GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 40- February 2018

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Executive Director: Michael Corfman Program Director: Anthony Telesca Membership Manager: Richard Bard Member Services: Nancy Troy Marketing Director: Andrea Mullaney Above are the exact words that yours tru- ly wrote in the opening of the very first “Letter From the Director,” inside the inaugural issue of the GPWA Times Mag- azine . Now, as we present the 40 th edition of our publication more than 10 years later, those words still ring true, maybe even more so than ever before. Yes, radical changes are commonplace in this industry, but hopefully the GPWA has helped you and your business thrive and survive in some way over the years. Because as I also noted in that same letter, this publication was “developed as part of our ongoing efforts to grow the GPWA” and to strengthen “the industry relationships the organization provides.” We like to think we have hit the mark on both of those goals, and we hope you agree. Speaking of changes, with a new year upon us we have asked some of our members and writers to forecast what the near future has in store for the iGaming affiliate industry. Dan Horvat, a regular contributor to the GPWA Times Maga- zine , tackles some SEO projections and trends, while Chris Strutt from Lucky Media zeroes in specifically on the U.K. market and its recent volatility. Final- ly, we opened the floor to a collection of other GPWA members and resident experts to share their takes on what to expect in 2018, including SEO, CMS, PWA, BTC and a wide array of other common industry acronyms. Elsewhere in this issue, which will be unveiled at ICE and LAC in London, we present another intriguing poll and forum thread from GPWA.org , pre- view the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the prime opportunities it will present for affiliates, and get a personal account of how one GPWA member had success breaking into the industry by picking a certain niche and becoming an expert in that field. Here’s to a productive and prosperous 2018! If you are going to be at any of the major conferences this year, we welcome you to stop by our stand and say hello. And, if you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to the GPWA Times Magazine by visiting GPWAtimes.org/subscribe. Sincerely, Michael A. Corfman Managing Editor: Gary Trask Copy Chief: Clare Fitzgerald Associate Editor: Abby Messick Designers: George Choi, Zoran Maksimovic´ SUBSCRIPTIONS For a FREE subscription to the GPWA Times Magazine , visit GPWAtimes.org ADVERTISING To advertise in the GPWA Times Magazine , please e-mail: sales@gpwa.org Same as it ever was . . . “In these rapidly changing times in the online gaming industry, it is vitally important that affiliates and affiliate programs work together, hand in hand, to help our industry and businesses thrive.” 4