Interview with Thomas Bijman

Greetings, Thomas. It's a pleasure to speak with you. Could you share how you embarked on your career journey and what led you to the iGaming industry?

Firstly, I greatly appreciate your time in speaking with me for this interview.

Deep down, I'm a passionate traveler, and between 2013 and 2015, I lived across multiple continents. This included time in an Aboriginal community in Australia, a Muay Thai camp in Thailand, and the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Although it might seem unusual, by 2015, I yearned for a settled life in Europe, nearer to my homeland, friends, and family in the Netherlands. By 'settled', I mean a typical routine with regular work hours, purchasing a home, managing a mortgage, and adopting a cat.

It was during this phase that I discovered Catena Media. I applied, and once accepted, I packed a small suitcase and moved to Malta.

At Catena Media, I played crucial roles that helped elevate the company from a fledgling startup in Sliema to a prominent stock-listed entity.

Ultimately, my career took me to NetEnt and later to Evolution, where I undertook departmental restructuring, significant cost reductions, and built a comprehensive team including development, SEO, and account management functions, working alongside finance, compliance, and legal divisions. Within months, the department evolved into a robust revenue-generating entity with a healthy profit margin. content Evolution fundamentally acts as a B2B supplier enhancing operator businesses. The key mission of my unit is to enlighten players about our impressive game portfolio.

Could you offer an overview of the business and product dynamics within your unit?

Our dedicated team is laboriously developing a showcase platform for Evolution. The platform, dubbed One Stop Shop (OSS), seamlessly integrates Evolution’s best content. Our upcoming showcase website will incorporate tailored market localization, ensuring we effectively reach and educate players globally.

Additionally, our affiliate platforms aim to deliver top leads to partners by showcasing our industry-leading brand assets, free-to-play games, compelling promotional videos, and instructional content. big focus on SEO In my view, nurturing an insatiable curiosity and constantly seeking knowledge is crucial. One should never lose one's drive.

Stay informed on the latest iGaming trends, including product announcements, financial market conditions, and relevant industry developments. Subscribing to newsletters, tuning into podcasts, and reviewing quarterly reports regularly is beneficial. A comprehensive understanding of revenue drivers and successful business strategies is paramount.

What advice would you share with someone aiming to advance their career in this sector?

Grasping the business models within the industry—of operators, game developers, affiliates, PSPs—provides a competitive edge.

I'm fascinated by the discussions around how macroeconomics and public perceptions influence company performances and share prices.

By engaging in these activities, you’ll find every day filled with fresh and exciting challenges.

At Evolution, we embody entrepreneurial spirit, consistently seeking new opportunities. Our primary focus always remains on how we can best serve our players. The question 'What have you done today for our players?' regularly arises in product discussions.

The affiliate division’s goal is to utilize our brand power and intellectual properties to develop scalable platforms that appropriately highlight our games, driving greater audience engagement and delivering premium leads to partners.

How does your team bridge the divide between a B2B supplier and an affiliate?

I believe the continuous shifts in global regulations underscore the importance of deep regional localization to educate our players, regardless of their location.

I’ve volunteered across multiple countries and have lived in unique communities such as with Aboriginals in Australia and in a Muay Thai camp in Southeast Asia. I taught English in Ecuador and ventured across the U.S. for three months without spending a night in a hotel, thanks to the kindness of locals I met via Couchsurfing. Immersing oneself in diverse environments is the perfect catalyst for personal growth.

In what ways does collaborating with Revpanda enhance your professional role?

One extraordinary opportunity was living and working in a remote Aboriginal community at a place called Warmun. Here, I engaged deeply with the community, performing tasks like serving food and beverages, all from a tiny six square meter space. The experience was both humbling and enriching, given its spiritual undertones. Revpanda is helping us to localise our content Pai in northern Thailand is another favorite spot of mine, celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural lifestyle, and vibrant sports enthusiasm. During my time there, I embraced the local sports culture, immersing myself in Muay Thai training.

You've journeyed extensively. Could you recount some memorable travel tales for our audience?

Although it may sound quite analytical, I relish delving into numbers, and the quarterly reports of Evolution, especially the one published on July 21, genuinely intrigue me. To base strategies on concrete data and market trends, I keep a close eye on the company’s broader undertakings.

Your experience with the Aboriginal community in Australia sounds fascinating. What prompted this venture, and did it offer any beneficial insights you'd like to share?

I aim to maintain a balanced lifestyle by visiting the gym, passionately supporting Ajax, spending quality moments with my fiancée and friends, indulging in good food, and of course, staying informed about industry trends.

What motivated you to select Thailand for your Muay Thai training experience?

We're thrilled that Revpanda has received esteemed recognition worldwide, reminding us to keep striving towards excellence in all endeavors.

Maintaining work-life harmony and remaining productive and inspired are vital aspects today. What reading or viewing material has captured your attention this month?

In our chat, Irina Makarova of PIN-UP Partners discusses her marketing journey, the impact of industry events, and unique differentiators of PIN-UP Partners in iGaming.

What are your hobbies and interests? How do you choose to spend your leisure time?

Talking with Alexandra Voronetskaya