Fall,Winter ... and Spring” (South Korea, 2003); “Fare- well My Concubine” (Hong Kong, 1993); “1984” (U.K., 1984). I’m not sure why I like them, I just do. What’s your favorite vacation spot? My apartment. Only here can I immersemyself in my favorite pastime – reading books. If you could visit any five places in the world, what would they be? New York – I was there for three days many years ago. I’ve wanted to go back ever since. Las Vegas – I’d love to see the capital of gambling. Singapore – I’d like to see this city-state, which made its way from an impover- ished island to a thriving country. Beijing – I’d like to see the capital of this ancient nation. South Pole – just curious. (Translated from Russian by Paul Mogilevsky) AGE: 34 HOMETOWN: Saint Petersburg, Russia LIVINGIN: Saint Petersburg, Russia FAVORITEFOOD: Peremech (Tatar cuisine – Peremech is a round-shaped minced meat pie, fried and served hot, sprinkled with melted butter) MUSTREAD BOOK: 1984 by George Orwell SITES: Casino-13.com 59 GPWA Affiliate Interview Series