Restart your campaigns with GoWild Affiliates

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[AussieDave]

There are SO many other companies doing the same thing but your freaking out on GW only?

I'm not as you put it "freaking out". If I was, you'd know it

My question to you as a Administrator of AGD is...

If your aware of other programs doing this identical practice, and if the AGD catch cry is "Protecting Affiliates Interests", then why aren't you and your fellow Mods/Admins taking a hard-line-stance against this stealing of referred players and commissions, and naming and shaming the programs involved?

Doing that would fit within the criteria of "Protecting Affiliates Interests", too!

Instead it seems anyone who takes a stand against unethical practices; regardless of the time frame, is viewed with contempt. If you have trouble comprehending that, take a few minutes to go back over this thread, and read the responses to Shay and myself. Certainly not supportive. If anything, unsupported and bias, is more befitting of the truth!

 

[Shay]

Again this has been going on for 2 yrs now with the redirect, why are you just now complaining? There are SO many other companies doing the same thing but your freaking out on GW only?

As I pointed out earlier, this was not the first time this was brought up in this forum on this company.

Out of sheer curiosity - this may have been answered and I missed it, why exactly is the sponsor not here speaking for themselves?

 

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[bonustreak]

Honestly Dave since all the casinos pulled out of the US it is very difficult to keep up and remember all the brands doing this... This again has been in place for 2 yrs now with GW..
I don't see a problem because I am GEO targeting.. The bundling they always have been transparent about.

There are so few companies left in this day and age to market .. I am traveling right now so cannot respond fast, sorry..

 

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[slotplayer]

I'd agree "masking" blind affiliate links (eg text link says... visit our free games.... but link redirects to a casino), then that is dodgy/unethical. However if a player is clicking on a casino banner, button or link, where they are actually being sent to casino stated (or whatever), then it's not dodgy/unethical.

I'm however surprised, you'd try and lump "masking" links, in with GoWild stealing referred players and commissions.

covert - not openly acknowledged or displayed.
transparency - The characteristic of being easy to see through.

That's a nice try but we all know why affiliates mask links.

Don't get me wrong I agree with you big picture and its not something I'd be personally be comfortable doing but you adapt to business changes or get left behind.

 

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[Onlinea]

I have removed them and I am making much better without them. Only wasting time, ad space and money by promoting them..

 

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[FictionNet]

I'm astonished anyone is still defending this dodgy practice by Go Wild.

 

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[Guard Dog]

GoWild is not going to respond here. They have made their statements many, many times and feel they were 100% transparent.

I know @AussieDave, @Shay, and @FictionNet are not in agreement with this at all. I, however, am. We ask programs to be open and communicative. We shame them when they are not (in fact, AGD sponsor programs can lose their status when they don't communicate). In this instance, they did communicate and are still being shamed. Everyone here is clouded by their own bias, IMO. I'm not taking myself out of that group, btw. As a result, nobody is going to "see eye to eye".

GoWild has been a good group since Day 1. AGD allowed them to sponsor because of this. They have lived up to that status since that point, IMO. I know everyone doesn't agree on this. I have never had to defend a sponsor program like this. I have removed many sponsors over the years. In fact, I have even rogued a few when they became non-communicative or some large issue was determined that they were unwilling to fix. GoWild, on the other hand, has done their utmost to leave the UK market while letting affiliates know what was happening.

I temporarily removed GoWild sponsorship 3 days ago. Something I did while thinking over the issue. In that time, I've had some family issues that needed dealing with before any of this. That is still ongoing. Regardless of all that, I will likley let GoWild at least finish their sponsorship term. If anyone thinks this is about money, this time slice is worth a very small amount.... probably under $50 USD. That's not what it is about. GoWild also would like to sponsor again. That is, of course, more than $50. At this point I do not know what we will do. I, personally, don't have a problem with that. 3 affiliates (mentioned above) do have a problem with it. So - it is likely that I will not let them sponsor. Since I do not agree with those affiliates and they do not agree with me - it feels strange caving to something I don't agree with at all. But - it is what it is.

I try to do the best thing at AGD everyday. There are those who have said they would quit AGD if we keep GoWild as a sponsor. AGD has always been on the side of the affiliate and that reputation spans a decade now. If an incident you do not agree with makes you want to give up on us.. then you absolutely should follow your heart. I, personally, feel that affiliates should look over the span of our work here and make that determination based upon the sheer amount of positive work we have done.

 

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[Shay]

The only problem I personally have with GoWild is their redirection of UK traffic (regardless of source) to another casino. It is my opinion that if they left the UK market, they should not be benefiting from that market. Putting a Geo-targeted disclaimer (we no longer accept UK customers) on their site would satisfy my issue with them on this matter.

I might feel differently if GoWild were never in the UK market and shipping traffic elsewhere - but to be honest, I'd probably be irritated with this for different reasons.

In either instance, it is far from "best practice" and "transparency" when you are in the business of accepting referrals of the affiliate type and you ship any business away (without the opportunity to give your referral source credit).

Think of it this way - If this were a retail site and paid you 25% of all sales generated by your referral link... Suddenly, they quit shipping to the UK (and let you know)... However, they know someone who does and they take the liberty of redirecting potential customers to that new site (who does ship to the UK) but they do not credit you when the "similar product" is purchased yet the retail site does receive financial credit for the sale? I'd be wondering why tf I am not cut in on this too!

I know... Loyalists will say geo-target - even if it is not a simple task of changing 1-2 "go" links. The fact of the matter is that if I'm not the one who pulled out and cut my partners out of the meal, why should I be the one who needs to clean up the mess?

Separately, I know others have their own legitimate reasons for being frustrated with GoWild. If I were in their shoes, I'd probably be salty as well. Sure, that irritation should be shared with 32Red but the issues affiliates are having with the player bases that were sold on is still GoWild's issue as well. They negotiated the deal and if affiliates feel things are not going right - they have every right to be irritated with GoWild as it was they who picked the "customer" and it was they who signed the deal.

 

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[Guard Dog]

Good post @Shay. I understand your opinion and point(s).

I think it is very important to note that had GoWild just did what everyone did after US was banned... (i.e., just stop letting players play).. nobody would have been 'salty' and nobody would have ever gotten any commission ever again from those players (instead of them getting commission from the players at 32Red).

Funny how they let affiliates continue to get commissions on their existing player base (as much as they were able to), yet everyone is salty about it

Yes, I would say Geo-Target. Of course. That is the day and age we are in. If we can't do that, then we are losing out on valuable traffic every single day.

 

[FictionNet]

The only problem I personally have with GoWild is their redirection of UK traffic (regardless of source) to another casino. It is my opinion that if they left the UK market, they should not be benefiting from that market.

And that simple point appears to be going over the heads of many.

I take no pleasure in leaving this forum now, permanently. My account can be closed. It's no place for me now.

 

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[Shay]

Good post @Shay. I understand your opinion and point(s).

I think it is very important to note that had GoWild just did what everyone did after US was banned... (i.e., just stop letting players play).. nobody would have been 'salty' and nobody would have ever gotten any commission ever again from those players (instead of them getting commission from the players at 32Red).

Funny how they let affiliates continue to get commissions on their existing player base (as much as they were able to), yet everyone is salty about it

Yes, I would say Geo-Target. Of course. That is the day and age we are in. If we can't do that, then we are losing out on valuable traffic every single day.

I can't disagree that affiliates employing geo-targeting is certainly a "best practice" in this case.

However, GoWild accepting credit for UK traffic and passing it on to their affiliates or serving a "we no longer accept players residing in the UK page or using bounceback would also be "best practice" for them.

 

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[falseadoom]

If they cross promote the UK traffic without giving credit to affiliates what are they doing internally with other brand. I personally only promoted gowild and my players disappeared big time. I have no players at wildjackpots. When they changed affiliate software players disappeared, when they sent UK players to 32red, those players disappeared.
So now it is about trust and are they being open and honest or sneaky? I decided to go with gut feeling on this one.

As for them cross promoting to Lucky247 this is cross promoting to a brand I am promoting and competing with me with my own referral traffic. We as affiliates do need to take some responsibility to protect our traffic and pick partners who really want to have good long term relationships. Now I have to look at lucky247 as well for allowing this to happen, both are not doing what is best for affiliates.

 

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[inspiration]

I tend to agree with the gentlemen here, a platinum sponsor should not be going around affiliates.

Even when you can look at it at each angle, it remains "inappropriate" behaviour and rewarding GoWild for this UK redirect as a premium sponsor, this can not stand the day light no matter how bad the weather is outside on the competitive internet.

IF you really want to "steal" the show here at AGD implement a redirect for affiliates, compensate the referrals or simply do not redirect the traffic your gambling site can not accept.

But hey its your call not my decision you make with this forum, and it is up to the casino owners to do whatever they want with their goals.

I am not buying their BS to send more traffic but many other affiliates will give them a try - as they AGD platinum sponsors must be 100% OK or not ? - just to find out later their UK traffic is redirected.........what a disservice IMO.

Id they remain sponsor at least have a warning sign for the redirect.

just my 2 cents.

 

[inspiration]

And that simple point appears to be going over the heads of many.

I take no pleasure in leaving this forum now, permanently. My account can be closed. It's no place for me now.

I would be very careful, AGD forum management, you tend to lean more to the sponsor arguments then to senior member contributions.

At some point it can backfire.

If being an affiliate is your way of living then any distortion of a program regarding your income, no matter if this is the trend or whatever BS they sell you, in the end it is money for them or you.

 

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[Guard Dog]

I would be very careful, AGD forum management, you tend to lean more to the sponsor arguments then to senior member contributions.

That is not even remotely true.

 

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[slotplayer]

close the thread

 

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[falseadoom]

I don't know that having a redirect is an actual violation of sponsorship. It might not be the best practice and shows they are not willing to work with partners to help benefit them on their own referral traffic. It is our choice to continue promoting them knowing they do this. ( I elected not to but for more than this reason alone as I do have ability to geo )

It would be helpful if Andy put up icons showing programs which do redirect traffic that way affiliates without geo targeting in place can decide on their own if they want to promote. Just would be a helpful tool.

 

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