I run numerous gambling affiliate websites including http://www.my-gambling-guide.co.uk. I too was sceptical about this at first. I was contacted by Tim and sent him a snotty reply as I hate spam. After an interesting reply from Tim I dug deeper. I made Tim and Aaron from IGASA give me a thorough explanation after I reviewed them vigorously. They explained IGASA to me in further detail and here are my findings………………………..
Unlike a number of other gambling organisations and forums, these guys are a non profit independent organisation which I personally liked a lot. They are owned by other large advertising industry bodies who are also non profit organisations who regulate numerous other advertising industry sectors. After scrutinizing them like POW, i think their intentions are good.
I told them their code is primitive. We adhere to all that already, so why should we join?They preceded to explain to me that this is the first draft of the code, and is very basic. I have dug this out as this is what I got in an email in explanation
“The second version of the code is being drafted in consultation with a few select advertisers. Those advertisers are going to trial sharing data about publishers (in regard to conversion history, traffic quality and various other factors), so that the next version of the code contains requirements that advertisers have contributed to, allowing IGASA to award Publishers a certain standard according to their ability to meet the advertisers requirements (which will include factors like traffic volume, conversion history, content quality etc). This will regulate the entire gambling affiliate industry to ensure advertisers pay the correct rates for the right sites. Those sites that score well against the factors that matter to advertisers, will receive preferential rates. As IGASA is independent and not for profit, it will not set rates but will award affiliates with a standard (according to their ability to meet advertiser requirements). This will be a universal standard where all parties will know the value of the affiliates traffic, allowing publishers to know their worth and receive it.”
This is a snippet of the email as that chap seems to write endlessly long emails.
Thought I’d wait until second draft of the code came out, but we joined after much persuasion as it was free and there was no downside to joining, but we have definitely had positive effects as a result of signing up (the badge up on my-gambling-guide.co.uk)
As they are a relatively young body, they are marketing themselves and due to that – and not their spamming ability- we have received a large amount of free publicity to advertisers and have had a lot of interesting deals from advertisers as a result.
Basically I like it. It’s free, it’s not trying to screw me as an affiliate for cash, I have had advertiser as a result of being IGASA approved approach me in a different manner (which was much better!).They said I’d get inbound links to all my sites, but I don’t think they are linking to my sites yet, but all that will do for me doing bugger all in return.
I Agree, those initial emails were spam like and seemed like a lot of old kosh. I hate being bombarded by the vast amounts of emails from affiliate managers offering the best thing sliced bread, so although I like their proposition, they should find a more effective way to market themselves to affiliates like me
There is my shillings worth
Stowen
my-gambling-guide.co.uk