I think it is not quite right that UB does not offer a CPA deal yet allows certain affiliates to offer rake back. What they are doing, for all intents and purposes, is allowing a few the advantage of scraping every heavy player that would out pace the typical CPA fee. Everyone else is left with players that may never reach this level. So as an affiliate, you really have to wonder if it is not more profitable just going CPA at almost any other room. Because what you get in CPA for one real money player in one month at say Poker Stars may end up being equal to 2-3 real money players MGR at Ultimate.
If a poker room wants to use rake back as an advantage the best thing to do would be to offer it themselves. At least stop advertising your affiliate program as 25% or higher of rake when we all know now this isn’t true. If I have to offer 20% of the 25% to compete it is no longer 25% period.
Great post.
For the reasons above, I don’t think it is smart for affiliates who do not already make money with a certain room that allows rake back to start promoting them. Newbies are faced with an unfair playground. I will not under any circumstances start promoting a rake-back room I don’t already make money with.
For rooms I already make money with, I will continue to promote them until I see my comission ceasing to grow.
At that time it looks like I should give their spot to a non rake-back room, where I know I will be making full comission and will be able to grow with the room.