Gamblers Connect Adds Gali Hartuv to 2026 Contributors Programme

Gamblers Connect has expanded its 2026 Contributors Programme with the appointment of Gali Hartuv, Strategic Advisor at The Playa.

The programme brings together respected voices from across the iGaming industry, with one contributor announced each month to provide readers with practical, experience-led editorial content under the publication's Contributor Editorial Code.

Hartuv has spent more than 15 years working within VIP management, helping to build and refine VIP programmes for over 50 operator brands. Alongside his consultancy work, he has delivered training to hundreds of industry professionals, many of whom now oversee VIP operations for leading operators.

During his time as a contributor, Hartuv will explore the evolution of VIP management, including how AI is transforming player segmentation, the role of hyper-personalisation in improving retention, strategies for creating long-term player value, and the challenges of managing VIP operations across diverse markets.

His first article will coincide with the launch of the VIP Operations Survey 2026, an anonymous initiative aimed at creating an industry benchmark for VIP departments. The survey will gather data on portfolio sizes, operational processes, technology adoption, qualification criteria and common workflow challenges.

Speaking on the announcement, Luka Dimitrijevic, Partnerships and Operations Lead at Gamblers Connect, said:

"VIP management is where a great deal of an operator's value is won or lost, and very few people can speak to it with Gali's depth. He has spent his career turning high-value player relationships into a discipline rather than guesswork, and he is refreshingly candid about what works and what does not. Through the Contributors Program, he will share practical insight on VIP strategy, retention and the smart use of AI, with content grounded in real results rather than recycled best practice."