CAP TV - Professor's Community News 1/16/09 - CAP London, Cardspike, and more!

[Arjun]

In this edition of Community News, the Professor gives his weekly community update, and clarifies things with Cardspike allegations that have no proof, so we can all get back to work!

Be sure to check out the CAP TV Weekly news with Yvette every Wednesday, and the Professor's Community Update every Friday with the Professor himself!

[Casinomeister]

I agree with the Professor, this has been extremely distracting and I think we all need to get back to business.

One question that I think still needs to be cleared up so everyone can put this to rest is whether or not Greg Powell worked for Effective Media Group while he was the affiliate manager for Cardspike. This is a question a lot of people seem to be asking, and it would be nice to have this clarified. I believe this is the crux of the issue.

Looking forward to London.

[Warren]

Thanks Bryan

Yes Greg Powell was the affiliate manager assigned to manage the Cardspike.com account and he was employed by EMG. Unfortunatly, he is no longer employed by the company.

Couple of quick things to note:

1.At CAP and at PAP Greg Powell was listed as the Cardpike.com affiliate manager and made numerous posts so there should not have been any confusion about his working in that capacity.

2. EMG provides consulting services and acts as a master affiliate. Payments to players and affiliates were performed by Cardspike.com in conjuction with the software supplier. Greg, Peter and EMG were not responsible for issuing payments or any delays that DID occur.

3. I believe Greg and Peter tried their hardest to make the best of an uncomfortable situation and service affiliates and get them paid. I know EMG did, but internal data issues at Cardspike.com prevented that from happening.

4. It does appear that CardSpike.com has begun issuing payments to affiliates so hopefully whatever data problems there were have been corrected. Unfortunately due to the slow payments to affiliates and no payment to EMG we can no longer recommend or certify that brand until they are on an even keel for at least a year.

I hope this is helpful and answers any questions affiliates might have.

[alexpratt]

At last the truth - I just hope people listen and read and repeat!

[Casinomeister]

Thanks Warren - appreciate the info.

Hoping you can explain a bit more; I'm not up on some of the lingo here. What's a master affiliate?

...
2. EMG provides consulting services and acts as a master affiliate. Payments to players and affiliates were performed by Cardspike.com in conjuction with the software supplier. Greg, Peter and EMG were not responsible for issuing payments or any delays that DID occur...

Thanks!

[Dominique]

Remember Adrian with Paymaster? Used to have Micki's casinos and the Jackpot factory before Brightshare?

He was a master affiliate, it is like an affiliate who has other affiliates under him in tiers. Makes a site for affs and signs them up. Takes care of them. But s/he doesn't do the payments or anything like that.

It's really quite common. I think Pearl gaming was a master affiliate for playtechs, correct me if I am wrong.

[RummyAffiliates]

Great!!! - Now can we please get on with Business.

Thanks

[Casinomeister]

Hi Dom,

I was asking Warren how they define this as "Master Affiliate" in this situation. But thanks for your input.

Is a master affiliate in charge of managing the affiliate program? Or is he/she a consultant? If it's a consultant, why do they call themselves Affiliate Managers?

Does this apply to Absolute Slots? The affiliate manager (Benjamin) has an email address from EMG as well. I'm just trying to make sense of this and I'm hoping CAP can explain this once and for all so we can move on.

[Casinomeister]

Hi Dom,

I was asking Warren how they define this as "Master Affiliate" in this situation. But thanks for your input.

Is a master affiliate in charge of managing the affiliate program? Or is he/she a consultant? If it's a consultant, why do they call themselves Affiliate Managers?

Does this apply to Absolute Slots? The affiliate manager (Benjamin) has an email address from EMG as well. I'm just trying to make sense of this and I'm hoping CAP can explain this once and for all so we can move on.

Would it be possible for Warren or Lou define what exactly a "Master Affiliate" is in the context of Cardspike and with Absolute Slots?

I'm assuming that Absolute Slots is a CAP Master Affiliate program as well. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm trying to wrap my head around how a master affiliate differs from an affiliate manager. If you click the "Affiliates" link at Absolute Slots and Cardspike you go to the Master Affiliate website, right? So these would appear (to me and everyone else) as the actual affiliate program.

And why would a "Master Affiliate" program need to be CAP certified? Or pay for its certification for that matter? Or is it different somehow?

[Professor]

Hi Bryan

The term "Master affiliate" is a basic description of one of the services EMG can offer to a client when EMG are retained as consultants. EMG develops and can manange their affiliate program. EMG provides seasoned affiliate manager(s) who work exclusively on behalf of the respective client. The program handles player support and all payments for all players and affiliates. EMG receives a performance based consultant fee on what the affiliate program generates.

CAP and PAP are owned and operated by Affiliate media inc. which is a wholly different company. CAP and PAP do not act as master affiliates. A standard certification fee is paid for the listings of EMG clients. In practice this fee is then passed along to the client by EMG for payment.

Most legitimate Casinos and Online Gaming Operators are listed at CAP. EMG's clients are no different. They want to be a part of the commmunity so they can grow their business. Certifcation grants them access and a presence on the CAP/PAP forums, their staff is admitted free at CAP events, they can appear in our publications and they get certified partner pricing on sponsorships at CAP Euro, CAP Down and CAP Springbreak.

Hope this clarification helps.