Opinion: Regulated gambling affiliate industry is "killing itself"

[The Buzz]

A strong Op-Ed from Niall Ó Gribín, founder of PokerIndustryNews.com and GamblingIndustryNews.com, who writes that "affiliates are also consistently a target for exploitation by regulated gambling companies looking to boost profits, despite supposedly being “business partners."

Excerpts from the column that appeared on GamblingIndustryNews.com:

Many gambling industry affiliate programs which start out with good intentions and service quickly become predatory and scammy- usually once there are enough affiliate-referred players to justify what can only be described as a “customer-heist”. Some programs are simply predatory from the outset.

Affiliate websites are the first entry-point for many gamblers – since many dominate the search engine pages for commercial intent queries.

Since affiliates are being burned with scam affiliate programs – many are turning their backs on the regulated markets – instead promoting international / “black market” operators instead.

This has a negative impact on the regulated gambling eco-system, with some key effects including:

Loss of earnings for affiliates.
Catalyst for the affiliates to promote international / offshore gambling sites due to having their fingers burned repeatedly by apparently “trusted business partners” in the regulated world of iGaming.
More gamblers on unregulated gambling sites
More problem gamblers, as a by-product of no player protections.

Less revenues & taxes generated from gaming.

Until regulated gambling companies understand the difference between being parasitic and being partners – it would seem that in 2022, ‘regulated affiliate game’ is rigged.

Only a fool would do business under these terms – because it is truly “gambling”.

Another key fact in the discussion is that many gambling affiliates who promote offshore gambling do so because they have no other option – they refuse to be bullied out of the lucrative online gambling industry by a greedy few.

(P.S @ igaming events & media companies – you are not helping things by giving these clowns fake “best affiliate program” awards – just because they pay for seats at your “awards”. You know who you are.)

Read the entire column here: https://gamblingindustrynews.com/fea...-black-market/

[MMM]

(P.S @ igaming events & media companies – you are not helping things by giving these clowns fake “best affiliate program” awards – just because they pay for seats at your “awards”. You know who you are.)

Yep

[casinobonusguy]

I have been in the business 18 years now and I would never work with most of the 'regulated ' Casinos .

[rmeeuwsen]

It's good that they are naming the dead beats and actually showing the predatory terms.

But "More problem gamblers, as a by-product of no player protections." implies that off shores are a detriment to players.

[Cash Bonus]

I have been in the business 18 years now and I would never work with most of the 'regulated ' Casinos .

Absolutely not for me too. Regulation is what's killing this industry with all of their laws and rubbish..

[wonderpunter]

they keep squeezing and squeezing until nothing is left

[dannyx]

I have no practical experience, however, I do read a lot. It seems to me that everything has its pros and cons and this situation also has some advantages for offshore bookmakers.
- Offshore companies will be better and better for their partners because not being in the mainstream they will still want to attract players.
- Offshore bookmakers will always have a better offer for players when it comes to odds.
- Strange bans planned in various countries such as night gambling bans or very high limits on gaming will only increase the black market.


Of course there are also many risks associated with these situations.

[zalozite]

Hi, is it true, that in some countries, not only bookmakets, but affiliates also need to be licensed? I read some articles about this. If its happens it will be not good for small once.

[milan]

Hi, is it true, that in some countries, not only bookmakets, but affiliates also need to be licensed? I read some articles about this. If its happens it will be not good for small once.

Ofcourse. For example in Romania you need a license if you want to co-operate with licensed companies.

[Pokerface]

Certainly regulations are hurting the industry. What further hurts is every program's "interpretation" of regulations by their legal departments, also know as "sales prevention departments".