Big Time Revenue GPWA Sponsorship Temporarily Suspended

[MichaelCorfman]

Since the brands promoted by the Big Time Revenue affiliate program are all currently unavailable, we are suspending their listing as a GPWA sponsor program while we further investigate the matter. We are keeping the forum open to facilitate communication with our members concerning this program.

As we find out more from our contacts regarding the apparent hijacking of the brand's websites, we will will provide an update.

Michael

[tryme]

I strongly doubt that the URLs have been 'hijacked' and I also strongly doubt you are going to get paid any sponsorship monies by BigTimeRevenue. They owe me over $1,200 in commissions and seemingly have no intent to pay. All I get is 'we are doing our best to get you paid' type messages with no explanation for the delays - which go back months - and no timeframe in which I'll ever get my commission.

My PaB over at CasinoMeister met with stonewalling from BigTimeRevenue so, right now, one could only categorise them as a scam. If you are an affiliate of theirs, replace their links with someone else now.

[-Shay-]

Is it possible to put a warning on the top of the forum that states this program has been temporarily investigated pending an investigation?

I did notice that they were removed from the sponsor listings and understand that the program forum section was left in the silver sponsor section so that it can remain active during investigation. However, it may be appropriate to place a warning on top letting everyone know of the suspension.

[MichaelCorfman]

Is it possible to put a warning on the top of the forum that states this program has been temporarily investigated pending an investigation?

We have moved the forum from the silver sponsors section to the affiliate program warnings section.

I did receive a phone call yesterday from my senior contact at Big Time Revenue in response to my query asking for details about the current situation. I was told that there is a legal dispute with the person or legal entity who controls the gaming site domains, and that it could take some time until matters are fully resolved. Thus it should be anticipated that the suspension due to current issues and none of the sites being operational will continue for the indefinite future. I was told that player accounts were being handled properly, and that players would not loose funds as a result of the actions. I am planning to follow up further to get a handle on intentions and anticipated time frames with respect to affiliate earnings and other financial obligations.

Michael

[tryme]

As I was actually born yesterday, I believe everything your 'senior contact at Big Time Revenue' is saying. More worldly wise and cynical people than myself might think you are being lied to. If player accounts are being handled properly, then BTR should have no problem paying affiliate commissions due.

[Ricbyrne]

I have been busy dealing with this and have not been here for awhile! Let me start of by saying the BTR sites were not hijacked. There was a hijacking of the sites but it was the Yates Family, who also own and run BTR, that hijacked the sites from the investors. If you want to know the real story its on my forum, here is a link: http://bingoplayersunion.com/phpbb3/...p?f=394&t=8141
I told GPWA on April 1, 2014 that the sites were hijacked and the investors were taking steps on taking them back. This is what I posted in the Major Issue with Bingo Vega Thread:

My trusted inside sources also stated that The Yates Family used investor funds to purchase, BigTime Bingo, Online Bingo, Palace Bingo and BigTime Revenue. The Yates Family than took control of the back end of these sites and blocked access to the investors. The Yates Family now controls all the funding for these sites. It should be noted that the investors are fighting back and trying to gain control over what is rightfully theirs, but they are dealing with off shore jurisdictions and the process is slow.
This whole thing seems to boil down to who is more creditable here, myself or the GPWA! I can’t really question the integrity of GPWA, as to how they reached their conclusions on BTR, because other than BPU, they have no real source of what is going on in the Online Bingo Community. We have been involved with Bingo Players, Bingo Sites and Bingo Operators for about 10 years now. We have extensive knowledge of what goes on in this Industry and try our best to stay on top.

I find it odd that no one from GPWA contacted me even though this statement was included on the Warning Pages.

IF YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER URLS RUN BY THE YATES OR HAVE A COMPLAINT YOU WISH TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM, PLEASE EMAIL BINGOPLAYERSUNION.COM THEIR STAFF WILL ASSIST YOU.

Why is that? We have been a member of GPWA since 2005. When are we going to be recognised as a credible source of information on the Bingo Industry?

These sites will not be reopened. The Investors feel there has been to much damage to the urls reputation and not worth it. I was advised of the takeovers by a person representing the investors in June. He advised me of what they were about to do and we have been working with them to put an end To Bingo Vega and the Yates Family.

The BTR sites, along with others sites the Yates Family control, have not been paying their players since Dec 2013. They have been paying a few here and there, but many have waited 6 month for their payout. The list of people the Yates Family owe money too grows each day. BTR Affiliate Manager Fredrik Wadstein left BTR in May after a falling out with the Yates over the Money they owed him. I just confirmed last night that many affiliates have not been paid.

Take this for what it’s worth! BTR Sites are gone. There is people out there that have been successful at crippling the processors the Yates use to fund their lavish lifestyle. They are down to one processor and we are working with both the players and investors to get this processor to quit doing business with the Yates Family. Without processors there is no money flow. This will end the Yates Family involvement in Online Bingo. I can also say a Canadian Federal Task Force has been investigating this family for years. Remember SpecialED?

I have no idea who Michael’s contact is, but I have a good idea. This group is masters at deception. They have years of experience on hiding their true identities. I just finished working with GPWA Anthony and Ryan Thomas from whitecosm.com to get a few players paid. What Anthony does not know is Ryan is not who he pretend to be. Before I tell you his true Identity, I owe it to Anthony to tell him first.

Let me close with this! In the Online Bingo Industry, before you can cash out you need to show proof of your identity. They ask for a copy of your drivers licence or other forms of identification, plus copies of utilities bills in your name. If you really want to confirm who you are dealing with, I don’t think it’s out of line asking for verification of identity. I have nothing to hide and if I were asked, I would have no problem doing it. It’s just too easy to hide your identity behind a keyboard.

I barely touched this topic! If any of you have questions, please contact me.