Milan Mihaldinecz, General Manager of Casinolove, Joins the Latest Season of Agency Interviews.
Milan Mihaldinecz discusses the evolution of Casinolove since its inception and its future development.
Are there opportunities for content collaboration, such as sponsored streaming, videos, or special events?
Of course, this is our forte. As a startup focused on video content creation in the iGaming industry, we produce a variety of iGaming video content: game tutorials (e.g., how to play blackjack), gameplay videos (e.g., trying out new slot games) presented in both prerecorded and live formats, operational support videos (e.g., user KYC tutorials), and professional interviews with industry members. Operators, platform providers, and affiliates can order videos from us. We also produce videos for our website and YouTube channel and are open to including sponsorships in these videos.
Are there any exclusive offers or promotional activities that you can share with your audience?
Of course, one of our current promotional activities for new potential partners is free video interviews at events like SiGMA. Depending on the content, we may also release the video on our YouTube channel and website, providing valuable free exposure. I encourage any business attending such events to contact us. We can also shoot at partner offices and other locations.
What compliance guidelines do content creators and hosts need to follow?
When creating video content, meeting the needs of partners is crucial. This includes brand guidelines and regulatory compliance. For interviews, we propose questions in advance and collaborate with partners to ensure the interview conveys the right image and provides necessary information. Our team has extensive industry knowledge and corporate experience, which is vital for streaming content, as many brands are cautious about influencers or freelance content creators who do not follow their guidelines.
How do content creators and hosts track their performance?
This depends on the goals of the activity. Most video activities in the industry focus on user acquisition rather than brand awareness. There is often a misunderstanding of the relationship between KPIs such as production costs, audience size, link click-throughs, registrations, and customer lifetime value. These metrics are not always linearly related across different creators or products. Content creators usually have a good understanding of their audience through continuous feedback. Unless the marketing manager is very experienced, it is usually better to consider the creators' insights and allocate trial activity budgets accordingly.
Are there future opportunities for creators to participate in special projects or events at Casinolove?
We are actively recruiting hosts, so aspiring content creators are welcome to apply. We have collaborated with well-known creators in the past and plan to continue doing so.
What types of marketing support do you offer?
In addition to video content creation and potential exposure in our portfolio, we can also convert video content into SEO-friendly articles for partner websites. We also support localization, including subtitles and dubbed translations. Companies without in-house video content creation experience can transform their messaging into effective video content through our consulting services.
Does Casinolove support engaging audiences through interactive features or live chat?
When someone orders streaming content from us, we also manage live chat and comment sections. However, handling partner-specific queries usually requires their knowledge, so we do not offer standalone audience interaction or customer service.
How does Casinolove collect feedback and use it to improve brand products?
We learn from every video we produce, and our audience is our best teacher. While quantitative data is important, we gain more from audience comments and live chats. For any company committed to being user-centric, I wholeheartedly recommend using videos and live streaming to build a community and gain ongoing feedback.
How has Casinolove evolved since its inception, and what are its future growth plans?
We are a young niche brand based in Hungary, a country known for its rapidly developing film industry (you may have seen many AAA movies filmed in Budapest). We started our own business in 2021, and the first year was the toughest, establishing a portfolio and gaining initial partners. We became profitable in the 12th month. This year involved a lot of experimentation and learning about formats and processes. We developed several internal automation tools to keep the team small. Currently, we need to hire to expand our video production scale, focusing on quality applicants. Our goal is to collaborate with larger brands and assist in content creation. Self-funding allows us to consider higher goals, not just improving business metrics, although it is still too early to discuss these goals.
The 2024 NFL season's Week 5 brought a unique set of games to bettors, with popular teams dominating and sports betting companies consequently "swallowing the bitter fruit." The dominance of popular teams, coupled with timely surprises from underdog teams, made this week's games particularly exciting. In the typically unpredictable NFL arena, Week 5 brought a rare bounty to bettors.
When the public wins, betting companies face gloomy prospects
The usual experience with NFL betting is "to go against public opinion," as when the public overwhelmingly bets in one direction, it often means their bets will lose. However, Week 5 was an exception. Popular teams won 10 out of 13 games straight up (SU) and 9 out of 13 against the spread (ATS), causing significant losses for betting companies. Bettors who supported these popular choices reaped substantial rewards, while companies like Westgate SuperBook and Caesars Sportsbook suffered heavy losses.
Westgate SuperBook Vice President Jay Kornegay said, "This was our worst Sunday of the year, as all the popular teams won." He acknowledged that such a week was bound to happen eventually. "The NFL season has been very favorable to us so far, so we anticipated a week like this."
Indeed, popular teams like the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings secured big wins, allowing bettors to earn handsomely.
Denver's Strong Comeback
One of the biggest victories for bettors came from Denver, where the Broncos defeated their AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders, 34-18, ending an eight-game losing streak. Quarterback Bo Nix led the offense, and the turning point was cornerback Patrick Surtain intercepting Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew's pass and sprinting 100 yards for a touchdown, the longest interception return in team history, effectively crushing the Raiders' hopes for a comeback.
This game was a huge blow to betting companies. "We were crushed," Kornegay lamented. Bettors firmly supported Denver, and the Broncos' 3-point victory meant that betting companies could not recoup their losses. One BetMGM bettor even placed a six-figure bet on the Broncos' moneyline (-150), causing even greater losses for the company.
The Battle of London: Vikings Continue to Soar
Across the Atlantic in London, another popular team secured a victory, much to the dismay of betting companies. The Vikings, one of the few undefeated teams in the league, defeated the New York Jets early in London, 23-17. The game started at 6:30 AM Pacific Time, allowing early risers to calculate their winnings before breakfast.
The Jets' Aaron Rodgers performed poorly, throwing three interceptions, allowing bettors who backed the Vikings to win big. One Caesars bettor won $250,000 on the Vikings' moneyline (-145), while another bettor won $110,000 on the Vikings' point spread. Red Rock Resort's betting director Chuck Esposito said, "We were very supportive of the Jets in the morning, and they indeed performed poorly."
The Vikings' victory was not just a win on the moneyline; they also maintained a perfect 5-0 record against the spread, providing continuous returns for their supporters.
Ravens Soar in Overtime
The Baltimore Ravens won an exciting high-scoring game against the Cincinnati Bengals, 41-38, bringing another heavy blow to betting companies. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, despite passing for 12 touchdowns and a completion rate over 70% (1370 yards) this season, ended with a 1-4 record.
This game was popular with bettors due to its offensive firepower, and the Ravens received a large amount of public betting. Although the Bengals led by 10 points with 5 minutes remaining, they could not maintain their advantage, missing a game-winning field goal in overtime. Ravens' Justin Tucker secured the victory with a 48-yard field goal. The Ravens' win was one of the biggest losses for SuperBook in the early games that day.
The Last Roar of Underdog Teams
While popular teams shone in the day's games, betting companies were not completely helpless. Two major upsets prevented a complete collapse: the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-23, and the New York Giants beat the Seattle Seahawks 29-20. Both teams started with a 7-point disadvantage but ultimately secured victories, helping betting companies mitigate some losses.
The Seahawks' loss was particularly disappointing for bettors, as Seattle was the most popular choice in Circa's "Survivor" contest, leading to the elimination of 160 entries. The Giants secured their win through Isaiah Simmons' blocked field goal, with Bryce Ford-Wheaton returning the ball 60 yards for a touchdown, marking the end of the game.
The Cardinals' victory over the 49ers was equally shocking. Trailing 23-21 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals capitalized on a fumble by Jordan Mason, advancing the ball to the end zone and securing the win with a field goal in the final two minutes. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's subsequent pass error ended the game, leaving many San Francisco supporters in disbelief.
Caesars' trading vice president Craig Mucklow noted, "The Giants' victory over the Seahawks was the best result for betting companies on Sunday, as favorites with a point spread of 7 or more had only a 1-6-1 record this season."
Not All Popular Teams Won
While most games were victories for bettors that day, some popular teams still lost. The Houston Texans narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-20, keeping the game under 48 points, providing a small consolation for betting companies during a tough morning.
The Miami Dolphins also narrowly defeated the New England Patriots 15-10, with one touchdown being overturned upon review, rewarding a Caesars bettor who placed $250,000 on the Dolphins' moneyline (-125), adding extra pressure on betting companies.
Betting Data
The Vikings maintained a perfect 5-0 record against the spread, tied only with the Kansas City Chiefs (3-1).
Favorites with a point spread of 7 or more have only a 1-6-1 record this season, highlighting the unpredictability of NFL games.
Denver's Patrick Surtain's 100-yard interception return touchdown set a new team record, delivering a heavy blow to Raiders supporters.
In Circa's "Survivor" contest, only 227 of the initial 14,266 entries remained after Week 5, primarily due to the Giants' and Cardinals' underdog victories.
NFL Week 5 was a rare bounty week for bettors. Popular teams shone brightly, underdog teams brought dramatic endings, and betting companies faced a long Monday reckoning. As often said in the betting world, "There's always a time for upsets," but in Week 5, it was time for popular teams to celebrate.
