GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 50 - August 2021

Milestones are meant to be celebrated. With that said, we are pleased to not only present the 50 th edition of the GPWA Times Magazine , but recognize that 2 July 2021 marked the 15 th anniversary of the day we acquired the GPWA. In reflection, the above quote perfectly encap- sulates our feelings about this wild and reward- ing 15-year journey. While I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this vibrant community and truly relish the many, many professional relationships and personal friendships that have been fostered as a result, I would be lying if I told you there weren’t some difficult times, most recently over the past year as we fought through a global pandemic. So, excuse us for singing our own praises, but we’re proud and humbled to be able to pop the cork on 15 years of ownership and 50 issues. We’re also grateful for you, our members, and fully realize that we managed to get “from there to here” because of your passion, dedica- tion and resolve. So, go ahead and pat yourself on the back, as well. We couldn’t have done it without you. Per usual, the goal of this issue is to tackle some timely topics that we hope will help guide you and your affiliate business. Our cover story breaks down four key pillars of player acquisition that you should consider employing. We also present articles about some different approaches to marketing your business, as well as a look at the new Canadian market that could provide lucrative opportu- nities in the near future. We also have our regular departments, including three more compelling affiliate interviews and a pair of affiliate manager Q&As. The most exciting part of post-pandemic life is the fact that we are finally going to be able to see your smiling faces again at a live and in-person conference soon. If you are going to be at any of the upcoming events, we wel- come you to stop by our booth, say hello and catch up. And, if you haven’t done so already, please take ad- vantage of a free subscription to the GPWA Times Magazine by visitin gGPWAtimes.org/subscribe/. Michael Corfman Image by Angel_AMX/Shutterstock 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 Executive Director: Michael Corfman Program Director: Anthony Telesca Program Manager: Maria Florides Member Services: Richard Bard Marketing Director: Andrea Mullaney Managing Editor: Gary Trask Associate Editor: Dan Ippolito Designers: George Choi, Zoran Maksimovic´ LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR “I am a series of small victories and large defeats and I am as amazed as any other that I have gotten from there to here.” —Charles Bukowski, German–American poet and novelist & 4