Is the joining together of operators and affiliate programs good for affiliates?

[MichaelCorfman]

Do you think the recent announcement that a group of 65 of the online gaming industry's largest operators and gambling affiliate programs have joined together is a good or bad development for affiliates? Let us know what you think of the announcement below. And for those who are interested there is a thread in the public forums about the announcement here: www.gpwa.org/forum/major-change-our-industry-179580.html and a thread in the private forums here: www.gpwa.org/forum/programs-meeting-cac-179619.html.

Here is an actual copy of the recent announcement:

A group of 65 of the online gaming industry's largest operators and gambling affiliate programs have joined together to collaborate efforts to help ensure the online gaming industry will be managed and networked professionally and effectively going forward. The cooperation of online gambling affiliate programs has always been a topic of interest, and in light of the recent industry developments, including numerous a fiasco involving one of the major networking and conferencing companies, it has now become critical that action is taken in a proactive manner.

"Our motive on this collaboration initiative is to simply ensure that operators, gaming affiliate programs and the affiliates themselves have a resource in place that best represents our needs and those of our affiliates and business partners. Accordingly, the goal is to support an entity that is aligned with our interests and will help cultivate our community in a fair and impartial manner including developing business relationships as well as optimizing networking opportunities." One operator representative had to say.

He continued, "In reaching out to the rest of the community, we are actively seeking a solution that will be in the best interest for all parties involved. We are confident that by working collectively we will find a mutually beneficial solution."

Invitations were sent out to most, if not all, operators and gaming affiliate programs to join 'In' the collaboration. Programs that have confirmed their participation to take back control and encourage a fair and regulated gambling industry are:

400 Affiliates
888
Bet365 Affiliates
Betsafe Affiliate Program
Betus Partners
Betway Partners
Bodog Affiliates
BrightShare
Buzzluck Affiliate Program
C-Planet
Commission Account
Commission Warehouse
CWC Affiliates
Earn United
EarnReal
EGO - EGamingOnline
Euro Linx
Euro Partners
Eurobet Affiliates
EuropaPointGroup
Everest Affiliates
Fortune Affiliates
Galacoral
Gaming VC
GamingDollars
GamingPromo
Gnuf
Income Access
iNetBet Affiliate
Intertops
Ladbrokes
Lion Slots
LuckyAcePartners
Mainstreet Affiliate
Mansion Affiliates
Market-ace
Neogames
Paddy Power
PartnerLogic
Party Partners
PDCAffiliates
Pitbull Partners
PlayShare Partners
PokerStars
Prime Partners
Purple Lounge
Red Flush
ReferBack
ReferIncome
Rewards Affiliates
RomePartners
Roxy Affiliates
RummyRoyal
SportingBet Europe
StanJames
Star Partner
The Bingo Affiliates
TheBingoAffiliates
Thisisvegas Affiliates
Totesportcasino
Tower Affiliates
Unibet Partners
Virgin Games
Wager Profits

We are looking forward to receiving positive updates from these programs as to their success in the reunification of a currently scattered and fractured gaming industry.

[casinojack]

Is it fair to say, wait and see what the mission statement will be? I feel is kind of too soon to tell. Of course, being part of that, i have seen the preliminary agenda, and I think so far, good for both.

This recent CAP might have been the spark for this...

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I agree with casinojack. I like the idea, but there could be some concerns with how it's formed and the role it will play in the industry. I would like to wait until CAC to see what is proposed.

After looking at the results, it's exactly how I imagined it would be. I believe that one of the main reasons why the independent forums are so popular is because the forums are independent, and hold the programs accountable. So, I'm "not sure" at the moment, but the idea is alluring.

[matted]

This is a BAD thing. A few years at CAC, a bunch of affiliate programs got together and all changed terms to something affiliates didn't like. I forget the exact term. But because only a handful of programs were involved, affiliates were able to force their hand and all was good again.

But the bigger the group, the harder this is...

And I guarantee they aren't sitting around thinking of ways to help affiliates... rather how to make more money for themselves.

[TheGooner]

100% Neutral over here. Or perhaps total ambivilance would be a better phrase ?

We work directly with programs usually, rather than through a 3rd party, and so am struggling to see any relevance at all to this announcement for an affiliate? If I have a business question for a program I go to the program manager via email not via a forum board.

CAP, GPWA, APCW, PAL are useful tools for sure but they have little to do with my business relationship with the programs. These sites are useful to mix n mingle with affiliates and see what's going on generally and perhaps catch up on industry news and gossip.

So ... perhaps the announcement has more relevance in the affiliate portal world, and the likes of CAP and CAC and GPWA may be affected regarding future conferences, magazine publishing revenues and "sponsorship" of forums ...

But frankly for us as an affiliate the announcement simply elicits a "SO WHAT?!" response so far ...

[Amateur]

This is a BAD thing. A few years at CAC, a bunch of affiliate programs got together and all changed terms to something affiliates didn't like. I forget the exact term. But because only a handful of programs were involved, affiliates were able to force their hand and all was good again.

But the bigger the group, the harder this is...

And I guarantee they aren't sitting around thinking of ways to help affiliates... rather how to make more money for themselves.

Matt is correct here!! I'd tend to be more skeptical than heartened about this. Fortune among others put in place some very predatory terms that robbed affiliates of revenue. Others followed, and it took a monumental effort to stem the tide.

It's guaranteed that if the less ethical operators see a chance to turn this into a way to decrease affiliate revenue, they will take it.

It puts the programs in the position of having to "police" each other, doesn't it? Whatever the by-laws, someone has to determine who is breaking them, as someone always will.

Frankly, from the quote I've seen, I still have no idea what the function of this group will be...to organize trade shows, to coordinate lobbying efforts, to increase exposure for programs..what exactly. These objectives have been very vague.

The last time casinos banded together and created a web presense collectively, they developed their "databse of bonus abusers", and those terms about "reserving the right to refuse payment on wins for any reason..." etc.

So, forgive me if I'm not jumping on a bandwagon on this.

Remember, this is being done during a financial crunch, when revenues have decreased dramatically. While some are genuine in their efforts, others most definitely see this as an opportunity to take advantage of players and affiliates.

Grand Prive Affilaites can not have been forgotten so soon.

[Betpartners]

100% Neutral over here. Or perhaps total ambivilance would be a better phrase ?

We work directly with programs usually, rather than through a 3rd party, and so am struggling to see any relevance at all to this announcement for an affiliate? If I have a business question for a program I go to the program manager via email not via a forum board.

CAP, GPWA, APCW, PAL are useful tools for sure but they have little to do with my business relationship with the programs. These sites are useful to mix n mingle with affiliates and see what's going on generally and perhaps catch up on industry news and gossip.

So ... perhaps the announcement has more relevance in the affiliate portal world, and the likes of CAP and CAC and GPWA may be affected regarding future conferences, magazine publishing revenues and "sponsorship" of forums ...

But frankly for us as an affiliate the announcement simply elicits a "SO WHAT?!" response so far ...

Unless these programs get together to make common decisons effecting affiliate programs then it would have a direct impact Gooner (did you see the awesome performance by the mighty spurs tonight )

[pgaming]

To early to say so staying neutral. But if there is one negative 888 is involved, spooky.

greek39

[Chalkie]

Now i am not concrete on this and could be swayed either way, however, this is how i view it on first sight and knowledge:

Seems to me that the latest fiasco at CAP London was maybe the straw that broke the camels back.

The industry is partialy and unofficially governed by a small amount of groups such as CAP, GPWA, AGD etc. Now CAP makes a fool out of themselves, looks rather dodgy over a few issues or at least certain high profile figures do. The operators and programs have to and in the main do act professionaly and need to be seen in this light too, especially if we want to see a lifting of the ban in the US and no further bans coming in other regions.

With this in mind i am sure that these people would rather have an organisation governed by people of their choosing. People that are accountable to them, people who will be on a salary, people who will not be able to gain from the organisation in other avenues.

They will also of course want an organisation like this cutting out the need for heavy sponsorship deals with GPWA etc.

Now when viewed in this way it looks a good proposition both for them and for affiliates. For them of course for the reasons above, for affiliates because there should be further money to spread about after the savings on sponsorship etc.

However, if we look at the greater picture - The future - After they have taken the lead with this organisation, things start to look bleak.

They suddenly have control from within and carte blanche to do as they feel,when the feel, how they feel. Affiliates will lose all or any powers that are available and will have no recompense whatsoever.

This is a Very bad development and now is the time to make a stand, not next week or next month or when it is too late. This needs to be stopped and anyone who thinks that as an individual they strong enough to fight them in the future without the likes of the GPWA needs to take off their rose tinted spectacles.

Off to put on my tin hat now for protection from the flaak i will get for this post but hey ho ...

[GamTrak]

I have to vote bad for now until I see the mission statement. I agree with those that expressed their opinion so far. We need to get more information before CAC and start possible implemention after CAC and a meeting of the minds take place between advocates of all parties involved.

[wagerprofits]

Amateur

I understand a lot of what you are saying but a very large amount of what you are writting about is unfounded and simply wrong.

As I posted the other thread this is industry is a dog eat dog industry I want your players as much as th enext operator so I can tell you 100% that this has nothing to do with price fixing or changing terms, this is about operators forming a group that can work with the affiliate communty and not work against them and have honest and clear industry.

One thing that have hit on the head 100% is that right now it is vague and things will not become any clear until the operators meet up in CAC.

Shaun

Matt is correct here!! I'd tend to be more skeptical than heartened about this. Fortune among others put in place some very predatory terms that robbed affiliates of revenue. Others followed, and it took a monumental effort to stem the tide.

It's guaranteed that if the less ethical operators see a chance to turn this into a way to decrease affiliate revenue, they will take it.

It puts the programs in the position of having to "police" each other, doesn't it? Whatever the by-laws, someone has to determine who is breaking them, as someone always will.

Frankly, from the quote I've seen, I still have no idea what the function of this group will be...to organize trade shows, to coordinate lobbying efforts, to increase exposure for programs..what exactly. These objectives have been very vague.

The last time casinos banded together and created a web presense collectively, they developed their "databse of bonus abusers", and those terms about "reserving the right to refuse payment on wins for any reason..." etc.

So, forgive me if I'm not jumping on a bandwagon on this.

Remember, this is being done during a financial crunch, when revenues have decreased dramatically. While some are genuine in their efforts, others most definitely see this as an opportunity to take advantage of players and affiliates.

Grand Prive Affilaites can not have been forgotten so soon.

[wagerprofits]

No such thing as awsome performance by Spurs, there is only one team in North London.

Shaun

Unless these programs get together to make common decisons effecting affiliate programs then it would have a direct impact Gooner (did you see the awesome performance by the mighty spurs tonight )

[wagerprofits]

GamTrak

As it stand there is no more informtion to offer and no further information will be available until the meeting has happened at CAC.


Shaun

I have to vote bad for now until I see the mission statement. I agree with those that expressed their opinion so far. We need to get more information before CAC and start possible implemention after CAC and a meeting of the minds take place between advocates of all parties involved.

[Amateur]

Shaun,

I am keeping an open mind for now. I hope this new vehicle can lead to improvements for our industry.

A few bad guys can make it hard for everyone else. Power tends to corrupt, and the good guys have to keep vigilent on things like this, so that those who trust won't get burned....again.

The last thing we need is another debacle.

Amateur

I understand a lot of what you are saying but a very large amount of what you are writting about is unfounded and simply wrong.

As I posted the other thread this is industry is a dog eat dog industry I want your players as much as th enext operator so I can tell you 100% that this has nothing to do with price fixing or changing terms, this is about operators forming a group that can work with the affiliate communty and not work against them and have honest and clear industry.

One thing that have hit on the head 100% is that right now it is vague and things will not become any clear until the operators meet up in CAC.

Shaun

[Betpartners]

No such thing as awsome performance by Spurs, there is only one team in North London.

Shaun

Which one would that be Shaun, whichever one it is has failed to beat the Spurs this season and last season i do belive the team you refer to was on the end of a 5-1 beating by the mighty whites

[Skinski]

I'm really not too sure . Just hope greed does not get in the way and the programs remember all the hard work and time that affiliates put in to try and get folk to play their sites.

[wagerprofits]

Guys

Before we go grey and want to kill each other i want to share a post that I have just made on another thread, please post your thoughts I want to hear them:

I feel very alone non eo fthe other operators seem to want to come on to the thread and talk about this. I know who the TUC and CBI are i am from the UK even though I live in Costa Rica.

I seriously understand all of your concerns that is why i think after such a public announcement we the operators should have somebody to follow up with affiliates, which kind of looks like me.

If i was in the postion as you are right now I would be more than angry as this is not the transparancy that we all want and crave for. In some way I can see why people are using words like Cartel and Union.

Let me put an idea out and please give me your thoughts:

Let say they organization does go ahead after the meeting at CAC how would you feel if the format was as follows:

A board of 9 people

3 Opeartors

3 Affiliates

3 from Associations - say GPWA, PAL, AGD or APCW


Lets say that these 9 people would responsible for approving programs and giving the organization seal, dealing with rougue operators even if they do not carry the seal and the ones that carry the seal, setting up say 1 event per annum.

How would you feel about that????


Thanks

Shaun


P.s. Ignore the first part i was just feeling sorry for myself.

[Betpartners]

Shaun i responded in the other thread, i am just thinking maybe Michael can merge both threads together as there appears to be two posts covering the same subject now

I do think this is quite an important issue but would be better if it is covered in one merged thread.

[wagerprofits]

That would be a great idea...

Any chance it happen.......


Shaun

Shaun i responded in the other thread, i am just thinking maybe Michael can merge both threads together as there appears to be two posts covering the same subject now

I do think this is quite an important issue but would be better if it is covered in one merged thread.

[Chalkie]

i agree,

I am getting dizzy and running from thread to thread like a headless chicken.

That would be a great idea...

Any chance it happen.......


Shaun