I run a fairly active sports forum. Im not sure if all the criteria is the same for Sports and Casinos, but I can see some similarities.
I was really lucky to start acquiring users, at the time I used another sports forum that was having internal difficulties. So I started mine as a alternate place to post. Users started using it and never left. But I see where starting a forum of any type can be very difficult.
I allow people to voice their opinion, but not to get out of hand. I look at myself as a referee who hands out technicals. I usually give several Technicals before tossing someone or deleting their account. I have deleted more accounts then I have registered users for one reason or another (spambots). One trueism I have noticed, people are creatures of habit. Once I have deleted their account for “Flaming”, it seems they will always be back sooner rather then later. Most of the time they come back toned down, which is the desired effect. So mission accomplished. I also have learned for every 1 bozo deleted you get 3-5 good users back, so deleting one bozo is not such a bad thing.
One issue that should be addressed soon after you start a forum is Spambots. If you let them go unchecked they at min. will keep registering BS names, from now to eternity. Not all the Spam Mods out their for the two popular BBS platforms seem to work, or are user friendly. I found a easy way to trick the RumorX and Auto-Writer Spambots for PHPBB v2. If anyone wants to know the trick let me know. Some forum users dont mind having 25k+ users registered with only 100 active. I try to keep my database to the min. for easy access for the BBS engine and portability if I ever have to move my site from the current servers. You can always tell when spambots have taken over a forum. They will have 50k plus registered with names like XXXLucy, LovesViagra, fhdskjfhsjskjf, etc… Just looks bad alltogether for a good new user to go through the memberlist and seeing a bunch of questionable names and little activity on the boards. Activity is what gets users back, something new to read everyday.
I have had some instances of users bad mouthing some sportsbooks who I aff for. I allow Freedom of Speech so I dont curtail anyone from expressing their opionions. I dont allow flat out lies though. Knowing some of your users and conversing with them allows me to mediaite alot more on their behalf, if a issue comes up with a SB. This seems to be a plus. In the two, instances where a SB asks me to remove some bad press. I will only if its embellished or flat out wrong. But if the information is accurate, I let it stand. If the SB dont like it maybe its time I remove them and find a different SB to promote. I only deal with A-B rated books, so I have never had much of an issue, with non-payment etc. Most concerns was slowpay 2-3 years ago after UGA. Mostpart thats corrected now.
I will say you have more of a leverage if you know your users. The idea of “Can give, can taketh away” really can be to your advantage in not allowing a Aff to get too tricky to work with. I think they may look at you different if you send them good users and one post can take them away and to a competitior.