OLD THREAD - Welcome Beast Affiliates to the community as a new Platinum sponsor

[CityGuard]

GPWA lets us have an official response.

I want to apologize for the delay in my response. The delay was based on my wanting to have more complete information about the progress of ovidiubusi's payment, because it would not have felt right to answer the general question without responding to the specific situation at the same time.

Hi Steven

Can you tell me what are the criteria for a sponsor?

and secondly can you tell whatthe criteria is for Platinum sponsor?

Thanks in advance.

Shaun

Thanks for posing the question in such a clear manner. I think this is on several people's minds and it is helpful to have an opportunity to answer.

The question you asked can be broken down into two parts. First, are there different expectations for professional responsibility between the different sponsorship levels? And second, what is expected of sponsor programs?

To answer the first part of your question, the Platinum, Gold, and Silver designations refer to the level of finacial support the program provides to the association and the degree of marketing publicity provided in return. We try to make this clear by stating that the designation refers to the selected promotional package in the overview on the program directory page.

To address the second part, of what the criteria are, we make an effort to make sure it is clear that "sponsorship" signifies an advertising relationship between an affiliate program and GPWA. Because of that we specifically avoid language that claims a greater level of research than that (such as certification or audit). At the same time, one of the things that binds together everyone who works here and defines our ethos is that it is important to us to advance the industry and to work only with people that we feel comfortable making known to others.

Based on this, there are a number of programs that we've rejected as prospective sponsors. We also require that each sponsor agree in writing to abide by the GPWA Code of Conduct, which is incorporated by reference into all sponsorship agreements. This commitment that we require has been especially important because programs that were once-reputable sometimes change their behavior, and on several occassions we've suspended or terminated sponsorships based on code of conduct violations resulting from a shift in how the program treats affiliates.

Our own knowledge and the program's written commitment is one step, but not sufficient. Once we've satisfied that step, the other key ingredient to ensuring accountability is that we try to provide an open environment for raising issues. This is vital because thoughtful, caring people disagree on what is the right thing to do in a given circumstance and we want our members to make decisions based on the full breadth of information. And we try to do that ourselves as well. One of the results of relying on independent judgement rather than deferring to external sources is that sometimes we'll draw different lines than others -- for example, Casinomeister, eCOGRA, and Affiliate Guard Dog all have recommended brands in circumstances where we've actively decided against allowing sponsorship, and the reverse is true with cases where we're working with a program that others have chosen not to work with.

To summarize my overview, the sponsorships are a marketing agreement between GPWA and the sponsor program and we try to use descriptions and language that reflects that, but as people who want to work in a reputable industry we turn away or end arrangements when we can't feel comfortable with a particular program.

[jiveboy]

Hi,

Just to clarify Beast affiliates will always have an affiliate manager dealing with affiliate marketing, although there has been a recent change of personnel. Please email affiliates@beastaffiliates.com or visit the webite - http://www.beastaffiliates.com.

We have been looking very closely into the signups from one affiliate because of various issues found with their accounts which needed investigating. As a business we must do this and act responsibly to stop player abuses. I will be in touch with the affiliate directly to discuss this.

Thanks

Paul

[bingobase]

Hi Paul,

I've just sent an email to you affiliate email address regarding an unpaid invoice for advertising late last year. I was told payment will be sorted a few weeks ago by Simon but still no joy. I'd appreciate some communication regarding this matter.

Regards,

Lee

Bingobase.com

[mattk]

I am owed a substantial amount too and was told it would be paid this week, but it hasn't. Every week i'm told I will be paid next week, next week arrives and I am told something different and this has gone on for months.

My revenue share has also been dropped and I wasn't even notified.

Matt

[mattk]

Same old story and still no payment. Has anyone else managed to get their money? This is getting incredibly frustrating.

[thepokerkeep]

Is jiveboy still with Beast Affiliates? I notice he last logged in here on August 10th and there were two posts made in this thread that he failed to respond to at that time.

Also, has the issue with ovidiubusi's payment been resolved?

It would be nice if Beast Affiliates would let us know what's going on with the payment issues being raised in this thread. It now appears we have three separate complaints that require resolving.

[mattk]

Hi thepokerkeep

Yes jiveboy (Paul Munro) is still with Beast Gaming.

It is my understanding from speaking to him on the phone that he is now the affiliate manager. I have spoken to him on various occassions and am always given dates when things are going to happen, only to be let down each and every time.


I simply want a date i'm going to be paid and for you guys to stick to it.

[thepokerkeep]

Could someone from GPWA notify jiveboy about this thread?
It's been over a month since they last responded here....

[mattk]

I just spoke to Paul (jiveboy) on the phone, Simon Capreis is now dealing with my payment so i'm going to be chasing him for eternity, they are both really nice guys but its so frustrating getting anything done!

I also explained that dropping the existing trackers set for 40% lifetime share to 25% probably wasn't going to make affiliates want to work with them in the future. Yes OK your company is spending more on marketing than the previous company but this revshare should be set for all future players, not existing and 25% is just crap. I feel like all my hard work promoting this site has just been discarded.

I hate it when I have to be such a miserable sod on the phone but I just don't have anything positive to say at the moment. I'd be more willing to help if I was just treated a little better!

I don't understand why this situation isn't taking priority, you can buy all the gambling sites under the sun but nobody will help promote them if you don't pay them on time and treat them like crap.

This forum would be an ideal place for you to redeem yourselves, pay what you owe us and explain what you are doing about it and when it's going to happen before its too late. I shouldn't have to keep chasing you, it's supposed to be a partnership and thats how I see it.

[PhilF (ex-WhichBingo)]

sorry to kick a man when he is down (apologies Paul), but they also owe me a considerable amount for advertising.

Paul keeps promising it will be sorted but nothing so far......

[thepokerkeep]

Earlier today I PMed cityguard, asking him to contact Paul regarding this thread. Hopefully Paul or someone else from Beast will drop in to address these concerns. Beast Affiliates is obligated to participate in these discussions as part of their sponsorship agreement.

[CityGuard]

Yesterday I sent Paul from Beast a note regarding the issues raised here. I've sent him a quick reminder today.

Also, I've edited the threat title to reflect that the thread is a historical one, because I am concerned that having current problems posted in the old welcome thread from March may give the impression that they are a current sponsor. With mutual agreement their sponsorship stopped after a single quarter because of the staffing transition at the time. We would require that the issues posted here be resolved before considering allowing a sponsorship to begin again.

[thepokerkeep]

Thanks Steven.

I'll give Paul a few days to act on the complaints before adding them to my rogue list.

If these issues remain unresolved toward the end of next week, I will post a warning on the GAU site as well.

[bingo reviewer]

I am also having problems with the new bingo playground affiliate team. They owe me a lot of money and are not answering my emails or tickets. Very frustrating.

[mattk]

Anyone else had a payment? I have not, I was told I would receive an e-mail on Tuesday 31st August, it's now nearly 10PM so i'm assuming that I won't be receiving any kind of clarification as to when or if I will be paid.

Very disappointing.

[TrevorE]

They owe me 4 figures. my last payment was jan 2010 for December09

Trev
sunlight bingo

[PhilF (ex-WhichBingo)]

Paul seems to have disappeared or is in hiding as he's not shown on my msn for a few weeks now.

Just got off the phone to Simon C. Told me that I'd have a payment issued next week.

To be fair I've had one of three invoices due paid so far but they are very overdue.

[bingo reviewer]

any one got any more to add to this? Or received payment? I had a chat with Simon in August who said an affiliate manager would be in contact the following week. Guess what? There was no contact and now it seems they have dissapeared off the face of the earth. Bit of a shame as bingo playground is a good site, shame they don't pay out though.

[mattk]

still no payment for me, i can't bring myself to post the amount owed on here, its too depressing.

[bingo reviewer]

I know it's an embaressment to the industry, they owe me a lot of money. The last time I spoke with them was August and they said it would be sorted out.