This week, Lee-Ann Johnstone sits down with Paul Puolakka, CMO of Mr. Gamble, who brings a rare dual perspective to affiliate marketing having worked extensively on both the operator and affiliate sides. Fresh from burnout in telecoms to becoming one of iGaming's most respected voices, Paul shares unfiltered insights on what separates thriving partnerships from those that crash and burn.
This isn't your typical "build trust and communicate" advice—Paul digs into the tactical realities of partnership management, from handling payment delays to spotting red flags before they destroy relationships.
Whether you're an affiliate manager struggling to retain top partners or an affiliate wondering why your best partnerships keep falling apart, this episode delivers the hard-won wisdom you need to build partnerships that actually last.
Talking points include:
Listen to find out more about:
Key segments of this podcast and where you can tune in to go direct:
[05:04] The trust-breakers: What instantly destroys affiliate partnerships and why shaving commissions is relationship suicide.
[18:04] The click paradox: Why operators obsess over FTDs but ignore what happens after affiliates deliver quality traffic.
[24:06] The founder factor: How small operators with hands-on leadership often outperform larger corporate machines.
Our thanks go to Mate Affiliates as this season's sponsor. Would you like to talk about sponsoring our podcast, or gaining a brand mention? Take a look here.
