Mate
Agree with everything that Dom says – plus I had made check list for affiliates some time back which is a good reference.
Have a look – http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.com/bb/26746-2-really-really-important-question-.html#post161553
Plus follow AGD and APCW 
@Toweraffiliates.com 211991 wrote:
Dom
Could you elaborate on doing research, on the affiliate program of choice?
I think payment reliability is #1
affiliate management contact is #2When you first started out – what mistakes did you learn from?