To those in Budapest

[theshortstack]

I'd also be interested to know whether anything happened in the presentation of whether people dropped by their stand ...

 

[Eugene]

I am shocked.

I don't recommend to put a lot of efforts in such big brands as PartyGaming, 888, BWin, etc. Big is not good for affiliates. Some stupid consistent pattern.

 

[Simmo!]

I don't recommend to put a lot of efforts in such big brands as PartyGaming, 888, BWin, etc. Big is not good for affiliates. Some stupid consistent pattern.

Interesting point and going slightly OT here, but potentially relevant in light of this BWin fiasco and the way Party are expanding by acquisition:

There is a lesson to be learned from the poker side here. Maybe a poker affiliate or two can expand on this, but here is what I have gleaned talking to a few.

With the help of affiliates, Pokerstars and Full Tilt built up huge businesses. They invested a lot of the money in their own - very effective IMO - advertising and are now in a position where they dominate the sector. From what I have heard, they are now so dominant that they dictate to affiliates their terms, reducing commissions or making CPA harder to achieve both ongoing and as I understand it, retroactively. Yes they invested a lot of their own money but affiiates played a significant role in getting them to that position in the first place.

There is nothing poker affiliates can really do but learn but hope that the landscape changes to provide better opportunities. Casino (and other) affiliates, we have an opportunity to learn from and avoid this scenario.

 

[Aussie-Dave]

Casino (and other) affiliates, we have an opportunity to learn from and avoid this scenario.

Not said to offend anyone but affiliates (myself included) tend to be their own worst enemy.

lots0 sums it up pretty well. (I've taken this out of context but it's still relevant IMO)

You can look to gpwa and see all the problems that trying to build a network of affs can cause... it's like herding cats, independent and suspicious cats...

Everyone is an independent agent (so to speak) and not too many people like being told what to do in their own business.

However Simmo! does make a good point. I believe unless we start sticking together and getting this sorted quickly, we're heading down the same path as our Poker affiliates as Simmo! mentioned.

It's impossible to fight this BIG companies as one person but it's easier to stand against them if we're united for our common good.

I also think time for talk is over and actions need to start happening. We just have to look at the GP fiasco and what 2 years of talk got!



Cheers



Dave

 

[bonustreak]

I am sorry everyone I just not got online the conference was so busy for me with so many meetings I never logged on to my pc. Unfortunately during this speaking session I was in a meeting so I was not able to sit in. Trust me I would have been chasing them down full out had I seen this thread

 

[Simmo!]

I also think time for talk is over and actions need to start happening. We just have to look at the GP fiasco and what 2 years of talk got!

And worth remembering what happened with Party & Tradal back in the day - and was it 888 that attempted retroactive terms? Maybe I have that second one wrong, but anyway, the warning signs are there.

EDIT: Yeah actually I think it was the 888 mega-affiliate spam fiasco muddling my mind rather than retroactive terms.