Interview with Gambling.com

In my real job, I work for an interactive ad agency and one of my many functions is to keep abreast of what's what with the search engines. Here is an interview I did with Tim Rosenberg, Marketing Director of Gambling. com. Enjoy...or just skip it and wait for lurid tales of bad beats... both at the poker table and in the bedroom.


1) Tim, Thank you for agreeing to join us today. Can you share with our readers the history of Gambling.com?
Tim: The Gambling.com portal was launched in 1997 as one of the very first e-gaming sites. Gambling.com has never been an ‘operator’, but is positioned as a gateway to help people access casino and sports book sites.
Gambling.com has a very loyal membership.

2) How does Gambling.com work?
Tim: The new look Gambling.com search function allows visitors to search for gambling related web sites by simply typing in the keyword that best describes what they are looking for, e.g., ‘Poker’ or ‘Online Casino’. As a gambling.com member, they can access exclusive tournaments, games and collect ‘Ludos’, the Gambling.com virtual currency. Ludos can be used at participating advertisers’ sites for their products and services.

3) What is the revenue model for Gambling.com? Revenues for 2004? Projected for 2005?
Tim: Gambling.com generates revenues by virtue of sending good quality players to our sponsors’ sites, a PPC model. I hope you will appreciate I cannot provide you with confidential figures such as revenues etc..

4) How many searches are performed monthly?
Tim: Approx 350,000

5) Why should someone doing a gaming related search use Gambling.com versus Google, Yahoo or another traditional search engine?
Tim: 2 reasons
1) As the Gambling.com listings are editorially approved by ‘real people’ as opposed to web crawlers/spiders, as such this policy ensures that you will receive the most accurate/relevant results for your particular search. Our editors weed out the ‘fluff’ and help ensure a better search experience.
2) Due to the uncertain legislative situation in the USA, Google and Yahoo no longer accept sponsored listings from casino/sportsbook operators.

6) What are the demographics for users of Gambling.com? Are you finding that visitors are already have experience in the gaming industry or are they relatively new to gaming?
Tim: We receive a very wide range of visitors from the very experienced ‘gambler’ to people who are trying things for the first time. Gender-wise, our users are slightly skewed towards men. They primarily are doing searches for poker, sportsbook and blackjack related terms. Female searchers are typically searching for bingo and lottery related information.

7) What was the impetus for transforming Gambling.com into a search engine?
Tim: ‘Search’ drives the vast majority of visits to all sites on the internet, we do not see any reason why that should not be the same for a specific market like gaming.

8) Has the huge growth in poker on TV affected your business? How so?
Tim: The growth interest in poker as well as the likes of bingo etc. has had a positive effect in driving people online in search of gaming sites.

9) What direction do you see Gambling.com taking in the future?
Tim: We have lots of ideas and plans for the coming 12 months…watch this space. For instance, we are speaking with a few quality third parts sites about delivering advertising on their sites; much like Google does.

10) What role do you think niche, or industry specific search engines will have in the search industry?
Tim: We believe that niche specific search engines will provide more accurate/relevant/targeted results. We are focused on generating good quality traffic for our advertisers.

11) What unique challenges does Gambling.com face as compared to a traditional SE?
Tim: Very specialized – but thus a very targeted/premium visitor. Plus we are looking at ways to brand Gambling.com.

12) As a human edited SE, that must be very time consuming for all involved. How long does it normally take be included?
Tim: We aim to approve all listings within 3 working days. Currently we pretty much approve everything within 24-48 hours.

Winner

Another successful tournament (NLHE). A smaller field than usual, 12 players, but we did have someone break the gender barrier. Props to Ms. Lee Majors for joining us.She finished in the middle of the pack; quite respectable. She made a nice move and tripled up when short suited and got two callers, me included. Her A, 5 found a 5 to beat my A,9, but I got the sidepot when Fletch's K,J couldn't find a match.
The winner was....me! Yeah. I knocked out over half of the players in the game and won heads up against my brother when on the button, he raised me, I pushed all in with A, Jo against his K,4. Flop come Q,10, 2. Turn is a blank and the river is a K, giving me the straight.
4 new faces, which is a good thing since many of our usual players were off at a bachelor party.
The first victim of the night was Shield. I cracked his A,A with K,Q. After his preflop raise, I call. When the board came with a king, I bet it and he raised about half my stack. Decision time. I put him on A,K but thought maybe he had a mid pair and was trying to semi-bluff me. I make the call with great reservations about the wisdom of the call. 4th street gave me the Q. I put him all in and he calls. My 2 pair holds up and Shield has an early exit. He is really a great guy and is invaluable in helping me set things up and running the show. But it's still sweet to knock his ass out!

Poker Shirt

The Poker Geek has designed a shirt to celebrate all the ‘poker players’ on Party. If you want to purchase one of these fine shirts go visit his site and let him know!
The shirt is available for $18 plus a buck for shipping. Sizes are M-3XL, add 2 dollars for 2-3XL.

Home Poker Tournament

The Game:
Texas Hold 'em

The Time:
1:00pm Saturday, April 23rd

Buy In:
$50 +$5 (for beer, snacks, maybe a surprise appearance, etc) = $1000 in chips

Payout:
100% of buyin will be paid out
Payout will be based on total # of players.

RSVP: ASAP

You Win Some

At my fave local underground poker club (here in the Bible Belt we don't have easy access to casinos/card rooms like you lucky bastards in L.A. or Philly/NYC...no one is going to call someone who lives in Mississippi lucky, though) I had a nice little night.
It was one of those nights where the table had pleasant, amiable, knowledgeable (but not too much so !) feel to it and there was an obvious fish at the table (unfortunately he was a poor fish so we could only suck so much out of him) for everyone and a not so obvious fish (that I observed) just for me.
I was feeling good, my friend Joe Bob (the asian redneck) was at another table winning, my MP3 player was cranking out the tunes to sharpen me mentally and I was taking a few small pots early, showing my cards to the table setting myself up as a strong/tight player.
I was in a pot with the guy sitting across from me (wearing a No Limit Holdem Poker hat, btw) who had reflective sunglasses sitting on the brim of his hat and when he bent his head down to look at his cards, you could get a quick, if none too clear, look at his cards. Well, as soon as I noticed, I told him he better protect his cards better....that I could see his cards. He thanked me (and folded), the table gave me props and I was set for the night as a good guy (which I am...mainly....mostly...usually).
3 hours later I am up 135 BB and I call it an early night.
It's time to play; what would you do?
I hold 7,7 in an early position. The blinds are $1/2. I raise to $12 ($6 in the pot already). I get two callers. Board comes 5,5,6. Pretty damn good for me I think. I lead out $25 and get one caller. Now this caller is the fish I mentioned earlier. He has gone into his pocket twice already. He could have any two cards in his hand. I put him on A,6 suited. Turn card is another 6 board is 5,5,6,6. I am pretty sure I am beat now, and I say it to the table. I check he bets $60 and the pot is roughly $90. I have about $120 in front of me, I am up on the night. If I call I am obviously committed on 5th Street. What do you do?
After taking a hard look at him, I'm not sure he holds a 5 or 6. I make the crying call. The river is a 2. No way he could have been holding 4,3 right?
I check, he pushes me all-in. Being pot committed I call.
Can you tell me what he was holding?
A,3o. I kid you not.
You hear it said over and over again....don't assume your opponent would play a hand the same way you would. You have to play the odds...yes. But, as Texas Dolly should have taught us, you play the player, too.
And that is what No Limit is all about.

My Next Mrs. Ex- 

Mardi Gras: Pre? Bacardi Party 

You Lose Some

Well the fish at my low buy in game ate me alive. I am not sure I won a hand. And I lost...alot. Well, comparatively. It's just so bad its really not worth even mentioning...It's one of those nights you erase from the memory bank. However, I have a soul sucking blog and must post my shame. In terms of sheer stupid play, poor money management, and being on tilt more than the axis of Mercury, I cannot recall a worse night. Thank god and pass the Blanton 's.

To Play Crap, or Not to Play Crap

It's ok. Really. Call it 'varying your play', having 'gamble' or just want to goddamn play, sometimes you just want to see a flop. You limp in, someone raises 5x the BB and you call...with crap. Why? Well, I just wanted the action...seriously. Flop comes 9,6,5 rainbow. I bet the pot. He pushes all in. I call. If you were him and that flop comes...what would you have have done with K,K? Would you have gone all in? Or, maybe.... would you think that with my call, I had a small pocket pair? I did lead out after his pre-flop raise. Reasonable. Or, do you think I am bluffing at it?
I called his 5x BB raise with 8,7o. I know...I suck...I am huge -EV to play that hand often/ever. I take down a $500 pot and I spot him $200 to play.
But kharma sucks....a few hands later, I limp in with Q,6o. Flop comes A,Q,6. He checks, I bet $40, he(same guy) goes all in for $185. I call. Can you put him on a hand? If you put him on A,A or Q,Q you are wrong. A,Q. next card A. I am drawing dead.
That my friends is why playing shit cards can lead to huge variance.

(oh I should tell you before you think I totally suck, we were playing 3 handed)

My slacking

I apologize for not posting in a while, if you read the post entitled "Cheating" you'll see why. But, I'll post more often...promise!

Cheating

Cheating. When you hear the word people generally have one of two gut reactions. The first, cheating conjures up images of wizened, gruff, but likable cowpokes, trying to get an edge. They may even spin yarns about the 'old days' when, in their youth, these dirty angels used to fleece less savvy poker players with a grin on their face and glee in their heart.
Alternatively, your first reaction might be much less sanguine. You might behave much the same as when you see a snake in your yard. You jump back in fright and in surprise. You immediately have a visceral loathing of the beast; you want to grab a stick and beat it or grab a shovel and chop its head off.
I admit, I am more in the former camp than that of the latter.
Cheating is rarely talked about in this golden age of poker. Sure, the popular TV show "Tilt" dealt with it, but did anyone ever doubt that the 'good guys' would ultimately triumph? Occassionally you might hear whispers that this online poker site, or that one, is known for people working in teams, or using bots, but it doesn't really seem to resonate with most players.
I'm discussing cheating because, unlike TV or the vaporous world of online poker, one of my regular games has been tainted with a cheater.
The "how's" or they "why's", or even what we did when we discovered his cheating ways is less important to me than our reactions to it. With ever greater numbers of people buying in, who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the game is on the up and up? I hear you all saying, "the players of course, its their money". And I agree, but there are all levels of sophistication when it comes to cheating. It can be as simple and as obvious as riffing thru the deck (as our cheater did), or the more deliberate and pre-meditated marking a deck, or dealing seconds. How is the average card player to know? Sure, he should arm himself with such basics as being able to tell a stripped or obviously marked deck, perhaps even notice when someone is dealing with a mechanic's grip. But the average player is as defenseless against a pro as a gazelle is to a lion.
So what should we do? Well the historical advice still holds up, " Don't play with strangers.". But what about in my case when this player... scratch that... this cheater was introduced into our game by a friend of mine (who I am sure had no idea) and had played with us dozens of times.
I don't know. I really don't. I still love the game, but I guess the shine had been a bit off for me lately. Now don't get me wrong, I am not naive when it comes to this sort of thing. My grandfather was the largest bookie in upstate NY for over a decade, and was 'well-connected'. I remember going to Saratoga for track season with him, and guys with names like "Pat the Pope" and " Johnny Two Shots" would come up to me, slip me $20 and tell me to go bet a horse in a particular race. Never did they fail to pay off. So I grew up around organized gambling.
I still romanticize it in my own mind. I still think fondly on when jockys would join us for dinner after the races and I'd be sent off after the entree was served so they could talk business. So I am hypocritical. What does that mean? When it benefits me, I am fine with it?
What is cheating anyway? If I am playing in a stud game, and the guy next me doesn't protect his hole card and I happen to see it ( and I really mean 'just happen') and I use that info to play the hand... did I cheat? Or is that just part of the game, and I am almost obligated to use the info?
I don't know, but it's something I have been thinking about. Please post your thoughts, I'd love to read the comments.