I have talked with both Fortune and Vegas Partner Lounge during my trip to Montreal.
To sum it up, both sides immediately played the partnership card, to which I replied that a partnership involves both sides agreeing on a solution, not something where one partner unilaterally makes a decision. I am especially perturbed that they can even call our agreement a partnership without making an effort to talk to us in a reasonable manner.
Both sides also claim that they talked with bigger affiliates about these changes before making them, implying that they had won some tacit approval of their actions. This is totally absurd, because a few bigger affiliates do not form the basis of their partnerships – nor do I believe they would even want to represent the affiliate community at large. Each affiliate is a partner – and each partner should be accorded similar respect, though of course I understand that the focus of their efforts is in appeasing these bigger affiliates who generate a large amount of revenue for them.
Both sides claim that they are encountering financial difficulties – not in terms of the casino operations, but in terms of the affiliate programs profitability. While I can accept this explanation, it does not in any way justify their actions.
Both sides have not agreed that they will commit to NOT breaking their contracts and agreements with us in the future – essentially denying their claims that they are in partnership with each affiliate. In other words, there is nothing that will stop them from making further changes to their programs which have the potential to negatively impact your income. Terms and conditions be damned – ultimately they are implying that they will do as they wish now and in the future.
This issue has also been raised with eCOGRA, who are sadly not able to mediate or take any action regarding this issue as their focus is on protecting the interests of the player and ensuring a fair and honest game from their members. However, they have duly taken note of this issue and will keep it in mind when dealing with these casino operations in the future.
Ultimately, this is not going to go away based on a single voice such as mine. While it is clear I have the best interests of both sides in mind and soul, and that these operators will and do listen to my opinions (for which I am always grateful), it is clear that I am not singularly able to influence their decisions, nor should I really expect this to be the case anyhow.
While I respect both programs and their managers, and am willing to stand up for the integrity of their parent casino operations and of the individuals themselves, I cannot in good conscience continue to support these programs because of their actions. Thus I will do only what I can possibly do – inform you of my discussions with them, and ultimately take the necessary actions to protect the business interests of myself and my partners by replacing these programs with other programs.
I am grateful to both programs for allowing me to express my opinions to them, and wish to thank them for their efforts in the past in working with me and in fact treating me very well in many ways both in person and through other means of communication. I wish them well in trying to work through this and future situations and ultimately to improving the quality of their programs. And I hope to see them as friends in the future, as they have been throughout my association with them.
Also, I am now removing myself from all affiliate issues as the focus of Got2Bet is now primarily on paid media, and I expect that we will continue to de-emphasize the affiliate model in our marketing.
I feel that the time has come for other affiliates to stand up for their rights and work individually and collectively to ensure future profitability for both themselves and the affiliate programs they partner with.
I will be glad to assist anyone at any time if they should require any help or advice, and I will continue to be active in the industry and look forward to meeting many of you through the coming years.