"Industry Referees for a Day" Boosts Networking at AffPapa Madrid 2026

A dynamic inspired by the World Cup and applied to iGaming

From sports arbitration to industry analysis

The proposal was born from the international soccer context and sought to transfer the role of the referee to the analysis of the trends and challenges of the online gaming industry.

Carolina Armua, Head of Marketing and Content at SoloAzar, explained how the initiative came about: “The idea was inspired by the World Cup and how we could connect this global phenomenon with our industry while still keeping the focus on information. We took the figure of the football referee—who decides what’s right and wrong on the pitch—and thought about how that concept could be applied to the iGaming sector.”

The executive explained that the goal was to create engaging, entertaining content while encouraging reflection on the practices shaping the present and future of the industry. “We invited different stakeholders to flag situations with a red card for harmful practices, a yellow card for issues that need improvement or may become unsustainable, and a green card to highlight initiatives, behaviors, and trends that add value and drive growth in the sector,” she said.

Armua added: “The idea was to turn the industry’s own leaders into referees and spark an open conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the market.”

Networking and relaxation in a highly corporate environment

A proposal to strengthen networking among executives

The dynamic was well received by the participants of the event, who joined the recordings sharing opinions and reflections on regulation, artificial intelligence, marketing, localization, and networking opportunities.

Beyond the content generated for social networks, the initiative became a networking tool, facilitating spontaneous conversations between operators, affiliates, suppliers and executives present at AffPapa Madrid 2026.

This approach made it possible to combine entertainment and valuable networking, two elements that are increasingly valued at the international industry meetings.

María Eugenia Crivellini, Sales Director at SoloAzar, highlighted the willingness of executives to participate in less formal proposals within a corporate environment.

"The industry representatives received very well the proposal to become referees of the sector. At SoloAzar we have been developing this type of initiative for some time and our interviewees are already used to participating in activities that move away from traditional business formats,"  she said.

As she explained, these actions contribute to generating closer spaces for interaction between the professionals that make up the global online gaming ecosystem.

"We believe that these spaces help to generate a more relaxed atmosphere and allow you to get to know the people behind the positions and the companies. Beyond commercial meetings and work meetings, it is also important to create moments that promote closeness, interaction and the more human side of those who are part of this industry,"  she said.

"Through playful dynamics and creative proposals, we seek to show another facet of professionals in the sector and strengthen the bonds that are built in each event. When people show themselves in a more authentic way, networking arises naturally and professional relationships are strengthened,"  she added.
 

Flagging Sector Challenges with Red and Yellow Cards

Artificial intelligence, transparency and market strategies

The dynamic allowed the participants to point out some of the problems and challenges currently facing the iGaming industry.

Rosa Ochoa, gaming and technology consultant at Blue Global Gaming, gave a yellow card to the inappropriate use of new technologies by stating: "Yellow card for the use of artificial intelligence without having implemented good practice policies in the operation of casinos."

In the same vein, Tina Katanic, Sales Development Manager at Cevro AI, considered that the adoption of AI-based tools still faces resistance within the sector.

"It's a yellow card because, although I work in artificial intelligence and develop AI agents for customer service, many people are still afraid or skeptical of this technology. However, the industry has many opportunities for improvement. Conferences help to generate dialogue and collaboration, especially in markets where regulation is still evolving. We must join forces, avoid seeing situations in black or white and move forward step by step through better communication and attention to detail,"  she said.

For her part, Ekaterina Giganova, PR & Event Manager at Notix.Games, focused on the strategic planning of participation in international events.

"It's red card to attend an industry conference or exhibition simply because everyone else is there. As a marketing manager, I consider it essential that companies define clear objectives and a concrete agenda for each event in which they invest. AffPapa, for example, is an ideal event for Notix Games because it offers high-quality networking opportunities and connections that many times larger events cannot provide," she explained.

Christoph R. Härtel, COO at Ready Play Gaming, also showed the red card to strategies that do not take into account the particularities of each market.

"It's a red card to try to sell the same games in all markets without taking into account players' satisfaction. For this reason, at Ready Play Gaming we develop experiences adapted to each region, including specific solutions for Latin America, with the aim of improving retention and responding to local preferences," he said.

Karina Ferraioli, co‑founder and CMO of Master Affiliates Network, highlighted a core challenge facing both affiliate marketing and the iGaming industry.

"Red card for the lack of transparency, trust and collaboration in the iGaming marketing industry,"  she said, emphasizing the need to strengthen relationships between the various players in the ecosystem.

Practices that receive a "green card"

Networking and collaboration as growth drivers

In addition to pointing out challenges, the leaders of the sector also highlighted those actions that they consider key to the sustainable growth of the industry.

Several participants agreed that networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing continue to be determining factors in driving the development of the sector and generating new business opportunities.

Sacha Kinser, Founder and CEO of Kinser Content, gave a green card to marketing strategies tailored to each jurisdiction and audience.

"A green card is having the right streamers for each market and developing the right marketing strategies when launching new games," she said.

In the same vein, Zhanna Tarakanova, PR Team Lead at Evoplay, highlighted the value of personalization and localization of campaigns.

"Localized, player-focused marketing campaigns deserve a green card for their impact on long-term retention," she said.

Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, put the focus on alignment between operators and affiliates as a key factor to optimize results and build sustainable business relationships.

"Green card for dynamic CPA and RevShare models where operators and affiliates are perfectly aligned on metrics and outcomes. This allows us to better understand the behavior of players and establish fairer mechanisms for the distribution of income and the remuneration of campaigns," she explained.

Besides, Alena Tsuranova, CCO of MEGAFAIR Games, highlighted the value of cooperation between the different actors that make up the online gaming ecosystem.

"Green card for cooperation between affiliates, suppliers and operators," she noted, underlining the importance of strengthening collaboration to drive the joint growth of the industry.

Fernanda Figueroa, Affiliate Manager of 1win Partners LATAM, took advantage of the dynamic to highlight the competitive commercial conditions offered by her company within the affiliate segment.

"My green card is that we offer the best rates in the market: a minimum of 50% RevShare and one of the highest CPAs in the industry," she said.

There was also space to recognize corporate achievements and success stories within the industry. In that sense, Zhana Aleksandrova, BDD Spain & LatAm of 7777 Gaming, showed a green card for the company.

"Green card for 7777 Gaming. We are nominated in the Crash Game and Lottery Supplier categories of the EGR awards," she said.

Finally, Jeremy Castillo, Head of Sales EU at Affnook, stressed that one of the main benefits of face-to-face networking is the possibility of generating links in more relaxed contexts.

"Green card to attend a conference and share a beer at the end of the day, because that greatly facilitates networking and the creation of new business relationships," he said.
 

A different way to generate conversation in the industry

Interactive content to enhance networking at events

With “Industry Referees for a Day,” SoloAzar once again embraced innovative formats designed to amplify industry voices beyond traditional interviews and panel discussions.

The initiative blended entertainment, interaction, and sector analysis, creating a space where operators, suppliers, affiliates, and executives could share their views on best practices, ongoing challenges, and future opportunities in iGaming.

Drawing inspiration from the universal language of football, SoloAzar transformed a global trend into a communication tool that encouraged idea exchange, fostered networking, and strengthened connections among industry stakeholders during the AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026.

The project highlighted how interactive content can serve as a catalyst for meaningful networking at major international events, supporting both the creation of new contacts and the exchange of experiences and knowledge among professionals in the sector
 

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