Why SportingBet is Rogue

[matted]

Sportingbet was mentioned in this thread: https://www.gpwa.org/forum/i-am-done...re-192197.html and brought up as Rogue - to which that point was contested.

I thought I'd add my thoughts as to why they are rogue. Actually, it isn't my thoughts... its an email dated Sept 2, 2005. I added some bold to the most concerning bits.

Hi Matt

We regret to inform you that, effective 1 October 2005, Sportingbet.com will no longer accept customer referrals via an Affiliate Program. Accordingly, SportingBet Plc. has issued a Notice Of Termination to all Affiliates registered with SportingBet Affiliates. As an Outsourced Affiliate Program Management Provider, we would like to further inform you of the recent decisions that were made by SportingBet and how these decisions will affect you in the forthcoming months.<O


As some of you may or may not be aware, Sportingbet.com currently has no geographical market that it focuses on and has growing restrictions on where it can and can not be advertised. Moving forward, SportingBet will alter the dynamics of the Sportingbet.com site, so that it enables the SportingBet European business to establish a single Pan-European brand, whilst in parallel, complimenting and supporting the regional brands.
<O

In essence, Sportingbet.com will become a portal/gateway to the European domains. Therefore, Sportingbet.com will no longer acquire customers using its network of Affiliates, or through any other form of marketing. Instead, regional brands will use their own Affiliate Programs and marketing budgets to drive new customers to their businesses, contributing to the European business of Sportingbet.
<O</O

It therefore comes with great remorse that we ask you to remove SportingBet's banners and links by 30 September 2005. Les and I understand that SportingBet's decision is a shock to many of you, and couldn't come at a worse time. Therefore, as your representatives, The Cyber Success Group Inc. has spent the past week negotiating the following set of special terms and conditions with SportingBet Plc., allowing you to continue to reap the rewards of your referrals:
<O</O

Notice Of Change
<O</O

CPA Commission Plan - If you joined our CPA Commission Program, SportingBet agrees to pay a $100 CPA for all Customers that are referred up to 30 September, and wager a minimum of 3 bets totaling a minimum of $100 in the Sportsbook. All customers that are referred to SportingBet.com and meet these wagering requirements after 30 September are excluded from this Agreement.
<O</O

Rev-Share Commission Plan - If you joined our Rev-Share Commission Program, SportingBet agrees to pay 25% of the Net Gaming Revenue generated by your Customers referred up to 30 September, and agrees to continue paying commissions on these customers up to 5 February 2005 (Superbowl Sunday). All customers that are referred to SportingBet.com after 30 September are excluded from this Agreement. [added by matted: After 5 Feb, Sportingbet steals the players with no compensation]


2nd-Tier Commission Plan - If you referred Affiliates, that in-turn, referred customers up to 30 September, Sportingbet agrees to pay 5% of your referred Affiliates' commission up to 5 February 2006 (Superbowl Sunday). All customers that are referred to SportingBet.com after 30 September are excluded from this Agreement.
<O</O

Confidentiality - By continuing to participate in the Affiliate Program, you hereby agree not to make any claims, or damages, and not to request earnings above and beyond 5 February 2006. In addition, you further agree not to disclose, in a public forum or otherwise, the terms and conditions of this Notice Of Change.<O></O>

It follows that, the SportingBet Affiliates Network will no longer accept applications and will close its doors indefinitely on 5 February. Up until such date, you will continue to receive your commission payments for wagers placed by your previous referrals up to Superbowl Sunday. However, if you would like to promote one of SportingBet's regional brands or if you're looking to work with another reputable Sportsbook, Poker Room, or Online Casino, please contact us, and we'll point you in the right direction.
<O</O

Les and I would like to thank all of you for dedicating your time, your hard work, and your valued support over the past two years.
<O</O
We will look forward to working with you in the future.
<O</O
Best Regards,
Chris & Les,
Affiliate Marketing Experts
<O</O

P.S. - Due to further challenges with the Finsoft/SportingBet integration, your Affiliate statistics will continue to be unavailable until further notice. We apologize for this delay, as we are awaiting a confirmation date when the problem will be rectified. Thank you for your continued patience.<O</O

[joeyl]

Well kept sir.

[vcasino]

Personally I don't like the way companies can just get rid of the affiliates in the way stated in that email.

A lot of sites advertise that they give commission for the lifetime of the customer, but in the end if they can just kick you out it doesn't seem fair to me.

[joeyl]

For Alex.

May I add.. Rogue?

Did you know Spoirtingbet are currently argueing the case against Betfair.

When betting operators should be putting forth a united pitch.

Like I need to tell that to a firm like Sportingbet, who just coughed up 33mill to the doj.

Sportingbet lobby for this, Betfair lobby for that, and the RGA spin around in the middle lost, watching thiers get picked off by the American doj.

It's not even rogue behaviour. It's just eating your own hand.

Anyway, enough politics. Jusr saying. Cheers.

[bets@betsfreebets.co]

Sportingbet rogue? did they stop paying you? I get constant payments from them...weird...

[baldidiot]

Sportingbet rogue? did they stop paying you? I get constant payments from them...weird...

I think matted was talking about something they did a while ago, he said the email was from 2005. So it sounded like they switched programs and left everybody out to dry.

[Dominique]

And not only that, they sent out letters to all players on platforms that affiliates were still able to promote offering them incentives to switch. This resulted in players being moved away from affiliate tags into another division of sportingbet. That is outright theft.

IMO it is important that we all remember what programs did in the past - they did it once, they will do it again. Beware!

[baldidiot]

And not only that, they sent out letters to all players on platforms that affiliates were still able to promote offering them incentives to switch. This resulted in players being moved away from affiliate tags into another division of sportingbet. That is outright theft.

IMO it is important that we all remember what programs did in the past - they did it once, they will do it again. Beware!

That really sucks!

[matted]

And not only that, they sent out letters to all players on platforms that affiliates were still able to promote offering them incentives to switch. This resulted in players being moved away from affiliate tags into another division of sportingbet. That is outright theft.

IMO it is important that we all remember what programs did in the past - they did it once, they will do it again. Beware!

Thanks Dom, this is actually the point. They royally screwed affiliates in 2005. They hung low for a year or two and came back out. For the most part, people had moved on and forgotten.

Oh, and one other point from the email:

In addition, you further agree not to disclose, in a public forum or otherwise, the terms and conditions of this Notice Of Change

Well, I guess I violated the agreement <lol> But isnt this blackmail? They are pretty much saying "if you give us a hard time about this publically, we'll withhold all of your earnings effective immediately"

It's the responsibility of organizations like iGB and GPWA to help affiliates avoid scam artists like SportingBet. I've been in this biz for over ten years and I cant keep things straight with all the name changes and programs that come and go. Even if Sportingbet may not seem rogue now, they never made proper remunerations to affiliates back five years ago.

Perhaps this is another example why we need buyout clauses in affiliate agreements. Lifetime revshare is all well and good, but there needs to be a payoff if the group leaves the market (be it a flat X per player or X months revenue.)

[baldidiot]

Perhaps this is another example why we need buyout clauses in affiliate agreements. Lifetime revshare is all well and good, but there needs to be a payoff if the group leaves the market (be it a flat X per player or X months revenue.)

That's an excellent point. It could be something as simple as making the revenue for each player up to the CPA (top tier of, obviously ).