Farewell, Good Travels and Health

AussieDave

24 years & still going!
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Unless one has a direct hand on the pulse, then there will always be opportunities for dishonest people to shaft affiliates etc., etc.

Lets face it, we sign up to partner programs who, essential, hold ALL the Aces.

Those of us who are seasoned affiliates, maybe able to see 'dodgy' when it rears its head in our stats. However, unless one has unfettered access to clean-data, or the program is outright stealing with no care or conscience, then sorry but we're all flying blind, totally at the mercy of these affiliate programs.

I've currently got one program who I know is shafting me sideways. Who is using BS mathematics, to rob me blind. No I wont say who it is, I can't afford to lose anymore of the peanuts I'm being paid, now. Besides, blowing the whistle on who this is, is a moot point. It's not what this post is about.

What I'm saying is... unless you have total control over every aspect of your business, then your going to get shafted by crooks in this industry.

Over my 22 years in this gig, I've known a lot of AM's, and frankly, lots of upper echelon folks too. Having been told on different occasions, by different people, the same thing, the 'penny' drops, and you start to realise your getting screwed from day 1.

I turned 61 this month, and I could write volumes about all the crooked, dodgy and downright thieving bastards I, and others affiliates, have encountered over the years. Sure there are honest operators, AM's programs etc., etc. But on a whole, there are damn side more unethical goings on than there are honest actions.

In the last few days I've been busily setting up the DOCH forum. However, given all that's expressed here, in this post, I've decided, it's time to pull the pin, and say goodbye.

Of the 22 years I've been in this industry, a good 20 of those years have been spent, not only being an affiliate, but also running watchdog sites both for players and affiliates, alike. I can assure you, of the thanks given to me, it has been hugely overshadowed by people trying to bring me down.
  • Slur campaigns of outright lies leveled against my character.
  • People believing said lies and treating me like a pariah.
  • Humiliated with forum account closures; the catalyst of calling owners of said forum etc., etc., out on their BS given to players and affiliates.
I've tried to 'keep the bastards honest'. But sadly, it can not be fixed, or even repaired because there are way too many broken moral and ethical compasses.

The straw which broke the camel's back, came, as a result of a staff member or an indentured servant here at AGD, deleting one of my posts. Having experienced this hush-hush white washing over at the GPWA, at CAP years ago, and other iGaming affiliate forums, its' clear, ethics and honesty are changed like daily underwear.

It all depend on who is being called out.

Hidden agenda's, alliances, double standards, anything and everything which spells out ZERO integrity, can be found, and mostly always is leveled, at the feet of places which boast their looking after players/affiliates welfare. But frankly, it's all BS. Smoke and Mirrors.

I've wasted countless hours fighting against this crap. Standing up against tyranny in this industry, and all I've mostly received is contempt and untold character assignation attempts etc., etc.

So on that note, the 'penny' for me has finally dropped. Time for me to say goodbye.

All that remains for me to say is... Thanks to those small number of affiliates, program managers, casino owners and alike, who have stood by me, and are NOT dodgy. Who, like myself, believe one can be 100% ethical and successful, without the need to cheat, lie and steal.

To the rest of you, who, over the years, have treated me poorly, only on the basis that it may have or has affected you dodgy-business operations, I say to you... Kiss my ass!
 
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RazorGamer

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AussieDave, please don’t go. You’re really awesome and you’re the voice of reason and intelligence on both here and the GPWA. Please at least stay until the end of this year.
 

preditor

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Come on, Dave -don't leave us! For over an decade as a member at AGD, you are my true inspiration for opening my mouth on some topics at all! You have always been straight forward, not lowering your tone for some crap program reps! You're also only 61 bro, that's not even close to an age of retirement!

You are not getting away so easy! I will bumb this topic every single month for a decade if that's necessary to get you back here - That's a promise!
 

Barts

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We don’t know each other and compared with you im very new in this industry, but I enjoy reading your on spot posts.

I hope you will continue your fight for the rights of players, affiliates and a honest industry.

All the best!
 

Insider

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What should i say ? That longtime members leave because they get their posts deleted is understandable. Telling the truth can be sometimes very unpleasant. Deleting members posts although platform owners are also informed about this whole shit, is very questionable.

We all know that Dave telling us the truth and it sounds sometimes also a bit hard. But the owners don't want to spoil it with some companies, because it's about money.

Therefore it's better to delete a deserving member's post than to tell the company "we don't want you" because of ...
 

Jetman

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AussieDave, I never realised that you were 61, thats pretty amazing to find out, because it means you have managed to survive in the industry for this long! You have my outmost respect for that reason alone. I have read a lot of your posts and it is essential to have a few whistleblowers and downright detectives to get a clearer "behind the scenes" picture. Your insights will be missed. I wish you all the best on your new journey.
 

AussieDave

24 years & still going!
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@BetOnlineUK @RazorGamer @DaftDog @preditor @Barts @Insider @Jetman @gm2891 @Kadabra @eenzoo @Boid9 and anyone else who reads this thread...

Being an industry whistle-blower for best part of 2 decades, all your dealing with are crooked bastards, and others who, for whatever reason, want to see you gagged for good. And because of this, your mostly always in the firing line. When I started in Feb 2000 (39 years old), I was optimistic - always had been.

Now I'm mostly always cynical.

There's a Buddha quote which says:

What you think, you become.
What you feel, you attract.
What you imagine, you create.

Living with this negativity day in day out, especially when you've got a target on your back, takes its toll.

I don't want to live like this anymore. Hence, nothing changes IF nothing changes.

Kudos to everyone for your heart felt comments and feelings. I truly appreciate the thanks :)



Cheers

AussieDave
 

Juan Roman

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You will be sorely missed Dave! Hats off for fighting the uphill battles for so long.
 

RazorGamer

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Mate, we all sincerely wish that you could at least even stay until the end of next month, that's all
Will you please consider it?
 

Jops

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Of course we are being shafted. We have literally NO insight into ANY data. I am 100% sure they are robbing us. If anything needs regulation, it is the transparency of the aff programs because right now it's so shit. There is none.

I am very careful who I work with. If I notice some patterns that seems off, I remove the program. I have zero tolerance.

What we need is an affiliate organisation that can protect our rights, blacklist shady aff programs, take them to court and do audits on a regular basis.

Does anyone know if any aff program has been called out for stealing players/detagging them? I am sure this is happening all the time.
 

DaftDog

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What we need is an affiliate organisation that can protect our rights, blacklist shady aff programs, take them to court and do audits on a regular basis.
Many people have tried to get something like this off the ground, and all efforts have failed from lack of will from most other affiliates to support the individual efforts. I can't see it happening in the future either. :(
 

Strider1973

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Sad to hear that you want to leave - I hope it's only temporary!

What are you planning to do with your time? Continue grinding, but just without this forum? Or are you off to your retirement?

I wish you all the best Dave!
 

casinobonusguy

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I just read this and Dave I am sorry to see you go .I know what you mean though and after 17 years I have decided I am likely getting screwed over
from many programs but I focus on the ones that have put my kids through school and paid the bills for me. At the end of the day we cannot prove half the stuff and not all affiliates are treated the same ,some program have their select cheer leader affiliate to pump them in forums and social media ,likely don't shave as much from them as the rest of us. A group I know closed USA traffic then asked me if I can send them USA whales to play via VPN and Bitcoin ,yet they stole all my VIP players this way lol .I can prove it as a player from USA came to us for help on a payment and i sat for 9 months just shocked on the conversations I witnessed. I can spell the beans here but why bother as it will not matter to anyone. I figured out a long time ago it is every man for themselves in this industry. Even though I work with 48 programs there are 7 of them I truly trust 100% .I hope you reach out and let us know you are doing ok and it is truly a loss for all of us if you leave for good.
 

Jops

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Why not out those you suspect are scamming affiliates?
 

RazorGamer

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Dave, we’re all missing you, mate. You are a really knowledgeable and intelligent guy.
 

inspiration

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Despite arguments I think you deserve a medal for all the revelations and information you have given us (here and other forums) and the true intent of being transparent and honest.
 

AussieDave

24 years & still going!
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Why not out those you suspect are scamming affiliates?

I wasn't going to reply to anymore posts.

However @Jops, given your a new member, I wont read you the riot act on why hijacking someone's thread is bad forum etiquette. I suggest if you feel this strong abut this subject, you commence your own thread. Never hijack another member's thread ;)

@casinobonusguy - We go back a while you and I. We're both in the old-timer league. Thanks for you heartfelt comments, means a lot.

@inspiration - mate thanks for your kind words of support. I only ever did what I did, to try and better the industry for all. I sunk my own cash into operating my watchdog sites. I'm not sure many people know that.

I refused sponsorships etc., etc. I did, for maybe 6 months have some aff-links on DodgyOnlineCasinoHistory.net BUT I felt even those were a conflict of interest, so I removed them.

I was hoping DOCH.NEWS would become my crowning glory. But, unfortunately, aside from my small supportive gathering, the majority of affiliates don't seem to see the benefits.

Anyway, I feel the love from you all, thank you...
 
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