Does Lifetime Rev Share really mean the life of the customer?

[kevthomas]

Hi all - I'm fairly new to the biz but want to know your thoughts on this..


When a program claims that they offer lifetime revenue share, how often does liftetime actually mean lifetime? Will they still be paying me 50 years later if the customer is still active?


In your estimation, what percentage of programs that offer lifetime revenue share actually pan out and continue to pay for the full lifetime of the referral?


Will the program stop payments when you don't meet a certain criteria and close your account, will they simply close down their affiliate program, sever ties with affiliates from certain countries, migrate to a new portal and players become untagged, or any other ways this can happen?


Appreciate if you can vote in the poll as well as post your thoughts and your past experiences below.

[edgarf76]

I voted 20% of all of the book/casino programs out there. I am glad we have GPWA and good afilliate managers here.

[Planet Mark]

Thinking through all the poker players lost to bad sites (full tilt et al), those who have may have been untagged (no proof of course), players who have got good at poker and created new accounts at the same operator to get rakeback (or more likely an under the table deal) through the years, those in countries who left the global market altogether (US being the main one) even those who started their own country-sites...

It's quite depressing in some ways!

Not really pointing at the operators per se, but I would make a ball-park estimate of 2/3rds of my 'lifetime rev share' players found a way to disappear in one way or another over the years.

Just got to keep filling the pipe!

Mark

[JackTenSuited]

Not really pointing at the operators per se, but I would make a ball-park estimate of 2/3rds of my 'lifetime rev share' players found a way to disappear in one way or another over the years.

Just got to keep filling the pipe!

Mark

Not to mention programs that suddenly introduce quotas or programs that have hidden them in their T&Cs but promise not to implement them....

[justbookies]

I voted high because for my UK sites I only promote the biggest firms. I do this precisely for the reasons you stated - firms moving platform (always an excuse to lose players), getting bought (always an excuse to rip off the affiliate), closing down (can happen with the smaller firms), starting to shave their affiliates (more likely with smaller private firms beginning to struggle). Also there are some dishonest mainstream programs out there that I avoid though never gets mentioned here as they advertise on this site (I base this on past performance of dishonest AMs - if they ever worked for a rip off company like cpays then in my book they are still capable of being at it, especially if they have a vested interest in their new company). If I promoted all the crappy firms then I would vote very low, but I dont and actually the firms I will be promoting are going to shrink in number further the ways things are going. I dont care if I only end up with just five uk-facing firms so long as I trust them. Cant be dealing with people who change the rules after the game has started.

As for the US arena - you have to vote very low because of so much change and trauma and there have been deliberate rip-offs by the likes of betUS, sportsbook, bookmaker, lock poker (special mention to lock poker - total crooks but still somehow pretending to operate) etc. Those are mainly big firms who can't be trusted, so heaven help us with the smaller firms because as well as the reasons above (as stated for uk firms) you have the fact they are trying to operate on the edge of the law (though the us authorities would say they are out and out illegal).

[Nick.RevenueJet]

It's a tricky question, as we're still a relatively young industry. You barely know what's going to happen 5 years from now, let alone 30 years from now.

[SlotsAff]

I would say it's about 50/50 - stick to reputable brands and you should be fine

[Roulette Zeitung]

It's a tricky question, as we're still a relatively young industry

One of the 1st online casinos launched 1997.
Cyberthrill Casino.
A scam.

And ... my family is working in the industry since 1997.

Leopold

[Nick.RevenueJet]

One of the 1st online casinos launched 1997.
Cyberthrill Casino.
A scam.

Yeah, that goes against what I said

[Gabriel_LCP]

We offer lifetime for our players on revenue share and we also offer the affiliate the choice of sending us one of their family member's contact information. This is in case the affiliate has become deceased (hopefully this doesn't happen obviously) and the affiliate wishes us to continue sending commission to a representative of his account.

[Nick.RevenueJet]

We offer lifetime for our players on revenue share and we also offer the affiliate the choice of sending us one of their family member's contact information. This is in case the affiliate has become deceased (hopefully this doesn't happen obviously) and the affiliate wishes us to continue sending commission to a representative of his account.

That is amazing! Never heard of a program going this far.

[casinobonusguy]

We offer lifetime for our players on revenue share and we also offer the affiliate the choice of sending us one of their family member's contact information. This is in case the affiliate has become deceased (hopefully this doesn't happen obviously) and the affiliate wishes us to continue sending commission to a representative of his account.

This is #1 reason affiliates should have a business and not receive payments personally. Not everyone will pay after you die.

[Nick.RevenueJet]

This is #1 reason affiliates should have a business and not receive payments personally. Not everyone will pay after you die.

Agreed.
That's actually one of the loopholes in the copyright industry - when Disney makes a new movie, the copyright will only expire about 100 years after it dies, which is, of course, never.

[kevthomas]

Hey everyone,


Thanks for the responses! So far 8 votes and 2 who feel that 80% of programs follows through and pay for the life of the customer as promised.




That's interesitng. For those who believe their programs offer true lifetime who are the providers and how long have you been promoting them for?

For the others that doesn't believe lifetime is genuine, would CPA or short term offers that pay higher amounts a better option?


Looking forward to your responses.

[Nick.RevenueJet]

...would CPA or short term offers that pay higher amounts a better option?

Unless you're getting a terribly high CPA, rev-share is always best. I think a casino player's lifetime is between 2 to 6 months, and if you can't trust the program you're working with to pay rev-share for this amount of time, you may as well stop working with them altogether.

[sweetbet]

When a program says that they will pay me for the lifetime of the player, then I expect them to do so, but there will always be programs that will turn rogue, close down, change their terms and conditions, or find some way not to pay you.

[justbookies]

For the others that doesn't believe lifetime is genuine, would CPA or short term offers that pay higher amounts a better option?

I don't think so. I only do rev share, but then I only promote the 'top' firms because i hope they are less likely to shaft you / go under etc.

[philrush]

I seriously doubt most programs will pay out if traffic stops. I think some programs have minimum player clauses. Its really an act of faith on the affiliates side as a program can change the terms and conditions anytime they like. Although of course affiliates can retaliate and not promote the programs who are unfair to affiliates.

[justbookies]

I seriously doubt most programs will pay out if traffic stops. I think some programs have minimum player clauses. Its really an act of faith on the affiliates side as a program can change the terms and conditions anytime they like. Although of course affiliates can retaliate and not promote the programs who are unfair to affiliates.

Or take them to court. There is such a thing as contract law and changing the rules of a contract is not always legal. We may be affiliates but we still live in the same world as everyone else.

The clause that says they can change the terms at any time I have it on legal authority would be laughed out of court.

[kevthomas]

Unless you're getting a terribly high CPA, rev-share is always best. I think a casino player's lifetime is between 2 to 6 months, and if you can't trust the program you're working with to pay rev-share for this amount of time, you may as well stop working with them altogether.

Only 2 to 6 months? What about for sports betting is it longer than that?


It's not always known which programs are dependable. I have done some more research on the forum and other sites about cases where people put their trust in reputable brands and ended up not getting what they deserved:


gpwa.org/forum/betfair-buys-bluesq-210704.html


gpwa.org/forum/expekt-beaffiliates-com-sick-head-207076.html


gaffg.com/blog/betus-partners-closes-affiliate-program/


I guess it's a good reason to work with different programs and not put too many eggs in one basket, in case a program does suddenly pull the rug out from under me.


Can anyone please send me a link to a list of reputable programs that don't have any monthly minimums and have a good rapport of paying revenue share for over 6 months? 2-6 months is a short term partnership and not something I would be willing to work with. I would hate to have a slow month and leave myself open to be given the boot.