Sky Bet?!

[freebetsfreetips]

FWIW I would prefer a system where we as affiliates are directly responsible for what we say and how we market things. As advertising this would fall under the ASA not the GC and if people were mis-marketing they could be dealt with directly by the ASA or, if the operator so choose, suspended by them.

I guess this would create loads of work for the ASA though so they and the GC are keen for operators to manage it. I can see that is a pain and extra work for the operators who are being held accountable for output they aren't creating. But Sky are ***** and how related the issues are is doubtful.

[RacingJim]

Sky are showing the power of having a news network, you can publish stuff that isn't wholly true to push a narrative. Pretty similar to all the political nonsense going on right now, they've learned well.

[frogthegambler]

Is the plan to drop affiliates and then push out anti-affiliate rhetoric to make sure other firms do the same thing so have no competitive advantage?

[TinShed]

Is the plan to drop affiliates and then push out anti-affiliate rhetoric to make sure other firms do the same thing so have no competitive advantage?

I think its more to do with them trying to win public support.

[Aff2012]

Hi,

Putting together an article about the Sky situation, will you message me with a way to contact you, if you want to be involved.

Thanks

[DanHorvat]

The article was targeted at UKGC idiots.

[Sherlock]

Rather than take them to court I will leave them on my sites but show a wrong offer. When their legal team get in touch I will ask for compensation in return for removing the freebet/offers.

It would be interesting if affiliates did the same, it would kind of bite Sky Bet in the ass.

In terms of a settlement figure I'd be happy with 3x Average yearly earnings and then they can do one. This is something I may start to ask operators for in a contract moving forward.

Personally I feel it has nothing to do with regulatory matters it's more to do that they simply dont need affiliates no more.

They sponsor Championship League, Own all the sports tv channles to run adverts, have some of the best sporting websites so they can push their brand via those channels.

Guy Harding over at Odds Checker is prat. Knows nothing.

this

we really should do this

leave the banners without affiliate tags, put there some nonsense expired freebet offers and let them eat the ****
maybe the process can be speed up with contacting newspapers that Skybet still does not give a **** about regulation

[justbookies]

this

leave the banners without affiliate tags, put there some nonsense expired freebet offers and let them eat the ****
maybe the process can be speed up with contacting newspapers that Skybet still does not give a **** about regulation

I will turn the review negative. It's easy enough as they limited my betting account anyway, easy to get screenshots showing how bad they are.

I am now planning to take court action against them. I have had a 45min chat with a contract lawyer and am being put in touch with a barrister to proceed this. I am not getting involved with any sort of class action because I actually want to get this to court properly and avoid the 'all talk no action' ethos that exists where affiliates' backbone should be.

[Sherlock]

Whatever is fine. But they are apparently most scared of regulators. Bad review is not going to hit them with fine. Bad kind of advertisement should hurt them in 888 way.

I have a honest gambling forum with many bad reviews - I am rarely being contacted because of that, even when I had affiliate links there.

[justbookies]

Bad review is not going to hit them with fine. Bad kind of advertisement should hurt them in 888 way.

I'll see if I can combine the two! But my priority now is to attempt to get some justice. I'm in UK, they're in UK. Makes it easier for me to attack them through the legal system than you lucky guys offshore. Mind you I have yet to talk to the barrister, but the contract lawyer was very positive.

[KasinoKing]

Here's the golden egg for any of you who signed up before 2010:

13.1 All amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by an authorised signatory of each Party.

Thanks for that - VERY interesting!
I signed-up in May 2009 - so I'm covered.

Before they stabbed me in the back with the 5% BS, they made up about 10% of my total monthly income - so I would definitely be interested in any joint legal action that involved seeking repayment of the 20% they stole from me after that.

KK
PS: My signature has said that for about 2-years!

[Betivity]

Stab in the freaking back

[Strutt]

Our business has also lost quite a bit of money on this with Skybet, so we would be happy to join any joint legal action on this one, together with any fellow UK companies in the same position.

CVC who own the majority stake in Skybet, also own the brand Tipico
On the same note The Sun Bets is another brand associated with/owned by Murdoch.

On this subject I thought its pertinent to mention this, so fellow affiliates know it might be a good idea to avoid Tipico and The Sun Bets also.

Happy to formally apologise to anyone at Tipico / The Sun Bets if you would like to contribute to this conversation on your brands behalf, and prove I am wrong on this point?

[Triple7]

Whatever is fine. But they are apparently most scared of regulators. Bad review is not going to hit them with fine. Bad kind of advertisement should hurt them in 888 way.

I have a honest gambling forum with many bad reviews - I am rarely being contacted because of that, even when I had affiliate links there.

This is true. Having some bad reviews, but the bigger parties don't care. Never heard something from BWin, 888, etc. The smaller guys, however, do complain because I consider their casino not as awesome.

But I don't know bad advertisement. If they can show they have not such thing as an affiliate program, don't know if it will be their responsibility.

[Sherlock]

They will not have affiliate program, but they will certainly buy advertisement (and they will want to have it on our sites I bet). They will be even more responsible for their ads without middlemen. Yes, it is still a wild shot. But anything that does not cost a lot should be tried.

[Punters Lounge]

I am now planning to take court action against them. I have had a 45min chat with a contract lawyer and am being put in touch with a barrister to proceed this. I am not getting involved with any sort of class action because I actually want to get this to court properly and avoid the 'all talk no action' ethos that exists where affiliates' backbone should be.

Class action is far more scary to huge companies because it will also get headlines and nosedive their share price. The only way to stop any other bookmakers, especially PLC's thinking they can do this is by class action.

Legal discussions are in progress, but there's no point in separate individual cases as it will get very messy.

[justbookies]

Legal discussions are in progress, but there's no point in separate individual cases as it will get very messy.

Yes, very messy for SkyBet.

Personally I have found the more cooks you have, the less gets done. I applaud any class actions and I am happy to help with info if I have anything useful to contribute. But I am not placing my legal action in the hands of others. I am only interested in the legal view of my solicitor and barrister, not a million and one affiliates who may not have the stomach for court fight when push comes to shove. I have heard too much **** on this forum. Separate court actions will really scare SkyBet, or it ought to, with every barrister coming at them from different angles of emphasis in different parts of the country. It will really stretch their legal team and mount up their costs. I think a class action is a great idea, but it is not for me.

[freebetsfreetips]

My concern as a smaller affiliate without the resources to fight this is that everyone will reach their own settlements, complete with confidentiality clauses. Of course, that will do little to deter other operators. From that POV I'm open to contributing towards a group claim if anything got organised.

[justbookies]

My concern as a smaller affiliate without the resources to fight this is that everyone will reach their own settlements, complete with confidentiality clauses. Of course, that will do little to deter other operators. From that POV I'm open to contributing towards a group claim if anything got organised.

If things go well in court this is a real possibility - exactly as you say, settlements with confidentiality clauses. It will still open the doors to settlements for everyone though. It will still create precedents. They will have backed down, so they'll settle with everyone who goes after them after that. But yes, a class action is a good idea.

[MannyBetting]

Yes, very messy for SkyBet.

Personally I have found the more cooks you have, the less gets done. I applaud any class actions and I am happy to help with info if I have anything useful to contribute. But I am not placing my legal action in the hands of others. I am only interested in the legal view of my solicitor and barrister, not a million and one affiliates who may not have the stomach for court fight when push comes to shove. I have heard too much **** on this forum. Separate court actions will really scare SkyBet, or it ought to, with every barrister coming at them from different angles of emphasis in different parts of the country. It will really stretch their legal team and mount up their costs. I think a class action is a great idea, but it is not for me.

I'm open to options and will take advice from my solicitor & barrister, but for now I'm pretty much in agreement with this.

That said I'm very happy to share information with any others taking action and hopefully we can help each other out. It's in everyone's interests for as many people as possible to take action so that a precedent is set.