Money grab: Ladbrokes dumps all U.S. affiliates; steals future residual income

[Engineer]

As if the recent rogue changes weren't bad enough, Ladbrokes has now decided to fuck over their U.S. based partners by closing affiliate accounts and stealing future residual income.

From my mailbox:

Dear affiliate,

We write with reference to Score, the Ladbrokes and LBapuestas Affiliate Programme in which you are currently participating.

We regret to inform you that Ladbrokes and LBapuestas have taken the business decision to cease commercial partnerships with all of our affiliates based in the USA.

In accordance with Clause 12.6 of our terms and conditions (a copy of which can be found by clicking on the following link xhttp://www.score-affiliates.com, we hereby provide you with written notice that we are terminating our contract with you with effect from 23:59 on 31 October 2012.

Of course, all commissions due and payable to you in respect of the period 1 October 2012 to 31 October 2012 (if any) will be paid in full in accordance with the terms of our contract with you. This is in addition to all other outstanding commissions (if any) due and payable by us to you in accordance with the terms of our contract. Please do so by emailing affiliatepayments@ladbrokes.co.uk with your payment details together with a pdf document on your company letterhead with the required
authorised signatory on the account.

Please be aware that with effect from 23:59 on 31 October 2012 the licence granted to you pursuant to Clause 7.1 of our terms and conditions to display the relevant Ladbrokes and LBapuestas brand features and related content will terminate. Therefore we kindly request that you remove and refrain from using all Ladbrokes and LBapuestas branding (including, but not limited to, all of our logos, trade marks and trade names) and any other Ladbrokes and LBapuestas content from your website at all
times after this date. Please also note that access from your website to our score platform will be blocked by us with effect from 23:59 on 31 October 2012 and therefore we also request that you remove all links on your website to the score platform with effect from this date.

Should you have any queries, please contact affiliatequeries@ladbrokes.co.uk. We would like to thank you for your efforts to date and we look forward to working with you again in the future where business circumstances permit.

Kind regards,

Score Affiliates Team

 

[dominique]

I sure hope that's not the start of a fad.... If they are doing this in preparation of an entry to the US, I sure hope they are not thinking US affs will be welcoming them with open arms...

 

[GamTrak]

Another reminder of why I left iGaming for 3 years. I can't act surprised and expect more crap to happen to affiliates as time goes on. It's so dis-heartening to work so hard for years only to be robbed overnight.

 

[Guard Dog]

ridiculous I don't think this is prep to open in the US. Can't imagine that being a good strategy.

It is yet another crappy move by a crappy affiliate program, though. Sad considering Ladbrokes used to be an honest program.

 

[CygX1]

...Looks like they first waited to make this public until the conference was finished.

I wonder what the next suprise from SCORE will be.

 

[CaseyM]

...Looks like they first waited to make this public until the conference was finished.

I wonder what the next suprise from SCORE will be.

They did their last **** move right before LAC and I didn't see anyone at their both complaining, I thought everyone would be queuing up! I don't think they care about maintaining a good reputation at all... conferences ahead or not. They don't need affiliates and they definitely don't act like it!

 

[Guard Dog]

I think they should be named: 'Screw Affiliates'.

 

[CygX1]

Does their affiliate agreement allow them to take this action? If not, I would file a major complaint within the jurisdiction of their affiliate programm.

 

[PaaskeUK]

This is absolute disgusting! I am Danish but live in UK for 4 years now with my sweet English fiancee. And trying to make a breakthrough in this affiliate world which is hard, but great fun

But must say I am disgusted with the way Ladbrokes is treating affiliates.

I think it is a shame that such a big bookmaker does this. I really wanted to give them a chance, as I managed to get higher commission through Income-access. But have never started promoting them.

Just really a shame as my main target country is UK. It is a great brand to promte, just a shame the back office is so out of this world

 

[KasinoKing]

I can't understand what their thinking is behind this move.
I mean, what does it matter WHERE the affiliate LIVES?
Surely the only issue is where they advertise the brand.
As long as it's not on USA targeted sites (which would be absolutely pointless), what's the problem? ???

KK

 

[bonustreak]

The board was obviously thinking about themselves and it is a damn shame considering it took me a friggin year just to be paid recently & still that check has not cleared the back after 3 wks!

 

[shortow]

I struggle to understand the decision to discontinue work with affiliates based on location - the fact that no reason is given in the notice doesn't help me to understand.
This is a blow to US affiliates, but also a serious red flag to any affiliates based in other countries with online gambling prohibitions - who's to say we won't be next? Doesn't make you want to work to grow a player base

 

[slotsaff]

This is an absolute disgrace - I've emailed them and pointed them to this thread.

Even though I am based in the UK, I cannot work with them if they treat affiliates like this. And they will keep the players too which is more outrageous.

What if I was to move country? What would happen? Do Labrokes think that if the US opens all US-based affiliates will suddenly change their mind and promote them? I don't think so.

 

[baldidiot]

It's a shame to see such an awesome high street bookie throw away their potential like this. If they got a decent program going and stopped screwing affs they'd be laughing (sound like any other big UK high street bookie you know? lol).

 

[CygX1]

I consider this program on the same level as Bewinners by now. Good luck to those who are still promoting them. You may expect to see your work and earnings go gadunk one morning.

 

[Engineer]

Well, the day has arrived -- Ladbrokes will rob all of their U.S. affiliates in just a few hours.

FYI everyone, I started a thread about this at Casinomeister, and the Ladbrokes rep posted a response yesterday.

Still no word from CM himself, though, regarding whether he will keep Ladbrokes on his Accredited list. Hopefully not, but time will tell.

 

[Guard Dog]

Well, the day has arrived -- Ladbrokes will rob all of their U.S. affiliates in just a few hours.

FYI everyone, I started a thread about this at Casinomeister, and the Ladbrokes rep posted a response yesterday.

Still no word from CM himself, though, regarding whether he will keep Ladbrokes on his Accredited list. Hopefully not, but time will tell.

I posted, but hasn't CM been HUGE fans of Ladbrokes? I wonder what Bryan is going to do about it all? I certainly hope he makes the right decision. Ladbrokes public shareholders must not know anything about this whole thing. It's ridiculous to steal from your sales team and feel 'good' about it.

 

[Engineer]

I have officially rogued them here: Ladbrokes is Rogue

Actually, I originally rogued them in January when they forced retroactive lower commissions on everyone, but I added a lot more to the page just now.

I will be very surprised if they remain on CM's Accredited list, considering how he feels about this type of behavior. (See his write-up about Grand Prive.) I would assume that the same logic holds true for any company, but time will tell if Ladbrokes is "more equal" than Grand Prive.

 

[CygX1]

I posted, but hasn't CM been HUGE fans of Ladbrokes? I wonder what Bryan is going to do about it all? I certainly hope he makes the right decision. Ladbrokes public shareholders must not know anything about this whole thing. It's ridiculous to steal from your sales team and feel 'good' about it.

If I understand correctly, Bryan should also be directly affected by this, as his company Blitz21 is registered in that country.

 

[ocportal]

This is crazy, hopefully things get better with a good solution for everyone.