If You Use BlueHost Change ASAP!

[TravG]

Just a heads up, I had about 10 sites hosted with BlueHost and today without notice they deactivated my hosting account and all of my websites are down. They state because my websites link to online gambling sites they violate their Terms of Service.

When I was looking to change hosting a while back I know a lot of people on here suggested BlueHost, so if you use them you may want to save yourself a long day/night or two and go ahead and change hosting companies before this happens to you.

One thing that makes me mad, is that eventhough yes it is in their terms of service, when I was deciding to go with BlueHost or not they looked at my websites and said they would be fine. Now without notice they deactivated them all and I am left scrambling to get them back up.

[ocreditor]

Just a heads up, I had about 10 sites hosted with BlueHost and today without notice they deactivated my hosting account and all of my websites are down. They state because my websites link to online gambling sites they violate their Terms of Service.

When I was looking to change hosting a while back I know a lot of people on here suggested BlueHost, so if you use them you may want to save yourself a long day/night or two and go ahead and change hosting companies before this happens to you.

One thing that makes me mad, is that eventhough yes it is in their terms of service, when I was deciding to go with BlueHost or not they looked at my websites and said they would be fine. Now without notice they deactivated them all and I am left scrambling to get them back up.

What ?!
I'm also using blue host with one of my sites, can you please put the violation email here for review ?

[timicas]

What ?!
I'm also using blue host with one of my sites, can you please put the violation email here for review ?

Me too ! I have 3 websites on bluehost since a year.I had a lot of issues and I always contacted the live chat for help, but they never said something about my website content.

[baldidiot]

Cheers for the heads up - I have a site with them too... actually it renews next month so I might move it pre-emptively.

What's weird is that there's nothing in their TOS about gambling (except for the vague 'anything else we deem unsuitable' section) and they seem to be regularly recommended over on PAL (which is how I first found out about them). Wonder if this is a new thing?

Are the sites in question US facing, right? Maybe that has something to do with it?

[baldidiot]

I just went on live chat with them and asked their sales team about it and they said they don't permit websites which link out to gambling sites.

Bugger.

Have you posted this on PAL btw mate? Might be worth giving them a heads up over there too...

[ocreditor]

Thanks everyone for sharing this . I guess we need to find a new hosting company which is a shame...
before they find out they are hosting gambling sites...

BlueHost is a US company - http://www.bluehost.com/about-us
I believe because they based in the US they are not allowing gambling sites.

Uk is a good place to host your sites.

[JackTenSuited]

I have an account with crocweb, canadian based company with very good support, they'll transfer your accounts over if you use cpanel https://www.crocweb.com/

[TravG]

Here is the email guys - Yes I would get it mmoved ASAP. I am scrambling now because I had about 10 sites there. I have moved 2 of them but you know it is a process since many are big. They say in Utah (where BlueHost is based) is illegal for online gambling - duh!). And they say the ToS is "any site they deem inappropriate" or something like that.

I wouldnt wait around on this because like I said they gave me 0 notice which is total BS. They just took them down.

Email from BlueHost

Your web hosting account for xxxxxxxx.com has been deactivated, as of 01/08/2014. (reason: call customer support)

This deactivation was due to a Terms of Service violation associated with your account. At sign-up, all users state that they have read through, understand, and agree to our terms. These terms are legal and binding.
Although your web site has been suspended, your data may still be available for up to 15 days from the date of deactivation; if you do not contact us during that 15 day period, your account and all of its files, databases, and emails may be deleted.
If you feel this deactivation was made in error, or in order to gain access to your account, please call our customer service line as soon as possible at (88 401-4678 and speak with our Terms of Service Compliance department.
Please read the following, derived from our Terms of Service agreement, for additional information regarding the matter.

[justbookies]

That's a frigging nightmare. Good luck with your swift migration of the sites. I hope this does not become contagious with US hosting companies.

[ocreditor]

...These terms are legal and binding.
Although your web site has been suspended, your data may still be available for up to 15 days from the date of deactivation; ....

wow very nice of them to give 15 days. That's B.S! you are only affiliate providing content, is it illegal to have content online now ?!

Its a shame.

Thanks for sharing this UltimatePokerBonus - Much Appreciated!

[baldidiot]

Here is the email guys - Yes I would get it mmoved ASAP. I am scrambling now because I had about 10 sites there. I have moved 2 of them but you know it is a process since many are big.

Can you not just get the new hosting company to move it for you using cpanel? There are plenty of them that'll do it for you for free when you sign up and it's super quick/easy for them to do.

[Puma]

Im with vidahost.com and they have no problem with gambling related sites and they have been amazing. Even their shared servers produce lightning fast page loads.

[Anthony]

Thank for sharing this, I am going to my account right now!

[TravG]

Im with vidahost.com and they have no problem with gambling related sites.

I checked them out but my only problem I am in the US and most of my website focus on US friendly casinos/poker rooms so ideally I like to have a US host. Not sure if it means a whole lot but any little advantage I can get I try to use.

[justbookies]

I checked them out but my only problem I am in the US and most of my website focus on US friendly casinos/poker rooms so ideally I like to have a US host. Not sure if it means a whole lot but any little advantage I can get I try to use.

I think it is vital (despite the fact you would be telling google your target country). But if you had to avoid the US for hosting then how much different would Canada be? At least website performance would not be compromised for your US visitors (as it surely would be if a US-facing site was hosted in Europe).

[baldidiot]

Yeah it's probably not a good idea to be hosting US facing sites in the US, especially with how much the DOJ likes to come charging in with their size 12's to cause trouble. I'm actually doing a US sports site at the moment and decided on Canada as the host location.

I also don't host my Australian casino site in Australia for a similar reason.

[justbookies]

The US is unique in that it views these firms as unlicensed and illegal (despite their having licenses in other jurisdictions). Surely your Australian online casinos are ok or are they not licensed by Australia? I don't know about casinos, but I know the sports firms there are licensed in Australia and so there would be no issue hosting your website there. From a performance and seo viewpoint you are best off hosting in the target country, but this sure highlights the need to work out what alternatives you would use were your sites to be suspended.

[baldidiot]

The US is unique in that it views these firms as unlicensed and illegal (despite their having licenses in other jurisdictions). Surely your Australian online casinos are ok or are they not licensed by Australia? I don't know about casinos, but I know the sports firms there are licensed in Australia and so there would be no issue hosting your website there. From a performance and seo viewpoint you are best off hosting in the target country, but this sure highlights the need to work out what alternatives you would use were your sites to be suspended.

Sports betting is licenced but casino gambling is not, or something along those lines. If I remember correctly it's not illegal for an aussie to play online casino games for money, but it isn't legal for an australian company to provide online gambling to aussies.

Anyway, I spoke to a bunch of australian hosting companies (and was honest with them) and they all said 'hell no'. In fact even a non-australian company company with servers in Sydney said I couldn't use their australian servers for that purpose... (it's also specifically listed in their TOS).

So I opted for the safer alternative of hosting offshore...

[TravG]

Well, I just got off the phone with BlueHost and after threatening legal action they restored my sites and I have 7 days to transfer them. So that is good since at least as they are up for now. No where in their ToS did they mention online gambling so that is where I caught them and the fact they did not give me any warning could be detrimental to them if it came down to legal action. My sites make some money so being down for a few days could be huge let alone the long term affects. I dont even like the idea that I have to switch servers and IP addresses now. That looks terrible especially considering I just did that 6 months ago to switch to BlueHost.

As far as the US, yes Online Gambling is not legal, but as affiliates we do not offer online gambling, only recommendations if people want to gamble. We are not doing anything illegal and as long as you are reporting your income it is a legal business. If you show a robber a bank and he robs it I dont think you can get in trouble?? - haha - I hope so at least!

[justbookies]

Who are you going with, the Canadian option or another US company (I have several sites at goddaddy and pray nothing like this happens there)?
BlueHost will get their deserved reward on their balance sheet and, if this thread is a fair straw poll, it sounds like a lot of affiliates have sites there and they will all be moving away now.