Affiliate Interview Series - Catalin G.

Attachment 9736

(This interview was originally published in the October 2025 issue of the GPWA Times Magazine.)

Please tell us a bit about your background and life in Romania.
After living for almost a decade in Ireland, I returned to Romania along with my spouse and my daughter, who was born in Dublin. I was born and raised in Bucharest, a city that went through massive changes, especially after the civil war against the communist regime that ignited in the very year I was born. My early years had a classic mix of summer vacations in the countryside, visiting the grandparents/relatives, combined with hometown urban activities like playing football and hanging out with dozens of friends from the neighborhood. From a millennial’s perspective, I’d call it a classic Eastern European childhood.

Given your progression from freelance and sales roles to specialized content and product management in iGaming, including over two years at Evolution, what key experiences or “lightbulb moments” led you to this industry?
In my freelance years, I learned that having the comfort to manage my own time was priceless. However, it took me a while to learn how to adapt the scheduling while trying to deliver under pressure and adapt quickly to last-minute changes. The sales experience added another layer to my career path; it meant understanding what motivates people and how to communicate value while trying to close a deal.

My passion for iGaming started long before I joined Evolution, and that’s because I had a knack for playing around, creating websites, and trying to monetize them through my writing. I was silly enough to dream of becoming rich through ad revenue while fooling around posting about random stuff, but that did not happen.

However, the idea of having an income through ad revenue got me deeper in the trenches of the online casinos, which were already growing rapidly in popularity, and the affiliate marketing sounded just about right for my style. Not to mention that my hometown was quite packed with physical locations where slot machines took over by storm. You can imagine I tried those the very minute I became of legal age to play.

Working for a few start-up companies in the iGaming industry, including my stint at Evolution, kept me fresh as I continued to learn and had the opportunity to go through various career paths where I developed managerial skills, but also, I got the chance to build my entrepreneurial traits.

You are currently Head of Content at Ogooga, an online marketing company specializing in casino affiliation. How did the skills and leadership experience gained at your previous roles prepare you for the strategic content and marketing leadership position?
Before I joined Ogooga, I took a short break before deciding to return to what I love the most, content writing. The overall experience and managerial skills developed throughout my career, along with the passion for iGaming, made this happen. It all aligned with the vision of the company, not to mention that the CEO, Thomas, is also an industry enthusiast, so it was pretty easy to click together and join forces.

What does your day-to-day look like at Ogooga?
Each day is tackled from a strategic overview, with constant business development research and planning. Apart from the daily stand-up meetings with the teams, we’re also evaluating results and keeping track of the custom reports we’ve built to suit our needs. Aside from that, there are plenty of happenings when we go to the office, as we’ve got a few mischievous colleagues keeping up the place in a jolly atmosphere, but at the same time focusing on a common effort to win with our projects.

The Supercazino blog is very active and content rich. How do you approach content strategy and planning across such a dynamic platform?
We balance evergreen guides with timely, news-driven updates, grouped into topic clusters for both SEO impact and a seamless reader journey. Every piece has to answer a question, spark curiosity, or guide action. There is also room for creativity from our writers, as well as a business-oriented side where we offer exposure for our close partners.

Does the saying “content is king” still ring true?
It sure still plays an important role. But as we roll with the times, it’s evident that the king needs strong allies such as SEO, short-term and long-term strategies across verticals, and a healthy portfolio split, great UX/UI, and proper authority, as the trustworthiness for the readers plays a significant part in the equation.

What’s been the key to growing Supercazino’s YouTube audience, which has over 21,000 followers?
Consistency, authentic reactions, no artificial boosting (bots) and making sure every video entertains while providing value. We’ve tried to grow naturally, without following the standard practice. Kudos to our creators and the production team involved with editing, filming, and streaming.

How does your team stay current with the SEO landscape?
Data analysis, constant internal audits, competition research, and reporting. Although sometimes Google decides to punish the "big dogs” for no reason, we still managed to keep our projects relevant and competitive.

What are the most common SEO misconceptions that you hear on a regular basis?
"More pages/articles means more traffic” is triggering me instantly. I agree with support articles for pillar pages, but that’s pretty much it. Keep it healthy, don’t publish for numbers, do it for a serving purpose.

What affiliate partnerships tend to perform best, and what do you look for in a program before signing on?
We want partners that actively communicate with us so we can improve conversion and, obviously, to negotiate a fair deal for both parties. Because we have a well-defined portfolio, we can easily identify which communication channels and projects are best suited for an operator to achieve the best results through us. Naturally, we’re actively seeking to obtain exclusive offers for our visitors that are transparent and fair when it comes to T&Cs.

What are some of the keys to a mutually beneficial relationship between an affiliate and a affiliate program/manager?
Clear communication, shared commitment to long-term growth, not just short-term wins. Willingness to collaborate for personalized campaigns, be it brand awareness, mail advertising, or video/streaming showcasing.

How do you stay compliant in Romania’s regulated gambling market?
Compliance is integrated from the start of our content process and the overall operations. We make sure everything meets legal standards without sacrificing engagement or SEO value. Apart from that, our legal advisors are on a moment’s notice, ready to provide feedback should we need to be aware of any changes.

If a 25-year-old friend came to you and said he or she was going to launch an iGaming affiliate site from scratch, what would your advice be?
Be ready to play the long game, be prepared to struggle. Have a backup plan, don’t invest everything you’ve got, because depending on the market where you’re planning to dive in, the chances are that it is already oversaturated.

Do you gamble?
Yes, but now at casual levels. However, I must admit that I was a high roller for a while, and even though I was already familiar with the industry and the risks associated with gambling, I had times when I forgot what it means to keep control and went overboard sometimes. Luckily, I learned my lessons just in time, and now I can share with others the wisdom of practicing responsible gambling.

What do you love most about living in Romania?
The fact that there is still simplicity to be enjoyed, whether you choose to go on a trip in the rural areas, or when you interact with people.

Outside of work, how do you unplug and recharge?
Occasionally, I choose to completely ignore any electronic device, notifications, and go outside or take a trip. I sometimes decide to go on a cleaning frenzy; for some reason, it clears my head. Slouching in bed and binge-watching TV series or taking power naps is also something I enjoy.

Finally, give us three fun or unexpected facts about yourself that most people in the industry wouldn’t know?

1. I once did a voiceover for a children’s storybook. I thought my voice was terrible, although I’ve been told otherwise.
2. I hate flying, yet I have a passion for jet fighters and aviation.
3. I can drink tons of fizzy drinks and yet not be able to burp.

I like how grounded and concise his answers are. Talking about the opportunities in this business is inspiring, and I am sure a lot of people receive it better, but anyone currently working in this industry knows that knowledge and “doing things right” alone are no longer enough to rank, much less compete with big budgets. Thanks for the interview.

Interesting read