Affiliate Success
Affiliate Interviews: Christine, Co-Owner/Marketing Director at Streak Marketing, LLC
Here is our latest affiliate success story, starring Christine of Streakgaming.com, who is well known in the community for being well established and trustworthy!
GAV: First of all we would like to thank you for the opportunity. Could you share with us your profile so our readers can get a better idea of who you are?
Name: Christine
Age: 47
Hometown: St.Louis
Living in: USA
Favorite Food: Sushi
Must Read Book:Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series Profession/Job title:Co-Owner/Marketing Director
GAV: Tell us a bit about yourself, we want to know who Christine really is, the main person behind Streak Gaming. Where were you born? What was the key idea of developing this great online gambling directory and forum ?
Christine: Born in St. Louis, Mo. Back in the cowboy day of online gambling I stumbled on a bingo site, Moo Cow bingo to be exact. Once I’ve seen the site I thought to myself, wait a minute this is brilliant, I can do this type of marketing and site building! After that, I become a single Mom of four and from there on this became my full time job and profession. I met my amazing business partner Carolyn who handles the technical/webmaster duties of the business. Between the both of us we have managed to create and maintain a power brand in iGaming.
GAV: Since there are thousands of websites in this niche out there, where do you think Streakgaming.com stands now?
Christine: Streak Gaming stands as one of the top brands, we are well established and have never suffered Google panda penalties since we have always maintained good white hat ethical work.
GAV: What are the strong points of Streakgaming.com and what makes it stand out from the other niche websites/directories?
Christine: Streak Gaming stands out because we are one of the few forums’s left in the industry; we have weathered out many storms with the never ending regulations. We plan to be around for a long time to come :). Staying up to date with the latest marketing trends, along with the use of social media is a must!
GAV: How did you start and what bumps did you have to overcome at the beginning?
Christine: As I stated in a previous question we started as housewives and I guess you can say we fell into the niche market at the right time. From there we have prided ourselves to work with brands who maintain good ethics; we put players first and foremost.
GAV: We have surfed your website and found some quality content. Are you writing it by yourself or you have a team of people writing for you? How many casino reviews are there on your website? How about the forum?
Christine: I generally write the content myself thanks for noticing my hard work! We have paid a few free lancers to do a bit of reviews in the past as well. Most of our content is paid staff whom has been around for over 10 yrs. Hiring good dedicated employees has been the back bone of our success. I could not comment on how many reviews we have since Streak Gaming has been around for 13 years, too many to count...
GAV: How do you keep the content fresh and relevant on your website and forum, when a lot of fluff and nonsense appear on the Internet on a daily basis?
Christine: We make it a point to maintain a close working relationships with our AM of all brands. Many times they are sending us newsletters, or we follow them on social media. There are four of us who slit this task so it becomes so much easier to keep up.
GAV: We are pretty sure that you receive messages from Affiliate Managers on a daily basis showcasing their best products. You of course select them by the brands they work with; but what are your thoughts on how Affiliate Manager-Affiliate relationships should be built?
Christine: I am a big fan of developing close working relationships with my AM. As of late it seems that there are newer breeds of AM’s in the industry, who do not care to chat with affiliates or try to get to know them. I am all for the old school relationship building. I tend to market brands more when the AM goes out of their way to keep me updated with their products. I also attend conferences, I like building that relationship with face to face networking.
GAV: How do you see the future of the online casino industry? For instance, will it become a truly global phenomenon?
Christine: This is the question of the year… There is a lot of speculation but I do think we will see more power in affiliate networks. I think many of the small affiliates will be absorbed by these big brands. Then we have to factor in regulations, this is becoming more and more of a problem for many of us. I hope the US can become a fun market for us all soon as well!
GAV: Tell us one change that you want to see in the casino affiliate ecosystem?!
Christine: I would like to see the black hat affiliates wiped away forever… Also, if the big companies would recognize affiliates as the front line of their marketing force that would be great.
GAV: What advise you would like to offer to newbies who are looking to venture into this great industry!?
Christine: Don’t take short cuts, find a niche market and jump in! I would focus more on live games, mobile and whatever the newest trends are at the time… Be ready to give a lot of time to this business, it does not come easy. Be persistent and you will succeed.
GAV: Do you attend any iGaming/online casino conferences? If so, which one is your favorite and what is your most fun experience?
Christine: I would have to say that the London Affiliate Conference (LAC) is my favorite and the most productive for networking. I attend several a year and plan on making my first trip to Malta for SiGMA next month. I also attend G2E in Vegas which is also a very good conference; I can see the state of gaming in the USA.
GAV: What do you think the chances are for Eastern Europe to become a potential gaming hotspot in the future? Where do you think the region must improve upon?
Christine: I actually think the next biggest hotspot will be South America or Mexico. I would love to see Eastern Europe explode in iGaming but again with regulation that seems to be a long time away for us.
GAV: And now for the fun part…., where would you like to travel in Eastern Europe?
Christine: Well I have been to Hungary a few times so, I think my answer would be Romania.
GAV: Where you wouldn’t want to travel in Eastern Europe?
Christine: Russia
GAV: Do you have a favorite celebrity?
Christine: Matthew McConaughey
GAV: What is your opinion about GAV (GamblingAffiliateVoice.com)?
Christine: I have just discovered this site after you reached out to me. I see great potential and love that you found a good niche for yourself. I look forward to seeing your future growth and hope to meet you in person one day soon.
GAV: Thanks for your time Christine, we appreciate it, all the best to you and if you have any newsworthy updates feel free to contact us!
If you would like to suggest some more questions or subjects for future interviews, be sure to send your suggestions to: george@gamblingaffiliatevoice.com
Affiliate Success
Casino Guru secures SBC Awards shortlist for Casino Affiliate of the Year
Casino Guru, the world’s largest and most up-to-date database of online casinos, has landed on the shortlist for SBC Awards 2024 in the Casino Affiliate of the Year category.
Casino Guru, which has processed more than 6,930 casinos, and prides itself on the world’s largest forum community built around informing players, enters a competitive field of 12 contestants all vying for the distinction.
SBC Awards 2024 is due to take place on September 26 at the MEO Arena on the final day of the SBC Summit, celebrating industry-wide achievements. Casino Guru is proud to be shortlisted for this important accolade. The company has worked tirelessly to establish itself at the top of the industry.
In embracing the affiliate business model, Casino Guru has created a groundbreaking and industry-shifting paradigm through the introduction of the Safety Index, a complex algorithm powered by big data, consumer feedback, and a meticulously in-house analyst team that has allowed Casino Guru to not only be the go-to repository for online casinos but also provide players with a credible source of information when it comes to the inherent trustworthiness of each casino brand listed in the constantly-growing database.
In welcoming the nomination, Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling, said: “I am thrilled to see Casino Guru shortlisted for the category again this year! Our competitors for the winner are recognised companies with a considerable impact on the online gambling affiliate business. The criteria for the winner go beyond our unique approach to affiliation and consider growth in multiple areas. I am convinced that we have much to offer in this sense as well, and I am looking forward to the judge’s conclusion.”
The Safety Index in particular has been a dynamic and living ecosystem that has been evolving on a weekly and monthly basis, registering movements in casinos’ overall ranking based on a comprehensive set of factors, such as complaint resolution, terms and conditions, licensing issues and more.
Having those efforts recognized by the SBC Summit Awards is a huge milestone for the company, which has operated with an unwavering commitment to bringing consumers the best possible choices from a database that easily constitutes the world’s largest.
Casino Guru is a trailblazer in building an affiliate business that is fully consumer-focused and consumer-facing, by offering an uncompromising, verifiable and transparent accreditation process that ultimately benefits consumers and helps match their preferences with the best casino brand.
Casino Guru is looking forward to September 26 and is excited about the opportunity to demonstrate to the panel of judges that the company is committed to raising standards for the way consumers engage with the industry in a manner that protects consumers and distinguishes the best operators and brands on the market, helping drive a sustainable and healthy environment for all.
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Nominated for “Acquisition and Retention Partner” at SBC Awards 2024
ReferOn, a state-of-the-art affiliate management platform, announces its nomination in the Acquisition & Retention Partner category at the prestigious SBC Awards 2024.
The inclusion in this category highlights ReferOn’s efforts to create and develop a targeted product for the needs of the iGaming industry, recognizing the team’s innovative approach and notable results in the field of affiliate marketing.
ReferOn’s nomination as an Acquisition & Retention Partner confirms that the affiliate management platform has proven its effectiveness and understanding of customer needs, as noted by the judging committee. Designed with years of iGaming experience its team, ReferOn caters to the specific needs of affiliates and managers, offering a flexible and scalable solution for managing large networks of companies in one comprehensive hub.
Alexia Gauci, B2B Sales Manager of ReferOn, commented on the nomination: “Being mentioned in the ‘Acquisition and Retention Partner’ category at the SBC Awards 2024 means a lot for our team. We are providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of iGaming professionals. We’re continuously enhancing the platform’s capabilities so our clients can solve the issues they are facing & achieve business goals.”
ReferOn brings reporting capabilities, robust back-office functions, and unique reward mechanics, all designed to simplify administration and enhance data control. With features like Sub-Affiliation and Independent Deal Calculations (IDC), ReferOn offers transparency and flexibility, helping users with tracking key metrics easily for quick data-driven decisions.
In addition to its technical improvements, ReferOn started educational initiatives & received good feedback from the audience. The team already conducted two free seminars, “ReferOn Insights” for Operators and Affiliates to provide valuable knowledge and strategies for maximizing affiliate marketing success.
The ReferOn team will be exhibiting at SBC Summit 2024 in Lisbon and will showcase its latest developments and offerings at booth F430 from 24-26 September. Visitors will be able to ask ReferOn representatives questions and learn more about the platform’s advanced features and innovations.
Affiliate Success
Game Lounge Swedish Website (SveaCasino.Se) now QMRA Compliant
QMRA is a Quality Mark for iGaming affiliates, launched in February 2024. QMRA is available for the following jurisdictions: Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, USA Michigan, UK, Poland, Estonia, Ontario
QMRA is a follow up from successful Dutch Quality Mark KVA, which currently has most affiliates as members and works with several operators (like LeoVegas, TonyBet, HardRockCasino, 711 and Tombola).
QMRA now has various prominent members, like: Gaming Innovation Group (Gentoo), Applied Digital Media Group, Leadstar Media (for Germany) and Game Lounge as well.
Game Lounge joined QMRA with GuideCasino.Be before, and has now joined QMRA with various markets. For Sweden, the first website has been found compliant: SveaCasino.Se
Having the Quality Mark will instill trust in Swedish consumers, authorities and operators.
SveaCasino.Se is a well known Swedish website, with estimated traffic (SEMRUSH) of about 100.000 per month. SveaCasino.Se will be carrying the QMRA mark from now on. This means that the website has been checked against the QMRA Compliance Code:
- Channelling objectives
- The affiliate shall not advertise or promote the offer of unlicensed operators.
- The affiliate shall not make use of brand imagery, call-to-actions or make other references to the website and offer of unlicensed operators.
- Responsible advertising
- The affiliate shall never aim their advertising activities at persons that have not reached the age of 18.
- The affiliate shall add an 18+ characteristic to every webpage of their website and to any marketing activities on social media. The characteristic shall be clearly identifiable and visible to the consumer.
- The affiliate shall be mindful of the design of their marketing activities, as to not directly or indirectly target or exploit minors.
- The affiliate shall not make use of minors, directly or indirectly, in any marketing activity or imagery used in relation to marketing for games of chance.
- The affiliate shall not aversely influence excluded persons in a way that may convince or encourage them to start gambling, discourage them from further self-exclusion or target them in any marketing activity targeted at advertising games of chance.
- Careful and balanced design
- All marketing activities shall use no uncertain terms or mislead the consumer as to the nature, workings, prizes, risks and odds of the offer.
- The affiliate shall not use any uncertain terms or mislead the consumer as to their affiliation, role or activities. The affiliate shall clearly disclose their role as a marketeer.
- The affiliate shall not imply or state that the consumer may have a predominant influence on the outcome of a game of chance, or that the outcome may be influenced in any other way other than chance.
- The affiliate shall clearly state the type of game of chance is offered.
- The affiliate shall clearly state the license status of the operator.
- The affiliate shall not claim that it is quick or easy to win often or a large amount of money in any game of chance.
- The affiliate shall not encourage excessive or irresponsible gambling behavior.
- The affiliate shall not claim that the offer is free, the best, the cheapest or on sale in any way.
- Contributing to responsible gaming
- The affiliate shall share information regarding the risks associated with gambling for money.
- The affiliate shall share information and the means to get help with a (developing) gambling addiction. This information shall be:
- The national support helpline for gambling addiction;
- Parties that offer further assistance for a gambling addiction;
- Further information on gambling addiction;
- The possibility of self-exclusion and the Swedish Gambling Authority.