Casinos

Casinos By Status

Popular Filters

By Banking Options

Games

All Games

Bonuses

Popular Bonus Filters

Forums

Popular Forums

Forum User Features

Complaints

Submit A Complaint (PAB)

PAB Rules and Guidelines

Browse PABs

Gambling News

Popular News Sections

About Us

About Us

external image

Casumo Affiliate Spam Problem

Click here to read our Casumo review
Casumo is reviewed and rated at Casinomeister:
casumo.webp

xxhttps://www.casinotopsonline.com/

Can I ask why superaffiliates don't have to comply with the same rules as smaller ones?
We have to have, at an absolute minimum, '18+, T&C's apply' on any marketing material, yet a superafiliate has nothing at all regarding terms and conditions.
Considering that site in question is owned by a fairly large casino operation (GIG), you would think they would be fully aware of the rules?
Just to be clear this is the case for all the casinos on that page, not just Casumo.
 
Thanks Stephen

I know you won't discuss punishments on the forum, but can I ask something.

I got 2 emails stating

Furthermore, and also of utmost importance, is that you will have to clearly state that 'T&Cs apply' whenever you communicate the Bonus Offer.
Click to expand...

You have until the 24th of August to make the changes - if you haven't done so already.
Click to expand...

Now please pay very close attention: IF you do not comply with our T&C's and the current market regulations, there will be no other way for us than to close your account. It's as simple as that. We cannot make any exceptions and there is no room for inconsistencies.
Click to expand...

I read that as make the changes by 24th August (6 weeks ago) or have your account closed, no exceptions.

Did I read it wrong?

Can I do some misleading advertising for you, grab a load of FTD's and not have to worry about my account as, if and when I get caught, I will just be told to make changes to it?
 
Affiliates have to get smart and do it quickly, fortunately most are getting the idea and we are heading in the right direction - FAST.

As you have highlighted on a number of posts in this thread it is not just Casumo who are having these issues (others seem to escape the spotlight we have, but that's a story for another day).

The affiliate in question is working on the website as we speak and by the end of today they will be within all guidelines. Are we going to close down a partner we have worked with for many years because they didn't add T&C apply to one of their many sources of traffic or are we simply going to ensure it is added going forward? Of course we care about compliance, we have a lot at risk here including our licence, but common sense has to take precedence sometimes.

If an affiliate is blatantly flouting the rules they are gone, in this case I do not think they are.

Also for reference on the week of the 24th of August there were many accounts closed (as they showed no interest in compliance), since that date there have been many more closed who decided not to act.

This isn't going to happen over night, its something we will work on every day whilst we have a UK licence. Just know that we are working our a**'s off over here to be 100% compliant and those affiliates who are in the same frame of mind we will work with and ensure they're complaint..

Anyone else is out of the door, along with anyone who seriously breaches marketing guidelines.

Again, we are thankful for your help with this.
 
Thanks for the reply Stephen.

No it isnt just Casumo having the problem, I think the reason you are in the spotlight is that there was an abundance of spam coming from your affiliates, people were reporting it to you (not just on here, on live chat, by email etc) and not a thing was done. You had multiple affiliates doing dodgy adverts, which again, nothing was seen to be done. Contrast that to other casinos, there are 3 who I have PM'd spam to recently who have got back to me within a couple of hours telling me I have been removed from the list and in 2 cases, closed the affiliate account at the same time for not being able to provide proof of opt in. The third is waiting on a response from the affiliate for the opt in.

The first website above is owned by GIG. I can't believe they don't know current legislation, which to be clear, has been in place a lot longer than the recent fines were handed out. In fact GIG affiliates sent out guidelines around the same time as you regarding compliancy, so they 100% knew. Its not like its a small website someone forgot about (I get that can happen, I've had over 1500 impressions on a skybet banner this week that I can't find to remove!) but they paid millions for that site, I can't believe no one has looked at it in the past couple of months, which is forgetting the fact it wasn't compliant before that.

I have said earlier in the thread I think you are doing a lot, ultimately, you should be happy people are posting in the thread, if someone else sees it, the person who gets in touch with you might be the ASA again to give more fines out! Surely its better you see whats wrong and get it fixed because someone moans at you a bit on a forum than get a fine in the 100's of thousands?

Thanks for getting things moving so quickly and although I might come across harsh at times, I just think there should be a level playing field, but it seems super affiliates get away with a lot more than small affiliates do (not a comment aimed solely at Casumo).
 
yet another.

xxhttp://casino.mindthebet.co.uk/review_casumo.php

Mad idea, why not send another communication to your affiliates giving them say 2 weeks to comply, and then close accounts to anyone who doesn't comply, regardless if you have worked with them a week or 10 years?

They've already had years to do this, and even if you took it from the recent fines, 6 weeks, so everyone in 2 months should be able to add 'New Customers, 18+, T&C's apply'. Lets not forget, significant terms and conditions should be no more than 1 click away from any advert, but that only applies if theres no space to fit them in the advert.

UKGC said:
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.
must always be prominently displayed within the main body of an advert. Eligibility restrictions, deposit requirements, the detail of wagering requirements, restricted odds/games, and withdrawal limits are likely to be considered significant. Our advice would be: if unsure, include it.

If time or space is genuinely limited (for example, a very small pop-up banner on a third party website) then these conditions must be made available within one click.
Click to expand...

Just to add to the above screenshots. GIG obviously don't give a shit about regulations. They 100% know the rules. Yet all they have done is add T&C's to the Casumo adverts. Not a thing to the others, which they are fully aware is not complying with current UKGC and ASA guidelines. They will also be aware it will be the casinos who get fined, not them. In my view, there is no way they could argue they don't have the space to put in what the UKGC say they should, so I'm not sure what they have done makes the advert compliant.
 
CasumoAffiliates said:
Hi Colin,

Just to confirm this account will be closed and we will be asking them to take us away from the site.

Best Regards
Stephen
Click to expand...

I think Colin deserves abit of credit here, he may be pissing you off but he is doing a good job of keeping the bad aff's away. I know we are not here to "dictate" what you do or how you do things but at the end of the day if it carrys on ignoring your rules and the ASA guld lines it will only come back to hit your selfs.

Glad your sorting it out now.
 
Hi Spintee,

I have already thanked Colin numerous times in the is thread and by Direct mail.

We appreciate the help and we're not taking it personally.

If anyone has concerns or any complaints my inbox is waiting, we are taking this seriously and I hope that shows.

Thanks again.
Stephen
 
CasumoAffiliates said:
Hi Spintee,

I have already thanked Colin numerous times in the is thread and by Direct mail.

We appreciate the help and we're not taking it personally.

If anyone has concerns or any complaints my inbox is waiting, we are taking this seriously and I hope that shows.

Thanks again.
Stephen
Click to expand...

Yes, I can confirm Stephen has thanked me :thumbsup:, which is a change to what was happening earlier in the thread with Alex :(

Can I ask, do you have anyone actively checking your affiliate websites for compliance or are you just waiting for complaints and fines?

I was a little bored so just searched google for casumo, these are on the first 2 pages (and I didn't even get to the end of page 2), how can you not have seen these not being compliant, its not like I've searched for some obscure term :confused:

xxhttps://www.johnslots.com/en/casino/casumo/

No T&C's from what I can see.

xxhttp://www.freespins.uk.com/review/casumo/

No T&C's and he must be on a special deal is he, being able to give out free spins with no strings, so presumably that's no wagering requirements then? I haven't quoted the other mistakes from that page, sure you will see them though :)

When you initially register at Casumo, you’ll find that 20 no deposit free spins are waiting for you. These free spins are handed out with no strings attached and require no input from a player as far as money is concerned.
Click to expand...

xxhttps://www.cardschat.com/casinos/casumo.php

No T&C's. I would suggest having a timer saying this bonus is only available for xx minutes is extremely misleading and most certainly against the guidelines (unless of course your bonus is being removed in the next hour?)

Why don't you take me on as a compliance officer for a month and I'll weed probably 90% of dodgy affiliates out in that time :D:p
 
To be honest its not fair to put the blame on Aleks, we were all slow to respond on this one

We're finally moving in the right direction and there are big things coming today Colin :)

Keep your eyes peeled.
 
Well done :thumbsup:

I won't report any further ads etc until after the 12th.

That email is pretty much exactly how I would have wrote it.

• Remove all Casumo Characters - I often wondered how that would sit with the UKGC!

Well done though on being extremely clear on what affiliates have to do :)
 
I've sent the rep several pms last couple of weeks regarding spam to my email from affiliates 'claiming' ive subscribed to their site.
The rep did respond, so hopefully the spam stops
 
Hi Colin,

This slipped past me, apologies.

We are looking in to this as we speak, I did try to find the ad live on facebook but couldn't. Any further info you can give me would be much appreciated.

Here or via direct mail.

Best regards
Stephen
 
dionysus said:
I've sent the rep several pms last couple of weeks regarding spam to my email from affiliates 'claiming' ive subscribed to their site.
The rep did respond, so hopefully the spam stops
Click to expand...

Hi Dionysus,

I am glad you managed to get your query handled but I didn't get any PM from you. I am guessing you contacted us through an alternative method.

In future could you DM this account or email [email protected] if it is regarding bad practice by affiliates, usually this is the quickest way to get this sorted.

Best Regards
Stephen
 
I'm also not sure this fits in with responsible gaming (from their on site review)

It’s possible to make a withdrawal before you have fulfilled the wagering requirement, but why would you? That means you’d lose all that lovely bonus money!
Click to expand...

Encouraging people not to cashout when they win?
They also use the cartoon type character on the review.
 
And this...

The bonus set-up is crazy – there’s €1,200 up for grabs if you do it properly! – We have never come across anything as generous before.

Basically, if you play the system right, you can bag as many as 200 free spins across some of the best games on the site. Plus, Casumo offers you bonuses on your first FIVE top-ups – We have never seen an opening offer quite like it before!

It means that if you deposit the optimum amount at each stage, you can wangle well over a grand in bonus credit! You get 20 free spins every day for the first 10 days and up to €1,200 in bonuses across your first five top-ups.

This has always been a problem that naive players pay the price for. They will follow such a plan to "play the system right" rather than just take their chances and play for fun, and run the risk of running into trouble when they win with accusations of "bonus abuse", as opposed to "playing for personal entertainment".

Mentioning promotions is fine, but the review needs to be balanced, not make it look like the casino has been daft enough to create a sure-win for the player who can "play the system right".
 
gottoslot said:
this seems al so ridiculous.. @colinsunderland do you really think they give a f*ck? or are they just responding to you because its here in the forum?
Click to expand...
Well as they have thanked me in public and private, and if they get caught the fines can be around £1000000 then I imagine they are quite happy someones pointing out their dodgy affiliates and their own dodgy averts. If nothing else, saves them employing people to do it for them :)

From a personal point of view, affiliates have been told in no uncertain terms, they have to be compliant with the rules, or they get accounts closed and lose any income.
 
dionysus said:
more Casumo spam today, and again, an affiliate that knows my name - I really question why all these guys have a name to go with my email
Click to expand...

That's telling the truth that they have bought your information from a casino since you don't subscribe to an affiliate with your name ever.
Or it's from Casumo themselves.

Edit: Colin was a bit faster....
 
it gets really frustrating, because casinos supposedly have all these privacy terms - and my email isnt even registered with my full name, yet makes it into the email offers I receive, telling me that it's definitely a casino that has leaked/sold/lost my info.
 
dionysus said:
it gets really frustrating, because casinos supposedly have all these privacy terms - and my email isnt even registered with my full name, yet makes it into the email offers I receive, telling me that it's definitely a casino that has leaked/sold/lost my info.
Click to expand...

Little tip
When you sign up for a casino, make very slight changes to your name and address details then if you get spammed you can tell 100% where it came from, or buy a domain with a catch all address and use the casino name as your sign up email address.

Example using a catchall address

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Very easy to tell where its came from

Or when signing up

Casumo
First Name : Dion
Last Name : Ysus

Leo Vegas
First Name : dion
Last Name : Ysus

Videoslots
First Name : DioN
Last Name : Ysus

Slotsmillion
First Name : Dion
Last Name : YSUS

You can do the same in the address, but name is best as your 'opt in' will always have a name. That way if you ask for proof of opt in and actually get it (which you should be able to now), you can trace it back to where it came from. I can say 100% one accredited casino (not Casumo) leaked/sold my information by using that method.
 
Hey Guys,

Sorry I have been away for a few days back to business now.

As a follow up the affiliate posted a few days back with the review that didnt meet standards was closed down. We have asked for the review/ads to be removed.

Dionysus, I am working on your inboxes, could you please send me a copy of the spam you received, I already have the tracking links.

@colin, all ads should have at minimum 18+, T&C apply, Begambleaware any you spot that don't have this, please send over.

We are working hard to get to a stage of complete compliance and of course we care, however we are working with thousands of listings across the net. Sometimes we do miss things and we fully appreciate you contacting us to make our lives that little bit easier.

Behind the scenes are are working on a solution to make our daily tasks easier but until that point we may miss a few tricks and we are happy for you guys to point things out.
 
CasumoAffiliates said:
Hey Guys,

Sorry I have been away for a few days back to business now.

As a follow up the affiliate posted a few days back with the review that didnt meet standards was closed down. We have asked for the review/ads to be removed.

Dionysus, I am working on your inboxes, could you please send me a copy of the spam you received, I already have the tracking links.

@colin, all ads should have at minimum 18+, T&C apply, Begambleaware any you spot that don't have this, please send over.

We are working hard to get to a stage of complete compliance and of course we care, however we are working with thousands of listings across the net. Sometimes we do miss things and we fully appreciate you contacting us to make our lives that little bit easier.

Behind the scenes are are working on a solution to make our daily tasks easier but until that point we may miss a few tricks and we are happy for you guys to point things out.
Click to expand...

Well done on closing them down :)

Well heres a different one this looks like your own google advert, but just in case it isn't heres the link

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


casumo2.webp


If these are your own adverts, why are they not compliant?
 
Hi Colin,

This is indeed our own ad, once you click it you are taken directly to the homepage where all significant terms are listed directly below the offer, well within eye view.

The terms state:

*18+ New customers only. 20 free spins in Starburst on registration. Bonuses are on opt-in basis. Min deposit is £10. 30x wagering requirements apply for bonuses and winnings to be withdrawn. Contribution % towards WR vary from 0% to 100% according to game. Participation of new customers in the Welcome Offer requires a £10 minimum deposit. Always refer to Bonus Terms for more info.

As per the ASA code this is compliant and not misleading at all. Adding T&C's to Google searches would be a little intense don't you think? I can't think of another industry that does that? As long as the player is well informed and has the full picture before they decide to sign up then there is no issue.

Best Regards.
Stephen.
 
CasumoAffiliates said:
Hi Colin,

This is indeed our own ad, once you click it you are taken directly to the homepage where all significant terms are listed directly below the offer, well within eye view.

The terms state:

*18+ New customers only. 20 free spins in Starburst on registration. Bonuses are on opt-in basis. Min deposit is £10. 30x wagering requirements apply for bonuses and winnings to be withdrawn. Contribution % towards WR vary from 0% to 100% according to game. Participation of new customers in the Welcome Offer requires a £10 minimum deposit. Always refer to Bonus Terms for more info.

As per the ASA code this is compliant and not misleading at all. Adding T&C's to Google searches would be a little intense don't you think? I can't think of another industry that does that? As long as the player is well informed and has the full picture before they decide to sign up then there is no issue.

Best Regards.
Stephen.
Click to expand...

Well you previous post clearly stated, all ads should have at minimum 18+, T&C apply, Begambleaware
Where is that on either of the 2 google ads?

So from your post above, are you saying affiliates no longer need to list any of that, nor terms and conditions, as long as the landing page has them, we don't even have to put T&C's apply any more?
 
We do not ask Affiliates to add 18+, begambleaware, or T&C apply on Google SERPs.

We ask affiliates to put it on their sites in accordance with the ASA code, if you have issue with that then please take it up with the ASA.

There is a huge difference to a google search result that leads directly to our own website and a third party site advertising multiple casino brands with multiple offers.

The whole idea of the code is to inform players, give them all of the information before they sign up and hand over their personal details, can you argue that this advert does not do that?

Cheers
Stephen
 
CasumoAffiliates said:
We do not ask Affiliates to add 18+, begambleaware, or T&C apply on Google SERPs.

We ask affiliates to put it on their sites in accordance with the ASA code, if you have issue with that then please take it up with the ASA.

There is a huge difference to a google search result that leads directly to our own website and a third party site advertising multiple casino brands with multiple offers.

The whole idea of the code is to inform players, give them all of the information before they sign up and hand over their personal details, can you argue that this advert does not do that?

Cheers
Stephen
Click to expand...

TBH I'm not sure what the difference is between an advert on google and an advert on any other medium. Nor between a google advert taking you to a landing page with the terms on and an advert on my site taking them to a landing page with the terms on. But if you say google ads are excluded from the ASA guidelines then thats enough for me :)
 
Click here to read our Casumo review
Casumo is reviewed and rated at Casinomeister:

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Accredited Casinos

Read about our rating system and how it's done.
Back
Top