CAC Amsterdam

[Simmo!]

Any news on this? Not heard a thing yet I know CAP are already signing up exhibitors at the competing event. Just wanted to check CAC is moving ahead - don't want to go and book my hotel and find there's no-one there

Cheers,

Simmo!

[CityGuard]

The Casino City team will be there and I know there are a number of affiliate programs that have signed on already.

First the first time, CAC Amsterdam is FREE FOR AFFILIATES. When you register just remember to use the GPWA members registration page (here) in order to get the free admission.

[wagerprofits]

Hi

I have heard mixed views on CAC Amsterdam, a fair few people i have spoken to have said they will not be attending.

At least this time round it is free for affiliates, kind of weird that affiliates had to pay in the past anyway......

Shaun

[Simmo!]

Hi

I have heard mixed views on CAC Amsterdam, a fair few people i have spoken to have said they will not be attending.

At least this time round it is free for affiliates, kind of weird that affiliates had to pay in the past anyway......

Shaun

Yes its sad really but now CAP are going head-to-head in the same territory there's going to be an industry split. Both do great conferences but in the interests of trying to keep both in the market, I'm hoping to do CAC Amsterdam and the CAP Euro (Prague, Budapest?) later in the year.

The reason affiliates were charged (although programs usually stumped the bill) is IMO down to the fact that CAC was the only conference provider so naturally they could dictate terms within reason. For now (at least) there's two which I think is very healthy for competition and good for the industry so long as they work together and not against each other. For the operators especially as one would imagine the providers are offering competitive rates bearing in mind they are showing in the same location (Amsterdam). But if the programs don't think carefully and just go with the cheapest it might not be the best policy (financially) for them longer term I guess.

If we go back to just one provider, we'll be back to where we were and they can pretty much dictate the terms. Just the nature of business. Which is why I feel it's right for me to divide my support rather than just "go with the flow". It may not affect me too much financially, but as someone else pointed out recently, the more money the programs have to stump up on conferences, the less they have for other things. Besides which I want to support Marc in Amsterdam because IMO he's done a lot to bring this industry together so in hard times it's only fair to pay something back, albeit it's a small sacrifice for me

Anyway, I know a few affiliates that are going to CAC and a few to CAP so while one will be smaller than the other, we'll still have fun I'm sure. Just a shame to miss out on catching up with some friends, but without doing both which isn't practical for me, that's unavoidable

Hopefully in future years CAC and CAP will work together to provide conferences nicely spaced and in different locations to one another. Then we can go to them all without feeling like we have to take sides, which is what I feel I am being asked to do right now

[wagerprofits]

Hi Simmo

You are correct in what you are saying, we now have the option of so many events all over the world the cost is huge is attend all of them and have stands ect I am sure you would spend around $400k per annum on the events so running the affiliate program I have to be selective about which one i select and which one I feel will bring the most rewards.

London makes huge sense almost everybody can get cheap flights, being down in Costa Rica flighst to almost anywhere cost a fortune, aslo with London I get to get home, happy days.

Shaun

[Simmo!]

London makes huge sense almost everybody can get cheap flights, being down in Costa Rica flighst to almost anywhere cost a fortune, aslo with London I get to get home, happy days.

Shaun

True but it's bloody cold here! Give me a hot climate any day

I have to be selective about which one i select and which one I feel will bring the most rewards.

Yeah it must be tough and expensive for you guys nowadays. I spoke to one aff program that is splitting the team up - one lot are having a stand at one and the rest are just attending the other which seemed like a good solution.

[matted]

I always had a good time at the CAC events when they were in Las Vegas. At that time, it was the only event and almost everyone was there - and it was always a great experience - lots of fun, but lots of great discussion too. CAC Amsterdam would be TOPS on my list for the current slate - Marc puts on a good show.

It is my goal to attend ONE industry event per year - just on hold now with 2 little kids. And while I dont think directly competing events is good for anyone - lots of smaller conferences at different times opens up more possibilities (including not as far from home). One day I'll get to Costa Rica too

[wagerprofits]

Matted

I went CAC last year in Amsterdam was good but so cold, i have never attended the event in Vegas.

I think a bit of competing events is not a bad thing, i think it is all about timing of the event and what the event can offer.

You should get over to Costa Rica, with 2 kids it is a great place to be.

Shaun

I always had a good time at the CAC events when they were in Las Vegas. At that time, it was the only event and almost everyone was there - and it was always a great experience - lots of fun, but lots of great discussion too. CAC Amsterdam would be TOPS on my list for the current slate - Marc puts on a good show.

It is my goal to attend ONE industry event per year - just on hold now with 2 little kids. And while I dont think directly competing events is good for anyone - lots of smaller conferences at different times opens up more possibilities (including not as far from home). One day I'll get to Costa Rica too

[Chris-AffiliateClub]

I love CAC Amsterdam and is my favourite conference of them all - I will be attending both CAC and CAP though so will be able to comment once both have taken place.

Can't wait for them though

[thisisvegas]

competition is a good thing but I don't know about having one a month apart to split everyone in half. I would rather not have to choose and it's going to be tough for me to attend both conferences in Amsterdam when they are a month apart. I'm going to probably only pick one and base it on where most of the affiliates go or the ones I know the best. Small chance I might skip both as there are plenty of conferences throughout the year but if I have to pick one I might go with CAC just because they have been there before, it was CAC last year and they were planning/advertising this one for a longer time so I'm going to guess more affiliates and operators already have this one marked on their calendar.

[alexpratt]

I just wanted to add that we didn't pick Amsterdam and a month apart on purpose - reason we are there and on those dates is because we wanted to add an additional event and were approached to partner with A4U's first ever European Expo (www.a4uexpo.com) So there event is teh first two days, we then have a joint networking day and then CAP Euro will run for a further 2 days.

The advantages were so good we had to do it - They have an awesome event in terms of content and always attract nearn on 1,000 attendees that have very little cross over with us. What this means is our affiliates will be able to attend a retail focused show and learn about generating alternative revenue, their affiliates will be able to learn that we are nice people in gaming and not dodgy gangsters and all the operators win because they meet new blood. In addition it also means we could have close to or over 2,000 people there which would be unbelievable for a mainstream affiliate event let alone an igaming one.

[Simmo!]

we are nice people in gaming and not dodgy gangsters

Damn that definately rules me out then

Appreciate what you're saying Alex, but it's not like CAP didn't realise CAC Amsterdam was the same month and whatever the motives or reasons, it still splits the industry in two. I love meeting all the people at the conferences and to think I'm going to miss meeting many friends just puts a dampener on the whole experience for me.

[MichaelCorfman]

Alex,

That is a nice story line, and it may very well match your personal views. I've always found you to be very professional and I respect you a great deal. However, your statement does not mesh what many affiliate programs have been told. There is a clear message out there in the industry that CAP management are stating that the goal of this CAP conference is to crush the CAC confereces.

Many view this as another example of CAP not tolerating choices and being overly agressive in attempting to create a monolpoly by trying to eliminate anything that could be viewed as competitive.

Michael

I just wanted to add that we didn't pick Amsterdam and a month apart on purpose - reason we are there and on those dates is because we wanted to add an additional event and were approached to partner with A4U's first ever European Expo (www.a4uexpo.com) So there event is teh first two days, we then have a joint networking day and then CAP Euro will run for a further 2 days.

The advantages were so good we had to do it - They have an awesome event in terms of content and always attract nearn on 1,000 attendees that have very little cross over with us. What this means is our affiliates will be able to attend a retail focused show and learn about generating alternative revenue, their affiliates will be able to learn that we are nice people in gaming and not dodgy gangsters and all the operators win because they meet new blood. In addition it also means we could have close to or over 2,000 people there which would be unbelievable for a mainstream affiliate event let alone an igaming one.

[alexpratt]

Since the dates, venue, location etc are not simply "CAPs" (which I consider myself a part of) decision and actually vastly mine as the event organiser it really isn't just a nice story but hey go with what you want - I honestly just wanted to point out the reasons behind the location and date choice -

If you guys want to take that and roll it into another anti CAP conspiracy theory then feel free. All I can do is to keep trying to do my best to deliver the best events etc for affiliates and operators.

Have a good Christmas.

Alex,

That is a nice story line, and it may very well match your personal views. I've always found you to be very professional and I respect you a great deal. However, your statement does not mesh what many affiliate programs have been told. There is a clear message out there in the industry that CAP management are stating that the goal of this CAP conference is to crush the CAC confereces.

Many view this as another example of CAP not tolerating choices and being overly agressive in attempting to create a monolpoly by trying to eliminate anything that could be viewed as competitive.

Michael

[hastla]

Hi,

this is my first topic in this forum & I found it via the CAC-Homepage. I´m new to the business, but made offline-promotions in past. My new german blog about pokerraffiliate, you can find here: Pokeraffiliateblog.de

I´m on planning stage with some new projects and wanted to ask if it is usefull to go as a "newbie" to CAC in Amsterdam. For me its a minus-business in generell, but hope to learn a lot there and talk to other peoples from the business. Or is it for beginers a waste of money?


Would be nice to get some answers.

Thank you
stefan

[matted]

Definitely not a waste of time. I hardly made anything until my first CAC. Within 2 months I started making a paycheck every month. When at CAC, remember your time 'socializing' with other affiliates is just as important as the sessions.

Being a newbie in the industry can be very frustrating, but hang in there.

[hastla]

Definitely not a waste of time. I hardly made anything until my first CAC. Within 2 months I started making a paycheck every month. When at CAC, remember your time 'socializing' with other affiliates is just as important as the sessions.

Being a newbie in the industry can be very frustrating, but hang in there.

thank you for your fast reply - this was my thinkings too.
And what do you think, how should I get to the convention? - I read there are sponsored tickets for "new" affiliates. Is there a possibility to catch some of these tickets or should I buy a normal ticket?

The price is really high for new affiliates like me.

[matted]

I believe admission is free to affiliates this year - which solves that problem!

I have tried to make it to one conference/convention per year. This industry changes quite a bit over time - from SEO strategies to the best affiliate programs to work with to the latest technologies for your website.

Amsterdam is too far for me right now with my current calendar... so my wife has been really nice and given me a break to go to Vegas in 2 weeks for ASW/GPWA.

[Schankwart]

thank you for your fast reply - this was my thinkings too.
And what do you think, how should I get to the convention? - I read there are sponsored tickets for "new" affiliates. Is there a possibility to catch some of these tickets or should I buy a normal ticket?

The price is really high for new affiliates like me.

GPWA members pay $0 to join this event. All details are posted on http://www.cac2009.com/

[ppw]

Hi,

I´m new to the business, but made offline-promotions in past
I´m on planning stage with some new projects and wanted to ask if it is usefull to go as a "newbie" to CAC in Amsterdam. For me its a minus-business in generell, but hope to learn a lot there and talk to other peoples from the business. Or is it for beginers a waste of money?


stefan

Excellent question. Although I have had my site since 2006, I really have only been going "balls" out with it for the last few months, determined to make it pay. I have always wanted to attend an event, its been time, with building a new business and definately money!. Looks like I will have to clear my calender this year, you have allayed my fears a little. Thanks all for your answers you have made my mind up.