GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 43 - February 2019

GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES Tony Mace - BetSharks After a three-year hiatus, launching this former poker pro is site after site How long have you been in the iGa- ming business? How did you first get into the industry? I’ve been in the industry since 2002, but did have a three-year break starting in 2014. The break was prettymuch to focus on some property development projects and get some fresh air for a change. I got started in the business after being amazed by partypoker and just deciding “This is gonna be big!” I focused mainly on poker back then and did quite well, evolving as things moved on and build- ing what I would class as my first proper site in 2005. Before building that main and very popular affiliate site, the stuff I put online was pretty much the same as many others around that time. The process was simple: • Exact match domain name. • Keyword-stuffed content. • Flashing banners everywhere. But it worked, so I can’t complain. What did you do before iGaming? What did you learn that has helped you as an affiliate? I have always run businesses since the age of 18. But from the age of 11, I did two paper rounds be- fore school, a fruit and veg round with the local farmer and anything else I could do to make money. I was an apprentice builder at 16 and left at 18 to do something for myself. I’ve hadmultiple businesses since then and enjoyed them all. Tell us about your sites. When did you launch your first site? How long did it take for it to start making money? I actually came back to the industry in late 2017, so my sites at the moment are all very new. In the past nine months I have built and sold around 13 sites based on sports, casino and bingo, all with amazing rankings and decent revenue for the new owners. That’s one of my massive faults and always has been: I get bored very easily. I really enjoy starting new things, and websites are no different. Once it starts to work and the sites start getting traffic and revenue, I start to get bored and want to do it all over again. I am trying very hard at the moment to keep at least one site in my portfolio and to keep my boredom in line. I am planning to keep building and selling what I would call starter sites for new affiliates to help them hit the ground running. One of your sites is focused on sportsbooks. What’s one thing you think an affiliate new to the sports- book market should know about it? Speaking from a U.K. perspective, new affiliates have to do something different, because it’s a lot harder than it ever was and isn’t getting any easier. Keep up to date with everything , because with all the changes, it’s super important to keep focused and not be tempted to cross the line – especially where legislation is concerned. It’s competitive, and don’t expect to make any money for 12 to 18 months. Determi- nation is key, but listen to others who have been around a lot longer. They have made all the mistakes you are about to make, learned the lessons you have yet to learn, and will help you. Be appreciative, and you’ll have so much knowledge to draw upon. You’ll save a lot of time, money and frustration. How has the online sportsbook mar- ket changed since you started your site? Do you anticipate trying to take advantage of the new regulated mar- kets in the U.S.? The biggest change is the lack of good sportsbooks for affiliates to G P W A t i m e s . o r g 60