Affiliate Interview Series - Scampi

**GPWA Daniel** · 26 March 2019, 11:34 am

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(This interview was originally published in the July 2018 issue of the GPWA Times Magazine)

How long have you been in the iGaming business? How did you first get into the industry?

I started my first affiliate website in 2011. I used to gamble a lot, so I started writing about my experiences and opinions on the latest slots. This grew into a site that generated a small amount of traffic from like-minded people. At first I was just running Adsense ads from Google – these generated a bit of income, but I wasn't fully aware of the earning potential of being a gambling affiliate until I was contacted by an affiliate manager who asked for positions on my site. A while later I sold the site. Although I check up on it from time to time, it appears to be being left idle.

What did you do before iGaming? What did you learn that has helped you as an affiliate?

I've done various jobs off and on over the years, including web design and creative writing. Because I enjoy writing, it's very beneficial to helping my site to grow.

Tell us about your site. When did you launch it? How long did it take for it to start making money?

StopandStep.com gets its name from an old fruit machine bonus feature from the mid-'90s. After selling my two previous sites, they gave me the experience to work on this one full-time.

My site was launched in January 2016. It took only a few weeks to start earning income due to my past experiences with my previous sites.

Do you have plans for additional sites? Why or why not?

I have recently launched a North American-facing casino website. This is to act as a kind of buffer should gambling restrictions in the U.K. get too heavy.

What makes your site unique? How do you help it stand out from the competition?

There is so much competition, it's close to impossible to completely stand out from crowd. But I try my best through unique branding, interaction with my audience and honest reviews from someone who has invested real money into many of the games.

How do you decide what casinos to promote?

I use GPWA to weed out the really bad ones, then my own experience and online reviews to find the good ones. There are some very strong U.K.-facing brands. Unfortunately, some of the affiliate programs are terrible. It's very difficult to deal with programs who may pay on time, but never respond to e-mails or Skype messages.

Are you a full-time or part-time affiliate?

I am full-time, as much as I can be with my daughter climbing all over me half the time!

Do you have employees, or do you run your sites by yourself?

I employed my first full-time employee about six weeks ago, which has helped greatly. I also use freelancers regularly.

Do you still gamble online or in brick-and-mortar casinos?

I don't gamble anywhere near as much as I used to. In the past I was a regular around East London's poker clubs. I would also visit Vegas a few times a year.

How often do you get to see and interact with other people in the industry?

Never! Every year I say to myself "I'm definitely going this time," then it gets closer to the date and I think, "I'll just Skype them if I need anything." But I'm definitely going to the (London Affiliate Conference) next year.

What traits do you look for in an affiliate manager and affiliate program?

An affiliate manager and program need to be responsive. It's a two-way business relationship; there is no reason not to reply to messages that only take a minute to answer, even if it's just to say "thanks for the message, we'll get back to you soon."

What prompted you to join the GPWA? How has it helped you

I can't remember exactly when or how I found the GPWA website, but I used to shadow the forums before signing up and getting more involved. It's helped greatly as it is full of like-minded people who, when you have an issue, know what you are talking about.

What's the best part about working in this industry?

By far, being your own boss and the unlimited earnings potential.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why?

I wouldn't actually change anything about this industry. I'm happy to take the rough with the smooth.

What do you think the industry will look like in five years?

Over 90% of my site traffic and content is focused on the U.K. market. Current politicians on both sides have it in for the gambling industry, so I think in five years' time there will be very heavy restrictions on all kinds of advertising. I think it will be a difficult road over the next few years and will even out to something more consistent within half a decade.

What do your family and friends think of your work as an affiliate?

They are OK with it. When I first started, my family were a little concerned as the earnings were very unstable, but now it's a lot more consistent.

What's your approach to SEO and drawing traffic to your site?

My articles are always written with a focus on SEO, and it seems to work reasonably well. My traffic predominantly comes from organic Google search, although I do boost pages on Facebook from time to time if I feel the content is something more unique than a slot review.

What do you do to stay in shape – both physically and mentally

I ride a bike, and this keeps me fit. I also walk a lot, as long hours on a computer and snacking without even noticing isn't too good for my long-term health, so I try to counter it with the cycling and walking.

What do you do with your spare time?

I go out for walks to the beach or in the countryside. Having a young child is also a great excuse to visit theme parks and have little holidays.

What did you dream of doing, both professionally and personally, when you were a kid?

I always wanted to be a scientist and was always trying to invent little things. Life led me along a different path; however, I still read science journals and follow the latest technology.

If you won $10 million playing the lottery tomorrow, what would you do?

I'd probably carry on doing what I'm doing. Without motivation, I'd get lazy, there's only so many holidays I could take.

If someone from out of town were visiting you, what’s the one place you'd definitely take them to see?

There's a nice walk near me that crosses two streams, past an old farmhouse and along to a secluded beach with a small cafe. I'd take them there.

What are your pet peeves?

Slow people walking in front of me, especially when they take up the entire pavement!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you and why?

I would take a hammer to break open the coconuts I'd most likely be eating. They always look difficult to get into. I'd also take an MP3 player with a few thousands songs; I do like my music. I guess I should also take an inflatable boat, to get off the island!

If you could invite any five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be?

Jesus; if he didn't show up I'd assume he wasn't real. David Bowie; he seemed like an incredibly complex man, it would be interesting to hear what he had to say. Dick Cheney, the former U.S. vice president. That's a man who knows a lot! Three's enough, I don't like crowds.

Name three things that people reading this magazine don't know about you.

I have strong political opinions and despise the way PC culture is making saying anything controversial forbidden. I am an avid UFO fan and firmly believe there is an alien presence on this planet. I am a geek and love science fiction, robots and comic collectables.

**Cash Bonus** · 26 March 2019, 10:25 pm

Some good and fair points made there in this affiliate interview series. I also joined GPWA for the same reasons and I’ve received the help that I needed when reaching out to other helpful staff members and GPWA members alike.

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