IPS Affiliates: Affiliate Program Closure - January 31st 2019

[MissExposé]

We've received an email from IPS Affiliates representative:

"Hi,
I have some important news regarding the affiliate programs of the brands we currently host (below). We will be closing the affiliate program for all our brands as of January 31st 2019.
This will mean the closure of all programs for the brands below; with regards the commission on player revenue we will be honouring that for 12 months up until December 2019 after that commissions will be stopped

• 21.co.uk
• Bet UK
• UK Casino
• M Casino
• Castle Jackpot
• Slot Boss
• Slot Mob
• Pink Casino
• Crown Bingo
• Bingo Stars

The decision has been made as we are no longer looking to drive UK players via affiliates to the brands we manage following the Leo Vegas purchase. The brands will still be operating but we will no longer be looking for traffic or players from publishers.
We'd appreciate if you can take the steps required to remove the brands and any affiliate links by January 31st 2019. We will honour commissions payments for any players up to that date but we are not actively encouraging you to drive any new players. We'd prefer the links to start to be removed.
As mentioned any player commissions for players who joined before January 31st 2019 will be honoured until December 31st 2019.
We are also happy to look to close accounts and settle any commission payments for those that would like that done and resolving. Please let us know what your preference is.
Apologies to all those who had diligently updated your content to be compliant as I appreciate the effort and time invested in this. I'd like to thank you for all the work in promoting our brands and wish you all the best for the future..."

 

[BetOnlineUK]

They have covered all bases there then, they do still accept UK traffic just not from the guys that have sent them all the traffic in the past. The least they can do is honour all previous revenue earned from traffic sent to them for not just a year but as long as they are with the casino. It is not the affiliates fault that they can no longer send UK traffic to the program

 

[AidanLCFC]

This might sound controversial but first thing I thought was 'at least they are paying for a year' which I've never seen anyone do before when closing a program although open to be corrected (still obviously wrong cutting the lifetime commission away).
Secondly, I signed up 2 days ago to promote Bet UK. I'm going to guess that they do something with that as it's only recently became a sportsbook again, some may remember it used to be about 8-10 years ago. The brand sponsors Swansea FC I think so can't see them cutting uk traffic from a brand that has uk in it. Maybe gets pulled into the leovegas program or they go standalone?

 

[Batman]

It's not controversial I don't think, I thought the exact same. I think it shows we are getting used to losing out and kind of like it when it's not as brutal!

Tombola Bingo have just done the same thing, moved to new software that can't do rev share. Offered compensation and asked us to join new progranm on a small cpa deal. I was mad then kind of strangely happy...Now just gob smacked!

I tried to join IPS loads of times and was completely ignored. Was told it was approved but could never log in and took forever to get a reply. It's a shame as there are a couple of good UK brands there.

 

[BetOnlineUK]

So Leovegas are looking for world domination which is great as they closed my aff account. So there is no chance of me promoting any of their brands in the future.

So they are not out of the UK market they just do not want to take a chance with compliance issues from affiliates (my interpretation).
It seems strange that they would rather close the aff program as they must get traffic for other countries too.

 

[baldidiot]

Secondly, I signed up 2 days ago to promote Bet UK. I'm going to guess that they do something with that as it's only recently became a sportsbook again, some may remember it used to be about 8-10 years ago. The brand sponsors Swansea FC I think so can't see them cutting uk traffic from a brand that has uk in it.

I read it as they're still going to accept UK players, they just don't want to promote them via aff channels.

 

[AidanLCFC]

I read it as they're still going to accept UK players, they just don't want to promote them via aff channels.

yeah same but affiliate traffic can be the difference that makes or breaks a brand

 

[BetOnlineUK]

yeah same but affiliate traffic can be the difference that makes or breaks a brand

Exactly, to me it is laziness in making sure their affiliates are compliant. There are many good ones out there who do keep it all legal. Do you think it is a case of them saying they are closing it but keeping hold of their super affiliates on a different platform?

 

[AidanLCFC]

Exactly, to me it is laziness in making sure their affiliates are compliant. There are many good ones out there who do keep it all legal. Do you think it is a case of them saying they are closing it but keeping hold of their super affiliates on a different platform?

nothing surprises me in this game anymore so what happens next is anyones guess i suppose