Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, shares the core values that have guided him through over 20 years of success in the iGaming industry in a new interview with Slotegrator. He also highlights what business leaders can learn from running marathons and flying private planes, as well as the biggest challenges new operators face and the markets and trends that will shape the future of iGaming.

Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, has seen some massive changes in the iGaming industry in his 20+ years of experience: the shift from an unregulated “Wild West” to a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar industry, the overturning of PASPA, and the introduction of AI tools, which his company quickly adopted. He shares the core values that have guided him to success throughout it all in a new interview with Slotegrator.

The wisdom you need to rise to the top of an industry like iGaming can come from anywhere: In addition to running one of the industry’s most prominent media brands, Fernando finds time to run marathons. In his view, the planning, discipline, and mental fortitude it takes to run 42 km mirror what it takes to run a business. One key is consistency: “You don’t run a marathon on the day of the race; you run it during the months of training at 5:30 AM.”

Another parallel is Fernando’s experience as a private pilot. Flying requires extreme focus and an ability to make split-second decisions under pressure, skills that belong in the boardroom as well as in the cockpit — he shares other concrete takeaways in the interview.

Fernando also breaks down the biggest challenges facing new operators today: “meaningful differentiation in a saturated market.” New iGaming businesses have to contend with soaring CAC, complex compliance requirements, and the struggle of finding the right unique niche — whether that’s through hyper-localized content, superior UX, innovative gamification, or something else. In the interview, Fernando shares the one approach he sees making the biggest difference for emerging operators.

Every business makes scaling a priority, but navigating varying laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances across global jurisdictions is no small task; in the interview, Fernando highlights the one strategic misstep he sees operators make again and again that stops them from becoming a global player.

Fernando also covers the markets and trends that will shape the near future of the iGaming industry, the brands he first turned to for support when founding FGN, the extent of FGN’s reach, his thoughts on the global AI boom, and more — read the full interview here to learn more about Fernando’s lessons in resilience, inspiration, and commitment.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.

The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.

The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.

Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.

On March 31, Boomerang Partners concluded their exclusive affiliate tournament, TIME TO WIN. Top-performing affiliate teams competed for prizes and unique experiences linked to AC Milan, of which Boomerang is an Official Regional Partner

Participation metrics and performance results

Held from February 12 to March 31, the TIME TO WIN tournament brought together 57 affiliate teams. In total, they generated 1,611 sports FTDs across multiple brands within Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio. 40% of participants joined as new partners for this tournament.

Engagement levels varied across teams. 37% completed at least two tasks, while one team completed the full set of tasks.

Rossoneri Hub as the tournament’s central platform

All tournament activity was managed through the Rossoneri Hub – a dedicated platform developed as part of Boomerang Partners’ collaboration with AC Milan. During the tournament period, the Hub attracted 33,268 visitors. It served as the main entry point, hosting tasks and tracking participants’ progress.

A format built covering the full affiliate lifecycle

The structure of TIME TO WIN combined multiple aspects of affiliate activity within a unified platform. Participants completed tasks across five segments: performance, SMM, PR, brand surveys, and reviews. All of these contributed to their overall score.

The tasks were clearly defined, with fixed points awarded for each completed action:

• Generating new sports users for brands within Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio – 10 points for each FTD
• Completing the brand survey – 25 points
• Contributing expert commentary as part of PR activities – 30 points
• Participating in a dedicated SMM challenge – 25 points
• Leaving a review on a selected platform – 20 points

The brand survey became the most popular task, while creative mechanics also played a role, including an AI-based challenge that resulted in 17 AC Milan kit concepts created by participants

AC Milan partnership as a value driver

A defining element of TIME TO WIN was its integration with AC Milan. All rewards were directly tied to the Club. This made the tournament more than a standard incentive program.

Participation gave affiliates access to experiences that reflect the level of the Boomerang Partners and AC Milan partnership – from merch packs and signed jerseys to matchday experiences and behind-the-scenes opportunities. These rewards cannot be replicated outside a top-tier football collaboration. They are designed as premium experiences.

Prize structure and winners

Winners will be determined across five prize tiers, each unlocked by reaching specific point thresholds. Notably, three teams (…) surpassed the 750-point threshold, qualifying for the top-tier experiences.

The prize structure included:

• Prize 1 (150 points): TIME TO WIN Merch Pack for a team of five (3–5 sets)
• Prize 2 (250 points): AC Milan official jerseys signed by players (five jerseys per set – 3–5 sets)
• Prize 3 (350 points): A trip to the AC Milan v Cagliari match for five people (one set)
• Prize 4 (550 points): A trip to the AC Milan v Juventus match, including pre-match access, for five people (one set)
• Prize 5 (750 points): A trip to Milanello Sports Center, the heart of AC Milan, for five people (two sets)

In total, 15 partner representatives will attend the AC Milan v Juventus match. The main prize includes one winning team of up to five participants, while additional attendees will join through the Milanello experience.

To support this activation, Boomerang Partners expanded its ticket allocation based on demand. The company increased premium tickets by 300% and total ticket volume by 212% compared to the standard quota.

Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “TIME TO WIN delivered exactly what we set out to achieve, bringing partners into an active phase at the right moment of the sports season and showing how teams performed under the same conditions.

The integration with AC Milan added a different layer to the tournament. The prizes were experiences tied directly to the Club – something affiliates don’t typically get through standard formats.

At the same time, the results carry into the third season of Golden Boomerang Awards, where the focus shifts to performance over time. This continuity is key to how we structure competition.”

From TIME TO WIN to Golden Boomerang Awards 2026

TIME TO WIN was designed as an entry point into a broader competitive framework. Participants who reached the 100-point threshold received bonus points toward the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026. The annual affiliate tournament, organized by Boomerang Partners, officially launched on April 3, marking the start of its third season

This year’s competition is built around the “Beyond the Moment” concept, reflecting a shift from short-term results to sustained performance over time. Rather than rewarding isolated spikes, the format emphasizes consistency, strategic execution, and the ability to remain competitive throughout the entire competition period. Further participation details are available on the official GBA 2026 website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. The Company is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Across its partner network, six new products were launched in 2024–2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5x growth in product users.

The company’s clients’ portfolio includes more than 10 brands operating across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

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