GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 24 - April 2013

bringit offers commission plans on a sliding scale, from 30 to 45 percent revenue share, based on revenue pro- duced. Why did bringit choose this commission model? In setting up our commission plan we looked long and hard at the standard models used across the board, and while we do agree that these have worked in the past, we thought we could do it better. The result was the sliding-scale commission plans which at the time of creation exceeded most of the other commission structures around. In addition, we don’t have any negative net revenue carryover. Do you also offer a CPA? What are the dangers for affiliate programs when dealing with CPA deals? How do you police CPA fraud? How common is it, and how difficult is it to stop? We do not actively offer CPA but we are always open to discussing this option. CPA is un- fortunately open to abuse and the danger affiliate programs face is the payment of CPA deals upon fraudulent activity. Monitoring such fraud is not easy and operators have to be extremely diligent when checking CPA payments. A first step in limiting CPA abuse is putting in place some triggering parameters such as a minimum deposit and a minimum wagering requirement in order to qualify for the CPA. Also, a strong fraud depart- ment – to analyze player game play and patterns and spot CPA abuse – is a must. From experience I can say with certainty that CPA abuse does take place and that I have encountered it on a few occasions. Describe the office culture at bringit. How many affiliate managers work on the team? If there were a fly on the wall, what are some of the topics of conver- sation it would hear about at the wa- ter cooler? The office culture is simply amazing, the best I have encountered in my years in the industry. Laid back but yet professional, there is always time for a laugh and a practical joke. The people are friendly, strong at team working and as- sisting each other, and most recently our office mascot, Betty (a dog), has been the center of attention and discussion. We are also privileged to have one of the top pranksters of Malta as our casino manager, making every day at the office exceptional. What do you know about the industry now that you wish you knew when you first started? While understanding most things in the industry simply requires common sense and a practical mind, what has impressed me the most and what I didn’t know when first starting as an affili- ate manager is that the job of an affiliate manager is a constant, never-ending job, requiring dedication on a 24-hour basis. How do you ensure that payments are sent out on time? And when do your payments go out? To be on the safe side I advise all affiliates that payments go out by the 15th of every month. Ideally I try to pro- cess payments within the first week of every month, andmost of the time this is achieved. Where do you think the industry will be in five years? For the past decade or even more the industry has been growing from strength to strength. This has been achieved with the advancement of tech- nology and of the Internet. Taking into consideration the above and recognizing that technology and online gaming have been going hand in hand, it can be said with some certainty that while technology advances the online gaming industry will also advance. Also, as online gaming is being regulated new markets will emerge and existing ones may become limited. A prime example of this is the USA. Your bio says that you are originally from Greece and moved to the U.K. for university. Where did you go to school, and what did you study? I was born and grew up in Athens, Greece, and at the age of 18 I moved to Manchester, U.K., to study in university. I decided to follow a joint degree in Marketing and Human Resource Management. You were also a croupier for two years. What casino did you work for? And what games did you run? Did you have experi- ence in the gaming industry prior to your work as a croupier? And what did that experience teach you about the gam- ing industry that is of use to you today as an affiliate manager? Upon graduat- ing from University, I decided to look for a summer job, and while not having any previous industry experience I ended up joining Grosvenor Casinos of Rank Group. I successfully obtained a croupier license and ran the roulette, blackjack and poker tables for the next two years. I believe the knowl- edge I acquired from my time as a croupier was valuable for my later progression to the online gaming industry. I came to under- stand the expectations and needs of play- ers, the way to interact with them and how to create a pleasant experience for them. How do you like living in Malta? I have been inMalta for nearly two years now and I think it is a well-taken choice. We are lo- cated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, receiving 300+ days of sunshine and surrounded by sea! And if for some reason you feel bored, mainland Europe is just a flight away using the low-cost airlines. I don’t think it can get any better than this! If someone from out of town were to vis- it you, where is the one place you would have to take them? Without a doubt I would suggest they visit Comino Island. Its picturesque scenery and blue waters are world famous and a must-see destination. What is the last book you read? Did you enjoy it? And did you read it on an e- reader? Or do you need to have a copy of the physical book in your hand? I just recently finished a book by Oliver James titled The Selfish Capitalist . I did enjoy this book as I enjoy most books that will make you think a bit about what goes on around you and ways to improve yourself and the world around you. Usually I prefer the hard copy as I find reading a book in its original form more rewarding and fulfilling. What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is Instinct , starringAnthonyHopkins. A great movie with a great message. If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go? I would definitely visit Japan. I enjoy encountering new cultures, people and places and believe Japan has something totally different to offer compared to European culture. If you could have dinner with three other people, living or dead, who would they be? Plato, Einstein and Adam Smith. What would you do if you just inherited a pizzeria from your uncle? Learn how to make a pizza. Since I was a young kid I have always wanted to flip the dough in the air! What are three things that no one knows about you? Unfortunately, if I mention these three things they will not be unknown anymore! 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