How long after regulated US gaming sites exist will they work with affiliates?

[MichaelCorfman]

The possibility of US state licensed and regulated gaming sites accepting players from those states in the not-too-distant future is looking more likely.

Just last week The Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Mark Lipparelli, stated that that online operators with licences and technical systems approved by the state could be up and running for real-money, intra-state online poker before the end of 2012. And this week a Seton Hall University Law professor testified that the New Jersey Legislature could pass a bill regulating online poker without putting the bill to voters in a ballot question in November.

So, let's assume that online poker, or other forms of online gaming, are approved in some states, and that licensed sites accepting players from those states go live. How long after that happens do you think it will be until any of those sites operate an affiliate program?

Besides giving your opinion about how long it will take in the poll, please share in a post your thinking behind that opinion. And also share any thoughts you have about what sorts of requirements might be imposed on affiliates operating in conjunction with licensed US state properties. Do you think it would be easy to become an affiliate? Do you think affiliates would be subject to licensing requirements of their own as is the case for some types of service providers to the land-based gaming industry in many US jurisdictions?

Michael

[AmCan]

You didn't put in the choice of "Never". Given that casino hosts need a gaming license to work on commissions/bonuses, i would think that affiliate programs that share revenue will never exist for US online casinos. Hence, i think you need a "Never" choice.

[SlotsAff]

I believe whilst there is a service, a middle man (i.e. affiliates) will always exist - that's the hope anyway

[MichaelCorfman]

You didn't put in the choice of "Never". Given that casino hosts need a gaming license to work on commissions/bonuses, i would think that affiliate programs that share revenue will never exist for US online casinos. Hence, i think you need a "Never" choice.

I did think about including that choice, but decided it was included as a special case of the response:

Affiliate programs for US licensed gaming sites would not exist within two years of the first site launch.

Personally, I do think that there is some significant risk that regulations will make the affiliate business more complicated in the United States than in other jurisdictions. However, I am optimistic that even if that should be the case, there might be approaches that could get around or reduce the intrusiveness of some of the potential issues. It may be that organizations like the GPWA, or even an affiliate program itself, could act as an intermediary, holding the necessary license and paying whatever license fee might be applicable with members or affiliates acting as agents, and not being subject to as much scrutiny or as much paperwork and associated licensing fees as might otherwise be the case if they were directly compensated by the gaming operation.

Michael

[lots0]

Personally I think, wide spread US regulation by states will be the end of small and mid sized US affiliates.

The larger affiliates that control a lot of traffic might be able to transition to advertising.

In my opinion it is almost a certainly that the affiliate revenue share model will not be offered by state licensed online casinos in the US.

[ocreditor]

Not sure if 2 years or longer or practically never. I don’t think the US wants the industry the way it currently is, i.e. with affiliates etc. It will be a b****.

[Anthony]

I think there will be some U.S. casinos that will have an affiliate program from the start. I think some will add it later and there will be some that will not have one at all. Bottom line, affiliates will still be apart of the new regulated U.S. industry.

[LuckyLizzy]

I think there will be some U.S. casinos that will have an affiliate program from the start. I think some will add it later and there will be some that will not have one at all. Bottom line, affiliates will still be apart of the new regulated U.S. industry.

I sure do hope you are right. I cannot wait to start promoting safe and regulated gaming sites to US players. It will be so nice not to have a constant cloud of worry over our heads when it comes to players getting their money seized.

[usaonlinecasino]

I think it will start with the license being issued. The one who gets the first license will be the first one to be on that market. At that time, time itself is sensitive and critical to the operators.