A class action suit may be too little too late. Besides, what webmaster would be willing to shell out the cash for legal representation when it's only a few hundred bucks that they are owed? I think after a couple of lawyer bills most would lose interest. A class action suit (IMO) should have been pursued in December 2008.
@ Gamtrak - I'm really surprised to see you joining this discussion here after your childish "Casino God" (me) rant over at GPWA. I don't take personal attacks lightly - especially after I have assisted you with your recent PAB (amongst other things). I feel that the GPWA is a better venue for your participation, not this forum.
@every else: it's pretty much clear to me that the operators of Grand Prive are the sole offenders in this unprecedented eff-up. I don't see how eCOGRA or MGS can be thrown into the same blame pit.
Affiliate marketing is just that - it's
marketing. I know this won't sit well with a lot of webmasters but it's your own damn fault for promoting a casino group that has been in and out of the rogue pit for years. What did you expect? An honest deal? C'mon - quit your whining and move on.
As for eCOGRA giving webmasters the shaft - think again. It was eCOGRA that agreed to conduct this audit in the interest of getting aggrieved affiliates paid - they performed this audit as agreed by both parties (GP and eCOGRA) and on the surface, the "fair settlement for claimants" was IMO fair.
BUT - as it's been surmised - were they given all of the data? A number of you have it pretty much figured out, and by eCOGRA's recent statement - read between the lines. It's over. GP will not return to this issue.
These are uncharted waters and the landscape can change with each new issue. This is the first time eCOGRA has audited an affiliate program and I believe will be the last time they ever volunteer to stick their necks out for the affiliate folk. Just an observation.
eCOGRA is not your enemy. eCOGRA is primarily set up to deal with player issues. There has always been a debate about marketing issues vs player issues and how they are intertwined, but the bottom line is that eCOGRA was never set up for dealing with the marketing side of the picture. Only recently are they approving affiliate programs. I'm sure it would be a different situation altogether if Fortune Affiliates, Referback, or another eCOGRA accredited aff program attempted to do what GP did.
Further: MGS
is taking this seriously. Lest we forget. It was reported that all GP affiliates who had active players and were earners were paid when the aff program was closed. Whether this is true or not - who knows? But was MGS required to check and double check this when no one presented them an official complaint? An official complaint is a written grievance presented to their corporate office; it's not complaining anonymously on a public message board (if the shoe fits, wear it). I'm just tossing that into the ring. Don't forget, this is
not a player issue - it's
marketing and probably would not get the same level of attention that a serious player complaint would get.
Affiliates that promote operations that are mismanaged, or have flaky operators should ask themselves this: why are these worthy of promotion? What did you expect?
You should have been promoting
32Red or Club World instead
