here are some replies I received from some of the aff managers I contacted about this matter
Wagershare
All of Microgaming’s progressive jackpots are paid from the progressive ‘pot’ and not by the individual casino themselves. This pot is accumulated via the progressive contributions made by players who wager on the progressive games. This contribution is a very small percentage and is taken from every wager that player makes on a progressive game.
As with all other Microgaming affiliate programs we also deduct the progressive contributions from affiliate commissions as it is a cost to us. The upside to this however is that if a player wins a progressive jackpot then it does not come off an affiliate’s revenue, but anything they drop back is treated as a normal deposit. For instance, last week one of our affiliates had a player that won a massive $633,336 on Major Millions. This enormous win did not affect the affiliate in the slightest but the affiliate stands to make a vast sum of money if they lose any back. In fact, at the end of last month this happened to an affiliate player who won over $20,000 on Supajax and they played it all back – the effect to the affiliate was like a player depositing 20k and dropping the lot, as the jackpot win did not count towards his revenues.
Also, I think the player you outline in your email has been extremely lucky to wager such a lot from such a small stake. Usually to wager $640, player loses are much higher (as is the nature of slots) and so the $19 worth of progressive contributions are a much smaller percentage of the revenue they generate, so you still make good money.
So in short, although in your example you made very little from your progressive player, their progressive contributions were unusually high in relation to their revenue creating a skewed picture of how much a progressive player would normally earn you.
Microgaming’s progressive games are the best on the Internet, none of the other software providers can even hold a candle to them and they are one of the main selling points of an MGS operation. Such is the lure of the ‘big win’, these games make the casinos and affiliates a great deal of money which is why all casinos push them so hard.
Casino Rewards
we do not take progressive contribution away from affiliates and also if a players wins a progressive you don’t see a negative. so you would be very very lucky if one of you players wins a progressive becuase they will more than likely lose some back to us and you will see 35% on what they lose back
I understand what Brent wrote, but TIm’s reply kinda lost me; but I take it to mean that I’m better off not promoting the progressives since the only chance I have of really profiting from the progressives is if a player hits it big and doesn’t igive it back in the same month; but does give it back the following month. That’s a lot of ifs.
Frankly I’m surprised not more has been said on this matter as it seems to me to be a signifigant negative to our bottom line.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of the attraction; but what good is it to me to attract the players to something that isn’t going to make me money?
The non-progressives attract enough and pay well and that’s enough for me. I guess I am going to cut back my push on progressive games and on the pages where I do advertise them; I think CR will get the best spots on those pages hands down.
Someone please point out if my thinking is sideways, I’ve not had any sleep for about 24 hrs trying to finish up a project; and therefore don’t trust my decision making process right now so I thought I’d ask those I whose opinions I value. (that means you)
I’ll of course look at this from a fresh mount after a good night’s sleep, but in the meantime I figured I could be getting some feedback so why not?
thanks in advance for your replies.