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GAV Echos – Affiliate Interviews: Meet Jeff Grant, founder of OnlineCasinosElite.com

Published

9 years ago

January 14, 2016

The online gambling industry has witnessed a huge growth in the past years and all the recent facts point to a much bigger growth in 2016. This growth is thanks to the affiliates that drive players towards online gambling brands. Such is the case of Jeff Grant, founder of www.OnlineCasinosElite.org, an online gambling affiliate website which has lots of potential to become a true super-affiliate within this year.

EEG/GAV: Tell us a bit about yourself, we want to know who Jeff of really is, the main person behind OnlineCasinosElite.com. Where were you born? What was the key idea of developing this great review website for top online casino games and reviews?

Jeff: I was born in Italy but my parents have Italian-American origins. I 33 years old, and I studied in Italy (Pisa) and received a degree in electronic engineering. I live in UK, but I often travel in the States and to Italy whether for business or family relationships. In the beginning, OCE has been developed for pure fun. Over the time I realized that I could pull off something great from it and I slowly started to improve it. I invested the commissions that I’ve received as an affiliate, only to improve the site (development/contents/marketing). Lately I created a team to work exclusively with it. It has been a slow and arduous progress that required years of efforts, but today I can see a solid website, which I will continue to increase for the years to come.

EEG/GAV: As we understand your website has been live for quite a while now and it gains popularity day by day. Congrats for this! Where do you think OnlineCasinosElite.com stands now?

Jeff: In this market the competition is very high, so it’s important stay up to date and never stop publish interesting and useful contents. This is the main job we strive to do and, in time, we got respect and authority for the quality of our work. We just want to stand there, and move forward in small steps.

EEG/GAV: What are the strong points of your website and what makes it stand out from the niche websites?

Jeff: A strict policy at OCE is to provide original/useful contents, and that’s the primary goal we try to accomplish. Contents ranging from useful landing pages like casino/slots directories, unbiased casino reviews, software’s information, and free casino games – to industry news, tips and curiosity. Everything is gambling-related and aimed to please visitors and give them useful info.

EEG/GAV: What were the bumps on your road when you got started and how did you overcome them?

Jeff: When I started as a webmaster in 2007, as many of you should know, search engines (especially Google) had different reactions to SEO. With the evolution and changes of the algorithm, many aspects of SEO have changed. Now, everything needs to be monitored and to be perfect to work. Unfortunately, in the past we have not been as careful as today and we paid our superficiality with much extra hard work; we had to change totally the style and many content of the site to please search engines updates and most of all to please the visitors.

EEG/GAV: You have an interesting approach towards the rating of online casino. Was this the main idea behind the website when you started or was it something you acquired on the go?

Jeff: The idea behind the site has become clearer with the passing of time. By analyzing the behavior and needs of the users that interact with the site we could understand what they was looking for and consequently how to please them.

EEG/GAV: We have browsed your website and found some high quality content. Are you writing it by yourself or you have a team of people writing the reviews? How many reviews are there on your website?

Jeff: At the moment we have about 600 reviews between online casinos and slot games (excluding affiliate programs and software reviews). A team is working on contents; we select skilled writers only, and we instruct them on what kind of material is required. We usually are looking for friendly and long-term collaborations.

EEG/GAV: How do you keep the content fresh and devoid of clutter when a lot of fluff and nonsense appear on the Internet on a daily basis?

Jeff: We know that many low quality contents and spammy pages appear regularly on search results. Google is working to fight this and serve better contents. We can’t do anything at regards; we just keep publishing high standard contents and useful info for users.

EEG/GAV: We are sure that you receive daily messages from Affiliate Managers showcasing their products. You of course select them by the brands they work with; but what are your thoughts on how Affiliate Manager-Affiliate relationships should be built?

Jeff: Keep good relationships are important in this work; we have many contacts with affiliate managers, and they give us to assistance when we need. Usually we ignore those who work for rogue/not recommended affiliate programs.

EEG/GAV: How do you see the future of the gaming industry? For instance, will it become a truly global phenomenon in the near future?

Jeff: I’m a bit concerned about affiliates as individuals, since the trend indicates that more countries are banning online gambling or want to take control over it. So many restrictions are a clear problem for us.

EEG/GAV: Can you name one change that you want to see in the casino affiliate ecosystem?

Jeff: More transparency and controls over affiliate programs and related platforms. I would like that all the affiliates’ efforts were not wasted, since some programs are unfair and think to self-profit only.

EEG/GAV: What advise you would like to offer to the new affiliates who are looking to venture into this great industry?

Jeff: Well, the market is saturated enough, so if you are looking for real success, I think you need to present something new and useful, and at least, to know some new SEO basics.

EEG/GAV: Who is your favorite celebrity?

Jeff: As motor enthusiast, I have a weakness for Lewis Hamilton (F1)

EEG/GAV: If you would just open your YouTube search bar, what would you search for?

Jeff: I usually look for music, in particular electronic and metal bands.

EEG/GAV: Alright, here comes the fun part…. where would you like to travel in Eastern Europe, some part of the region maybe that you haven’t visited yet and favorite destination around the world.

Jeff: I would love to visit Lithuania, and in particular the “Curonian Spit”, those landscapes seem to be amazing. By the way, out of Europe, my favorite destination is Jamaica.

EEG/GAV: Where you wouldn’t want to travel in Eastern Europe?

Jeff: There is no one European place I wouldn’t want to travel

EEG/GAV: What is your opinion about EEG (Eastern European Gaming – eegaming.org/Gambling Affiliate Voice – gamblingaffiliatevoice.com)?

Jeff: You asked me “what advice you would like to offer to the new affiliates who are looking to venture into this great industry”. Well, this site is a perfect model about what should work and would be useful today in gaming industry; by my point of view, EEG/GAV is a clear example of what is needed to emerge in this hard niche today.

EEG/GAV: Thank you for this opportunity and have a great one!

Jeff: Thanks to you guys and compliments for your excellent work.

[Source: http://gamblingaffiliatevoice.com/gav-echos-affiliate-interviews-meet-jeff-grant-founder-of-onlinecasinoselite-com/]

Zoltan "Hawkie" Tundik

With an experience of over 8 years in the online gambling industry, as an affiliate, later affiliate manager and consultant, I consider myself a veteran of the industry and can guarantee that you will be served with the most accurate information.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

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Latest News

Game Nation appoint Head of Slots, Product and Content

Published

2 hours ago

March 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Game Nation, the UK’s third largest High Street AGC Retailer, has appointed Andy Sessions to the role of Head of Slots, Product and Content.

Sessions joins from Grosvenor Casinos where he worked as Regional Slots Manager for the brand which has 53 venues located in major towns and cities across the UK.

In a dedicated gambling industry career he has gained experience working across the Family Entertainment Centre, Motorway Service Area, Bingo Club and Casino sectors.

Confirming the latest appointment, which follows the addition of Compliance and Audit Director Eric Howell and Sharon Lewis who has joined the Game Nation team as Marketing Development Manager, CEO Mark Jepp said: “The combination of outstanding people and the very best games on the market are central to our ability to deliver an outstanding experience for all of our customers.

“Andy is pivotal to what we are a seeking to achieve. He has an unparalleled depth of operating knowledge and his insight will help sharpen further our machine focus.”

Looking ahead to the latest chapter in his gaming industry career Andy Sessions said: “I’m delighted to be joining a progressive operator which places machines at the very heart of the experience. There’s a genuine enthusiasm and a shared commitment to set new standards and I am excited to be able to contribute to the success story.”

The post Game Nation appoint Head of Slots, Product and Content appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

ZITRO TO SHOWCASE CONCEPT CABINET LINE AT IGA 2025

Published

2 hours ago

March 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Zitro is proud to participate in the upcoming Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) 2025 in San Diego, California. Zitro will showcase its latest CONCEPT cabinet line alongside an impressive array of new slot content, which is also compatible with the GLARE cabinet line, ensuring a seamless gaming experience across both platforms.

Zitro’s game lineup will feature diverse, exciting titles, each delivering an engaging and immersive gameplay experience to the U.S. market. Attendees will explore popular games such as Legendary Sword, Triple Charm Journey, Lucky Vault, Cash Totems, Wonder Dreams, and more—each showcasing stunning graphics, animations, and captivating soundscapes.

“Zitro is proud to be part of the largest gathering of tribal leaders in North America., especially during a time of significant growth in many tribal jurisdictions,” said Derik Mooberry, CEO of Zitro USA. “The U.S. has been a phenomenal growth story for us—tripling our casino footprint in under two years to over 100 casino properties. We’re eager to continue partnering with tribal operators to deliver exceptional gaming experiences that drive mutual success”.

He added: “IGA is the perfect platform to showcase the depth and versatility of our game portfolio to our valued tribal partners. With a broad lineup of games compatible with our new CONCEPT and GLARE cabinet line, we’re reinforcing our commitment to providing operators maximum flexibility while protecting their investments. With our expanding portfolio and new cabinet line introduction, we provide operators with more options than ever to enhance their casino floors”.

The post ZITRO TO SHOWCASE CONCEPT CABINET LINE AT IGA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Male students are spending almost as much on gambling as on their weekly groceries

Published

6 hours ago

March 3, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

More than one in six students who gamble is in the ‘problem gambling category’, four times higher than the general population, according to new research.

The fourth Annual Student Gambling Survey, commissioned by GAMSTOP and Ygam, found that 17% were designated at high risk and 29% at moderate risk of gambling harm, using the threeitem Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Male students are more likely than females to be in the problem gambling category and their mean spend on gambling is almost 1.7 times higher.

Male students who gamble are spending almost as much on their gambling as on the weekly food shop. Men’s mean spend on gambling is £33.54 per week – this compares to £36 per week on groceries, according to the most recent National Student Money Survey (2024). Almost one in ten of all student gamblers spend between £51-£100 per week on gambling – significantly more than their average weekly food shop.

One in four male students (25%) take part in online sports betting, the most popular form of gambling amongst students, and male students bet on online sports an average 91 days of the year – that equates to every other working day in an average university term.

Neary one in two students (45%) say they gamble ‘to make money’, rising to 50% amongst male students. However, the reality is different – whilst one in five claim to make money from gambling, a much higher proportion (40%) say it has affected their university experience and one in ten have struggled to afford food. And 17% are using their student loan to fund gambling.

Peer pressure appears to be a driving force for gambling – nearly one in three students who gamble say they are influenced by friends, whilst one in four cite social media. Almost one in ten are influenced by university societies – almost as significant a factor as advertising, cited by 13%.

However, more than one in two students (53%) say they are aware of support available at their university for problems with their gambling and 59% of students who gamble say they would be confident about accessing support.

The Student Gambling Survey, conducted by Censuswide, is the most comprehensive of its kind, involving 2,000 students from universities near 17 UK cities, with 49% reporting having gambled at least once in the previous 12 months. Other findings include:

21% of students have invested in cryptocurrency during the last 12 months. Males were more than twice as likely to have invested in cryptocurrency as females.
66% of students who play video games had paid for a random chance purchase in the past – one in two agreed that random chance purchases were gambling, but one in five disagreed, highlighting a need for more education about the risks of gambling-like features in video games.
23% of Asian student gamblers were found to experience ‘problem gambling’ according to the short-form PGSI, while low and moderate risk gambling were also elevated at 20% and 36% respectively.

The report makes four key recommendations:

More targeted prevention education, taking into consideration cultural differences to better meet the needs of students from BAME backgrounds.
Universities should make gambling harm prevention and support an integral part of their strategies to improve student health and wellbeing, upskilling staff and doing more to communicate the availability of support.
More education about the risks relating to in-game purchases in video games and their similarities and differences with regulated gambling products.
Further research, including investigating the discrepancy between students’ motivation for gambling and the amount they spend gambling in a typical week.

As part of National Student Money Week, Ygam has teamed up with NUS Charity, the charitable arm of the National Union of Students (NUS) in the UK, to launch a new university campaign encouraging students to look out for signs of gambling harm in their peers and start conversations to raise awareness. The Silence the Stigma campaign will be launched at Queen Mary University of London on 6th March.

Fiona Palmer, Chief Executive Officer at GAMSTOP, said: “The Student Gambling Survey is an important piece of research that confirms the need for targeted support for the student community. Although gambling has decreased slightly in universities, the risk of gambling harm is far higher than in the general population and students need to be educated about the consequences of gambling in the expectation of making money. We know from the university roadshows we run with Ygam that there is an appetite amongst students to learn more about the support available, which includes self-exclusion to take a break from gambling”.

Dr Jane Rigbye, Chief Executive Officer at Ygam, said: “Ygam is now working with universities in every region of the UK, and while we welcome the decrease in the number of students experiencing gambling-related harms, students remain a cohort that engages in gambling in significant numbers. This makes our collaboration with universities essential to ensuring they have the tools to effectively support and safeguard students. It is important to recognise trends and understand the factors influencing these behaviours, including economic and social pressures. With much of student life now digital and online, we must continue to guide and educate to increase understanding and build resilience against the potential harms of gambling.”

The post Male students are spending almost as much on gambling as on their weekly groceries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.