What Makes Ace Alliance Riga a Unique iGaming Gathering and What’s Ahead

Interview with Faruk Aydin, Managing Director of Ace Alliance

At CasinoRIX, we focus on the innovators shaping the next chapter of the iGaming industry. Among the new names bringing fresh energy to media and networking is Ace Alliance, an iGaming hub that connects professionals through digital and on-site experiences. From events and podcasts to media features and trend reports, Ace Alliance helps brands share their stories, gain visibility, and build authority — all with the support of its parent company, Revpanda Group, an award-winning iGaming traffic powerhouse.

To learn more about the vision behind Ace Alliance and the success of its Riga flagship event, we spoke with Faruk Aydin, Managing Director of Ace Alliance, whose career spans nearly two decades in digital marketing, branding, and business development.

Introducing Faruk Aydin

CasinoRIX: Faruk, let’s start with your background and role at Ace Alliance.

Faruk Aydin: I’m the Managing Director of Ace Alliance. My role is to bring people together, share ideas, and produce content. My business journey started back in the early 2000s, right after my high school education, as I was building and selling websites to small businesses. Digital marketing has always been a passion for me, and I had the chance to work at some agencies back in my university years. Before I started my corporate career, I worked for an organization company, which is where I got myself infected with the beauty of on-site events.

After almost two decades of a career including marketing automation, branding, and business development roles, I’m now leading an incredible team at an iGaming media and events company.

Ace Alliance has an incredible team of professionals, from event management to media and production specialists. I mostly see myself in the ideation process and helping my team coordinate their efforts. What makes our team so different is that we have a strong digital marketing and media background. We’re really good at combining the on-site events and creating a buzz with our digital campaigns.

The Story of Ace Alliance

CasinoRIX: How did Ace Alliance start, and how has it evolved since then?

Faruk Aydin: Ace Alliance was founded in 2023, and it is a part of Revpanda Group. We organized iGaming networking events in the same year, and the first stop was Riga. We brought hundreds of iGaming professionals together at a golf club. The following events also had their own theme. For instance, during iGB, we had an event at Vondelkerk Church — it was really an outstanding one. Later on, we brought Ace Alliance to Cyprus, and this time, our event was at a beach club. Our guests had a chill time; I still remember the speed networking at that event — it really made a difference for many guests. In Malta, we booked MUZA, and we had over 700 iGaming professionals joining us that night; it has been the most attended event we organized to date.

In 2024, we decided to work more on our media efforts and gave a pause to the on-site events. We introduced iGaming news, blog articles, an iGaming trendbook, video content, podcasts, and other exciting digital and printed media. In 2025, we brought back on-site events with the Ace Alliance Riga event, and it’s considered a unique iGaming gathering by our guests, and we’ll be bringing more events this year.

Key Milestones and Event Evolution

CasinoRIX: Each Ace Alliance event seems to have its own concept and personality. Which moments stand out most to you?

Faruk Aydin: Each event we organized has its own theme and special place for me, but I really loved our latest Ace Alliance Riga event. The main reason is that we didn’t just throw a party with loud music and disco balls or stuff people in a conference room and lock them out to get bored with endless panels. We went outside of the box and did something totally different.

Building the Brand Through Digital Media

CasinoRIX: Ace Alliance has also built a strong media presence through digital coverage and podcasts. How did that process unfold?

Faruk Aydin: On-site events have their beauty as you can meet people in person, and nothing can replace a handshake. On the other hand, digital media is always with you without any time, location, or other limitations. Revpanda Group has been a driving force in iGaming digital media, especially on the B2B end. We used our experience in building a community for Ace Alliance and started with updating our website and added some content types that our audience love to engage with.

Moreover, we introduced two podcasts in 2024: Revpanda LIVE and Ace Alliance Insights. They really got an amazing reception, and we had some of the top leaders and experts join us to share their knowledge and experience with the iGaming community. Obviously, social media is an important part of our lives, not only business but also personal life, so we are aware of its importance. We decided to increase our video marketing efforts with several different video content types. It gave a good boost to our social media engagement. In the end, having a diversified content strategy backed with on-site events definitely helped our brand grow in a very short time.

Why Return to On-Site Events in 2025

CasinoRIX: After a year of focusing on media, you returned to live events in 2025. What drove that decision?

Faruk Aydin: AI is making its presence visible in all walks of business, and our industry is no exception. You see long LinkedIn posts, blog articles, attention-grabbing images, even videos, which are all AI-generated. I think, over time, we will lose our interest in some content forms that dominated the past, such as text-based pieces, because people heavily use AI-generated text and readers don’t like it as the authenticity of content is no longer considered in many publications. Imagine, people even write their LinkedIn comments using AI nowadays.

I believe one of the activities that will remain strong even in the AI era is on-site events because nothing will replace a handshake and a good in-person conversation. I am aware that people often say that there are too many iGaming events; maybe it is true, but I find it as an opportunity. If we do unique events focusing on quality networking with the right people, adding fun and entertainment elements inside, and choose the right locations, I think our community is likely to adopt it, like we see with Ace Alliance these days.

I also think, as a content type, video marketing will keep its strong position in marketing. Although AI can do a lot in generating videos, what it offers stays too generic. An insightful interview at an iGaming event, an office tour that shows the human side of a company, reviewing your merch at your booth… These are all fun and unique experiences that won’t be replaced by AI.

Why Riga Became the Flagship Event

CasinoRIX: Riga has become Ace Alliance’s signature location. Why did you choose it as your flagship?

Faruk Aydin: I think it is obvious — Riga is a beautiful town. To me, it is one of the best locations to be in summer time as our friends in Malta, Cyprus, and other iGaming hubs in the south need a place to cool down — and Riga offers it with its climate in summer. Our guests also can immerse themselves in the charm of Riga, known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene, stunning Art Nouveau architecture, and the beautiful Old Town. The culinary experience is also excellent here. Unlike many European capitals now, you can safely walk around even late at night and feel secure at every step.

Riga is home to a developing iGaming ecosystem, hosting thousands of professionals and many companies. Perfectly located at the crossroads of the Baltics and Scandinavia, Riga is a gateway to these growing markets. Moreover, there is no second event in the Baltics, Scandinavia, and CEE that could really connect iGaming professionals. Ace Alliance is filling this gap.

How iGaming Companies Can Use Events for PR and Media Exposure

CasinoRIX: What advice would you give to iGaming companies that want to make the most of their event presence?

Faruk Aydin: Publish a pre-event press release or news article to make sure the industry is already talking about you before the doors even open. Send an email to your audience and make sure your current contacts know that you’re attending. Of course, don’t forget social media. Get out of the boring stuff and maybe post a video; it will make a difference.

Events usually last a few days and are then forgotten. Turn your event presence into a lasting voice by joining a podcast. We have two podcasts that we record episodes during the major iGaming expos, and we publish the content out of them for the upcoming weeks. Join video interviews, have your booth or merch review videos; people love videos and authentic content. These bite-sized videos capture your story and insights.

When the event is over, publish a post-event article to show the buzz around your participation, highlighting your key moments, leadership insights, and impressions.

Common PR and Visibility Mistakes

CasinoRIX: What mistakes do you often see companies make when it comes to PR and visibility?

Faruk Aydin: First thing: Your website. If I go to your website and I don’t understand what you do in five seconds, I’m gone; I will bounce off. Make sure your copy is clear to your audience, you’ve got a good design, but also at the same time, your SEO is solid. Another thing is you need to keep it simple, and if necessary, fix your copy, and make sure your visitors actually enjoy spending time on your website.

If we talk about B2B marketing specifically, one of the major channels you need to use is LinkedIn. You need to post consistently, not only on your company profile but also your team should post on their personal profiles as well. I recommend having a front face to represent your company. Also, make sure you post original stuff, keep it active, and don’t overuse AI.

Talking about AI, I don’t mean you should not use it; just use it wisely. For instance, when you do the ideation process, it is a great assistant. However, I see that a lot of brands just use AI-generated copy. It is important to keep your brand voice and tone unique.

Have a PR plan, list down what you need to communicate — events, product launches, staff appointments, industry reports, any other activities. iGaming news websites are always hungry for content, feed them. Send them your press releases. Convince your leadership to join interviews. Check out iGaming directories, and get your company listed.

If you’re not showing up, not speaking, not hitting that record button, you are invisible. People do business with the people they see, they hear, and most importantly, they trust. Make sure you appear on podcasts, tell your story, and boost your branding.

Lastly, make video marketing a part of your daily routine in your marketing team. Your competitors are out there filming, and you may still debate if you want to post a story or not. People remember faces, not your PDF files. They connect with your story.

Best Practices to Turn an Event Presence into Real Business Impact

CasinoRIX: What are the best ways for iGaming brands to turn their event participation into lasting business results?

Faruk Aydin: Before you head to the event, make sure you are visible, post about the event, announce your attendance, attract views, and become a familiar face. You should also research the other attending companies and key people that you’d like to meet. Have some ready scenarios to discuss.

Don’t see people as walking business cards, and don’t treat them just to buy stuff from you. Make sure you have a friendly attitude, and you have actual conversations with people. When it is time, don’t be shy to ask questions about the things you want to communicate.

Keep the conversation going on after the event as well. Make sure you grab the contact details and send a short and nice message right away. I even take a selfie with the person I meet at events and send it via Telegram so we both remember each other.

Ace Alliance Riga 2025: Highlights and Feedback

CasinoRIX: Let’s talk about the Riga event itself. What made it stand out, and what moments were most memorable?

Faruk Aydin: It was an amazing time in Riga. I don’t remember any other event that I felt so connected with the attendees. We had nearly 600 guests, including over 200 top-level executives.

We took our guests to guided city tours in Old Town, had gourmet tasting activities, organized a welcome drinks activity at a contemporary arts museum, had an elegant brunch at an almost 700-year-old historical venue in the heart of Riga, cruised on a boat, and celebrated two days of amazing networking with our famous Ace Alliance party. I think it is really hard to beat such an experience.

I was genuinely inspired by the keynote sessions. I loved hearing Alexandre Tomic’s focus on prioritizing employee well-being as the ultimate game-changer for business success. Then we had Tiago Aprigio diving deep into the future of content, stressing the importance of multilingual localization, which I found incredibly insightful. And of course, getting strategic advice on operational growth and scaling through social traffic from Yaroslav Babych was invaluable.

To me, the standout moments have to be the Executive Brunch at the historic House of the Black Heads and, my favorite, the beautiful Networking Cruise down the Daugava River at sunset.

Community Feedback

CasinoRIX: How did participants respond to the Riga experience?

Faruk Aydin: We had incredible feedback from the community. Many guests told us that we raised the bar really high. Mostly, people liked how we combined the city experience with the premium networking and exciting activities. I am getting messages that people and brands are already asking about our next events.

What’s Next for Ace Alliance

CasinoRIX: You’ve had a strong start in 2025. What’s coming next for Ace Alliance this year and beyond?

Faruk Aydin: In October, we’re organizing the Ace Alliance Poker Tournament in Riga. It will host 60 players from the iGaming industry. It will be a night of poker, networking, and unforgettable moments at Olympic Voodoo Casino.

On November 3rd, we’re hosting Ace Alliance Aero Privé Roma, an exclusive iGaming gathering tailored for top leaders and experts of the industry. We’re transforming a helicopter hangar into a premium networking zone, and flying over 200 iGaming decision-makers with helicopters to connect while enjoying breathtaking aerial views of Rome. Alongside this, guests will experience keynotes from top speakers, a speed networking session, and an iGaming networking lunch prepared by private chefs, all designed to deliver a premium experience.

We’ll end the year with an online Chess Tournament designed for iGaming professionals who are into chess. There will be some big surprises, so our readers should follow us on our social media channels!

Every iGaming brand has a story worth telling. At Ace Alliance, we connect professionals, and create opportunities that matter. We help brands stand out, build authority, and reach the right audience. We’ll bring events outside of the typical iGaming events, create content that inspires and entertains our audience, and make sure the iGaming community has a lot of fun while doing business.

Conclusion

Ace Alliance is quickly emerging as one of the most creative and community-driven brands in the iGaming landscape. Under the leadership of Faruk Aydin, the team continues to blur the lines between media, events, and marketing — creating a space where authentic connections matter just as much as innovation.

The Riga flagship event proved that meaningful, well-crafted gatherings still have the power to bring professionals together in ways that AI and automation never could. With upcoming experiences in Riga, Rome, and online, Ace Alliance is shaping a new era of iGaming engagement — one built on people, stories, and shared experiences that last well beyond the event itself.