I need information about Best Casino Partner

[Steve_S]

To all affiliates:

By now I am sure we are all aware that by all appearances Best Casino Partner is not going
to be paying us the affiliate commissions we are owed. I am not here to trash them as I feel that has been done well enough by others. What I am doing is asking for your help, and or possible participation in my efforts to recover the amounts due to me as affiliate commissions. The outstanding commissions due to me are significant enough that I am going to pursue them in any way legally possible. This may include legal actions through the international claims section of the CLLA, (Commercial Law League of America, of which I am a forwarding member) in efforts to secure the funds justly owed for use and continued benefit of the services I have provided, at my expense. I will know by the middle of next week if it will be necessary to pursue such actions...

Amongst other businesses, I am a partner in a commercial debt collections firm and we make use of the CLLA Attorneys, on a regular basis in pursuit of commercial debts, not unlike the outstanding obligation referenced herein. Therefore, as it is my understanding that as long as the principal amount of debt is $20K or more, which my balance with BCP well exceeds, an International CLLA Attorney will take the case. Further, it is my understanding that the attorney will work on a contingency basis, requiring only the upfront court costs, filing fees, etc... due at the time they are retained, (as this amount differs from county to county, state to state, country to country, it should be no more than $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 USD), with a contingency rate not exceeding 27.5%, (which also differs from country to country and is an estimated cost and rate).

This is not an advertisement to represent you. Although I am sure my partner would be happy to. If some of you are interested, I would be happy to pursue the possibility of including you in an action so that we can all seek to recover the debts BCP rightfully owes its affiliates, (for the very costly services we have provided, out of our own pockets, in which they have substantially benefited financially, and it appears that they are continuing to do so if I may add), as well as all the appropriate and applicable monetary damages and/or costs affiliated therewith.

Does anyone know an attorney familiar with the online gaming industry? If so, I would like to talk to this person. There may be issues I am not aware of that could affect the likelihood of any recovery. An attorney not familiar with our industry might not know these things and I need to cover all bases and get the best representation possible for myself and all those participating, but please know, with or without other participants, I will be moving forward with this action, if my final demand made tomorrow to BCP is not met within the time frame allotted, (2 business days from tomorrow).

If you too are interested in pursuing this matter for the purpose of recovering the monies justly owed to you for services rendered, then please help me. What I need right now is assistance in tracking down the owners and principles of Best Casino Partner and the casinos they represent. What I am looking for are:

Names
Addresses
Telephone and fax numbers
Email addresses
Any other information you feel will be helpful

You can email this information to me and make contact with me at sms@airmail.net.

Please, I need your help. I am more than willing to join forces and
combine resources with those that are interested.

Now, to the owners and staff of Casino Affiliate Programs, GPWA and
Affiliate Guard Dog:

First, not everything I am about to say applies to all of you. So,
please accept this in the spirit with which it is intended. You have
held yourselves out as looking out for our best interests as
affiliates. That is why we signed up on your forums. We all know there
is a profit motive behind your efforts. I understand that no one works
for free. Trust me when I say that I also believe that you truly do
want to help us affiliates as much as you can. However, you been
curiously silent on this issue other than to propose rouging the Best
Casino Partner casinos. We need and expect more from you. Rather than
being reactionary and behind this issue and offering us the excuse that
you cannot control the decisions of affiliate programs and casinos, you
should be out front leading the charge. After all, if you cannot help
us and leads us in our time of need, of what use are you to affiliates?

I challenge all three of you to be there for us as we now need your help in a possible amicable and voluntary solution to this matter and we need it on a right now basis.
You know more about these programs and the individuals involved than we
affiliates do, therefore, you should be able to immediately aide in an arbitrary solution to these past due amounts we are owed. Pick up the banner and lead the charge! The ball is now in your court. If you cannot do this, then please support me as I pursue this on my own.

Look, I am not trying to be a leader here. But, this situation has caused me and my family severe financial hardship. I am sure it has affected many of you as well. I do not want to fight. It is my wish to find an amicable resolution to this issue. But, I cannot and will not accept the non-payment of monies owed to me for services provided. So, whatever means are available to me, I intend to use them to their fullest extent to recover my money until every last avenue has been exhausted.

Please help me, if you can.

[nsawins]

Good for you bro! I hope you get every penny you rightfully deserve. I hope this teaches all other affiliate program's a lesson that just because you operate in Costa Rica or another non-USA jurisdiction that USA affiliates will simply go away without a fight when you decide to screw them. BetUS, make sure your owners take note. We're watching you this football season.

Anyway, bets of luck to you Steve and keep us updated on how this goes.

[boczor1]

wow, this is pretty ballzee.

Others may initially think this is far fetched, but when someone owes ya 20G's , the gloves come off...right ?

Mad props ma man. Go get em.

[Steve_S]

Hey guys:

Thanks for your support. I will keep you posted.

[michael1981]

This is exactly why the online gambling industry needs to be legalized, so casinos can't just steal your money and disappear! If it was legalized, then this sort of thing could not happen without consequences. $20k is an insane amount of money, really hope things work out for you.

[rak]

He is owed more then 20K.
I've known and worked with Steve for probably the good part of the last 3-4 years.. good solid guy.

[charlesjay]

Steve,

As I've already told you, any help you need, you can count on it from me...

[topboss]

Good for you for taking a stand.
I would love to do the same myself but they only owe me $700.00 so it would probably cost me more in legal fees to try and recover it, and I am based in South Africa which makes it even more difficult.

[GamTrak]

Now, to the owners and staff of Casino Affiliate Programs, GPWA and Affiliate Guard Dog:

Excellent post Steve!

I would also add IGB to list!

Thanks for stepping up and being a leader as we need someone that is truly on the Affiliates side and not their own pocket as the industry is going to crap quickly.

[MichaelCorfman]

In the case of the GPWA, Best Casino Partner requested that we discontinue their sponsorship before the severe nature of the current situation was fully understood by us. If they were still a sponsor at this point in time, their sponsorship would have been suspended for violation of the GPWA code of conduct.

The only contact we have had there is an employee who, I think at this point in time, is probably out of a job. My understanding is that the organization is no longer solvent and cannot continue operations as it did in the past. My belief, based on what I was told, is that available funds will be disbursed to those that are owed money. But whether that means getting fifty cents on the dollar, or a penny on the dollar, or nothing at all, I'm not sure.

There might not be a formal bankruptcy here, but for all practical purposes I believe it should be viewed that way. That means everyone that is a creditor, in my opinion, should stand in line behind players, who I think rightfully should have their deposits returned before the rest of us are paid. In my personal case I'm making the assumption there will be no additional funds for Casino City or the GPWA.

And, because I view this as essentially being a bankruptcy, documenting and recording what is owed is an appropriate strategy. But like most companies I've seen go bankrupt, there is probably little that can actually be recovered beyond what is voluntarily paid by the business in the course of winding down operations, if anything.

I hate to be defeatist here, but when a business shuts down due to financial distress, there is usually not much that can be done. As the saying goes, you cannot get blood from a stone.

I do believe it is correct to consider the affiliate program and the associated online gaming sites to be rogue. But I don't think there is anyone legally responsible for the debts beyond the company which I understand is no longer an ongoing concern, and so it is not clear to me that there is any legal recourse.

Michael

[GCG]

M.C. :
I do believe it is correct to consider the affiliate program and the associated online gaming sites to be rogue. But I don't think there is anyone legally responsible for the debts beyond the company which I understand is no longer an ongoing concern, and so it is not clear to me that there is any legal recourse.

If the casinos still are open for download and play for real money than that in itself is rogue and a good reason to go on with a lawsuit.

If a program has closed down they should mention that on their websites or remove all, period.

IMO this is a GrandPrive trick close the affiliate program and the casinos are open for business ?

Can someone confirm that they do not take new players ?

[mojo]

I did read, I think at AGD, that these casino were still taking players. Going to one of the casino sites it appears to still be active. I noted upon seeing if I could register that in the country drop down box no longer has USA as an option.

I agree with Michael, however if BCP is still accepting players it may put a different light on things. Also, I'm not exactly sure the relationship with Casino Blasters. Is that the parent company? If so, what responsibility do they have?

Here is the announcement in case anyone needs reference:

In light of recent events we regret to inform you that effective Friday May 27th, 2011 all tracking links for BestCasinoPartner.com partner casinos will become inactive and you will no longer be able to promote these brands. Further to this our partner casinos will be working with their software provider, Vegas Technology, to disable player registrations. We strongly encourage you to remove your affiliate links immediately. This policy will be implemented for all of the BestCasinoPartner.com partner sites: Online Vegas, Go Casino, Crazy Slots, and Grand Vegas.

We apologize for the short notice and we sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Please login to BestCasinoPartner.com in the coming days for further updates. If you have any concerns or questions regarding this policy change, please contact your BestCasinoPartner.com representative.

Best regards,

The BestCasinoPartner Team

I realize that desparation is in the air and it's hard to see. I just hope it's not another grand prive. Maybe someone in a allowed juristiction could test the registration.

I wish you all the best Steve in this battle, you should get your funds!

[MichaelCorfman]

The last thing I want to do is defend Best Casino Partner. I don't think there is a defense to be made that matters.

The Best Casino Partner website no longer has any content other than a splash page with no links, so there is no information about any affiliate program there at all. In my opinion it would have made sense to put some sort of message up there, but I suspect they have no remaining staff capable of doing that.

Since there is not any information there, I guess it makes sense to document for the record the sites that have been affiliated with the program. They include crazyslots .com, gocasino .com, goldencasino .com, grandvegas .com and onlinevegas .com.

I believe you are correct that all of the sites are still up. That is why I say they should be considered rogue, and why we would have suspended their sponsorship if they were still GPWA members.

I think it is wrong if they are accepting new deposits and new players. Pure and simple.

But is it also a messy and complicated situation. If you owe players money and don't have enough cash on hand to pay them all back, do you shut down, or do you let them play with their existing deposits, knowing that will reduce the amount due to players, perhaps to the point where you do have enough funds to return the remaining balances. Not an easy question.

Michael

[mojo]

But is it also a messy and complicated situation. If you owe players money and don't have enough cash on hand to pay them all back, do you shut down, or do you let them play with their existing deposits, knowing that will reduce the amount due to players, perhaps to the point where you do have enough funds to return the remaining balances. Not an easy question.

Michael

No, it's not an easy question. I didn't know that they owe players and I agree they need to come first. However, if the writing is on the wall then it is irresponsable to accept new deposits knowing that they are unable to pay winners.

I think it's worth mentioning that Casino Coins did the right thing by closing the program and still paying on existing players.

Shouldn't Casino Blaster step in? I'm sure it's not that simple, it never is.

[MichaelCorfman]

OK, I've called the customer service number on golden casino to check on the situation. What I was told by customer service is that no new accounts were being opened or additional deposits allowed into accounts for U.S. players.

But, I was also told that those in Europe could open new accounts and make deposits.

Bad, very bad!

Before, on Casino City, we had marked the properties closed. We are now marking all of the properties as rogue for remaining open and accepting players from outside of the U.S. while not following through on their contractual commitments to affiliates.

Michael

[GCG]

IMO they do have enough funds to pay players but the US debacle gave them the perfect excuse to cut off the affiliate program.

Their program was one the most promoted for the US market before they stopped, they do have $$$ and want to sit on it until the US market reopens again.

another GP show Ladies and Gentlemen........

[Steve_S]

Thank you all for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

In my opinion, BCP going out of business is not the end of the story. Please consider the following example: Suppose that you own a rental property and hire a property management company to run it for you. They collect the rents and pay the mortgage, real estate taxes and vendors for repairs required on the property. If the property management company went bankrupt and failed to pay the mortgage, real estate taxes and a plumber and electrician for repairs, would you then be absolved from having to pay these items? Of course not! The city, county and state would slap liens on your property for failure to pay your real estate taxes and the plumber and electrician would file liens against the property as well. The mortgage company would foreclose on your property.

Isn't this situation described above much the same as a casino hiring an affiliate program to contract with us as affiliates? Isn't BCP just an agent of Go Casino for example? Aren't the casinos the parties who have benefited from our marketing efforts? Wouldn't the casinos be ultimately responsible for paying affiliate commissions? I wonder if the agency laws in other countries are very similar to those in this country? I have a sneaking suspicion that they may be.

I am hoping that some of you may be able to provide me with information that will prove helpful in forging ahead. I know that some of you have met some of the principles involved at conventions, etc. Perhaps you can pass on their contact details to me so that I can forward them on those who will be advancing my interests? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

A demand for payment was emailed to BCP this morning giving them 48 hours to make payment arrangements. We shall see what kind of response (if any) this generates.

[boczor1]

Do you know for sure that their deliberately ignoring you? Maybe their just trying to find a legit method of payment without raising any flags . Have you asked em to pay you in smaller doses possibly ?

[universal4]

The problem with this analogy is that we as affiliates contract with the affiliate program and not the casino directly.

The legal distinctions between whether the affiliate program is an "agent of" or "contracted by" the casino is blury and quite possibly needs a case similar to the one being suggested to clarify it.

Rick
Universal4

[GCG]

Paul-Dear from Deckmedia is now at Casinoblasters ?