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Exclusive interview with Joonas Karhu (Bojoko.us)

Published

3 years ago

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Bojoko is an award-winning online casino affiliate that has dominated the UK market since its launch in 2017. But now it is making a play in the fast-growing US market via Bojoko.us. We sat down with Joonas Karhu from Bojoko to learn more about what the company has planned for the US where it has recently launched in West Virginia and Michigan, and whether the market has lived up to its potential so far.

You have been live in the US market for many months now. Has it lived up to expectations or has it proved to be more challenging than expected?

From an affiliate’s perspective, the intent that players have is quite universal and that is to find a gambling site that has a solid offering from bonuses to payment methods, is reliable and preferably is peer-reviewed. Of course, it needs to be marketed by the affiliate in a way that players want to engage with the brand and what it has to offer. This is the same in the US as it is in other regulated markets around the world.

In terms of being more or less challenging than anticipated, prior to making our entry into the US we expected the process of applying for affiliate licenses to be paperwork heavy and laborious. But we have been pleased to discover that this has not been the case with regulators in each of the markets we are currently live in – New Jersey, West Virginia and Michigan – very welcoming and committed to making the process as smooth and seamless as possible.

What have been the main challenges faced and how have you overcome them?

It is better to consider the US as 50 countries instead of one. There are tremendous differences between states in terms of legislation and compliance, as well as what each operator offers to players in terms of brands, bonuses, payment options, etc. The Bojoko platform was not initially built for such a complex setup, so we have had to rethink and rebuilt the site’s infrastructure almost from scratch. This was ultimately an excellent exercise for us because we hadn’t undertaken such a thorough audit since we launched in 2017. I also believe it puts us in the driving seat to succeed in Canada which will undoubtedly take a similar province-by-province approach as the US.

You recently launched in West Virginia and Michigan – what are your plans for these states?

When we launch into any new market, we spend the first few months gathering data to better understand what the local quirks and player preferences might be in terms of what they look for in the online casino brands they want to play at. We also want to make sure that we are providing the information that players in that state/market are seeking while also allowing them to browse and choose the brands that best match their preferences. From this, we can then improve our offering in each state and this is exactly what we are now doing in West Virginia and Michigan. Ideally, we would scale Bojoko with the same technical template across the US and beyond, but we know we must be flexible and localise for each market if we are to succeed.

How do you think these states will stack up against the likes of New Jersey and Pennsylvania?

I will give you a direct answer to what is a direct question. I have no idea. It is still very early days for all US markets so we will just keep having to collect and analyse data and see how it all plays out in the long term. That being said, we believe that all regulated online casino states have tremendous potential and that is why our plan is to apply for and secure licences in each.

Are you localizing Bojoko to each state? If so, what does that entail?

I began my career working in the Finnish market, first working with the Finnish monopoly operator Veikkaus and then moving abroad and working with big international companies active in the Finnish market. One of the most important factors in the market that separated growth companies from laggards was localisation. How well a brand could localise, in as micro-level as possible, made all the difference and I think it will absolutely be the same in the US. That is why at Bojoko we will continuously analyse states on an individual basis and work tirelessly to localise to the most micro level that we can.

How are you using your experience in the UK and other markets to guide your approach in the US?

The combination of explicit and tacit knowledge that our 15-person team has learned over the years will help guide us towards success in the US. The many trends and changes the team has seen in player preferences, as well as in terms of regulation and compliance, give us the experience and understanding needed to take on the US market and come out on top. We have always believed in regulation, licensing and compliance, and know exactly how to work within the rules while still providing a valuable product and service to players. I believe this is what sets us aside from other affiliate organisations.

Do you still believe the US will be one of the largest – if not the largest – legal online gambling markets in the world?

For me, there is no doubt about it. Sports betting has been the biggest focus for companies so far in the US, but I think over the years this will shift towards casino which is historically a more stable and profitable vertical for operators. The US market is only just getting started and I for one cannot wait to see how it is going to unfold. Of course, Bojoko will play a key role in helping players find the best brands for them.

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Voting is open: Boomerang nominated in 2 categories at the AffPapa Awards 2025

Published

5 days ago

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April 14, 2025

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Boomerang is a  contender for Sportsbook Operator of the Year and Bonus Offer of the Year

Boomerang, a rapidly growing global brand behind the annual Golden Boomerang Awards, has been shortlisted for the AffPapa Awards 2025 in 2 categories: Boomerang Bet on Sportsbook Operator of the Year and Boomerang Partners on Bonus Offer of the Year.

Inclusion in the Sportsbook Operator of the Year nomination is a testament to Boomerang’s success in the online betting industry. Over 2024-2025, the brand has achieved great results: the betting segment has grown fivefold (5x), and the number of sports betting offers surged more than 6 times. Six new brands were added to Boomerang’s portfolio in 2024, contributing to an almost 1.5-fold increase in end-users. In addition, Boomerang is the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan, one of the world’s most famous and titled football clubs.

The Bonus Offer of the Year nomination confirms the high level and detailed elaboration of Boomerang’s bonus policy. Its portfolio includes more than 15 brands, each operating in strict compliance with the Terms and Conditions, including Bonus rules. Boomerang ensures fairness, transparency, and visibility of key bonus information for partners and users. It regularly collects feedback to improve its bonus policy and make it consistent with the expectations of its audience.

Boomerang actively develops community and works on building long-term trusting relationships with partners. This is demonstrated, among other things, by the second annual tournament for affiliate teams – Golden Boomerang Awards 2025. It will run until May 11. The top 30 teams on the leaderboard will be invited to Milan. There, the best of the best will be named, and 11 awards will be presented, including the main one – the Grand Prix.

The voting phase of the AffPapa Awards has started and will run until May 11. Users can choose their favorites in the nominations and influence the final results. Vote on the AffPapa Awards 2025 website. The award ceremony will take place on May 28 in Malaga during the AffPapa – iGaming Club Conference Malaga 2025.

 

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan and collaborates with women’s football star and influencer Alisha Lehmann. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards 2024, the first annual global affiliate tournament. Boomerang Partners’ betting segment surged 5x, and gambling — 2x in 2024. Its affiliate program demonstrated a 120% increase in partners, and the number of sports betting offers surged more than 6 times. Six new products were launched by Boomerang in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.

Boomerang’s portfolio contains 15+ gambling brands, including sportsbooks. They cover over 35 GEOs and offer a wide range of betting options with favorable odds. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Voting is open: Boomerang nominated in 2 categories at the AffPapa Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Affiliate Industry

SBC Summit Malta: Empowering Affiliates with Strategy & Market Insight

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1 week ago

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April 10, 2025

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As affiliates strive to expand their reach and build deeper player connections, SBC Summit Malta offers the ultimate platform to learn how to diversify marketing channels, gain access to game-changing technologies, and strengthen their market position.

Education will be a key pillar of the event, with 250 industry experts taking the stage to share their insights. The dedicated ‘Affiliation‘ conference track will take place on Wednesday, 10th June, at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Julian’s. The speaker lineup will feature affiliate professionals, marketing specialists, and operator-side representatives who work closely with affiliates.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “With changing regulations, evolving player behaviours and preferences, and a constant wave of new tech and marketing channels, having the right insights and strategies is crucial to staying ahead in the region.

“If you’ve attended what was formerly CasinoBeats Summit, you already know how dedicated we are to driving progress in the affiliation space. Now, with SBC Summit Malta serving as our gateway to Europe, you can expect to hear from some of the region’s leading affiliates as they tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges.”

Attendees can look forward to a range of sessions addressing key opportunities and pain points for European affiliates, including integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into SEO strategies, leveraging affiliate networks to enhance growth, diversifying content output, and drawing lessons from outside the industry.

The track opens with the ‘Diversify Your Channels Before It’s Too Late!’ panel, which will explore how affiliates can future-proof their strategies in an unpredictable digital landscape. Featuring experts Jarl Modén (CPO, Dilanti Media), Johan Svensson (CEO, Raketech), Mathew Symmonds (CEO, Web Analysis Solutions Limited), Richard Dennys (CEO, Game Lounge) and John Wright (CEO, Statsdrone), the session will examine the shifting social media landscape, the growing influence of AI, and how to manage diverse content types.

The session ‘Explore How Affiliate Networks Drive Growth for Start-Up Affiliates and Operators’ will highlight how affiliate networks can serve as powerful catalysts for growth for both emerging affiliates and operators. Experts Joshua Gamble (Managing Director, Activewins), Vadim Aidlin (CEO, Mamuta Media), Johan Styren (CEO & Co-Founder, Dilanti Media Ltd), Clinton Cutajar (CTO, MediaTroopers) and Brendon Spiteri (Head of Partnerships, AffiliationSpace) will discuss how these networks can be leveraged to help build strategic partnerships, expand market reach, and boost overall performance.

The panel ‘Game Changers: Lessons from Other Industries to Transform Affiliation in 2026’ will explore how the gaming industry can adapt and innovate by drawing inspiration from sectors such as e-commerce, dating, and Nutra. Speakers will examine successful strategies from these industries and discuss how these insights can be applied to reshape and strengthen affiliate models heading into 2026 and beyond.

Additionally, the track will feature a dedicated ‘SEO Trilogy‘, hosted by SEO expert Ivana Flynn. This series of SEO-focused panels will cover key developments, including crafting strategies for optimising AI-driven systems, protecting players against blackhat SEO tactics, and ensuring seamless operations across multiple platforms.

Affiliates looking to dive deeper into the latest marketing trends shaping the European landscape can attend the dedicated ‘Marketing’ conference track on Thursday, 11th June—the second day of the summit. Sessions will cover how to harness AI to create unique content, navigate advertising restrictions, and use data to boost player retention and loyalty.

 

The post SBC Summit Malta: Empowering Affiliates with Strategy & Market Insight appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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AffPapa Signs Deal with SuperiorShare

Published

3 weeks ago

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April 1, 2025

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AffPapa, the ultimate platform connecting iGaming operators and affiliates, has announced the addition of SuperiorShare to its growing directory.

SuperiorShare is an affiliate Programme known for its top-tier marketing solutions. Created by former affiliates, it provides an opportunity to drive traffic to high-converting casinos, expand their reach and earn substantial revenue.

“We are thrilled to begin our partnership with AffPapa. At Superior Share, we continuously strive to align ourselves with industry leaders, and we believe that AffPapa offers an exceptional product that provides significant value to operators seeking growth and expansion opportunities,” SuperiorShare said.

By joining AffPapa’s extensive directory, SuperiorShare gets a chance to reach even more iGaming operators, creating fresh opportunities for collaboration and growth. As both companies aim to connect key players in the industry, the partnership is expected to create significant value for both affiliates and operators alike.

Yeva Avagyan, Head of Commercial at AffPapa, said: “We are excited to welcome SuperiorShare into our directory. AffPapa remains dedicated to creating meaningful connections in the iGaming business, supports growth, and ensures long-term success for both operators and affiliates. SuperiorShare’s addition is another step in strengthening this vision.”

The post AffPapa Signs Deal with SuperiorShare appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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