I always like to use someone from a different region than me.
meaning that if I were a cheating program, … I’d set things so to always show any signups from the affiliates:
home state (or country, basically depending on how the area can be divided by a PC)
zip code
area code
etc
because I’d be figuring if someone was going to test: it would be likely from within one (or all) of the above regions
however thats if you think they’re cheating. If you think they’re tracking doesn’t work then go ahead and check it yourself or have friend.
on a related side note: I think that cheating has become more sophisticated in many instances … but I also think there are still a ton of programs out there which so little respect affiliates that they don’t go to the added extra trouble to hide their actions. That has been the case in many instances for me.
the more sophisticated cheaters I suspect now simply skim your overall profit margin but allow players (new and old) to show up in your stats. problem with that is you get situations like I have at Brightshare where i am getting conversions but the bottom line always is so far less than other programs with similar or even less exposure that now despite it converting to real players with some success … the money just isn’t there). *note: not implying BS is dirty, but am saying the situation requires same actions. I’m going to have to pull them unless they really turn it around soon.
So I think the most sophisticated cheats are siphoning off the bigger players about 2 or 3 months into their play.
Playtechs: I think must be using the “you had a winner!” … ‘which we’re sad to report has wiped out any substantial earnings you may have had…” approach. I do hear about people claiming they make good money with playtechs but I would be very interested as to what amount they consider to be good. Frankly I find it hard to believe people are making similar amounts with playtech as they are making with MGS,… with the exception of a few
Bottom line: is check your bottom line. You should see steady growth in income and players as time progresses. While its true that people move on; there is an undeniable truth about human beings. We are creatures of habit. I need look no further than myself to find a player who has regularly patronized a select few casinos for the last 5 or 6 years. these players exist: and in more than just small numbers.
So I think it is very unlikely you should be making less money with a program 2 years into it than when you started.
But that is the case in many instances. I don’t think it has to do with any failings on the part of the affiliate. It’s either a cheat; or an establishment which obviously is not worthy of your time since if you’ve dropped income to 50% of when you started 2 years back (for example) then it stands to reason that if the trend is falling off; it will keep falling off so cut your losses while they’re still small …
if it ain’t making you money, then you should definitely drop it because you’re either hooked up with dog; or a program that is cheating you and by allowing this to continue you are funding the future cheating of some future newbie. Kick ’em off your site if they don’t make decent money. after all, what do you really stand to lose?