No more free spins in UK casinos?

[Online-casinos.co.uk]

Been getting a steady stream of emails from various affiliate programs, each with different kinds of requests. For example Casumo want us to remove all images that include the little Casumo character as it supposedly appeals to minors, then we've got the ones that want different wording used for various bonuses etc and ones that want us to update the welcome offers, all before certain deadlines after which the accounts will be suspended.

The slots development that Scampi mentions sounds worrying.. it could threaten not only the vast majority of slots but also the gamification model that many casinos have adopted.

[wonderpunter]

Been getting a steady stream of emails from various affiliate programs, each with different kinds of requests. For example Casumo want us to remove all images that include the little Casumo character as it supposedly appeals to minors, then we've got the ones that want different wording used for various bonuses etc and ones that want us to update the welcome offers, all before certain deadlines after which the accounts will be suspended.

The slots development that Scampi mentions sounds worrying.. it could threaten not only the vast majority of slots but also the gamification model that many casinos have adopted.

I'm seeing a few removing the bonus completely and replacing it with rewards, I think this will be the mainstream soon... cheap free spin uk domains anyone?

[Gosu]

I wouldnt mind all that wannabe free and bonus stuff to disappear completely!

[Scampi]

cheap free spin uk domains anyone?

Premium extraspins.com domains coming soon...

[MMM]

Definitely: http://whois.domaintools.com/extraspins.com , http://whois.domaintools.com/extraspins.co.uk,

Was checking it as well but was few hours late.

[tzsoca]

Hi Guys!

What are the most important uk rules?

I have a slot machine cheats site. Is this not accepted yet?

(redirected from UK ip address yet)

[TheGooner]

I have a slot machine cheats site. Is this not accepted yet?

If you have a site suggesting that you can make money cheating virtual slots machines .. then I would say that this breaches their advertising standards. Basically anything that suggests that you can make money / solve financial problems through gambling is forbidden.

But you should be talking directly to your AM.

[Progger]

Similar notice from earn aff.....

earn Affiliates - Important update!
Dear Partner

To ensure that our brands are being promoted according to latest rules and regulations in the UK are few updates are required on your side as well as ours.

What will you have to do? Well, it's quite simple, to be honest!

1. If you have any reviews related to our brands where you are promoting the standard welcome offer or similar then there must be a direct link/links to terms and conditions for those offers. If you are using old banners, then you need to use the latest banners available in our media gallery when you are logged into your earn affiliate account.

Below is the media id's for each of our 3 UK facing brands. Please login to your account and get your personal tracking link and add it to your website.

ComeOn! UK - Media id: 25228
Mobilebet UK - Media id: 25230
GetLucky UK - Media id: 25233

If you require additional links then please get in touch with us.

2. We need full information about how and where you are promoting our brands in the UK by the end of next month - 30th November 2017. Please send all details to contact@earnaffiliates.com including your usernames.

3. The word "Free Spins" needs to be replaced with "Casino Spins" on any UK site you have where you are promoting our brand/s.

Please note that if you do not update your reviews accordingly with the required links, replace the word Free Spins and you do not provide us with the requested information, then your account will be suspended on the 1st of December 2017.

[PromoteCasino]

Got the earn affiliates one too but sorted ok.
It would be great if every program gave a tracking link to the terms instead of copying the terms onto page

[LukeC]

Got the earn affiliates one too but sorted ok.
It would be great if every program gave a tracking link to the terms instead of copying the terms onto page

My understanding of the legal obligations from the operator side is that you have to have the T&Cs on the landing page; and that it is not sufficient to have them on a separate T&Cs page, or on a T&Cs page linked from the landing page, or hidden on the landing page. The full T&Cs must be one click from the advert.

[Renee]

Trouble is every brand is interpreting this differently which makes it very difficult like you said to implement on to sites.

There was an ad for a well known brand on tv last night in the UK and it very much highlighted the free spins offer.

So has it all kicked in now or is there a cut off date?

Some casinos are now using the word "Free" (free spins, free bonus...) only for something you get after registration, without any deposits.

The other spins, given on top of the deposit bonuses, are usually named "Bonus Spins".

And it kinda makes sense, if you have to deposit to get something then it isn't free, right? Otherwise you could call all deposit bonuses "free bonus".

My understanding of the legal obligations from the operator side is that you have to have the T&Cs on the landing page; and that it is not sufficient to have them on a separate T&Cs page, or on a T&Cs page linked from the landing page, or hidden on the landing page. The full T&Cs must be one click from the advert.

The "free" stuff has been the case for over a year. You'll notice none of our UK websites list the word anywhere. Basically if the player has to do something to get the spins, you cannot call them free. So even if no deposit is required, but there are wagering requirements, they are not free so you can't call them that. You can call them extra spins, or bonus spins AFAIK. You also cannot use it in reference to a bonus even if no deposit is required, unless the bonus has 0 wagering requirements.

Any bonuses given have to state exactly how they are awarded and the amount the player needs to purchase, or action required, in order to get them. Also any important terms regarding the bonus must be posted directly below it.

For example, if a welcome bonus is available over the player's first 5 deposits, you need to say the words "up to" if referencing the max bonus available, call it a welcome bonus (not free bonus, or free), and state the percentage, the bonus amount, and the total amount the player needs to deposit in order to receive it.

Using our UK Casino Club as an example, you can see on our UK site's homepage it states the following straight up:
Claim up to £700 in welcome bonus* ....

Receive up to £700* on your first 5 deposits:
1st deposit: 100% match bonus (up to £100)
etc
*to receive the full bonus, £3391 is required in deposits.
The minimum deposit is £10 and the first deposit bonus must be claimed within 7 days of registration. A sixty times wagering requirement applies on the welcome bonus and certain games contribute a different percentage to the wagering requirements (link to WR). See full terms and conditions here (T&Cs link).

You are also not allowed to refer to games or the casino as "the best" as it's not provable, or a jackpot amount as "the biggest" unless it is true, however you can say "our" best, or "one of the best", or "one of the biggest" if referring to a jackpot amount for example.

Since the UKGC made operators responsible for their affiliate's advertisements, it's no surprise everyone is in a mad hurry to get these things sorted. It's a shame there wasn't a bit more proactivity.

If anyone has any specific questions regarding their content or sites, I'd be happy to take a quick look to see if I can spot anything obvious that is not compliant.

[Betivity]

I wonder if this is just the first market in getting vocabulary corrected...