Interview with Denis Durgutovic – Head of Affiliates at Grodt Group

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Interview with Denis Durgutovic – Head of Affiliates at Grodt Group

AffPapa spoke with Denis Durgutovic, the Head of Affiliates at Grodt Group, to discuss the secrets behind strong partnerships, Grodt’s future expansion plans, and the excitement building around their sponsorship of iGaming Club Barcelona 2025.

Yeva: Denis, let’s talk affiliates first! What would you say is the difference between a strong affiliate partnership and a typical business connection?

A strong affiliate partnership goes beyond a standard business connection in several ways. While a typical business connection might involve routine transactions or standard commission agreements, a strong affiliate partnership is based on mutual growth, trust, and shared goals. In this partnership, both parties actively work together to understand each other’s strengths and strategies, aligning marketing efforts, sharing insights, and providing valuable feedback to improve performance.

Such partnerships involve open communication, transparency, and a commitment to long-term success rather than quick wins. Affiliates are not just seen as another channel but as essential partners who bring unique value, and in return, they are provided with support, resources, and sometimes even personalized incentives to enhance their effectiveness. This relationship is about creating synergy, where both parties invest in each other’s success, leading to sustained growth and a more substantial competitive advantage

Yeva: For affiliates looking to work with Grodt Group, what’s something to expect that they might not find with other partners?

I’m not one to talk about others, but I can confidently say that we at Grodt Group have one guiding principle: complete honesty, at 110%. This value is core to who we are.

To give an example, many people assume that if a casino appears at the top of an SEO page, it must be generating strong conversions; otherwise, affiliates wouldn’t position it so highly and risk losing revenue. However, in my years in affiliate marketing, I’ve learned that this assumption is often incorrect. We have many websites where our brands hold top spots, yet these same brands may not perform as well on other platforms. Reflecting on this, I realized that conversions depend on various factors beyond just the brand itself.

Successful conversions rely on both the casino and the affiliate. From the casino’s perspective, factors like localization, customer support, and user experience matter greatly. Meanwhile, affiliates influence conversions based on the keywords driving traffic to their sites, as different keywords can attract varying audiences.

When we start working with a new partner, we make a point to discuss this with them. Just because our brands perform well on a competitor’s site doesn’t guarantee they’ll convert the same way elsewhere. Some potential partners may decide not to work with us after hearing this, but we believe in prioritizing long-term partnerships over short-term gains.

Sustainable relationships lead to higher volumes of quality traffic over time, whereas short-term deals often yield minimal results. We’re focused on creating partnerships that drive substantial FTDs (first-time deposits) for both sides.

Yeva: Managing casino operations, payments, customer support, and everything in between sounds like quite the task. How do you make it all work smoothly for your clients?

At Grodt’s affiliate team, we genuinely love what we do, and because of that, it rarely feels like work, whether we’re in the office or working remotely. With this in mind, our team strives to stay active and available 24/7, including weekends, to support our partners whenever needed.

We also understand how crucial timely payments are for our partners, so we always aim to process payments as quickly as possible something we emphasize in Grodt Group. Our goal is to make players happy, but it’s equally important to keep our partners satisfied. Both players and partners are essential to the success of Grodt Group.

Yeva: As the Head of Affiliates, you must have attended a lot of industry events. What’s your favorite thing about iGaming events that stands out to you?

In my opinion, it’s hard to pick a single favorite thing about iGaming events. Each time we attend a new event, we experience a different country, try new foods, meet new people, and reconnect with familiar faces and get to know new faces. There are only positives when it comes to iGaming events, and it’s tough to find anything bad or choose just one favorite aspect. But if I had to pick, reconnecting with familiar faces from the industry would be at the top of my list

Yeva: Elaborating on the topic of events, AffPapa recently announced Grodt Group’s sponsorship for iGaming Club Barcelona 2025! What are you most looking forward to at the event?

My favorite thing about the AffPapa event is that it attracts so many familiar faces, including people we work with, alongside new connections. This combination is powerful and rare to find. It’s always a pleasure meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends all in one place, which makes it even more special.

Yeva: There’s no denying that iGaming is an always-evolving market. Are there any new trends or changes that you’re especially excited to see happening right now?

Actually, there is one thing I’m particularly excited about seeing how next year’s Barcelona event will go. I don’t know why, but with the combination of the AffPapa event and the Barcelona conference, I have a feeling it’s going to be an unbeatable experience.

Yeva: Speaking of changes, what’s next for Grodt Group? Any upcoming features or services that you’re personally excited about?

Yes, we’re expanding like never before, and by that, I don’t just mean opening a new casino. We’re growing in other directions as well, though I can’t share the details just yet. But I promise, you’ll notice it in the near future!

Yeva: To wrap up, can you think of one piece of advice you’ve received that’s helped shape your career? I’m sure those just starting out in this competitive industry would love to hear it!

To make it simple, I think that it is essential to enjoy what you do. If you’re not happy in your role, consider finding a position you truly love. When you enjoy your work, it feels less like a job and more like freedom.

Additionally, one piece of advice that has shaped my career is to build genuine relationships over seeking quick wins. Strong, trust-based connections with partners and clients lead to long-term success and a supportive network. Passion and authenticity will drive you to excel and make your career fulfilling and successful.

Company: Grodt Group
Interviewee: Denis Durgutovic
Date: 20.11.2024

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