Affiliate Announcements

888 to shut down UK affiliate programme?

Published

7 years ago

January 29, 2018

888 has denied it is shutting down its UK affiliate programme after a number of affiliates received emails yesterday stating they must no longer target UK traffic and 888 would no longer pay them commission for newly generated players.

In an email seen by iGaming Business, affiliates were told: “As you may be aware the regulatory landscape for affiliates is constantly changing and evolving, especially in the UK. In order to help ensure that we work with our affiliate partners in a compliant manner, we are seeking to exert greater control on the traffic which is generated from the UK.

“As a result, from January 29th 2018, you must not target UK IP addresses and/or any persons located in the UK. Therefore, we shall no longer pay you any commission with regard to money players in the UK which you generate.”

Some posters on the GPWA (Gambling Portal Webmasters Association) forum interpreted the email to mean the programme was shutting down. “Unless I’m reading things incorrectly with my dodgy eyes…bye bye then!” said one.

When contacted by iGB, the operator said: “888 takes the issue of responsible gaming very seriously and has taken a number steps to ensure its marketing complies with the Gambling Commission’s LCCP and ASA’s advertising codes.

“In order to monitor the actions of affiliates more closely, 888 has already terminated its relationship with a large number of affiliates and will continue to close and terminate accounts in order to work with fewer affiliate partners and have better oversight of their activities.”

Duncan Garvie, who runs affiliate and mediation site ThePogg, said he hadn’t received the email as he no longer works with 888, but that it didn’t surprise him.

“I’ve been anticipating this particular move for a while now. With the punitive approach the UK authorities have been taking towards operators and affiliates we’ve already seen a number of programmes close up completely or implement very aggressive terms.

“I was fully expecting one of them to work out eventually that they simply had to stop accepting UK traffic from affiliates rather than close or destroy their reputation with really questionable terms.”

Another poster on the GPWA forum pointed out the email did also contain the following line: “If you do wish to continue working with us in the UK please contact us, through this link: http://affiliates.888.com/contact-us.htm.”

His take on it was: “I think if you are prepared to work closely with them, accept the UK marketing guidelines and make any changes they request you to, that you can still carry on working with them.”

Operators have come under fire for their marketing activities, including those carried out by affiliates, over the past year and 888 was one of several operators to receive a warning from the Advertising Standards Authority over an advert run by an affiliate partner.

As a consequence, operators have been placing more and more compliance demands on affiliates. Bet365 recently carried out an overhaul of its programme and Paddy Power unveiled a ‘one-strike’ policy for affiliates in September.

In September, Sky Bet controversially announced that it was shutting down its affiliate programme altogether, although some have been cynical about its motives.

In a recent interview with iGaming Business’ sister publication iGB Affiliate magazine, Gambling.com’s Charles Gillespie said: “Let’s be clear — Sky still works with strategic media partners. My take on the Sky situation is that it was a set of unique circumstances — they are preparing for a listing this year, private equity owns the business, the owners and the management of the business are being very aggressive on hitting targets and what can be easier than turning off a bunch of legacy rev share and using compliance as an excuse?”

The 888 email suggested, however, that it will be taking a less heavy handed approach to historic traffic than Sky Bet, with the email also having stated: “The aforementioned shall not apply with respect to non-UK money players or to money players which you have generated in the UK prior to such date, subject to the Uffiliate terms and conditions found at http://affiliates.888.com/terms-and-conditions/ (the “Terms”).”

Source:iGB

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Affiliate Announcements

VERSUS Renews its Partnership with NetRefer as its Affiliate Marketing Platform Provider

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2025

George Miller

VERSUS Renews its Partnership with NetRefer as its Affiliate Marketing Platform Provider

VERSUS, a leading online casino and sportsbook operator in the Spanish iGaming market, has renewed its partnership with NetRefer, a top provider of affiliate marketing solutions for the iGaming industry.

Founded in 2019 as a rebrand of VivelaSuerte by Spanish leisure and entertainment giant Grupo Orenes, VERSUS has quickly become synonymous with premium online gambling experiences in Spain. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and a user-centric platform, VERSUS has secured its position as a major player in the European iGaming landscape.

Since its launch, VERSUS has expanded substantially, adding Yaass Casino to its portfolio, which aims to become the #1 Online Supercasino in Spain. With a license from Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), VERSUS operates across Spain and Mexico, with plans to expand into Brazil and Portugal in the next few months.

To deliver a unique and personalised betting experience, both VERSUS and Yaass Casino offer a wide range of customised promotions and bonuses, tailored to match players’ individual preferences and keep them engaged and rewarded.

With a strong commitment to mobile-first optimisation, users enjoy a seamless experience across all devices. Both brands provide dedicated apps that allow players to access sports betting, online casino games, and live betting options anytime, anywhere.

Customer service is a priority for both brands, with a professional support team ready to assist players with all types of questions and concerns. Responsible gaming is also central to the company’s policy; to support players facing gambling-related challenges, VERSUS provides resources, including a dedicated Responsible Gaming Test.

Miguel Albert García, Affiliate Manager at VERSUS, shared insights on the company’s approach to partnerships: “In just five years, VERSUS has experienced significant growth, thanks in large part to the partnerships we’ve built along the way. We’re excited to see where our journey with NetRefer will take both VERSUS and Yaass Casino.”

NetRefer’s CEO, Dexter Cutajar, expressed similar optimism: “Over the past four years, the relationship between VERSUS and NetRefer has been exceptionally rewarding, and we’re thrilled to have them renew their partnership with us. We’re equally pleased that VERSUS has chosen NetRefer for its second brand, Yaass Casino. We’re confident that our continued partnership will bring exciting opportunities for both companies in the years ahead.”

Affiliate Announcements

RavenTrack unites with StatsPlug to launch innovative affiliate tool

Published

2 weeks ago

January 16, 2025

George Miller

RavenTrack unites with StatsPlug to launch innovative affiliate tool

Affiliate tracking platform’s Odds Betting Banner Creation Tool allows publishers to create branded banners including real-time information and odds

RavenTrack, the fastest-growing affiliate tracking platform developed specifically for the industry, has joined forces with StatsPlug to add yet another cutting-edge tool to its platform.

The partnership means RavenTrack can use StatsPlug’s data-driven technology to roll out a first-of-its-kind Odds Betting Banner Creation Tool.

Operators can offer this tool to their affiliate partners, allowing them to create branded banners across a host of sports that include real-time information and odds.

This helps affiliates to push fresh content to their audiences which in turn allows them to drive acquisition and increase retention and player value from existing customers.

Adam Rowley, Managing Director at RavenTrack, said: “We are thrilled to be able to utilise the power of StatsPlug’s technology to provide yet another unique service to our clients.

“Our goal at RavenTrack is to give the greatest opportunity for success, and we believe implemented forward-thinking products like our Banner Creation Tool do just that.”

Mathew Symmonds, Co-Founder at StatsPlug, added: “RavenTrack is the perfect partner for StatsPlug’s self-service banner creation software.

“This integration enables RavenTrack’s affiliates and clients to create dynamic, on-brand banners independently, saving time and costs while driving higher conversions with timely and engaging media.”

To mark the launch of the product, expected in Q1 2025, RavenTrack is offering a one-month free trial to all existing customers who can utilise the power of the Banner Creation tool.

The launch of the Banner Creation Tool further enhances the RavenTrack platform, which allows operators to track, optimise and grow their affiliate programs.

It is a proprietary solution designed specifically for iGaming and to meet the unique demands of the sector including withstanding the pace and complexity of affiliate marketing for online sports betting and casino.

RavenTrack is reliable, accurate and fast, and has a seamless UX so operators don’t miss a single click or conversion and can easily dig into data and generate valuable insights.

Where RavenTrack really stands out is its reporting, with 20+ templates offering high levels of customisation and super granular levels of insight.

Affiliate Announcements

Statutory levy affiliate reaction

Published

2 months ago

November 27, 2024

George Miller

Below the latest reaction from QiH Group CEO Jamie Walters on the UK government’s statutory levy announcement:

Jamie Walters, CEO of QiH Group, comments: “While levies and taxes can sometimes be viewed as a burden, the truth is that most responsible gambling companies have already been making this contribution to research and harm-prevention as they see it as sensible and worthwhile. All that is happening now is a switch from voluntary to mandatory, and the rate is not punitively high.

“I personally think the industry should view this as a positive chance to work hand-in-hand with the NHS, charities and government as all stakeholders pull together to minimise gambling harm. Gambling is meant to be fun and entertaining and the industry must ensure that it is responsible, so that those in need can gain access to properly funded support as and when they need it.”