GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 31 - February 2015

When a program disappears with all your players, where does it go? When did you launch your sites? GambleRoad.com was launched in April 2001, during the good old days (without those Pandas and Penguins). How did you become involved in the in- dustry? My exposure to the affiliate world started with my first website, where I promoted products that help people quit smoking. I ended up finding the online gaming niche through affiliate networks, forums, etc. I saw a huge potential in the online gaming industry so I pursued it. In the last 14 years, even with my experience in many different affiliate niches (like coupons and video-sharing), two original websites are still my major ones. At that time, I didn’t know that it would become part of my life. How long did it take for you to start earning money? It didn’t take that long to receive my first check. I don’t remember exactly how long – but definitely within the first three to six months. And, after one year, I understood that this wasn’t just a hobby anymore but a real business. You recently redesigned GambleRoad.com. Tell us about the redesign process. How much time did you spend on it? Are you happy with the results? And what impact has it had on your traffic and affiliate earnings? Thanks to my IT background and a number of years in the eMarket- ing world it was actually easy and fun to work on this project. The redesign took a few months to complete; the aim was to achieve a modern design and introduce a mobile version of the site. I am happy with the results, as the goal was to remain the best source for all things online gam- bling related. You recently began offering your play- ers a new payment solution, the TruCash U20 Reloadable MasterCard. Could you tell us about what was involved in set- ting this up and whether it is proving to be an attractive payment alternative for your players? Being in the online gam- ing industry, we all understand the im- portance of reliable payment solutions for programs, affiliates and players. In partnership with a group of Canadian financial organizations, we designed the TruCash U20 Reloadable MasterCard to give players the freedom to spend their money wherever they want with peace of mind, guaranteed by the industry-leading secure payment system. It’s a prepaid credit card accepted online and at mil- lions of locations worldwide. At the same time, it acts as a personal debit card that can be used for purchases or ATM access. Our approach is very different from that of our competitors, as U20card.com offers a unique B2B custom-tailored solution specifically created for affiliate programs. Are you a one-person shop or are you part of a larger organiza- tion? Unfortunately I prefer to do every- thing by myself, but we know that’s im- possible in the real world. So I’m left with no choice but to delegate some work to others. Describe your work environment. Do you work from home or in an office? If you work from home, how often do you get to see and interact with other people in the industry? I do work from home but that doesn’t stop me from interacting with other people in the industry, whether at a lunch with an affiliate manager, chatting on the GPWA forum or meeting up at in- dustry events. What traits do you look for in an affili- ate manager? How about in an affiliate program? It is vital for me to do research before joining any affiliate program be- cause this long-lasting relationship will make or break the revenue potential. For some programs, I still have the same af- filiate manager I had five to seven years ago. When I am debating whether or not to join an affiliate program, my focus is on the reputation of the program, the people behind this program and how secure the payment process is. It is also mandatory that the affiliate program is accredited by the GPWA or a similar organization. What’s your preferred method of com- munication with affiliate managers? Do you like to talk on the phone, by e-mail or via Skype? My preferred method of communication is through Skype. With Skype, you are able to talk to anyone, any- where in the world. And if you can't reach them, you can simply leave a message. What prompted you to join the GPWA? How has it helped you? The GPWA is a great source for all webmasters and affili- ates as it provides a platform for sharing knowledge and ideas that are ultimately used to improve our understanding of this industry. The GPWA community is excellent, and I like spending my morn- ings going through the latest posts. I con- fess, I read more than I write. I plan to contribute more to the community. GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES OLEG GambleRoad GPWA Affiliate Interview Series