Simple. We all start offering rakeback. I will bet you what that the software companies will put down their foot, and fast.
I don’t really see why the software companies would care about rakeback – they will still get their % cut of the rake and/or fees whether the operator offered rakeback or not.
If we all offer rakeback, it’ll be quite a scorched earth tactic – it kills off the advantage the rakeback affiliates have so we wouldn’t lose our future high rollers. But we’d be the worst hit by such a move as we have fewer high rollers.
Such a radical move seems impossible, unless the top affiliates began to do it such as poker listings, in which case you have no choice but to follow suit.
If you hate rakeback affiliates then start a loss leader rakeback site which offers the full 50% commission. I understand some poker rooms automatically refund the rakeback – so just feature those at first to keep admin down to a minimum. Once the site is established and you can guarantee x players per month charge the poker rooms a flat monthly fee to remain listed and rent space on your newsletters.