GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 4 - April 2008

W elcome to the fourth installment of the GPWA Times Magazine! This issue’s cover story, along with several related pieces are meant to complement our announcement at CAC Amsterdam of an exciting new Facebook application that will help our members harness the power of social networking to increase revenues. This issue also launches some new features, including a captionless cartoon contest and a crossword puzzle that only GPWA members who have really been paying attention will be able to solve. And don’t miss John Ryott’s take on how to manage remote workers effectively, based on his recent experiences assembling the staff at AffiliateClub.com. He’ll show you how it’s definitely a game of give and take. Also, if you’ve been wondering how the banks will enforce the UIGEA, be sure to read Vin Narayanan’s analysis of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face. The other day, I was looking through some of the fantastic affiliate and manager interviews we’ve been running in the magazine. I couldn’t help but notice that when asked about books they believe everyone should read, along with titles like Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Saint Exupéry’s “The Little Prince,” interviewees frequently mention books like “Think and Grow Rich,” or “One Minute Millionaire.” In many ways, all of us GPWA types operate on that same wavelength. We’re here to help each other think of innovative ways to grow rich – even it takes slightly more than a minute! Sincerely, Michael A. Corfman Executive Director, GPWA Copyright © 2008 Gambling Portal Webmasters Association. All rights reserved. GPWA Executive Director: Michael Corfman Marketing Director: Andrea Mullaney ProgramManager: Steven Corfman Customer Service Manager: Eric Almquist Program Assistant: Kim DeForest GPWA Times Magazine Managing Editor: Vin Narayanan Senior Editor: Gary Trask Copy Chief: Bill Riley Designer: George Choi Advertising To advertise in the GPWA Times, please e-mail: sales@gpwa.org Subscriptions To subscribe to the GPWA Times, simply register at gpwa.org and provide your mailing address. It’s FREE! 6 Webmaster news, notes, numbers, cartoon caption contest, crossword Catch up on some of the latest news from the online gaming industry, read some notable quotes from the past few months and crunch some gambling-related numbers. 14 GPWA Affiliate Interview Series Six affiliates who reside in different corners of the planet discuss their careers in the world of online gambling and let us into their personal lives. 24 Event calendar Clip and save this list of the key industry events you don’t want to miss. 26 GPWA sponsor programs A breakdown of the platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels of sponsors for the GPWA. 30 The new face of marketing: Social Networking How does social networking affect the future of the online gambling industry? Here are two perspectives. First we profile PerfSpot, which is counting on ad revenue from online gambling, and then we feature a column by marketing guru Jack Aaronson on the convergence of social networking and e-mail marketing. 38 Affiliate Manager Interview Series It’s another string of sit-downs with three prominent affiliate managers who answer our questions regarding both their professional and personal lives. 42 From the Forums:What’s a quality visitor? Anyone who visits the GPWA forums on a regular basis knows how compelling the discussions can be. Here’s an example of one of those threads that captivated the interest of our members. 44 Managing remote workers effectively AffiliateClub.com has enjoyed promising results since deciding to operate exclusively with remote workers this year. Head of Affiliates John Ryott explains why his company went down this path and what he has done as a manger to make it work. Also, Claire Leighton, a member of Ryott’s staff, explains the positives and negatives of working from home. 46 GPWA Seal of Approval program Check out the growing list of more than 400 GPWA seals that have been awarded to portal sites around the world. 52 News analysis: UIGEA regulations under fire It’s been 18 months since the UIGEA was passed, but U.S. officials are still grappling with exactly how to enforce it. Letter from the director