In this new Affiliate Interview you can get to know a true veteran of the industry.

Name: Håkan Klingén
Age: 48
Hometown: Stockholm
Living in: Sweden
Profession/Job title: Everything at NicerOdds.co.uk

GAV: Hello Hakan, tell us a bit about yourself, we would like to get know the real Hakan, the main person behind Nicerodds.co.uk. What was the main idea of developing this great odds comparison website?

Håkan: I was a professional bettor for many years and needed a tool for odds comparisons. At that time no odds comparison site was good at outright odds or novelty bets odds, so that is my focus.

GAV: We know that you’re active in the industry since the late 1980’s! What were the bumps on your road when you got started and how did you overcome them?

Håkan: Well, I started to place bets at different bookmakers in the 80’s, but you got higher and higher odds for every year… If we talk about my business, I had worked with outsourcing since the 80’s and today it is much easier for you to focus on what you do best and find freelancers to help you with the other things, even if it is small things.

GAV: We have surfed your site and found some high quality content. Are you writing it by yourself or you have a team of people writing for you?

Håkan: Thank you. I have NicerOdds.co.uk in 29 languages and have one freelancer for every language version and some extra for the English one – let’s say one for every sport.

GAV: How do you keep the content always fresh and devoid of clutter when a lot of fluff and nonsense appear on the Internet on a daily basis?

Håkan: Take help with what you don’t have time to do.

GAV: We are sure that you receive daily messages from Affiliate Managers showcasing their 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?

Håkan: Well, of course it is more fun to answer messages from people I had met. After seven years of affiliate conferences some people has changed company sometimes. What was the question again?…

GAV: How do you see the future of the online betting industry? For instance, will it become a truly global phenomenon in the near future?

Håkan: Yes, some politicians think that if you turn off the crane people stop being thirsty, but we all know that that’s not true.

GAV: How was the affiliate industry when you first got started? Fill us in a bit!

Håkan: I started as an affiliate 1999 and started to focus on iGaming 2003. I think it was in 2007 I first had some contact with an affiliate manager (before that there was most self service by the web for affiliates) and 2009 I started to visit conferences.

GAV: Can you name one change that you want to see in the sports betting / online casino affiliate ecosystem?

Håkan: I am looking forward to even more fun odds on novelty bets.

GAV: What advise you would like to offer to the new affiliates who are looking to venture into this great industry?

Håkan: Focus on what you do best. After 14 years with the same site I still only have 1 site (but in 29 langauge versions). I still have focus on odds, because that is what I know best.

GAV: What is your opinion about Binary Options / Trading ?

Håkan: No one..

GAV: How about the BitCoin?

Håkan: I think peer-to-peer is the future. That doesn’t mean BitCoin will be the winner. Google was not the first search engine…

GAV: Do you attend any iGaming or affiliate conferences? If so, which one is your favorite and what is your most fun experience?

Håkan: I visit Amsterdam every year. I am looking forward to meet everyone there.

GAV: How do you rate the chances of Eastern Europe becoming potential gaming hot-spot of the future? Where do you think the region must improve upon?

Håkan: Sorry. I live up in cold Sweden and have no idea…

GAV: Alright, here comes the fun part…., where would you like to travel in Eastern Europe, some part of the region maybe that you haven’t visited yet and favorite destination around the world.

Håkan: I had never been to Budapest. I am sorry I can’t visit the conference in Budapest this year, but hopefully next year…

GAV: Where you wouldn’t want to travel in Eastern Europe?

Håkan: Haha. I think you should focus on what you do – and don’t on what you don’t do.

GAV: What is your opinion about gamblingaffiliatevoice.com?

Håkan: I work alone from my home so it is very interesting to read about other affiliates and other things on your site.

GAV: Thanks for the interview Håkan, it was a real pleasure. We wish you all the best and enjoy the summer!

If you would like to suggest subjects for future affiliate interviews, be sure to send your suggestions to: [email protected]