profile

Q&A With Gamma Entertainment's Karl Bernard

Karl Bernard grew Gamma Entertainment from a single website in the Golden Year, 1996, to one of the top online adult entertainment companies in the business.

As president of the company, Bernard still is the driving force behind Montrealbased Gamma Entertainment, which markets GammaCash and FameDollars programs.

Our core strength has always been technology and building relationships.

XBIZ sat down with Bernard and asked him a few questions.

XBIZ: How did you venture into the adult entertainment biz?

BERNARD: In college, while studying to be a computer engineer, I started using the internet … which was only beginning to become popular. My discovery about how powerful a business tool it would become happened quite by accident. What started out as a hobby has transformed into a business that has partnerships with some of the most accomplished adult industry players and employs hundreds of talented individuals.

XBIZ: Your company is one of the blue-chip brands in the industry. How did you get there?

BERNARD: Since the beginning, we tried to take a professional approach to the business. I remember being in my early 20’s and wearing suits to tradeshows and industry events while everyone else were wearing t-shirts and jeans. From the start, our approach was to build a credible business and be there for the long haul.

We’ve grown Gamma into what it is now through our partnerships and alliances. This was possible because we have always taken an honest and transparent approach with everyone we do business with. We’ve never entered a deal with someone that we wouldn’t have taken if we were on the other side of the fence. This has served us well because our reputation is one of the things I am the most proud of.

XBIZ: What makes Gamma stand out from a crowded market?

BERNARD: Our core strength has always been technology and building relationships. We’ve successfully capitalized on those strengths to identify some of the strongest brands in the marketplace and developed solutions that allows our partners to focus on producing the best content while we handle the everyday logistics of operating and managing a successful website.

We’ve also been strong believers in vertical integration; investing in developing and keeping every aspect of our website operation and marketing in-house. We do not outsource anything. Hosting, content packaging, and 24/7 customer service are all controlled within our ecosystem. Our development team also handles our own CMS, processing gateway, affiliate program platform and email marketing solutions. Having a tight control on these aspects has allowed us to integrate them securely together into the best money-generating platform for adult website operations.

All of this wouldn’t be possible if a strong corporate culture didn’t exist within our employees. I am very pleased to say that most of them are very passionate about their work and that’s what makes us successful.

XBIZ: How many customers do you have? How many employees? And how many brands does the company have?

BERNARD: Our 160 employees operate multiple business units that all have different customers. Each of those business units handles a stable of brands under their respective affiliate programs. We probably handle a portfolio of around 300 websites built around a two dozen major brands.

XBIZ: Where is most of your business coming from?

BERNARD: Most of our energy is focused on operating membership-based sites.

XBIZ: In the 16-plus years in the adult business, do you think the industry has matured greatly?

BERNARD: The industry has had a radical change. I remember how porn was part of the three untouchable industries that would come out unscathed every time there was an economic downturn, the other two being gambling and alcohol. In recent years, the adult industry has proven not to be immune to recession. This is all due in fact that there is an abundant source of free content that surfers take advantage of. Piracy has been detrimental but, in the same breath, it forced the companies within the industry to innovate to stay afloat and remain significant.

XBIZ: What’s a typical day like?

BERNARD: Over the last two years, most of my time has been spent on managing growth. When growing from 75 people to 160, there’s a lot of work that needs to be funneled into managing change and implementing structure in place to work efficiently. So I have to say, most of my time is spent meeting with the various people that report directly to me. I’m lucky to have a good team around me that are more public than I am.

XBIZ: Any last words?

BERNARD: Treat others as you would want to be treated!

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

The SCREEN Test: How to Prepare for Federal Age Verification

For those who are counting, there are now 20 enacted state laws in the United States requiring age verification for viewing online adult content, plus numerous proposed laws in the works. This ongoing barrage has been exhausting for many in the adult industry — and it may be about to escalate in the form of a potential new AV law, this time at the federal level.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How to Master Team Dynamics for Business Success

Having the right team in place is everything. Whether getting a startup off the ground and thriving, or safeguarding an established company, the right — or wrong — people can mean the difference between a successful venture and a failed dream.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

Eight Steps to Fast-Track AI Site Approval for Processing

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days. AI technology is speeding up the way we do business across all industries and offers numerous benefits, from automating processes to increasing efficiency and scalability.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How to Secure High-Risk Transactions With Network Tokenization

Ensuring the security of data as it moves through digital channels is the foundation of safe transactions, and crucial for your success. If your business can’t secure transactions, you’re exposed to myriad processing traumas.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Reba Rocket

As chief operating officer and chief marketing officer of Takedown Piracy, long at the forefront of intellectual property protection in adult entertainment, Rocket is dedicated to safeguarding the livelihoods of content creators and producers while fostering a more ethical and sustainable industry.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Protecting Content Ownership Rights When Using AI

In today’s digital age, content producers have more tools at their disposal than ever before. Among these tools, artificial intelligence (AI) content generation has emerged as a game changer, enabling creators to produce high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Payment Orchestration Can Help Your Business

An emerging payment solution is making waves in the merchant world: the payment orchestration platform (POP). It’s quickly gaining traction as a powerful tool for managing online payments — but questions abound.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Fine-Tuning Refund and Cancellation Policies

For adult websites, managing refunds and cancellations isn’t just about customer service. It’s a crucial factor in maintaining compliance with the regulations of payment processors and payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Laurel Bencomo

Born in Cambridge, England but raised in Spain, Laurel Bencomo initially chose to study business at the University of Barcelona simply because it felt familiar — both of her parents are entrepreneurs. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sales and marketing management at the EADA Business School, while working in events for a group of restaurants in Barcelona.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Gregory Dorcel on Building Upon His Brand's Signature Legacy

“Whether reflected in the storyline or the cast or even the locations, the entertainment we deliver is based on fantasy,” he elaborates. “Our business is not, and never has been, reality. People who are buying our content aren’t expecting reality, or direct contact with stars like you can have with OnlyFans,” he says.

Jeff Dana ·
Show More