Thinking about quitting the Biz

[dominique]

Some people like Dom have a lot of years in the biz and don't want to let go... Although I do remember Dom selling all her websites right after the UGIEA was passed... wink wink...

Actually I sold one site, with negotiations starting like half a year before UIGEA, with a 20 page contract including a buy-back clause that became active after a year. I chose to buy back rather than walk away.

That experience is exactly why I am not selling easily again, even when times get tough.

If you have a site you have poured sweat and tears into for many years, and you want to sell because you think the industry has gone to hell in a hand basket, make sure you include a buy-back clause. Things may look very different in a year's time, and you don't want to sit there with seller's remorse.

I think times are bad all around right now, and yes, there will be contraction and buy-outs. That actually happens in every industry as it comes off age - some companies become dominant and buy the rest out.

I think this will pass, times will get better, but you betcha I will remember which programs behaved in an ethical way and which didn't.

 

[JackTen]

I think this will pass, times will get better, but you betcha I will remember which programs behaved in an ethical way and which didn't.

That's another problem.. if we banned all of the affiliate programs who did shady things, there wouldn't be many left standing :/

Also, the way this industry is managed makes it very easy for people to deny accountability. They can blame management, they can blame affiliate managers, they can blame the tracking software, the fraud detection guy etc. Noone is ever guilty, so they always spin it by saying give us another chance, we got rid of the problem.

Gambling affiliation is still a great industry.. if you know what you're doing and you know how to swim with sharks without being eaten alive.

 

[dominique]

So then there won't be many left standing.

I have started weeding slowly already.

 

[sunflower]

So then there won't be many left standing.

I believe this would be a good thing.

 

[DaftDog]

So then there won't be many left standing.

I believe this would be a good thing.

You need honest and eager new programs to prevent the current honest big boys from becoming too powerful and turning sour like Bewinners.

 

[dominique]

That, too, will happen naturally. Happens in most industries over time.

Most easy to see in the airline industry for example...

 

[GamTrak]

I've lost interest in this industry after working very hard since 2001 and getting screwed over; so as long as there are no substantial consequences for brands that turn rogue this industry will not be appealing to me.

As it stands now, no organization, person or anyone can do anything about the likes of Grand Prive, Bewinners & others. It's sad, but I think the good ole days that many of us experienced where we made more money than we dreamed possible are over and the industry will not be the same after the recession ends. Of course I could be wrong and would love to be, but I don't think so. I've just seen to much BS to be very hopeful since Reid's attemp to legalize gambling failed recently.

I will not sell my sites, but I will be moving on to other things until I can be assured that my hard work will not be done in vain. There are some good brands, but they are few and far between and it's a shame that they have to suffer at the hands of a few.

 

[Webzcas]

I felt like bailing out in the early summer, but with the benefit of hindsight am glad I did not.

Sure the industry is a lot harder to work in now, but that is the same with any industry when it grows and evolves.

As a rule I am pretty much ignoring the US market and am concentrating solely on English speaking territories which allow online gambling. I am ever so grateful this is the outlook I have taken since 2006, as now after the ewallet express implosion, my US players earnings doesn't even cover my hosting costs this month.

I still believe if you are prepared to continue to put the hours in, write good content and don't rest on your laurels, this is still a very lucrative business to be involved in.

It is nearly 6 years now since I became a full time affiliate and I have to say I have not regretted making that decision one bit. As well as meeting some great people both online and in person at conferences. Many have become very good friends and we as a family are in a position, whilst having to tighten our belts, are able to ride this recession out. We have in short, got a lot to be thankful for, thanks to this industry.

Hence I am glad I did not sell up.

 

[lauferb]

I've noticed the same thing -- lots of winners; negative balances everywhere -- last month and this month, too. It's interesting to hear of so many others experiencing the same thing. Connect the dots....

I plan to remain in the industry, but in 2011 I will spend more time promoting non-US-facing programs.

which is the software vendor that has all of these players winnings?
I have the same issue, with casinos that are from Microgaming

 

[Engineer]

which is the software vendor that has all of these players winnings?
I have the same issue, with casinos that are from Microgaming

I had issues with the 3 main U.S. facing software platforms -- RTG, Rival, and Vegas Tech.

October -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, Casino Coins, and Lion Slots

November -- negatives at Affactive, Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, and Pantasia

December -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, and Bodog

January -- negatives at Affiliate Edge and Bodog

February -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Bodog, and Jackpot Capital

 

[lauferb]

ok...
I had negatives 3 months in a row with a microgaming casino called unibet
and for me to have negatives for 3 months in a row is very very unusual...
usually I get a negative month once in ~4 months for a specific casino

 

[KasinoKing]

I had issues with the 3 main U.S. facing software platforms -- RTG, Rival, and Vegas Tech.

October -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, Casino Coins, and Lion Slots

November -- negatives at Affactive, Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, and Pantasia

December -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, and Bodog

January -- negatives at Affiliate Edge and Bodog

February -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Bodog, and Jackpot Capital

I see a lot of negatives at Rival casinos (i.e. Players winning), which I'm not unhappy about as I am a player myself!
Last month, collectively my Rival players made a nett gain at all Rivals combined.
But even so, to go 5 months negative on the bounce like you had with RTG is something I don't think I've ever seen with any group on any software!

RTG is disappointing, but still my 3rd highest earner.
V-Tech is much more disappointing - tiny amounts each month; so small in fact, that I haven't been paid by them in a full 12-months now...

KK

 

[pdjoe]

I had issues with the 3 main U.S. facing software platforms -- RTG, Rival, and Vegas Tech.

October -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, Casino Coins, and Lion Slots

November -- negatives at Affactive, Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, and Pantasia

December -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, and Bodog

January -- negatives at Affiliate Edge and Bodog

February -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Bodog, and Jackpot Capital

Affiliate Edge has more cashouts every month compared to all our other programs combined. It's crazy. Every month thousands in deposits and thousands in withdraws. By far the craziest stats I have seen in my life. This has been steady for the last 8 months.

 

[slotplayer]

Affiliate Edge has more cashouts every month compared to all our other programs combined. It's crazy. Every month thousands in deposits and thousands in withdraws. By far the craziest stats I have seen in my life. This has been steady for the last 8 months.

a lot longer than that for me - and I've mentioned it before

 

[rak]

I stepped out of the industry for a little while, and to be honest - there is nothing else like it out there. I've been kicking it around on the internet for the past 12-13 years and seen things come and go - but there is nothing like gaming.

I think what we are seen is maybe the industry maturing, evolving.

Back when I entered the industry, Casinos were the big thing, poker, bingo and sportsbook weren't anywhere near it.

Now days - poker, bingo and sportsbook are huge.

I used to visit a couple of online casinos, but now I find I spend myself in poker rooms and sportsbooks.

There are more options for a gambler these days, and its easier to find a niche you are after which is going to cater to you.

 

[Rhondagrace]

Affiliate Edge has more cashouts every month compared to all our other programs combined. It's crazy. Every month thousands in deposits and thousands in withdraws. By far the craziest stats I have seen in my life. This has been steady for the last 8 months.

I hear ya my friend. I know there a great casino and treat players the best. just wish they would treat us affiliates as good and get rid of NCO.

 

[Eugene]

why do you promote affiliate programs with negative carryover and complaining about negative months?

as a matter of fact I also have 2 programs (Microgaming) that are negative during 2 months , but I am ok if it is my old players - they are playing - it's cool.

 

[AE-Martyn]

I had issues with the 3 main U.S. facing software platforms -- RTG, Rival, and Vegas Tech.

October -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, Casino Coins, and Lion Slots

November -- negatives at Affactive, Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, Bodog, and Pantasia

December -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Best Casino Partner, and Bodog

January -- negatives at Affiliate Edge and Bodog

February -- negatives at Affiliate Edge, Bodog, and Jackpot Capital

Hi Dave, I see we feature here (Affiliate Edge) each month, however I feel it's also important to state that you were also earning each month.

Obviously I wont quote figures but you did OK. Things could have been better, granted, and the eWallet issue did not help but please dont forget that we pay you by brand individually. Yes some brands were/are negative but the positive brands kept you well in the positive. The bulk of your traffic comes from one account which I think did cause some confusion earlier this month, maybe thats why you only mentioned the negatives?

 

[Engineer]

True, if you look at all of the casinos within all of the accounts, I was positive on half and negative on half of the casinos that had player activity. Apparently I'm still digging myself out of the hole at several casinos, presumably due to the eWX seizure.

 

[AE-Martyn]

True, if you look at all of the casinos within all of the accounts, I was positive on half and negative on half of the casinos that had player activity. Apparently I'm still digging myself out of the hole at several casinos, presumably due to the eWX seizure.

Nope, although the EWX was a shitter we didn't then go further add to the shitness by leaving our affs in a negative, that would be just insulting.

So these negs will be a combo of wins including any bonuses or balances etc in players accounts.

P.S. Sorry for the excessive use of the word and variations of the word 'shit'