Category Archives: Casino Affiliate

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head of his appearance at the SBC Summit Barcelona - Digital virtual conference and exhibition, Marathonbets Head of Brand Dan Towse spoke to Yogonet about the importance of football sponsorships for sports betting operators, how the pandemic affected partnerships, and working within tightening regulatory regimes in Europe.

Betting companies have a huge range of promotional tools at their disposal these days - from social media and content marketing to more traditional channels such as print and TV advertising. Why does football sponsorship remain such a popular choice for operators seeking to differentiate their brands in highly-competitive markets?

Football still remains the most watched sport globally and partnering with sport brands not only contributes to amplifying awareness, but also trust. Consumers now have such a wide choice of brands to engage with and the crossover between football fans and bets placed make it a natural fit for operators to promote themselves. Trust is such an important component to decision making, especially online. The ability to partner with established clubs such as Manchester City and Sevilla provides Marathonbet with a platform to help with these objectives.

Marathonbets sponsorship of Manchester Citys training kit is an unusual arrangement. What advantages does it have over more common options, such as shirt sponsorships or conventional official betting partner deals?

The Marathonbet brand has had both betting partnerships and Front of Shirt deals with various clubs across various sports. The training kit deal provided us an opportunity to further enhance our partnership with Manchester City (from Global Betting Partner) and provide us with a greater brand exposure throughout the week - and not limit ourselves just to matchday.The clubs global reach across their own social platforms is in excess of 80 million. Add that to other publisher content and the Marathonbet brand now has a greater exposure than it has ever had before. The challenge with every partnership is how we use our rights and activate. We dont just want to be a logo on a shirt.

The Coronavirus shutdown of football leagues must have made it difficult for betting brands to maximise value from their sponsorships. How did Marathonbet approach that challenge, and has the no-fans environment posed any further problems?

Naturally, it impacted all brand sponsorships across a variety of sectors. The absence of sport meant that not only were there no markets to promote, but shareable content for social media also became limited. It wasnt just us, clubs also found it a challenge and the archives were dug into to maintain engagement.Value from primary assets (Training Kit, LEDs) were able to be displayed post lockdown, but matchday tickets etc obviously became non-existent very quickly and it is difficult to know when normality will return. When it does, we will be working with our partners to re-introduce as soon as we can.

Many football clubs in major leagues around the world now have multiple betting partners. How does that influence the success of a sponsorship? Does it limit the opportunities for activation and fan engagement?

There are some brands which dont have exclusivity within a sector, or the rights holders opt to split partnerships regionally. This may not be such a bad thing for businesses with localised strategies, which enable them to utilise club IP and technology such as DBR to promote their messages. Naturally, where there is a crossover, your success in standing out from your competitors will ultimately boil down to your contractual assets and how you activate these. Brands which choose to do more than a badging exercise and actually be seen as a partner will succeed in the longer term.

The Spanish and Italian governments have restricted football shirt sponsorships as part of tougher gambling advertising regulations, and there are now calls for the UK authorities to follow suit. How can betting brands continue to develop effective partnerships with football clubs in light of these sorts of regulatory changes?

Its a difficult one, as speculation regarding the future of UK advertising restrictions is a prominent topic and the industry will need to act accordingly - and this includes football partnerships. Naturally, Italian laws and the proposed Spanish decree due in October have already shown that other governments in Europe are restricting the promotion of products and services across all channels. The sector has taken the right steps and the introduction of the whistle to whistle [voluntary advertising ban by operators] in the UK is demonstrating a positive approach to responsible gambling, and this will continue. But, if anything, based on the current landscape, this is the most critical time for brands in the gaming sector. With the advertising landscape becoming tighter, the reliance on brand and user experience is critical to future success; operators who fail to invest in these areas may fall behind.

Which other sports offer the potential for effective partnerships for betting brands?

The obvious choice at the moment is esports. Growth in this area is significant and doesnt show any signs of slowing down. Given what we have all experienced in recent months globally, the esports area presents the perfect opportunity to plug any gaps in the sporting calendar and viewership figures are surpassing expectations.

Dan Towse will be speaking on the The Future of Sports Sponsorship panel on Thursday 10 September, the third day of the SBC Summit Barcelona - Digital virtual conference and exhibition. The full agenda for the event, which takes place on 8 - 11 September, features almost 300 high-level speakers sharing insights on 50 panels covering the sports betting, online casino, affiliate marketing and payments sectors. To access all the content, click here to register for your free pass.

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'Operators who fail to invest in brand and user experience may fall behind' - Yogonet International

SBC Summit Barcelona - Digital is set to open with two of the sports betting & gaming industrys most influential figures, when Carsten Koerl (CEO & Founder, Sportradar) and Jason Robins (Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder, DraftKings) take part in an exclusive In Conversation session.

The theme of the events keynote, which is scheduled for Tuesday 8 September at 10am CEST, is The Future of Sports Betting and it will see the pair sharing their thoughts on the changing face of the industry and ideas for its future direction.

The pair are uniquely well placed to offer insights into the industry. Koerl has built Sportradar into the worlds largest sports data, content and integrity services provider, driving the ecosystem for online and mobile sports betting and being a trusted partner to more than 1,000 companies around the globe.

Robins has emerged as one of the key leaders in the development of the fast-growing US sports betting industry, having guided DraftKings from its roots as a DFS start-up to its current status as a Nasdaq listed digital entertainment and gaming company.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: What a great way to start our flagship event. I know our audience will be excited to hear from Carsten and Jason, and ready to learn from two of the industrys leaders and biggest success stories.

The session will undoubtedly set the tone for what promises to be a hugely valuable four days for all attendees, with more than 275 expert speakers sharing insights on the issues shaping the future of the industry, and plenty of opportunities for people to connect and talk business.

SBC Summit Barcelona - Digital, which takes place on 8 - 11 September 2020, is the largest ever virtual conference and exhibition for the sports betting & gaming industry.

The event platform has four main zones - Sports Betting, Casino & Gaming, Payments & Compliance, and Affiliate & Marketing - each of which features tailored conference content with input from senior industry executives, an interactive expo, a program of skills workshops and a selection of themed networking roundtables.

To join the 10,000 delegates at the event, click here to register for a free pass.

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SBC Summit Barcelona - Digital to open with Sportradar and DraftKings executives' keynote - Yogonet International

#Casinosis_Metamorphosis #NewGamesInCasinos #CasinosMoneyService

Game Revenue has recently extended its lobby of games with over 200 titles from a popular Red Tiger Gaming software provider. What is more, it is possible to play them with deposits made with the help of a new convenient payment method.

This affiliate program includes such popular brands asArgoandZigZag 777. Players of these operators now have access to more to 200+ titles byRed Tiger Gaming.

This software provider was established in 2014 on the Isle of Man. The studio boasts a big portfolio of high-quality slots and other casino games developed in HD. Some of the most popular releases by this company are:

Game Revenue has also added the newTethercryptocurrency to all its brands. This payment method is now available for deposits and withdrawals.

At the same time, casinos from the L&L Europe group becameavailable on a new market.

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Game Revenue Casinos Add Red Tiger Games and Tether - Key To Casinos

Spearhead Studios, a real-money game production brand within EveryMatrix group of companies, has announced that they will start the 2020 fall with a Book of the Kings video slot. This is another title for those who are adventurers at heart. It follows the expeditions of the popular explorer Lara Jones, previously featured in several other brands blockbusters.

Those who have followed Spearheads series starring this character know that she has a special passion for things ancient. Jones has already taken us to Egypt to a grand quest to enter Cleopatra's tomb. This time she is traveling again to a land of numerous mysteries, trying to discover treasures hidden deep inside the tomb of a powerful pharaoh.

The slot was specially developed to rise to the high expectation of this software provider's key operators. This high-volatility game features a 5x3 grid with 10 pay lines and a maximum win of over x11,000.

Kevin Corti, Game Development Director at Spearhead Studios, says: Lara Jones is our most beloved character. Book of the Kings is following her adventures in the auspicious subterranean tomb of the ancient pharaohs, decorated with rich stone carvings, golden flourishes, and eternal flames of long-lost spirits. The world comes to life when the bonus game is triggered, leaving the player in no doubt that they are now battling with the Egyptian spirits in a mission to discover their secret riches.

The provider has managed to take graphics to a new level and has put a considerable effort into creating a bespoke soundscape for the titles; one that truly conveys the presence of the pharaohs, and the quest that our hero is embarked on.

As always, Spearhead has optimized the Book of the Kings for playing on mobile devices with minimized file size and loading times for perfect player experience. In the bonus feature with extra spins, a special symbol is selected which then acts as an expanding scatter and which can generate big payouts. All base and feature wins can be entered into the Gamble Ladder to potentially increase them (up to 30,000).

The team behind this brand believes in challenging the ordinary. Their mission is to change the game of game making. Their titles are characterized by high-levels of entertainment and fairness. It's a multi-sided studio developing a wide range of products and services. Part of their portfolio are world-class HTML5 video slots, table, and other online real-money releases.

The provider is part of the EveryMatrix group, known for delivering a modular and API driven product suite for a casino, sports betting, payments, and affiliate/agent management. EveryMatrix's B2B iGaming solutions are designed to help clients unleash bold ideas and deliver an outstanding player experience in regulated markets.

Source:

Spearhead Studios Launches Book of The Kings, spearheadstudios.com, September 3, 2020.

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Spearhead Studios Starts the Fall with The Launch of Book of the Kings Slot - Latest Casino Bonuses

Birmingham, July 2020

Beginning today, online casinos that have been featured and reviewed in the Bitcoin Casino Review section now have the ability to have partial control of their review page on BestBitcoinCasino.com.

This is made possible with the newly launched function called Manage Casino feature, which enables casino officials and affiliate managers to be their official representative on the said website. To become the official casino manager, casino officials must create an account with BestBitcoinCasino.com then select the Manage a Casino button on the user dashboard and complete the form.

Weve opened BestBitcoinCasino.com to the management of online casinos with two goals in mind. First is for us to ensure that the casino details on our review pages are accurate and updated. Second is for our website to become a venue where casino representatives and players can directly communicate, creating a dynamic environment for all parties, said Barry Goldwon, manager at BestBitcoinCasino.com.

The new Manage Casino feature enables official casino managers to perform certain actions, namely:

BestBitcoinCasino.com ensures that all casino reviews remain unbiased and independent as the powers of casino managers are limited to modifying only the casino reviews specifications. The BestBitcoinCasino.com management guarantees that casino managers cannot change the review, ratings, and recommendations given by the team.

The team also implements a strict evaluation process for the casino manager position to protect the reputation and welfare of both the casinos and the players from bogus applicants.

About BestBitcoinCasino.com

BestBitcoinCasino.com is a trusted online partner for the iGaming industry since 2013. Its mission is to provide players and operators with information and education to develop a safer gambling and betting environment. BestBitcoinCasino.com believes in the opportunities for cryptocurrency and blockchain for online casinos and industry players.

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BestBitcoinCasino.com gives Online Casinos a voice with the launch of new 'Manage Casino' feature - CalvinAyre.com

Affiliates must remain on the front foot when it comes to compliance, Hamish Brown, VP of casino at Catena Media told delegates, with it now becoming more important than ever to maintain an environment of self-regulation.

The comment comes in response to recent calls from the Responsible Affiliates in Gaming which supported in principle the introduction of statutory licensing or registration regime for affiliates operating within the UK gambling market.

Speaking as part of day twos Leaders panel Affiliates, which was sponsored by bet365 Affiliates, Brown was joined by Tobias Svensen, CEO, CasinoGrounds; Jonathan Edelshaim , CEO, Natural Intelligence; Marcos Oliveira, chief affiliate officer, Clever Advertising Group and moderator Fintan Costello, managing director, Bonusfinder.com

Discussing the topic of licensing affiliates, Brown emphasised that this was no major concern for Catena Media, but was rather a competitive advantage: Obviously the US is a highly compliant, regulated market so weve got to be very mindful of that when were operating in the US. We have to be seen as a good actor in all jurisdictions in which we operate. Were not concerned by that.

So, we see regulation of affiliates as a competitive advantage, we already have a really strong compliance infrastructure, were able to adapt and scale our compliance response so that we can adapt and thrive.

We do need to make sure that were on a level playing field though. If its only a small section of the affiliate community which is under a licensing regime, and others are doing what they want, then a level playing field is not there which is not the way that the industry wants to go.

But I think that more than ever in territories where licensing is in place for affiliates, self-regulation is more important than ever. We need to stay on the front foot and maintain really strong internal compliance regimes to make sure that were being seen as good actors by consumers and by regulators. If we can do that, then maybe we can maintain an environment of self-regulation rather than licensing.

The notion of establishing a level playing field when it comes to licensing affiliates was first brought up by Edelshaim, who pointed out that there does need to be mechanisms in place to ensure that all affiliates are bound by the same regulations.

Explaining that licensing is a tricky topic, he said: Its a tricky one, obviously its easier without it, but it may come to a stage where it becomes mandatory in certain areas. Were not really sure what were supporting yet, but we think that were at a point in time where certain procedures need to be in place, Im not sure if that includes full licensing.

But we are working with the legal and compliance teams with operators and bookies. Whether we wanted to or not is a different question, but we obviously do certain things within the regulations that they adhere to.

To be honest, we want to become more socially responsible and more connected to those requirements. But if we choose to do it and our competitors do not, then weve just created a non-even playing ground. So we think that if were supposed to work in accordance with the regulations, and work alongside the operators to ensure that theyre not exposed to certain fines, there has to be certain mechanisms in place to make it an even playing ground.

What were seeing is a lot of requirements coming our way, and compliance departments are looking at the bigger aggregators, while the smaller ones are just doing whatever they want. So at the moment, it doesnt really make sense.

In response to Costellos point that getting affiliates to sit around the table to agree on a certain piece of legislation, Tobias Svensen argued that regulators must take a practical approach if they want to make the licensing proposition appear attractive for affiliates.

He added: I think its going to be hard to get them to agree. We entered New Jersey, but when we wanted to apply for the ancillary licence, we concluded that it was a 53-page pdf document which 16 people in our company have to fill out. It asked really detailed questions, but it was obvious that it was based on an outdated law. It was based on the Information Act which came before the internet. It made the whole process difficult.

They need to make gaining a licence simple and they need to involve affiliate companies in the process of setting up licences rather than just taking the classic regulator approach of looking at it from a political point of view rather than a practical point of view.

Marcos Oliveira, meanwhile, argued that legislation can be a good thing providing it is reasonable: I think its easy to approve a draft piece of legislation if everyone remains reasonable. Reasonable is the best word in the business. What we want is something you can rely on and that is more credible.

The worst part about being in gambling is being credible, and for everyone outside to look at you as a proper business. So if you have these set of rules which gives the government and the regulator the sense that everything in your company is legitimate, then there is nothing for you to worry about.

CasinoBeats Malta Digital, delivered in association with Gaming Malta, takes place from 30 June to 2 July 2020 and features 40 virtual exhibitors, numerous networking opportunities, 130 leading speakers, and countless business opportunities for 3,000 senior decision-makers from operators, suppliers, affiliates and other industry stakeholders.

Alongside the exhibition, networking and conference, all delegates also gain access to the full range of entertainment on offer, including free-play slots, daily competitions and a selection of prizes such as iPads and cash.

Find full details of CasinoBeats Malta Digital, including information about how to register and the discounts available on company group passes, at the events official website: https://sbcevents.com/casinobeats-malta-digital/

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Why affiliates must always remain on the front foot for compliance - Casino Beats

A survey published by casino affiliate site bonusfinder.com showed that during the last four months of the lockdown period, 94% of online bingo and casino players were aware of the responsible gambling tools available to them.

The research surveyed 500 UK online casino and bingo players. It revealed that 31% of players had gambled somewhat more between in the lockdown period, whilst 28% said that they gambled the same amount as they would in regular circumstances.

Importantly, the survey showed that 94% of gamblers were aware of responsible gaming tools during the March to June. The tools include limits on deposit and session times, taking a break, self-exclusion options as well as information on profit and loss.

Interestingly, of those surveyed, the over 45s group revealed that they were three times less likely to know of responsible gambling tools than the younger age groups. Only 3% of 18-24-year olds were unaware of any responsible gambling facilities.

The responsible gambling tool which was the most recognised was deposit limits. In total 66% of men were aware of deposit limits whilst the number was lower for women (66%).

Fintan Costello, Managing Director, BonusFinder.com, said: Our research has found that RG tools have been top of mind for players even when many have been confined to their homes due to government guidelines.

As the UK emerges from this period, we can see that gambling levels have risen but to a lesser extent than we expected and crucially, that players are aware of the range of helpful RG tools available to them across many regulated brands.

The industry is taking a great deal of positive steps to protect players and it is high time we focused on this. We must continue to educate and normalise RG tools across all ages as well as improve and increase education and awareness for younger adults.

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Survey Finds 94% of Bingo and Casino Players Aware of Responsible Gambling Tools - BingoDaily

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The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest to join the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference), which will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June

The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE

Lasvegassun.com has released an interesting editorial which is titled Sights and sounds of Vegas give us hope for a full recovery, and we can directly tie this piece with one of the most interesting land-based industry related panel discussions at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference).

After the Bellagio fountains are now back to life with a playing of Simple Gifts to honor the Las Vegas front-liners who have protected the city during the pandemic, MGM Resorts International made another spot-on choice for the follow-up song. This is of course an anthem of the fabulous city, Viva Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is already booming and WADE VANDERVORT, of Lasvegassun.com wrote it so beautifully as we would not change anything:

it was a godsend to see waters dancing, lights twinkling and guests coming through the doors in the resort corridor and downtown. After 78 days of eerie quiet, Las Vegas took its first steps to recovery.

Its a moment of hope and a reminder that our community has rebounded from crisis and tragedy before.

Besides the Bellagio fountains, the gondolas are also gliding along the faux canals at The Venetian.

Up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, from Wynn Las Vegas at the north end to New York-New York and MGM Grand on the south end, gamblers are sliding bills into slot machines and wagering chips at blackjack and roulette tables.

Life is slowly returning to normal in Sin City.

As mentioned above, at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference) we will discuss the subject, and the LAS VEGAS RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP panel discussion has some very important guests who are joining us on the 23rd of June to share their insights.

The panel discussion is joined by Jay Kornegay (Vice President Race & Sports Operations Westgate LV Resort & Casino), Seth Schorr (CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino) and Matthew Holt (President at U.S. Integrity), and will be moderated by Benjie Cherniak (Managing Director of SG Digitals Don Best Sports group).

Do not miss this unique opportunity to attend a virtual conference that gathers all North American gaming industry experts for 2 days of discussions and networking. Register your seat now!

Jay Kornegay Vice President Race & Sports Operations Westgate LV Resort & Casino

Jay Kornegay is Vice President of the LVH Las Vegas Hotel & Casino SuperBook. He has more than 26 years experience in the race and sports book industry. Jay graduated from Colorado State University in 1987 with a bachelors degree in Restaurant Business Management. Always intrigued by gaming, Jay moved to Nevada later that year to start his path in that field.

Starting in Lake Tahoe and soon afterwards moving to Las Vegas, Jay has worked at four major sports books. He opened the Imperial Palace sports book in 1989, which soon turned into one of the more popular sports books in the state of Nevada.

In 2004, Jay took the reins of the LVH SuperBook. As the worlds largest race and sports book with over 30,000 square feet, the SuperBook is one of the top sports books in Nevada. Over the years, the SuperBook has won numerous awards and often represents the Las Vegas market with national media outlets. It is known for its aggressive nature and being a player-friendly book by offering fair odds to guests. The LVH SuperBook is also known for offering Nevadas largest wagering menu by posting many 2nd/3rd tier sports, as well as having an international flavor. In addition, the SuperBook hosts the SuperContest, which is recognized as the most prestigious pro football handicapping contest. For the fourth consecutive year, the SuperContest set a record for number of entries and marked the most entries ever this past football season at 1034.

Jay resides in Las Vegas with wife Pam, daughter Cara and son Nicholas. He is also well known for shooting a 36 on the front nine and a 59 on the back nine.

Seth Schorr CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino

Seth Schorr is CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. The urban casino resort is the embodiments of Schorrs vision to create a downtown Las Vegas hospitality experience delivering a superior guest experience and a genuine sense of community.

Since beginning his career in gaming and hospitality in 1991, Schorr served as an integral member of the Wynn Resorts team, developing the international marketing department in Macau, the interactive gaming division, and The Wynn Collection of Fine Art. Earlier in his career, Schorr also worked in numerous capacities at Mirage Resorts including positions at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.

Schorr and his partner, Jeffrey Fine, co-founded Fifth Street Gaming which owns and operates five casinos. The principals of Fifth Street Gaming also control, through its affiliate, the LEV Restaurant Group, a food and beverage operation that owns and manages more than 50 restaurants in the Las Vegas area and Southern California including The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Jamba Juice, Lobster ME, JaBurritos, Daily Kitchen, Evel Pie, and Golden Tiki.

In early 2015, Schorr was introduced to the world of eSports and lead the effort of developing the first fully integrated eSports program in a casino resort at The Downtown Grand. The Downtown Grands eSports program has included weekly eSports contests, team residencies and sponsorships, a weekly broadcast and professional tournaments. Schorr sits on the board of GameCo and advised on the development and launch of the worlds first video game slot machine. In 2017 Schorr launched Commercial Streaming Solutions which developed a patent-pending media platform, KonekTV, that provides streaming content, including Esports and sports betting content, to retail venues. Schorr is a founder of the Nevada Esports Alliance and continues to be a leader in the convergence of Esports and sports gambling. Schorr is the co-founder of The Strategy Organization: a Modern Gaming and Hospitality consulting firm.

Schorr is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is a member of YPO and sits on numerous boards including those for The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Nevada Restaurant Association, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Advisory Board of The Smith Center for Performing Arts, One Night for One Drop and was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on Nevada State Board of Museums & History. He is also an executive board member and Chairman of the Communications Committee of the Downtown Las Vegas alliance. Schorr is an avid cyclist, amateur photographer and has two little angels Dax (10) and Mia (9). Most importantly, Schorr recently married Dr. Emily Schorr.

Matthew Holt President at U.S. Integrity

Originally from New Hampshire, Mr. Holt originally honorably served in the United States Air Force. Once completing his term in the Air Force Mr. Holt attended Morehead State University, obtaining a sports marketing degree before taking up residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Holt founded U.S. Integrity, LLC. based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. U.S. Integrity is the gold standard of game integrity and fraud prevention services in the United States. Mr. Holt and his team at US Integrity have built innovative, technology based solutions that allow for easy accessible data and analytics for fraud prevention and game integrity monitoring.

Benjie Cherniak Managing Director of SG Digitals Don Best Sports group

Benjie Cherniak is the Managing Director of SG Digitals Don Best Sports group, a leading provider of sports information products and services relevant to the North American sports betting industry. Benjie oversees the companys sports information platform, automated data distribution, live pricing, and ancillary consulting services.

Following the acquisition of Don Best by Scientific Games, Benjie has accelerated the growth of OpenBet, the companys sports betting platform, by integrating Don Bests world-class pricing services into the technology. Don Bests trading and pricing expertise have seamlessly become an integral part of SG Digitals core offering.

Prior to joining Scientific Games, Benjie spearheaded Don Bests international growth via tailored solutions to tier-one sportsbook operators in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond. Under Benjies supervision, Don Best introduced (a) a proprietary pricing product for North American based sports that rapidly established itself as the industry standard; and (b) a data integrity offering to assist North American based sport leagues in identifying potential fraudulent betting patterns.

With 15 years of industry experience, Benjie is a leading voice in the emerging US sports betting industry from both an operational and legislative perspective.

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LAS VEGAS RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP, an important discussion at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America 2020 - European Gaming Industry News

BARRE Under legendary coach Mike Dymon, the Quabbin Regional baseball team had perhaps the greatest local high school dynasty in the sport with three district titles and a state championship during his tenure.

It was 40 years ago this month that Dymons squad won the third of his district titles and much of the success rode on the right arm of his standout pitcher Joe Orszulak, who went on to become one of two Quabbin players who signed pro baseball contracts.

Orszulak was drafted in the 12th round of the January phase of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, while 1983 Quabbin grad Drew Stratton was drafted in the eighth round of the 1986 MLB Amateur Draft by the Oakland As.

Over a spectacular three-year Hall of Fame pitching career at Quabbin prior to his 1980 graduation, Orszulak posted a 29-8 record, tossed the programs first-ever nine-inning no-hitter and was instrumental in the 1980 district championship run.

Ironically, an incident during a Little League game when he was 12-years old almost made him give up pitching altogether.

While hurling for the Barres Beard Motors team, a fastball got away from him, striking an opposing player in the mouth and knocking out his two front teeth.

I was so upset that I really didnt pitch much after that, he recalled. I spent my last year in Little League as a catcher.

However, once he made it to Quabbin, junior high baseball coach Ray Castriotta sought him out, knowing of his past experience on the mound.

Mr. Castriotta came up to me and said, I heard you can pitch. Id like to have you pitch for us, he recalled. Thats how I got back into pitching.

In time, Dymon got wind of the kid from the Quabbin junior high who was mowing them down on the mound and brought him up to the varsity team as a ninth grader for the district finals run in 1977.

In his junior year he went 10-1, with his only loss coming in tournament play.

During his senior year in 1980, he went 14-1 on the season with a 0.53 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 85 innings, striking out 10 or more in at least 7 games. At the plate, he batted in the mid .300's and belted three home runs.

Toward the end of his senior year, he pitched a nine-inning no-hitter against Narragansett Regional. It would be the second-ever Quabbin no-hitter, with Chuck Andrukonis pitching the previous one in 1974 against Murdock in seven innings.

Two weeks before (the Narragansett no-hitter) I was pitching against Quaboag and had a no-hitter in the sixth inning of a seven-inning game, Orszulak recalled. Mike Dymon came out and said, Do you want to tie the record? (with a seven-inning no-hitter) and I said, No, I have to go to band practice after this. So, he took me out.

Not too long after, he pitched the no-hitter, blanking the Warriors, 8-0, over nine innings on May 27, 1980.

To watch the game, you would have never known a no-hitter was going on, he said. I remember I walked a lot of batters and I was in trouble almost every inning. Id walk the bases-loaded and then strike out three-straight.

On the mound that season he also pitched a one-hitter, a two-hitter, four three-hitters and a four-hitter. He was named team and Wachusett League MVP and also selected a member of Worcester Telegram & Gazette All-Star team.

The Panthers won the Wachusett League title and then advanced right into the District E, Division 3 semifinals, beating Bartlett behind Orszulak on the mound.

The Quabbin team also had senior Bobby Roy on the pitching staff, sophomore Rich Zalneraitis was the catcher, while around the infield was Rich Holden at first, Craig Sullivan at second, Barry Berthiaume at shortstop and the third baseman was Dan Haynes,

Dave Newell was the left fielder and Doug Prentiss in right, while Orszulak would play either shortstop or flip flop in centerfield when Roy was pitching.

Fellow senior Roy took to the mound to beat Hudson Catholic, 8-1, for the Division 3 championship.

We were really happy because Mike Dymon told us, If you win the league, Ill shave my beard, which he did when we won the league, Orszulak recalled. Then he said, If you win the districts, Ill shave my head.

However, the coach soon changed his tune when his team captured the title.

He got on the bus after we won it and said, Hey guys, my wife will divorce me, Orszulak noted with a chuckle. We let him off the hook because, at the time, he didnt think there was any way wed be better than .500 that season.

The dream ride ended in the state semifinals against Ware High School, 5-1, which featured future Major Leaguer Billy Joe Robidoux, who later played for Milwaukee, the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox.

Ware had a powerhouse team with Billy Joe and Kevin Lavallee, who I pitched with in college, he noted.

After Quabbin, Orszulak played for coach Ted Lekas at Quinsigamond Community College and while there in February of 1982 got an offer from the Yankees, prior to his second season.

The first team to draft him was the Montreal Expos, but he declined.

I wanted to finish my second year of college, but then the Yankees came along, he said, noting that Worcester scout Jack Gillis of the Yankees pursued him

It wasnt a tough sell, as the Yankees had been his favorite team since his boyhood, ever since Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three pitches in the 1977 World Series, he noted.

Orszulak also got some interest from the Mets, the Cincinnati Reds and the Orioles, However, to the dismay of his parents, who were big Red Sox fans, he headed to the Yankees spring training facility in Sarasota with their Double A affiliate.

While pitching for Greensboro, N.C. he struck out future Mets star Darrell Strawberry and also had the opportunity to meet future Red Sox pitchers Roger Clemens and Bob Ojeda.

Then, just a couple of months into his career in June of 1982, he suffered an injury to his arm, which sent him back to Worcester for rehab with Dr. Arthur Pappas.

I just couldnt do it anymore, I had hurt the arm so badly, he said.

In 1984, he met with Worcester native and former major leaguer Paul Mitchell, who taught him the slider and he considered making a comeback at Worcester State.

I tried to make a comeback, first as an outfielder, but then Worcester State wanted to turn me back into a pitcher to come on in relief, but it just didnt work out, he said.

He got married to his high school sweetheart, the former Jamie Keans, and they have two grown children, Dylan and Kylie, who were both Quabbin athletes.

For many years, Orszulak showcased his skills in the Gardner City Softball League with the Hakala Brothers entry, beginning in 1984. The team won the City League title in 1988 and he continued to play in local recreational leagues for the better part of 20 years.

He currently works for Liro Engineers out of Boston as a construction inspector. The firm has worked on a number of high-profile jobs including the $4.2 billion MBTA Green Line extension, the $2.8 billion Encore Casino in Everett and Worcesters $100 million Polar Park.

They wont allow me on site, because they know Im a Yankee fan so security is all over me, he joked about the new Woo-Sox playing site.

He enjoys playing golf with his wife Jamie in his spare time and the longtime musician is president of the Community Band in Barre, where he still plays the trumpet from his high school band days.

My parents had a big goal one day that we were going to form a family band, he said, noting that older sister Sandy was an accordionist, brother Tom played the saxophone and another brother, Rich, was the drummer.

We tried to practice together, but we fought like hell, he said with a hearty laugh. So, we all just went on to play with different bands.

(Do you have a suggestion for a future Where are they Now segment? Please contact Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Rd. Sandwich, MA 02563)

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Where Are They Now?: Forty years after pitching Quabbin to a title, Joe Orszulak is pitching in on the construction of Worcesters Polar Park - The...

James Ashton, Head of Content at FindMyUKCasino.com, suggests ways the relationship between affiliates and operators can be improved for the benefit of both parties.

The relationship between online casino operators and affiliates has been under the microscope for some time now, sparked mostly by the pressure being applied to both parties in this new era of regulation and compliance.

The GB Gambling Commission has made it very clear that operators are ultimately responsible for the marketing activity carried out by affiliates on their behalf, which in turn has forced operators to really get to know their publisher partners.

This has meant undertaking audits of affiliate sites and the people and businesses behind them, requiring a real collaborative effort to ensure that affiliates are promoting casino brands within the guidelines set by the GC and other watchdogs.

As a relatively new affiliate, we have been somewhat fortuitous to know and understand these requirements from day one, and have been able to design, develop and operate our online casino comparison site compliantly and responsibly from the get-go.

That being said, we have found that some operators are more willing to assist and support affiliates particularly those that have just entered the space. But those that are less proactive are making the compliance challenge that bit tougher to overcome.

From not notifying affiliates about major updates, to asking for tracking links to be removed without providing new ones via changing partnership agreements and a general lack of communication, a better working relationship needs to be reached if compliance is to be achieved.

Below, I list some of the pain points we are feeling as a start-up affiliate business seeking to do all we can to be compliant and ensure we market to consumers responsibly. I also suggest steps operators and affiliates can take to bring the spark back to their relationship.

A lack of communicationAt present, there is a general lack of communication between some affiliate managers and their affiliate partners. For example, one of our operator partners took the decision to close its UK-facing casino without notifying us or their other partners.

This meant we were sending casino players to the brand, which was only operating its sportsbook. We regularly check our links so were able to discover this fairly early on and contacted the operator in question to find out what was happening. Months later, we still havent had a reply.

The vast majority of affiliates are reachable via email and Skype, so there really is no excuse for not communicating with publisher partners, especially around major events such as leaving a market or even changes to bonuses and terms and conditions.

Of course, affiliates could make themselves more available to their operator partners, providing up to date email addresses and Skype IDs. They could also touch base with affiliate managers more regularly to ensure they are on top of any updates coming we speak to most of ours weekly.

Tracking linksTracking links are an affiliates income stream. If they are not working correctly, we are sending players without them being tagged and therefore the revenues they generate once active at the casino are not being attributed to us.

We have had instances where our operator partners have failed to notify us that tracking links have changed, meaning the ones we had in place were no longer active. On another occasion, we were asked to remove tracking links then had to wait almost a month for new ones.

This put us in a difficult position as our content was ranking well for the operator in question and we had a steady stream of traffic to their review page. We had to decide whether to remove the page and lose rankings and traffic or give our readers a poor experience with a broken link.

There are compliance issues to consider, too. If tracking links to full terms and conditions are not working, then we are not meeting UKGC requirements that state full bonus terms and conditions must be no more than one click away.

We understand that operators change links and offers from time to time, but affiliate managers should keep their partners up to date and if existing links are to be removed, have new links ready to replace them straight away.

This is not only to ensure the affiliate is being fairly compensated for the players they are pushing through to the operator, but also to ensure that links to terms and conditions are working and that players can access them via a single click as required by the UKGC.

Mutual respectAs a proactive affiliate that goes to great lengths to ensure we are promoting our online casino partners responsibly and within the rules, it sometimes feels that there is a lack of respect from operators when it comes to the role we play in sending them new traffic.

We have had brands ask to be listed on our site, only for them to be completely inflexible when it comes to commercials when they suddenly adopt a take it or leave it approach. When we have questions aspects of deals, we have been accused of lacking experience and knowledge.

One big-name operator even took the decision to change its terms and conditions to require a minimum number of FTDs per month for our current agreement to stand if we didnt meet that criteria then our commission would be slashed from 40% to 10%.

This makes us and other affiliates, I am sure feel totally undervalued for the huge amount of work we put into developing our websites and brands, creating high value content and ensuring we offer the best possible experience to our readers.

Sure, we get compensated for this when players sign up and deposit, but we have to make a tremendous upfront investment in both time and money to get to the point where we are sending a steady stream of new players each month and generating revenues and profits.

Operators and affiliate managers would do well to remember this when they make major changes, exit markets or decide to revise commercial agreements that negatively impact the revenues an affiliate can generate from the players it sends through.

This certainly applies to affiliates that are also doing all they can to keep up with the changes operators require (usually at short notice), as well as using their initiative to take additional steps to ensure players are given the information they need to stay in control of their play.

I want to make it clear that the above applies to the minority of the brands we work with in most cases, affiliate managers are proactive, responsive and for us at least, hugely supportive of our strategy and long-term approach to FindMyUKCasino.com.

But those that are not being as hands on are making the relationship between affiliate and operator more difficult than it needs to be. Ultimately, this should be a mutually beneficial relationship and by not working together in harmony, both parties lose out.

While the financial impact this has is concerning, for us the biggest worry is that we are not compliant and are putting our reputation, and the licence of the operator, at risk. By working more closely together, this can be mitigated and the potential of the partnership fully maximised.

James Ashton is the Head of Content at FindMyUKCasino.com, an online casino comparison site that helps UK players find the best online casinos based on their individual preferences.

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Improving the relationship between operators and affiliates - iGaming Business