AffPapa’s Yeva Avagyan: redefining iGaming partnerships

For affiliates and operators seeking to establish genuine, long-term relationships, AffPapa serves as a trusted meeting point built on transparency and curated networking. At ICE 2026, we sat down with Yeva Avagyan, Head of Commercial at AffPapa, to talk about how smaller, more purposeful events are changing the way business is conducted.

SLOTEGRATOR: After your recent rebranding, AffPapa has rapidly become a cornerstone of the iGaming community. It feels like the company is entering a new era. How does this new brand identity reflect the way your mission has evolved from a directory to a global networking powerhouse?

Yeva Avagyan: In general, this phase for AffPapa feels monumental. With the rebranding, the introduction of multiple products, the conferences, and the clear differentiation between the AffPapa Conference and the iGaming Club networking event series, many intuitive decisions have naturally come together. People were already referring to the iGaming Club conference as the AffPapa Conference, so we decided to give the AffPapa Conference its own space to shine and to remove any confusion for attendees — something that’s a key point for us.

We wanted to present it to the industry in a fresher, clearer way, because for some people it wasn’t always obvious what we were doing. Is it a product? A networking event? A conference? So, quite intuitively, we decided to separate the AffPapa Conference as a special event, hosted in locations like Madrid, Cancun, and other destinations we’ll be introducing in the future.

When it comes to the iGaming Club networking events, the approach is just as intuitive. As you may know, we host them one day prior to major expos, and it's a great way to connect, learn about new products, and meet new people. We also introduced the iGaming Club membership, which allows participants to become ongoing members and skip the usual hassle of repeated registrations and QR codes—you’re just in. You're a permanent member.

I think it helps the audience to differentiate and to understand what we're doing. And it's easier for us to manage content, marketing, and the overall commercial side more efficiently when it comes to the technicalities.

S: The industry often struggles with transparency. How does AffPapa act as a bridge of trust between operators and affiliates in such a high-stakes environment?

YA: We always have our operators and affiliates' backs, because it’s not always as simple as saying operators scam affiliates — there’s another side to the story as well. For us, it doesn’t matter who submits a complaint. If there is a complaint, we do everything to resolve it.

If we aim to be that space where people trust each other, the network must be verified and transparent. That way, partners don’t have to waste time and energy on double-checking and doing endless research. They know that if they're coming from AffPapa, they’re dealing with a trusted party. Transparency and fairness aren’t just important to us — they’re always our main priority.

S: iGaming club events are known for being intimate and exclusive. How does this quality-over-quantity approach translate into a higher ROI for your participants compared to massive expos?

YA: It’s like I always say: imagine a big family gathering. You introduce your brother’s wife to your uncle’s sister — it’s intimate, familiar, and everyone knows each other. Anyone new is properly introduced and warmly welcomed. And because there’s no overstimulation — no overwhelming crowds or excessive noise — connections happen more naturally. Plus, people really appreciate the clarity of our format, where you see immediately who you’re talking to, with clear badges for operators, affiliates and B2Bs.

We host around three to four networking events a year. Imagine those people seeing each other regularly. Over time, we also bring in new add-ons, which means the connections made two years ago are now much stronger. Anyone joining is welcomed very warmly, and there’s a genuine sense that people want to help each other. It’s never calculated or transactional.

These are people who genuinely like spending time together, and on top of that, the cooperation is formed more organically. That's why we keep it very intimate. It's not about crazy headlines. People aren’t impressed by numbers. They’re impressed by feedback, by comments, by people coming back to the event every time.

Even during this interview, I’m getting messages inquiring about entrance tickets. It’s the kind of event people really don’t want to miss.

S: How do you handle the selection process for your attendees to ensure the vibe remains professional, yet conducive to closing deals?

YA: We always try to keep the ratio as balanced as possible. It's a practical approach: if an operator comes to the event and meets an affiliate who’s already using our product, it makes perfect sense for them to be a full member, to join the ecosystem that we created and continue monetizing on it.

Our main strategy is to focus on having affiliates with strong, high-quality SEO traffic. This prompts operators to attend the event, because they know they’ll be met with relevant affiliates and have real business conversations. So, while the event remains open, it’s intentionally very niche.

The time and attention people receive here truly make a difference. You can sit down, have real conversations, and understand each other on a much deeper level. That same approach is at the core of what we do at AffPapa. At our own events, we’re constantly meeting new people, building meaningful connections, and creating space for genuine dialogue. That’s why participants trust us. When they hear it’s an AffPapa event, they know they’ll meet the right people — the ones who matter for their growth.

S: What fresh ideas or interactive elements do you believe will define the next generation of iGaming conferences to keep them engaging rather than exhausting?

YA: I think anything interactive, where you’re actively involved and really have to engage your brain, is going to make a big difference. I’ve also noticed how content is evolving: videos, podcasts, interviews. Everything is becoming very concise, more focused, and straight to the point. It’s not dragged out or boring — you want to listen and learn.

That’s what keeps people engaged. This industry has been around for decades, and at some point, you have to accept that old structures no longer work. Especially in the age of AI, everything moves fast, and information is everywhere. Do we still get genuinely surprised by innovation? Not really. We might think, “That’s cool,” but it’s rarely extraordinary.

I think the future lies in quick but genuinely valuable content. That’s the direction the industry is heading, especially with a new generation coming in. So many new people are entering iGaming, and that truly excites me.

S: How is AffPapa using technology to enhance the physical networking experience? Are there any tools or matchmaking secrets you can share?

YA: When it comes to our networking events, we don’t rely heavily on technology. As I said, the badges and stickers really help. But for the speed-dating sessions we run during our conferences, there’s a significant amount of research involved: who the operators are, who's attending, and which affiliates best match their geos, commissions, and products. And we do it manually. We’re not very tech-heavy in general - we don’t have an app or automated matchmaking tools, just basic chats on the dashboard. But that actually allows us to keep the process more organic.

For example, I might personally know two people who would be a great fit and have strong business potential together. That’s why, when we do matchmaking, we’re very aware of what we’re doing — it’s not just a case of randomly sending out emails and saying, “Okay, you’re going to have a speed-dating session.”

It has to be thoughtful and come from the client’s point of view. What do they actually want to get out of it? Because if you’re talking to someone who isn’t relevant to you, what’s the point? Even five meetings like that are a waste of time.

That’s why an app has been one of the most requested things when it comes to speed dating and networking. And it’s coming — slowly but surely. Let’s call that a little secret.

S: To wrap things up, a few quick-fire questions. Morning coffee or evening cocktails for closing a deal?

YA: No hesitation — evening cocktails, of course.

S: The best city in the world for an after-party?

YA: Oh, my God, it's really hard. I should name just one. I would say…let's go with London.

S: And one word to describe the future of iGaming?

YA: “Exciting.” Yeah, definitely “Exciting.”