Playtech Warning

[pjotter]

The issue with the Red Hot Revenue affiliate program is well known - affiliates have not been paid for over a year, and they are impossible to contact/get replies from.

Obviously most affiliates are not promoting them and have blacklisted them. But the affiliate program is still live and it is possible to check stats etc. Therefore it is possible for me to see that the players I have refered to the casinos are still playing and the casinos are earning money on them, but without intention of paying what I am owed.

I have been in dialogue with the complaints officer, Sarah Wray, at Playtech for approx. half a year now. She has informed me that they are in contact with their licensee, and that they were applying pressure on them.

However, the dialogue has now shown not to be fruitful, and Playtech has informed me that they have no power over their licensee. Thus they are accepting that their licensee are continueing to operate their casinos and the affiliate program, but without the intention of paying affiliates. I think it is unacceptable that a software provider can let this happen and just say that they have no power over their licensee. The software provider is the only one who has the power to pull the plug when something like this happens.

Anyone interested in getting a link to their RHR blacklist page at http://www.pay-fair.com/blacklist/rh...ech-blacklist/ please PM me. I would also be happy if you would link to the above page.

Any thoughts on this statement from Playtech about not being able to help affiliates?

[Justin-SA]

Not to speak badly about another software provider, but doesn't that just make you want to stay away from Playtech casinos all together?? If I were an affiliate I would not want to ever risk not being paid, personally...

We do our own software so I have no idea how it works with these type of things, but seems so fishy...

[pjotter]

Any thoughts on this statement from Playtech about not being able to help affiliates?

I had a naive hope that Playtech was one of the more reputable software providers, but it seems as if it makes no difference whether a casino is powered by Playtech or RTG or... Playtech can't do anything about licensees stealing from affiliates. If I were Playtech I would have made sure to have an event of default clause that was triggered in these situations where the Playtech brand is harmed. And why don't other licensees react when something like this happens? I don't understand why they are all turning a blind eye to the fact that these Playtech casinos keep operating, while the affiliate program is not paying affiliates.

[joeyl]

They are called Playwreck by the way.

[pjotter]

They are called Playwreck by the way.

Hehe. I am a little surprised about the bad feedback I have received about Playtech in general as a software provider. I think I will outfase Playtech casinos and stay away from these in the future.

[Louis - Income Access]

I think if you look at ANY software provider who grows big in this industry, there's going to be an example of bad behavior by one of their clients. Simply put, as these companies attract more clients, they are more likely to attract bad apples. That doesn't absolve them from doing due diligence on their clients, or setting rules for how their clients should act, but I think it might be a bit early to skewer playtech for this. While ethically they may want to help affiliates, they don't have the power to force their skins to pay affiliates. All they can do is threaten to shut them off, which in turn shuts off their own revenues.

In terms of shutting off Playtech casinos entirely, it seems a bit rash considering that there are a number of extremely reputable brands who use playtech. Moreover, going with a lesser-known software provider does nothing more to secure you against bad behavior. If you've read The Black Swan, it talks a lot about this logical fallacy. Just because something hasn't happened yet doesn't, by itself, make something less likely to happen in the future.

[pjotter]

All they can do is threaten to shut them off, which in turn shuts off their own revenues.

They have told me directly that they have no power to do such thing. They told me that they did "apply pressure" to their licensee asking them to contact me (which their licensee obviously didn't care about as I have not been contacted). Playtech is - politely - telling me that I am on my own here - that there is nothing more they can do. I have waited several months to take these steps waiting for Playtech to sort something out, but nothing happened and now I need help.

Can you understand how frustrating it is that three Playtech casinos and a Playtech pokerroom can be operating as if nothing has happened several months after it became obvious that they have no intention of paying affiliates what they are owed? I haven't read The Black Swan, but I don't think it necessary to make a reasonable logical conclusion that players will be the next not to get paid and that Playtech has a duty to do something about a licensee not honouring payment obligations.

I understand your concern with Playtech casinos in your stable, but maybe you could help me applying pressure from within instead? How do we get rid of the "bad apples"? If you are saying that Playtech will not shut of their licensee, because it will shut off their own revenues then you and your clients using Playtech software might also have an interest in getting this situation sorted out instead of defending Playtech.

[Simmo!]

I suspect that there is a legal side to this. Playtech may not legally be able to shut off a licencee, depending on the contract. Affiliates are sales partners of the casino, contracted by the casino. Only guessing, but I suspect this isn't covered contractually between Playtech and the licencee. Players on the other hand are a different entity altogether.

A Simplistic example just to demonstrate what I mean: if you offer to develop and maintain a website for someone, and they then don't pay a content provider they contracted, do you have the legal recourse to take their site down? Probably not.

That all said, it just adds to the argument that says you need to be very careful partnering wth Playtech casinos. I stick to the big brands - Bet365, Tote, SEGA etc - purely because I think it minimises the risk of this happening. It's even worse with RTG as we know.

[pjotter]

I suspect that there is a legal side to this. Playtech may not legally be able to shut off a licencee, depending on the contract. Affiliates are sales partners of the casino, contracted by the casino. Only guessing, but I suspect this isn't covered contractually between Playtech and the licencee. Players on the other hand are a different entity altogether.

Also just guessing, but I would consider it very likely that one of the world's largest, listed gaming software companies has a clause in their contracts that allows them to shut of any licensee that in any qualified way harms the Playtech brand. If not, they should get new lawyers. I guess it's more like Louis from Income Access suggests: it is a question of Playtech protecting revenue. That is also reasonable and I can accept this to some extent. It is not always just black or white (legal issues never are), but as we all now there have been problems with these Playtech casinos for years.

Can GPWA help in these situations were a former sponser goes rogue?

Who knows Brian Goodman and Anthony Goodman - the supposed owners of both the licensee and Red Hot Revenue?

[pjotter]

I would also just like to add that the replies I have received from Playtech have been relatively swift and very sympathic, but I just think that this situation has been going on for too long and that they could hold the key to the solution.

[gok]

I would also just like to add that the replies I have received from Playtech have been relatively swift and very sympathic, but I just think that this situation has been going on for too long and that they could hold the key to the solution.

I Agree with you Potter, I have also emailed Sarah but she only says: We have requested our partner to investigate your case.

For how long now? 13 months! But i don't think that it will solve our problem. They playtech casinos where located in Philippine first and have been moved to Malta now. Also the website owner of Redhotrevenues phone is ringing, he picks up the phone and as soon as you talk about Redhotrevenue he hangs up the phone!


Is this really so easy for this brand? Just shut down and don't answer anyone? Also when I mail the casinos with my problem of not being paid they send every time the same email with we are investigating!

[pjotter]

Is this really so easy for this brand? Just shut down and don't answer anyone? Also when I mail the casinos with my problem of not being paid they send every time the same email with we are investigating!

No, I really hope it is not that easy. I think there is great focus on the issue now thanks to the different affiliate communities. Articles like this one - http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-...ue-042210.html - is popping up, and we just need everyone to back us up. Thanks for any efforts!

[pjotter]

I was finally paid by Red Hot Revenue. A big thanks to everyone who helped out and also to Playtech for pulling the right strings.

I am not going to lift the blacklist of RHR just yet, before other affiliates are paid? Any status?

[gok]

You What? You was paid....Wou..... That is great news!

Can you please give us more information about it? When did you recive it? Did they contact you? Do you have a mail adres?

[pjotter]

I just asked Sarah politely again and emailed the guy you gave an email address for. And suddenly this morning the owed amount was in my MB account... I don't have any official statements, but someone must have pulled the right strings.

I assume you have not been paid then. Try emailing Sarah and Brian again. Let me know if it helps, or I can try emailing them??

[gok]

Hi Pjotter,

I send you a PM.
Cheers.

[Virtual Marketing]

What about the new Sega casino ?
Do you believe it worth marketing ?

Thanks

[gok]

The Playtech casino's Sarasota and the other's has changed their affiliate program from redhotrevenue to new group called: http://www.goldenmatrix.com/index.php goldenmatrix!!!

goldenmatrix is provided by www.incomeaccess.com

- Also No one from Goldenmatrix, or the playtech casino' or Playtech self answers questions en inquirers.

[GCG]

Posted this on my blog Golden Matrix - Playtech SCAM - CPA FRAUD I urge all affiliates to do the same !

Goldenmatrix is the rebranded redhotrevenue affiliate program.