Monty Looks Back at a Decade of LCB

Hi. I’m Monty, the resident mascot that’s been rocking the pages of LCB since 2006. I’m quite a card, if I do say so myself. Well, guys and gals, my usual bright smile transformed into a look of utter shock when I realized that LCB is 10 years old! That means that I’m…oh never mind. Whoever said that time flies when you’re having fun, sure wasn’t kidding. I found myself greeting visitors on a modest site created by a clever young Aussie ten years ago today. Several makeovers later, I’ve got a sister, two brothers, an extended network family and an amazing forum community of over 90,000 members! Like a fine wine, we all get better with age. Hey, how would you like to stick around and reminisce with me?

The Launch of LCB

Before I get ahead of myself, I have to give props to the founder, the man behind the curtain, Joshua Chan. Fresh out of university in 2000, he spent the next few years creating flash ads for his brother’s company. He was no stranger to placing a bet or two at casino and poker sites and as a gambling man, he took a chance on affiliate marketing in the online gambling industry. It seemed like a promising endeavor and so the project began.

On December 8, 2006, LCB started out as a 5-page website with a listing of just 33 casinos. Blackjack bonuses were plentiful back then, which is where Zuga enters the picture, but we’ll get to his whoring ways later.

Today, we’ve reviewed over 1,100 brands with thousands of pages of information designed to educate and entertain one hell of a community of gamblers – the best in the world, if you ask me. Through Josh and his team, my mission has always been to help players get the most value out of gambling online through exclusive bonuses, cashback, tournaments, unbiased reviews and, most importantly, the tools and knowledge to play smart.

A Blackjack Bonus Whore Discovers LCB

We can’t really look back at the good old days without talking about this guy. In July 2007, a new user, Zuga, signed up on the forum. I think I’m a pretty good judge of character and right away I knew there was something special about him. He was making some money taking blackjack bonuses and even started bantering and competing against the LCB Admin, which made me chuckle.

Quote from: LCB Admin on September 14, 2007, 09:09:53 PM
“Nice work Zuga, looks like you had won more than me at one stage but got greedy.”

Zuga: “You're right Josh, did get greedy, coz I was on fire, and winning a lot. But I did one smart thing, I withdrew…”

There’s a lot more where that came from. Just look back at Zuga’s early posts. I could see how helpful he was. He may not look it, but he’s actually pretty smart. Ah, he knows I like to kid around and pull his chain a bit.

His activity on the forum increased and became quite valuable to other members, including the admin. Zuga was sharing details about his cashout attempts, country restrictions, crappy support and other useful tidbits.

To make a long story short, he was a ballsy gambler and had all the makings to become Josh’s right hand man. The rest is history.

A Growing Network

CasinoListings.com launched in 2007 and has since become a great resource for online gamblers. It’s also the home of the slot jackpot tracker, which we also feature here.
In 2009, things were moving along so nicely that it was time to branch out and introduce Bingo Betty of LBB, Big Tex of LPB and Oscar the Bookie of LSP.

The network expanded further with the launch of a new site, CasinoSlots.net, in 2011. Just as the name implies, the idea is to show players the most reputable casinos where they can play their favorite slot games.

NoDepositBingo and NoDepositCasino joined us in 2012. The year 2014 was a productive one as we welcomed three acquired sites to the network, OnlineBlackjack.com, GamesandCasino.com and, the most publicized of them all, The Wizard of Odds, The Wizard of Vegas and The Wizard of Macau.

Things slowed down until Bj21.com joined the network in March 2016.

Accomplishments

In 10 years, we’ve accomplished so much. Let’s take a look at the highlights.

• Most members and guests ever online at once - 21,727
• 2013 iGB award for ‘Best Casino Affiliate’
• 2014 iGB award for ‘Best Casino Affiliate’ and ‘Best Overall Affiliate’
• 1,189 casino reviews and counting
• Surpassed 3,000 free games
• We introduce the LCB Seal of Approval
• LCB Shop and player rewards program
• Reached 80,000 members in February 2016 and broke 90K before the end of the year
• In August 2016, we revealed the most drastic redesign LCB has ever had

By the way, LBB and LPB have been nominated for best bingo and poker affiliate sites at iGB awards ceremony in February. The Wizard of Odds joins LCB on the list of casino affiliate nominees. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The Changing Faces of LCB

Would you believe I didn’t even have a name until 2012? It was a big to-do with a contest, prizes and everything but I wasn’t always so mellow yellow. I changed along with pages of LCB through the years. This is a bit like going through childhood pics, but here goes:

Here’s a snapshot of me and LCB not long after we were born. There was little content on the site but it was valuable nonetheless. Weren’t we cute? The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 destroyed the online gambling market in the US and we still managed to thrive. Whoop whoop!

In 2008, LCB had grown rapidly. Notice all the tabs across the top including the introduction of the gambling forum. As for me, I hadn’t changed a bit.

I ditched the cards and switched to dice in 2009. There were more casino reviews than ever before and we had just 345 forum members online. One of the perks of joining back then? A chance to win a free iPod.

By 2011, our member registrations were in the thousands and I became rather sophisticated and dignified, don’t you think? This would be our look until August 2016.

This year brought about the most radical change. Some of you loved it while others are still recovering. The unveiling of our brand new website was extremely exciting and while it’s still a work in progress, we’re thrilled with the results. The current LCB offers a personalized feel with the ability for users to set favorite casinos and games. The dashboard is where all the customizing magic happens. This site is huge, so improved search functions, filters and categorized results help us all find exactly what we need. Gamification and rewards are additional perks that members receive.

A Word from the Team

Ah yes, the team. I tell ya, I’ve watched them grow in numbers and in expertise over the years. Some may not be willing to say it out loud, but they love me. They really do. From Australia to Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Serbia, South Africa, Romania, UK, Ukraine and USA, this global crew is the most dedicated there is. It’s a fantastic mix of new comers and veteran professionals that continuously work to the site so current and relevant.

Many of them like to talk so, of course, they jumped at the chance to share their thoughts about our most significant milestone to date: our 10 year anniversary.

Nikola Zugic aka Zuga – Co-CEO

I think I stroked that ego enough… What the hell, it’s our anniversary. Watching him grow, kick his smoking habit and change out of his go-to t-shirt has been my pleasure. Some of you know which shirt I’m referring to. It’s the one with Angelina Jolie. It’s pink. It’s a little too small. All joking aside, Nik is definitely the kind of fellow you want on your side – tiny tee and all.

I thank you, my friend, and can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the next 10 years.

“All I can say how time flies... It almost seems like another lifetime – so surreal those early beginnings feel.... I was the first guy that LCB Admin (Josh) hired to be the forum moderator and a blogger. I slowly worked my way up to become the 2nd man in the company and a business partner. Back then, it was just him, a programmer and me. Now we have over 40 people worldwide!

“I am grateful for the opportunity given by Josh and I know he is grateful to have me. We are grateful to have such an awesome team that helped us build this little empire of ours. 10 years is a long time (9 and a half for me), and I feel honored to be part of this great team of highly capable and dedicated individuals, who have brought the site from its humble beginnings to where it is now.

“I thank you all and I thank all our loyal members from the bottom of my heart.”

Nenad Ninic aka Luckynn – Office Manager & Admin

You’ve all seen him posting exclusives around the forum but there’s a lot more to his role here at LCB. As manager of the headquarters, he oversees all the busy bees and also updates a lot of the information and content throughout the pages of the site.

Thanks for your part in making LCB great. I raise my pint of LAV to you.

''Wow! 10 years of LCB and 8 years since I've become a part of this amazing story. A lot has changed over time, but I've been here from the start and know that every change was for the better. Over the years, I was fortunate to meet and work with great people and form lasting friendships. We've been through good and bad together, but all I can say in the end is that I'm proud to be a part of something as great as LCB is, and hopeful that there will be many, many more anniversaries to celebrate.''

Kitty McDonald aka blueday – Shop Manager & Global Moderator

She’s among those that have been with us the longest. She was a strong force in the poker section as the moderator but she’s come a long way since then. She manages high volume areas of the site like the shop and even exclusive cashback claims.

This is your celebration too! Thanks for spending 8 years with us.

“I first stumbled across LCB when I was hunting for no deposit codes some 8 and a half years ago now. It wasn't long after joining LCB I became a member of the team as the poker moderator and since that day, I've never looked back. I've had some great laughs and shed a few tears along the way with funny and sad member stories. I'm very proud to be a part of the LCB team and I raise my glass to LCB (and of course the dedicated hard working team) and congratulate them on their 10th Anniversary - it's a massive achievement in a tough industry. You should be proud.”

Glo Wood aka Feelin froggy – Bingo Manager & Content Writer

She and I find humor in almost anything, which is probably something you’ve picked up on by now. Glo’s writing can be found all over the network but you likely see her most in the news section of LCB and handling things for her bingo balls over on LBB.

Thanks for nothing...Ha! Seriously though, I appreciate you and everything you don’t do. Ha again!

“I can’t express how awesome it is to get up every day, do something gambling related and call it work. Sure, it can feel like playing sometimes, but we’re making sure that our site visitors aren’t being sailed down a river of BS, and that’s what matters.

“We’ve got a good group here. Everyone is super dedicated and beyond the daily work stuff, they’re great people and friends. This feels like home to me and I can’t imagine not logging into the site each day… I can’t even take a day off or a vacation without sneaking a peek at emails. A big thanks to Josh for laying the ground work for what has become so much more than just a job. Nothing tops LCB.”

Melanie Attwell aka Melcb – Marketing Manager

The marketing plan began to take shape when Mel joined the team. Her dedication and serious organizational skills astonish me. I’ve always wondered how she kept it all running so smoothly. I mean, we have over 1,000 casinos and for the longest time, she was a one woman band.

You’ve made it look easy. Thank you for all you do.

“I started working at Latest Casino Bonuses late 2010 after working as a casino affiliate manager for 2 years. The shift from the casino operator side to affiliate was an easy transition and enabled me to fall into my marketing role pretty easily. Its been an honour to be part of the LCB team for the past few years, the LCB team are really awesome to work with and we are all so proud to be part of something that has accomplished so much. We always strive to push the boundaries, reinvent and maintain our solid base as one of the top industry leaders. Our community is the heart and soul of LCB and without them 10 years wouldn't have been as fruitful and lets face it, it would have been a little lonely. Heres to another 10, 20, 30 years!”

Vladimir Zdravkovic aka drtheolen – Slots & Content Manager

The members don’t see much of him on the forum but he’s busy behind the scenes. He’s responsible for every new slot or free game added to LCB. Now that’s quite a feat!

I’m proud of the work you’ve done to help uncover fraudulent games to protect our members. Thank you for a job well done.

“Wow, it’s been quite a ride, from humble beginnings 10 years ago when we only had one rather humble site. I wasn't working for LCB from the beginning. I pursued a job in civil engineering at that time, but I was around watching how our community grows. It’s a great feeling to be part of the company that after a decade of existence still stands for the same principle it has been founded upon, and also to be part of the same awesome community.”

Johnny Karp – Sports Moderator

He’s been a reliable member of the team since his first day on the forum. Johnny is our sports man bringing you all the latest results, promotions and news among other things.

We would be scoreless without you and your friendly demeanor. Congrats on 6 glorious years.

“I joined the LCB team back in 2010, they were looking for somebody that knows a thing or two about sports. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect back then, I guess it was just a job and I wasn't looking to hold on to it for a long time. Fast forward to today, more than 6 years later: I can't imagine my life without LCB, I am a part of this team and this team feels like a family, even though we mostly communicate online. I wasn't expecting to be in a community of over 90,000 members either, that is almost 10 times the population of the town I grew up in!”

LCB Headquarters – Belgrade, Serbia

It takes quite a team to run this ship and oh what a team this is. From programmers to researchers, designers and everything in between, each one of them plays a vital role in making things tick around here.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. LCB has been in great hands for 10 years. I appreciate everything you do.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of LCB, we couldn't help but wonder how it all started out as just a tiny figment of imagination in the mind of an ambitious young man with a vision. But it was a great idea, and as all great ideas, it has found a way to become a wonderful reality which we are all so fortunate to be a part of. Ten years ago, most of us in the Belgrade Team were young and crazy, without much clue as to what life has in store for us or what the future holds. Of course we had plans, but none like this. When the opportunity arose, we followed our instincts and took a chance with what was going to become the best job in the whole world and never regretted a thing.

“We consider ourselves blessed to be able to do what we love surrounded by friends and loved ones, to go to work every day and see it as pleasure, instead of an obligation. Few people can claim such a luxury today, and to say we are happy to be among them is an understatement. LCB gave us all of this and we try to give back as much as we possibly can - to our colleagues, our community and the gaming industry as we pursue our dreams on this dynamic stage that connects us all.

“It is important to remember that we have more challenges and rewards ahead of us. Ten years ago it was just one person, today all of us, and tomorrow there may be many more. But at the moment, LCB is led by an amazing group of people who all share a single goal, led by the same aspirations, principles and unyielding desires that will make all that we want to achieve possible.

“Today is a special day, and we would like to use this opportunity to express gratitude to all of you who have taken part in the creation and growth of LCB, as well as to our members and everyone who supports us. We may have taken a moment to reflect on the past, but we are looking toward the future and all the great things we have yet to accomplish together.”

Ava Carson aka Lipstick - Chief Content and Land Casino Manager

This one, she’s so sentimental. I just knew she’d write a book, I mean she is a content writer for a reason, right? A lot of members got to know her on the forum over the years, back when we had a chat room, but these days she’s responsible for much of the content on the pages of LCB including our land based casino section.

I know you write until your head hurts but it’s evident that you love what you do. Thanks for your creativity and contributions to LCB.

“Ah, where does one begin to reflect on LCB over the last 10 years? It’s a difficult task to condense into just a few words. I have watched it grow by leaps and bounds and must say it has been one hell of a ride that keeps getting better with time. It is hard to put into words some of the most poignant memories because it has truly been a life changing experience and a sentimental journey. I always thought luck meant a royal flush, 100 free spins on a slot or walking away from the roulette table $1,000 ahead. Real luck is landing an opportunity to work in a field that you love! Whenever I tell anyone what I do the response is always the same “how lucky can you get” especially when it is someone I meet inside a casino.

“Little did I know in 2009 it was the end of life as I knew it and a new one was about to begin. Zuga had made a post in March of that year looking for a chat room moderator and I replied to it saying I was interested since I was there a lot anyway scouring the forum for new no deposit bonuses. To be honest I forgot about it and it wasn’t until a week later I looked at the thread and Zuga asked me to check my PM. Ok, so to let you know how green I was at the time, I said “what is a PM and where do I check it” lmaoo!
“Things really began to transpire when Zuga asked me to write reviews. My first reaction was no way I can’t do that, for which he quickly retorted YOU can do it and YOU will do it! It was that kind of confidence in the staff that gave the team the initiative to be the best they can be. I have also admired that our opinion, ideas and input is something Josh always has time for and is commendable considering his entire LCB network of responsibilities.

“But it would all mean nothing had it not been for member participation. The LCB community has always had a warm and charming atmosphere at the forum. We aren’t just a gambling forum we are so much more than that. At one time or another, we have laughed together, cried together, shared winning stories and not so lucky ones too. Members have been influential in sharing some of the best promos and bonuses out there as well as looked out for one another by passing on their good, bad and ugly casino experiences.

“Right when I think LCB can’t get any better, it does. What’s in store for the next 10 years, it is too early to tell, but one thing I can predict is it will be simply the best, better than all the rest!”

Josh Chan – Founder of LCB

He’s the man that started it all, and a humble man at that. I watched this young whipper snapper make a success out of LCB, build a network that runs like a fine oiled machine and go on to have his hands in umpteen other sites.

Rather than employees, his team are like a group of friends all hanging out and working together on a project they’re passionate about. They get paid for having fun and there’s no better job than that. As for him, he’s able to travel the world chasing the summer sun.

Josh took a gamble and won. I also know firsthand, that he appreciates the support from the members. Without you guys, LCB wouldn’t have made it this far. It’s true, he told me.

“Simply put, LCB’s achievements do not come down to “me” or “team”, it’s the “us” that has led to our triumph.”

Just look at what you’ve accomplished. Congratulations, hip hip hooray, for he’s a jolly good fellow and all that jazz! As your mascot Monty, it’s been a treat to reign over LCB. I’m anxious to see what you’ll pull out of your hat next.

From the team and me, thank you.

"Hard to believe I started LCB 10 years ago, it has certainly changed my life and I have made many life long friends and had many great adventures, I think it was the most pivotal moment in my life!"

Celebrations

The celebrations are getting underway. I hear there’s going to be a big bash at the Belgrade office in the coming weeks, which I plan to crash. Look out for pics. That foosball table is calling my name and I think I need to take Zuga down. Yep, that’s right. I’m officially challenging you to a match buddy.

As for the rest of the crew, there’s going to be champagne bottles popping around the world. Don’t be surprised if one comes flying through a window near you.

Speaking of you, the members, I’ve also been told that there’s a big contest coming up. The usual $250 monthly prize is going to be doubled to $500 but shhh…you didn’t hear that from me.

What a ride this has been. I raise a toast to our members, supporters, partners and team. Ten years is a long time. Imagine what we can do in the next decade. I’m excited just thinking about it!