888 / Casino On Net Condoning Site Scraping & Copyright Theft?

[thelawnet]

Originally Posted by Casinomeister

I've moved this from the Webmaster's Section to here since I feel that this affects everyone in this industry: affiliates, operators, players, etc.

Site scrapping and content theft are very serious issues that need to be halted now.

Well there are plenty of other issues as bad. Lots of ECOGRA-casinos are promoted by spammers. I have had spam messages posted to a charity website I run. The casino will probably close them down if you report them, but it's not exactly top of their priority list, otherwise these spamming bastards would not be doing it because they would not get paid and it would not be worth their while.

There is a very serious spamming problem from online gambling, from spam email onwards.

I do not believe casinos really care, because most affiliates are not operating legitimate sites like this one, but rather crappy doorway pages. Do the casinos care? Of course not, they are making money.

But Fortune Lounge for instance is not being proactive about spam like this

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt...4b2fef8225a4f3
http://best-free-now.be.cx/

I think no questions asked is the motto. Bring us the customers, and who cares if you are a dirty spammer?

[Simmo!]

Originally Posted by thelawnet

I think no questions asked is the motto. Bring us the customers, and who cares if you are a dirty spammer?

You're right TLN. You definately get the impression that there is an element of "turn a blind eye" here. 888 were made aware of the issue a long time ago but it still remains a huge problem. It's only really now that the voices of dissent are becoming more collective. Probably a long way to go too to make them take it seriously. But you gotta have snow to make a snowman.

[jetset]

I would like to ask a question here, hopefully without provoking anyone:

What are the affected webmasters doing about tackling this themselves in a cohesive manner? Is there any sort of affiliate umbrella organisation that is coordinating everyone into an efficient team to combat and manage this issue? CAP? iGAMI? Dom?

Are you guys acting individually or have you put your heads together and worked out a smart and if necessary cooperatively funded strategy for pressuring 888 to come right (using tactics other than emailing eCOGRA and posting on the fora, that is)

There are surely several different avenues that could be seriously considered, assuming that 888 and its management do not come to the party?

[Simmo!]

Originally Posted by jetset

What are the affected webmasters doing about tackling this themselves in a cohesive manner? Is there any sort of affiliate umbrella organisation that is coordinating everyone into an efficient team to combat and manage this issue? CAP? iGAMI? Dom?

I think until now, there has been a lot of speculation and plenty of clues, but nothing quite as obvious as what Webzcas found today. While some people have stopped affiliating with 888 as a result, I think many people have been keen to see proof before they act.

Hopefully now, the people with influence on the webmaster side will be able to bring it together with more purpose. Whether 888 choose to act of course, only time will tell. There is a ripple of opinion circulating that hey might be considering "going it alone". And maybe Webzcas has stumbled on the bricks and black mortar boards (sic) for that plan?

[rowmare]

Originally Posted by jetset

Is there any sort of affiliate umbrella organisation that is coordinating everyone into an efficient team to combat and manage this issue? CAP? iGAMI? Dom?

At iGAMI we have been actively pursuing this issue since December, 2005. Unfortunately, we have not had much cooperation with other large gambling sites. We have already been through the same type emails showing at CAP from 888.com - closing of scraper sites (but only specific ones we brought to their attention), the promises to look into it... it's just a repeat of what iGAMI has already gone through.

So, we've helped to keep it going at CAP, where a very large number of webmasters can read what is going on. Hopefully something will come of this.

It would be prudent for gambling webmasters to join iGAMI, so that we can demonstrate to the programs that we can and will act together to make this industry honest. iGAMI is not a replacement or a competitor to forums, such as CAP, but a place where complaints are registered and dealt with.

[jargon]

I quess I am not fooling anybody by calling myself jargon. But I must agree iGami
has been doing their homework on 888.com idiots for quite sometime now. The more people who cooperate on this issue the better chance we all have. Me personally have no monetary interest at all. I just want one thing, people who work hard should reep the benifits, rather than have it stolen. My loyalties lie with CAP and they have been more than accomodating on this pressing issue.

So I say come together and fight this deamon we see before us!!!

[jetset]

[QUOTE=rowmare]At iGAMI we have been actively pursuing this issue since December, 2005. Unfortunately, we have not had much cooperation with other large gambling sites. We have already been through the same type emails showing at CAP from 888.com - closing of scraper sites (but only specific ones we brought to their attention), the promises to look into it... it's just a repeat of what iGAMI has already gone through.

So, we've helped to keep it going at CAP, where a very large number of webmasters can read what is going on. Hopefully something will come of this.[QUOTE]

Yes, I've seen a lot of posts on this at WOL and now here, but I guess what I'm getting at is something that is a little more comprehensive, planned and effective through a range of carefully assembled vehicles and options, with teams allocated specific responsibilities and integrated timeframes for each aspect.

If you're going to fight big business like 888 then the best chance of success lies in working the way big business does (financial restrictions notwithstanding) in an organised and more cohesive fashion imo.

If that can be put together on a large scale (and I am confident that webmasters/affiliates have the skills to do it) and applied with determination, then if 888 does not come right you guys could have a pretty formidable machine that can influence business significantly.

[rowmare]

We're prepared to do what it takes, but we need the support of the gambling community. Plain and simple. If webmasters don't pull together, there's little a handful of us can do.

[Chatmaster]

Remember this is just my own opinion. I am sorry rowmare, I agree with most you say but... For IGAMI to act as that somebody is simply impossible. My visit over there revealed to me 2 things. 1st of all it has a completely private ownership amongst affiliate buddies and if the group involved in the background doesn't like you will probably stay out. The entire structure of the idea is wrong and nothing solid. Secondly I do not think that IGAMI is neutral in their decisions. When conformation for certain statements were requested a simple post was made we have the evidence, blah blah blah. We know you say you have but please show it? Besides I feel the GPWA and CAP has proven to be alot more successfull in resolving these issues rather than just go wild, then actually making difference in the affiliate industry as a whole. I do agree that we need an institution like eCogra for the affiliate side of things. Where there can be no doubt that the controling body is impartial and mature.

At the end of the day this thread is once again steering off on a doom because of IGAMI promos. Let's focus on 888 and nothing else at this stage.

[Webzcas]

Let's focus on 888 and nothing else at this stage.

Agreed. The affiliate community at CAP is actively pursuing this issue with 888. I am happy with that. This is not a time, or the thread to hawk other fledgling affiliate bodies IMO.

This thread is all about 888 and their percieved turning a blind eye, with regards many of their affiliates who conduct site scraping to promote their brands. Furthermore, this thread concerns 888 Holdings / Cassava being actively behind blog spamming, as per the first post in the thread. Let's please keep this the topic.