For far too long, igaming affiliates have been at the mercy of the programs with whom they “partner”. Many programs operate in an unethical manner. Often resorting to using fraudulent calculations (cooking the books), to shave legitimate commissions from their loyal affiliates. Sadly, 100% transparency is often voided. Of the referred player data provided to igaming affiliates, itemised fees and deductions from gross gaming revenue, is usually excluded. So too are tax invoices – monies garnished from affiliate earnings. Partners can only hope, the affiliate program is honest, and not robbing them blind.
I’m AussieDave – the outspoken casino affiliate. I don’t mince my words with unethical partner programs or people. Over all these years (Feb 2000) I’ve never sold out. My integrity is not for sale. Aside from being an affiliate, I’ve also operated a self-funded, player and affiliate watchdog site (Dodgy Online Casino History) since 2010. It reports on crooked and dodgy dealings, within the online gambling industry. Now, with 2025 approaching fast, and the maturing igaming industry, it’s time to galvanise a future vision with this centeralised movement – ‘days gone by‘ live on, with the adopted acronym, DOCH.
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” – 1876: John Stuart Mill
Most iGaming Affiliate Programs Shave
I know how it feels to have my commissions stolen, and that scammed-feeling. To date a sum close to US$2 million dollars has been shaved or stolen from me since 2000, by unscrupulous casino affiliate programs. As the saying goes: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” If it’s garnishing money which doesn’t rightfully belong to the affiliate program et al, then lets call it what it truly is…fraud and theft. Affiliates have next to no recourse when an affiliate program steals their commissions, players or worse, terminates their partner account on unscrupulous grounds and trumped-up BS.
Heinous acts like this, are akin to school yard bullies, standing over 1’st graders for their lunch money!
Sure, we can post warnings to gambling affiliate forums. However, member’s welfare usually takes a back seat to paid sponsors money. The sad, sober truth is, affiliate forum sponsorship money holds the forum or organisational host hostage. Then, the forum owners and admin serve their master, rather than defending the affiliates they’ve sworn to protect.
Most are too scared to speak out, for fear their affiliate account is terminated. Exactly what an Australian based program did to me in December 2023. I spoke out about RewardsAffiliates.com and their AU/NZ Tax fraud. They stole NZ$197K from me.
Some affiliates adopt a ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ like mentality. They seem to believe defending the crooked igaming program, will award them favourable treatment, and not have their own earnings, stolen. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.
Don’t be fooled by programs claiming partners aren’t an important source of referred players. If that was true, conferences would be filled with empty booths. Affiliates supply about 85%-97% of gambling customers. Clearly, the number one traffic source for casinos, sports books etc., are igaming affiliates. Ironically, you’d think programs would treat their partners with care and respect. Instead, many treat affiliates with contempt and severe prejudice.
Unethical igaming affiliate programs, often renege on the promise of “lifetime revenue for the longevity of players referred”, by retroactively reducing commission percentages, setting player quotas, and inserting phantom fees after the fact. They do this under the guise of an updated set of T&C’s. Some even close the affiliate program, only to immediately commence under a new company name. Thus gaining a dodgy-loophole to retroactively enact a new set of contractual T&C’s.
The term “under duress” comes to mind, in relation to updated T&C’s. Almost every igaming program uses this against their affiliate partners. What does “under duress” mean in this context? Psychological duress (involves the use of psychological intimidation). Economic or financial duress (is being forced to make decisions about finances).
Either way, the updated terms and conditions must usually be accepted and agreed to, in order to continue partnering with the affiliate program. Refuse to agree to the new contractual T&C’s, and usually your affiliate agreement is terminated, along with the program stealing your referred players, and future commissions. The industry treats affiliates very poorly at times.
Can iGaming Affiliates Force Changes?
If nothing changes – nothing changes. Right! To coin another phrase: ‘Monkey see Monkey do’. That certainly fits with these absurd, and most times over the top “Admin Fees”, which heavily reduce an affiliate’s earnings. Reiterating, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” If “Admin Fees” were a valid GGR deduction, then all programs would use them. But they don’t.
Hence, these “Admin Fees” are another scam to pilfer affiliate earnings. When a program scams, others think they can do it too. So, more and more programs include these fake “Admin Fees” and such.
The worst example of an “Admin Fee” scams, was manufactured by VideoSlots.com Affiliates (now known as partnerroom.com). In 2014, the program’s stats went MIA. By then, most VideoSlots partners were paid 3.08% commission. An eye-watering scam of 96.92% in mostly, bogus GGR deductions. Reiterating, lets call it what it truly is…fraud and theft.
So many igaming programs these days are cheating their affiliates. DOCH is here to oppose and expose these unethical and unconscionable acts. Our promises are simply. We fight for your rights to ethical fairness and transparency, from all igaming affiliate programs. If your against having your commissions stolen, tagged players shaved, and feel as strongly about your rights to fair treatment as DOCH does, then please consider supporting us, thank you.