Casino Rewards

[bonustreak]

Well, it looks like we have after 10+ yrs if working with a company of well over 30 brands have finally been choked off. Our earnings have gone from decent, even much less than what I would expect from such a large brand to zilch, nada, pennies.. Pretty sure it is because we are in the US and they have constantly had issues paying us, now it is easy for them since they are paying us NOTHING. The audit I asked for really was just smoke and mirrors.

I like Renee personally as a friend but I cannot do business with this company anymore, it comes down to free advertisement.

This thread is about, is there anyone else having the same issues, it is NOT a bashing of any affiliate manager so if that happens I will NOT be happy. Let's talk serious business and be professional.

Sidenote: We have 2 accounts with 2 different schemes both are dead over the last year.

Something is seriously wrong!

 

[KasinoKing]

They have never been great performers for me - but then, nor have many other downloadable MGs have either...
Last 3 years total CR earnings:
2014: $3,598
2015: $754
2016: $2,515
2017 (first 4 months): $377... so might just reach $1,000 by the end of the year...

Let's face it - though I LOVE the quality of the download MG suite, most modern players want instant "flash" casinos with 2,000 crap games.... What can you do?

KK

 

[Engineer]

I am still doing okay with Rewards, but what you described (earnings going from decent to zip) is happening with me at Fortune Affiliates, Brightshare, and Buffalo Partners.

 

[AussieDave]

I LOVE the quality of the download MG suite, most modern players want instant "flash" casinos with 2,000 crap games

Us old timers can recall the days when MGS was king (no pun intended KK). We can also remember when "flash" made its debut on MGS. That addition opened up new markets for those using Apple Computers. Memory is a bit fuzzy, but I believe it was around 2009/10 when MGS started the ball rolling for mobile. Like previous adaptions, most affiliates were seeing the 'mobile market' as being another string-in-their-bow, myself included.

What I didn't see coming (as I'm sure others didn't either), was the sheer decline in computer-players. Now in 2017 mobile's and tablet's rule. The landscape has changed, and imho that's the BIG problem - it's a totally different market these days.

In so far as Rewards Affiliates, I've actually seen the reverse. A male player who signed up in 2009, who didn't have much activity, returned in 2014 as a High Roller. Just that one single player has made me a very-pretty-penny for close on 3 full years. However, the last 2 months their play has severely tanked. Can go literally days without any play, then I earn 1 or $2 dollars.

My guess... that wagering is coming from Loyality Points redeemed from playing at another CR casino, where by my HR (like literally 1,000's of my other tagged players) were cross-marketed to (minus my aff tag) when I referred him/them to CR casinos, or when tagged players were mapped over from casinos CR purchased.

Everyone can relax, and chill. I'm not about to open up that can of worms, again.

Aside from ALL the above, credit where credit is due... Rewards Affiliates pay without drama. They are the only MGS casino aff program I know of who pay within the 1'st week, of each month, without fail. For that they deserve a round of applause.

I wish more aff programs offered a wagering model. I'd take that hands down over RS any day

what you described (earnings going from decent to zip) is happening with me at Fortune Affiliates, Brightshare, and Buffalo Partners.

FA - has totally tanked for me. I might receive a payment every 6 months or so these days, and that's usually only a few $100.

BP - are still kind of OK, though nothing like my Referback days. Now more often than not, I'm getting hammered by low-rolling mobile players. You know the one's who deposit $10 at a time, play min slot bets, hoping to hit a streak, when they do they increase their bet size, and take me to the cleaners. Pound for Pound Mobile Players are my f#cking nemesis these days

BS - been doing ok with them for a while now. Changed the layout position of All Slots, and since then, I've bagged a few medium to HR players. (I don't want to jinx myself) though since FA have now officially taken over Brightshare, I'm now waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[slotplayer]

Took 14 months to get to the minimum.

 

[LandofOz]

I am giving CR very limited exposure, so I don't expect any substantial earnings with them. If they do away with untagged crossed marketing, then I'd be happy to give them decent exposure, but presently, I don't see the point of sending them players that are just going to be invited to play at other casinos with absolutely no benefit to me.

 

[Biti]

I like Renee personally as a friend but I cannot do business with this company anymore, it comes down to free advertisement.

It's about business, not about friendship when it's about deciding who's having the top exposure and who not.

I have not any income base in this old MGS-casinos. I don't promote them anymore as in the markets where I operate I got better choices:

- I consider their product as very outdated. I don't see them as competitive in any regulated market. As far as I know they also just have the Kahnawake license.
- They were involved in some hoax news. I consider ads dressed as (hoax) news as something very annoying
- When I was promoting them, I got a bunch of player complaints about them.

 

[KasinoKing]

I am giving CR very limited exposure, so I don't expect any substantial earnings with them. If they do away with untagged crossed marketing, then I'd be happy to give them decent exposure, but presently, I don't see the point of sending them players that are just going to be invited to play at other casinos with absolutely no benefit to me.

I think you should have a one-to-one chat with Renee and hopefully dispel this old rumour...
They DO NOT cross promote un-tagged between brands (for the first 12 months after sign-up at least - and not at all if the player is active)
I can't remember all the full details now, as I got this sorted this several yeas ago, but my mind was put at ease and I started promoting them more heavily.
I have no concerns or regrets about doing that.

KK

 

[AussieDave]

hopefully dispel this old rumour...

Reiterating, I'm not going to open up old-wounds. However, saying all the untagged cross-marketing were old rumours, is not correct. Fact is RA/CR were cross marketing to referred players. I have hard proof posted at DOCH, if you care to look at it! To cap it... I sent a test player. Within a matter of a few hours of him signing up, he was inundated with multiple emails promoting their other brands, all without my affiliate-tag.

Maybe RA/CR have stopped that now, and have changed the way they handle referred players, IDK... But I sicerely hope so.

Anywho as I said, I'm not here to stir sh#t... But I'm not going to sit idle and watch a white wash either.

 

[LandofOz]

Would someone from Casino Rewards please explain the untagged crossed marketing practice? I read different explanations from different affiliates and forums. Thank you.

 

[TheGooner]

Well, it looks like we have after 10+ yrs if working with a company of well over 30 brands have finally been choked off. Our earnings have gone from decent, even much less than what I would expect from such a large brand to zilch, nada, pennies..

Like you - we have been working with Rewards Affiliates since 2007.

They were/are a solid performer - but there have been variations that match your experience.
We started at around 20K in 2007 and built up to over 100K in 2013, before plummeting back to 20K in 2014.
Currently we are projecting 30-40K for 2017.

I suspect that much of this was caused by two main issues, firstly European country restrictions that decimated most player bases for affiliates, and secondly the mobile explosion and failure to adapt offerings.
Specifically, the failure to adapt BLACKJACK BALLROOM to the UK mobile market was a killer for us - as this was a key plank in our cross-marketing of casino to sports players.

Then there is also the issue of bad mobile phone tracking, iOS, a hundred Android variants, Windows OS ... a whole lot of variation and MANY sites are only tracking a fraction of them.

Pretty sure it is because we are in the US and they have constantly had issues paying us, now it is easy for them since they are paying us NOTHING.

I feel your pain - but this suggestion is outrageous. If you believed it - why are you even considering continuing ???
I don't believe that Rewards Affiliates have surreptitiously penalised you or any other US affiliate by removing players.

It probably does have a LOT to do with your US base though - as I imagine you have US servers and a high US reader base - all of which are ineligible.
And as I mentioned earlier, European country restrictions have removed a lot of previously established player bases.

I like Renee personally as a friend but I cannot do business with this company anymore, it comes down to free advertisement.

I agree with both statements - but this is a business - and the bottom line is essential.
Frankly these days - it is HARD to know what geo-market that Rewards Affiliates want ... and what devices will actually record the signup correctly.

Renee is a great AM - but money talks - and blank months will cause any good affiliate to walk.
We are getting a reasonable return there still - but it's nearly ALL coming from old players ... if my base was zero - I would drop them too.

------------------------------------------------

Fact is RA/CR were cross marketing to referred players. I have hard proof posted at DOCH, if you care to look at it! To cap it... I sent a test player. Within a matter of a few hours of him signing up, he was inundated with multiple emails promoting their other brands, all without my affiliate-tag.

AussieDave - you seem to be mixing proof with theory - and getting to a false conclusion.

As I understand it - they don't need your affiliate tag in the marketing to an existing player - if the player exists and uses the same details then YOU get credit for the player no matter where he/she plays.
Cross marketing with untagged links to an unsigned lead ... THAT would be the smoking gun.

We have revenue coming from Rewards Affiliates from MANY casinos that we never promoted.
They seem to have about 30-40 of them - and we promoted SIX ... Blackjack Ballroom, Golden Tiger, Zodiac, Luxury and a couple of others.

This month I see earnings from Casino Classic, Golden Reef, UK Casino Club, and Grand Mondial and we've never promoted these four at all.
I have no doubt there was cross marketing - because I can see the payout benefits in my reporting.

Dave - if you'v got more then please share (or cover in a new thread / or a PM) but that by itself is not a smoking gun in my opinion.

 

[AussieDave]

@TheGooner (including anyone else) - can visit DOCH (dodgyonlinecasinohistory.net) where factual proof of the unethical cross marketing (errr dropped tags) was taking place. It's over at the GPWA forum too. From memory August 2011.

https://www.affiliateguarddog.com/community/forums/rewards-affiliates.82/

It even states in the RA Info Widget that they conduct Untagged Cross Promotion! AGD (Andy) is stickler for having "factual proof". So to add the aformentioned, be assured he had "proof" of CR/RA cross-marketing minus the affiliate tags

We have revenue coming from Rewards Affiliates from MANY casinos that we never promoted.

Your one of the lucky affiliates then.

Lets take Playshare Group.... (back then I had about 30 portals - in some instances I held 9 of the 10, page 1 listings on google for certain keyword phrases) I'd been promoting all their casinos since they opened in 2006. When CR bought them, my tagged players were supposed to be mapped over. How many were? a big fat zero! Same goes for the other MGS brands (who I'd been promoting since 2000), also bought by CR.

It seems some affiliates who were also tied up in this mess, have since suffered memory-loss issues for whatever reason

Anyway, all this happen 6+ years ago...I'm sure CR/RA have since addressed/fixed the tagging problem. For me, it's water under the bridge (that doesn't mean I'd ever let what happen be swept under the carpet, with anyone blowing-it-off as a "rumour").

Edit:
Didn't want to add an extra post.

Would someone from Casino Rewards please explain the untagged crossed marketing practice?

Your best asking that question over at the GPWA, because Renee ceased posting to AGD when this was all going down.

To date she has never made a post here since.

 

[slotplayer]

So the last time I had a 4 figure player was Sept 1, 2015 but did they wager last month.

Casino: UK Casino Club - Mobile
Joined: 01 September 2015
First Bet: 01 September 2015
Last Bet: 01 April 2017

 

[byebyebaby]

I don't promote them a lot, so maybe I am not the best person to comment.

They did pretty ok for a couple of months and then it got a lot slower.

I believe the main reason, people don't want to download casinos anymore. They want to play directly online.
Also I remember in the past sometimes my anti virus went crazy when I downloaded one of those Microgaming download casinos. Maybe this is still the case?

Please upgrade to an online platform, like most casinos are these days.

 

[TheGooner]

@TheGooner (including anyone else) - can visit DOCH (dodgyonlinecasinohistory.net)

Thank for the link - never heard of DOCH before.

 

[NDG]

I remember when they had revenue share and then they were changing all affiliate accounts over to wager share.
You had to contact the affiliate program by a certain date to keep revenue share, or your account would automatically
be converted over to wager share. The correct method would have been for affiliates to opt into the new wager share, but
they made it so inactive affiliates that did not contact them, would no longer be paid on revenue share for their account.
After that, they were unwilling to change back affiliates to revenue share, even when they never agreed to the change.

 

[slotplayer]

I remember when they had revenue share and then they were changing all affiliate accounts over to wager share.
You had to contact the affiliate program by a certain date to keep revenue share, or your account would automatically
be converted over to wager share. The correct method would have been for affiliates to opt into the new wager share, but
they made it so inactive affiliates that did not contact them, would no longer be paid on revenue share for their account.
After that, they were unwilling to change back affiliates to revenue share, even when they never agreed to the change.

You can open a second account on rev share, the only thing is no player level stats.

 

[AussieDave]

@NDG - tbh I prefer the wagering model. Not good if you have players who don't play slots. However, being paid 1.3% on wagering from slots (which also includes any wager from free chips/loyalty) is imho a pretty neat deal. Best thing, you know exactly how much your making each month, cause there is no fear of being wiped out from a winner.

never heard of DOCH before.

It's my watchdog site (dodgyonlinecasinohistory.net - aka DOCH), which has been running since 2010.
Not as vigilant these days with it. Frankly I'm not making the dollars I was, and can't spare the time, like I could previously on this affiliate/player courtesy service.

 

[bonustreak]

That is alarming and sad that the AM will not come and address any of these concerns.

 

[Guard Dog]

I doubt Rene even knows of this thread.