Good News - Online Casinos to get Certified!

[Webzcas]

Received this mail this morning:

From: "Admin@CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com" <Admin@CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com>
Date: 21 January 2010 07:10:36 GMT
To: webmaster@xxx ( Removed live email address to stop spam bots )
Subject: Community Certification launches at CAP
We are pleased to announce the release of our new CAP Community Certification, which is a 100% affiliate-driven certification built to fill a void that exists in our industry.

For more information and full details, please view the post below

xxhttp://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.com/bb/39359-introducing-the-first-affiliate-driven-program-certification-process.html

A year on and Affiliate Media think the time is right to reintroduce their brilliant certification program again.

Deary Deary Me!

 

[BingoT]

I got it too.2 times lol

Introducing The First Affiliate-Driven Program Certification Process
CAP is excited to announce the introduction of a new affiliate program recognition process called Community Certification. This system allows you, affiliates who are members of CAP, to award reputable programs with a seal of approval.

What is Community Certification?

Community Certification is a way for affiliates to collectively recognize trustworthy and reputable iGaming affiliate programs. The first of its kind, this process allows affiliates to fully control and decide whether or not a specific iGaming affiliate program deserves to be accredited. Once an affiliate program is Community Certified, they will be granted a distinct seal to inform all affiliates that this is a trusted program which has been vetted by their fellow peers. These programs will also be highlighted separately on CAP for their high level of commitment to the affiliate industry.

How Does Community Certification Work?

1. Initially, Community Certification is only open to the CAP community. This means that CAP affiliates can vote on CAP listed programs who have submitted an application for certification. The certification is completely free.

2. Once CAP receives the application, our administration team will review the submission and determine eligibility. To be eligible, a program must meet the following set of requirements:
- Must have a dedicated affiliate manager that works with the CAP community
- Must have been established for at least six months

??If a program does not meet the above eligibility requirements, the application will be denied and the program will be allowed to re-apply once the above requirements have been met.

3. Once a program has been reviewed, it will be placed in a queue for voting on a first-come, first-serve basis. In an effort to ensure all applicants receive appropriate attention, only a limited number of programs will go up for vote by the affiliate community each month.

4. Voting will occur on a monthly basis, from the first day to the last day of the given month. All affiliates will be notified of the programs that are up for certification via e-mail and the CAP forums. An affiliate may cast his or her vote at any point during the month but may only vote once and a vote can not be changed once cast. Affiliates may vote for one or all programs and may return to the voting section to vote on any programs which they have not yet cast a vote for. Immediately after voting, an affiliate will be able to view the current voting scores for each program. The voting page will be located here.

5. Affiliates will have the opportunity to vote YES or NO for each program. When voting NO, an affiliate will be asked to provide feedback. This feedback is required and will be used to compile a report which that program can use to improve from. All votes and feedback will remain 100% confidential.

6. At the end of the month, any program which receives 80% of YES votes will be awarded Community Certification. After the completion of the voting period, the system will be checked for authenticity and any new programs receiving Community Certification will be announced.

7. If a program received less than the required percentage of positive votes, they will still be eligible for Community Certification at a later date. Currently the time is set for three months before a program can become eligible to re-apply for certification. The program manager will be given anonymous feedback about areas where they can improve so that they can correct any issues.

8. Once approved, it is also possible for a program to lose Community Certification. This process will be driven by the number of complaints received via the new CAP affiliate program complaint system.

Which Affiliate Programs Will Be Up For Review First?

To help introduce this process, we are initially offering limited eligibility to CAP Listed Programs. These are the programs that support our community and have helped provide feedback to CAP that led to this process. As only a limited number of programs will be up for review each month, those programs will have priority. This process may open up to other programs at a future date. For the initial round of voting, which will begin February 1, 2010, all of the CAP Listed programs have been given an application and they will go up for vote on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In the meanwhile, we invite you to take a closer look at how the system works and cast a vote for one of the demo programs until the first round of voting opens up: Online Gambling Affiliate Programs Community Certification

We would like to hear your feedback and want to shape this system around what best serves affiliates. Please post your comments within this thread or come by the CAP VIP Lounge at LAC to talk to a member of the CAP and give us your feedback in person.

 

[Nifty29]

Looks to me like you would have to be certified to get involved!

 

[jetset]

Right on - especially with the disgraceful events of early 2009 still clear in most memories!

Some folks just won't see the writing on the wall and clearly expect to continue making profits in a business that almost universally holds them in disrespect.

 

[Casinomeister]

Right on - especially with the disgraceful events of early 2009 still clear in most memories!

Some folks just won't see the writing on the wall and clearly expect to continue making profits in a business that almost universally holds them in disrespect.

Showcased three times in 2009 awards:

Best Worst 2009

Best Worst 2009

Best Worst 2009

 

[dominique]

It's affiliate driven, the company Affiliate Media has no say in who gets certified.

It will initially start with programs that are listed there, but it will expand beyond that soon. Once it is sure that there are no kinks in the software ( the software is still being tested) it will be made available to all.

I think it's a great idea, it solves the dilemma of affiliates going to aff forums and seeing the aff programs that pay there for advertising and automatically assuming that this means the program is good. Listings can be bought at all affiliate sites.

With this in place, affiliates get to benefit from the prior experiences of others and programs with a good track record get approved and the rest doesn't, regardless of whether they pay for ads..

Being in the group of affiliate accredited programs cannot be bought. Affiliates at large have to vote them in.

It is meant to make it easier for newbies to decide who to promote. They are the ones who most often fall into the trap of promoting disreputable brands due to lack of knowledge. They end up being screwed, the players end up being screwed and I would like to see a way they can seperate the paid ad from the reputable place.

This system should compliment AGD and actually Casinomeister. If a casino group has the ok for T&Cs from AGD, the ok from the affiliate community for treatment of affiliates and the ok from Casinomeister for treatment of players, it should be one of the best possible choices for promotion.

It can happen that affiliate programs have good T&Cs but lousy support or they don't follow their own T&Cs, that the casinos treat players well but not affiliates, that they treat affiliates well but not players, and so on. This system is meant to fill a collective communication void here.

This is meant to give individual affiliates a voice to communicate positive or negative collective experiences and IMO it rounds the available information out nicely.

I know there will be suspicions galore, and some will not be able to see the good in this because of pre-formed opinions about the hosting company, but I think it's a good thing and I want to see it play out and see if it doesn't end up improving things for affiliates and players alike in the long run. It's a great idea.

 

[RobWin]

What another load of :xxx crap!! Hope you guys don't mind me all over the place here...

Everybody and their brother wants to "certify" programs and casinos now...good thing we still have the word "Certify" with us as it certainly means so much in this industry anymore...
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[Webzcas]

It's affiliate driven, the company Affiliate Media has no say in who gets certified.

But they will no doubt try and benefit from the 'prestige' of labelling programs such.

I won't be buying into this.

The only certifications that should matter to affiliates is Guard Dog Certification when it comes to terms and conditions being Affiliate Friendly. Plus obviously the case that casinos are not blacklisted here on CasinoMeister for player issues.

 

[Simmo!]

good thing we still have the word "Certify" with us as it certainly means so much in this industry anymore...

To be fair, most people here should probably be certified too

 

[dominique]

Guard Dog rocks and has had my full support from the very start, and still does, and always will. AGD deals in facts and is as forthcoming and transparent as can be and cannot be bought. (BTW, Andy needs a new server for it and there is a thread accepting affiliate donations, hint, hint.)

Personally I am sick and tired of seeing nothing but paid listings of affiliate programs (AGD excluded) everyplace I go. I can't count how many complaints I have read on how many affiliate message boards about paid ads misrepresenting programs to affiliates.

This will hopefully put an end to that at CAP.


Long as I am still moderating CAP I want affiliates there to have an affiliate driven evaluation of programs, independent of paid listings. Call it what you want - voted in, preferred, approved, certified, selected, or whatever one can find in the dictionary, it's still the same thing - a way for affiliates to pass on to newbies what aff programs they consider good.

If it's good for affiliates and/or players, I am for it. Give me a reason why this is bad for the CAP community, and I will see to it that it gets changed up.

And before everyone asks things I have no answers to - no, I do not speak for Affiliate Media. Yes, I speak for the community at CAP, until they tell me to shut my big fat mouth.

 

[jod5413]

To be fair, most people here should probably be certified too

And That, Dear Simmo, is probably the most righteous statement ever made on this forum!!!

 

[Webzcas]

I know there will be suspicions galore, and some will not be able to see the good in this because of pre-formed opinions about the hosting company, but I think it's a good thing and I want to see it play out and see if it doesn't end up improving things for affiliates and players alike in the long run. It's a great idea.

Dom the purpose of me posting this thread was not to attack the moderators or staff on CAP. FWIW I can completely understand why you are still a mod there and I respect your decision to have stayed there.

My issue is that Affiliate Media seem to be oblivious that they are trying to launch a new certification system, when the original certification they offered came in for so much criticism. Not also forgetting the fact the whole card spike fiasco which Bryan has linked to.

I agree that the affiliate community could possibly benefit from the system proposed. However I don't think the affiliate community should support such a system if Affiliate Media are to benefit from it. Which they will do financially. Why should we as affiliates support the likes of Warren financially after what he was involved in?

Serious question here, but have you ever thought of launching your own affiliate forum? The reason I ask is, that the majority of the posters on CAP would likely follow you and unlike many affiliate forums that sprung up after the Card Spike fiasco, it would likely stand a good chance of being successful.

 

[dominique]

I considered it carefully, and there are a number of reasons why I didn't start my own affiliate forum. I do know it would be successful in attracting affiliates, that would not be an issue.

But, GamesandCasino is where my love and attention goes first and most of all. Just keeping it updated takes up my time. Much more than normal work hours. So my activities in the affiliate sector are extra hours on top of that every day.

Running a major forum isn't something you can do on the side. Moderating one - yes, that isn't that time consuming and can be sprinkled throughout the day.

Secondly, the data available on CAP span many years and they are valuable for reference. Just like at Casinomeister, you can search for past record of any place and come up with a detailed list of complaints and resolutions, if any were achieved. I would hate to see it all lost for affiliates because someone did some stupid things. Who gets punished here?

Last not least, I don't find Warren to be the monster he is made out to be. He made some huge mistakes and he knows it. I never even knew him before the shit hit the fan, and I had had minimal contact with Lou for years. I pretty much had a free hand in the community, and still do.

There is a big difference though between then and now. Then, Lou would do whatever he thought of without checking with me. And some of the things were very much against my better judgement, which is why I ended up leaving CAP for a short period just before Lou was removed by Affiliate Media. Perhaps the two events are related, I don't know.

In any case, Warren or company employees consult me on everything that affects the community. There are lots of newbies at CAP, and they would be there with or without me. My loyalty lies with the community and not the owners.

As far as my connection to the company goes, Lou offered to hire me way back when and I refused. Same thing with Warren. Why would I refuse money? Because I want to keep my independence. I support both the efforts of AGD and GPWA. From a company point of view (although that was never said!) this would be a conflict of interest. From my point of view it is not, I want to contribute and support affiliates wherever they choose to be.

And that brings me to the final and most important reason why I am not starting my own affiliate forum.

I am very unhappy with the fractioning of the affiliate community. It severely weakens our position in the industry. We should all cooperate without attaching labels to each other and judging each other by forum preference. Affiliates at AGD are no different from affiliates at GPWA and no different from affiliates at CAP or GAU or GAP or GIA. We all have the same issues, we all need the same services and solutions. Each forum may have a different flavor, but in the end we are all in the same boat. My interest lies in keeping everyone aboard that boat, and not singling anyone out and sending them off in a rickety life raft. Since we all face the same problems, we all have the same interest in solutions, and the extreme fracturing I have seen over the 8 years I have been watching is and always has been detrimental to the affiliate industry.

We all lack cohesiveness. How can one expect to ever see affiliates and players to act cohesively for the better of both when you can't even get affiliates to cooperate peacefully?

So, starting yet another affiliate forum goes against my deepest convictions. The last thing I want to do is add to the fracturing of the community at large. Likewise, I am not going to forsake any segment of the community.

People are so intent on punishing Warren. But is it really him you punish? I think not. I think you are punishing innocent newbies. This is not as black and white as many would make it out to be. I know, probably the majority doesn't see it that way. But I do, and I have given it lots of thought. Maybe it's because I am close to the community, I see real people with real lives and families and issues. Why should they be the ones to suffer?

Meanwhile I have found Warren to put the community first, to be open to any and all suggestions, to be quick to implement changes that are beneficial to the community and to be concerned and cooperative. As long as that continues, I am going to be there and do my thing.

And the affiliate driven program evaluation is one thing I definitely want to do. I don't want other affiliates to make all the mistakes I made when I got started.

 

[Webzcas]

Dom,

You really need to read the Jackpots Heaven thread and see exactly what type of casinos that Affiliate Media take money from for being featured on CAP.

You will see a leopard doesn't change it's spots. In particular when Jackpots Heaven have been found to steal content and images from RTG and Microgaming. Yet CAP are happy to endorse them.

Final nail in the coffin as far as I am concerned. Warren Jolly needs to either sell the CAP site or shut it down as he should have no part in this industry IMO and webmasters should not support him.

Here is the thread. Please read in full before replying to my post

https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/jackpots-heaven-non-random-software.35842/

 

[jetset]

Far too much spin and CAP/AM damage control going on here imo, and it is clear from the LAC deception that this is a leopard that has not changed its spots and still schemes to profit from an industry that was pretty embarrassed and angered by it barely a year ago.

Dom has it right on one point imv, and that is the strange disunity in the affiliate sector, which has the potential to be more influential in the business than it actually is...if it could present a united and responsible front.

I personally don't see CAP or AM, or for that matter Warren, as having the respect needed to act as the glue that could bind affiliates together.

 

[dominique]

Dom,

You really need to read the Jackpots Heaven thread and see exactly what type of casinos that Affiliate Media take money from for being featured on CAP.

You will see a leopard doesn't change it's spots. In particular when Jackpots Heaven have been found to steal content and images from RTG and Microgaming. Yet CAP are happy to endorse them.

Final nail in the coffin as far as I am concerned. Warren Jolly needs to either sell the CAP site or shut it down as he should have no part in this industry IMO and webmasters should not support him.

Here is the thread. Please read in full before replying to my post

https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/jackpots-heaven-non-random-software.35842/

Great thread. Members here never fail to get to the bottom of things. I will point Warren to it.

That's precisely why the affiliate evaluation is needed. Do you want affiliates to assume any place is great just because they buy ads? Not me. Best point for my case, really.

The main point of the affiliate driven approval is to make sure no one thinks every listed aff program is great just because it bought ad space.

I personally don't see CAP or AM, or for that matter Warren, as having the respect needed to act as the glue that could bind affiliates together

Agree completely.

 

[Pinababy69]

The main point of the affiliate driven approval is to make sure no one thinks every listed aff program is great just because it bought ad space.

Here's a thought Dom...how about NOT selling ad space to a program like this in the first place? I like you Dom, but for the life of me, I don't understand why you stay there. I'm with Dave....open up your own site....people would follow.

I just posted this on CAP in the Jackpot Heavens forum:

Just wondering if anyone here actually does ANY due diligence on the casinos that these affiliate programs represent?

Among other things, Jackpots Heaven is 100% guilty of using software that has BLATANTLY stolen copyrighted material from Microgaming and RTG in their slots. I mean EXACT copies, even down to naming some of the games the same.

How do you list a company here, and not know this? Has anyone from here played there? Did you not notice the MG and RTG copies of games? Doesn't matter, as I expect once MG's and RTG's lawyers are done with them, there won't be a casino and there certainly won't be an affiliate program.

If anyone cares:

Jackpots Heaven - Non-random software - Casinomeister's Online Casino and Poker Forum

 

[dominique]

Thanks for posting there, Pinababy! It got attention!

 

[Casinomeister]

Jeese Dom - how about spending more time with your websites, and stop giving CAP credence. Put down the Koolaid glass and read the Casinomeister Awards page - specifically the "Best Worst 2009"

CAP has no due diligence - this has been proven time and time again. Quit feeding us excuses because we don't want to hear it anymore. Players are getting screwed over because too many affiliates push the crap holes that CAP promotes. If CAP has any scruples, they would have applied my business model to the affiliate community years ago.

But it's obvious that promoting casinos responsibly is not a concern of CAP's - it never has been so please save your breath when you say it does - or that it will try to in the future.

 

[dominique]

Boy, I tried and I can't hold my breath while I say "it will improve in the future".

Players are getting screwed over because too many affiliates push the crap holes that CAP promotes.

That is precisely why I support the idea of an affiliate driven aff program evaluation.

CAP is not the only affiliate message board that is commercial and accepts ads. You will find non-angelic places advertised elsewhere too.

If you accept that fact, (and yes, it's not how you (and me) choose to do business) don't you think it's a good idea to have programs actually evaluated by affiliates, rather than just let the ads go where they may fall?

I don't get how you can poopoo an idea that would at least give affiliates a chance to sort things properly.

As far as Jackpots heaven (why is that not Jackpot heaven?) goes, here is Warren's reply:

Thanks to CM and Pinababy69 for bringing this to our attention. We have removed their listing but will keep this forum open (for now) to allow the management at Jackpots Heaven to address the issues raised. We do our best to ensure there are no outstanding player or affiliate complaints before a program is listed on CAP, but it seems like a good idea to involve players in testing before we accept new softwares.

Pinababy69, do you think it would work if we funded five players every time we receive an application to get listed on CAP from an operator with new software? It would be really useful for us to have player perceptions.

It has also been suggested to me (re: new software) that we also check if the owners have a criminal history, the casino has a valid license, and is certified by the TST. I think this is doable, but are we missing anything else?

Why is that bad? Trying to find a solution so the same thing won't happen again?


Anyway, you're right, (although I'm drinking water and not cool-aid), I don't seem to be able to explain myself here and I got a s#itload of work backed up I need to take care of this weekend. Or maybe I should just get off the computer and brood over a beer for a while.

 

[bb28]

Warren's reply at CAP.........

Thanks to CM and Pinababy69 for bringing this to our attention. We have removed their listing but will keep this forum open (for now) to allow the management at Jackpots Heaven to address the issues raised. We do our best to ensure there are no outstanding player or affiliate complaints before a program is listed on CAP, but it seems like a good idea to involve players in testing before we accept new softwares.

Pinababy69, do you think it would work if we funded five players every time we receive an application to get listed on CAP from an operator with new software? It would be really useful for us to have player perceptions.

It has also been suggested to me (re: new software) that we also check if the owners have a criminal history, the casino has a valid license, and is certified by the TST. I think this is doable, but are we missing anything else?
​

Re: Warren's reply....come on, get real! CAP's primary goal is to protect the affiliate, right? Well let me rephrase that, they are supposed to protect the affiliate. but now they want to put the responsibility of checking new software off on some players and have them check it for them? This is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever read.

Dom.......I like you and I respect you, but like others I don't understand you hanging in there with CAP. Whether you want to think it or not, you being there gives them a tiny bit of respectability, even though they certainly don't deserve it and they have proved it over and over again.

 

[dominique]

BB - you have got to admit that there is no better group than the members here to ferret things out. You guys totally rock, and this is not the first time, there is a long track record here.

Personally, I would have noticed the graphics of course if I had played there, but that's because I am a player. People who don't play don't stand a chance testing software.

CAP needs to check licences, that's really crappy that they didn't.

I will never defend what CAP did in the past, and I won't defend blatant mistakes like this one.

I just don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.

If I could afford it, I would likely buy CAP. But that's a mute point, because I can't.

 

[RobWin]

If I could afford it, I would likely buy CAP. But that's a mute point, because I can't.

It may not be a moot point after all, "CAP" is not worth what it used to be....

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

Just so you realize that stat above is 'fairly' accurate...here is the best example...

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

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[dominique]

Link Removed ( Old/Invalid)

I would make $468 a month according to that. I am going to jail, lol, I can't pay bills or services and people will sue me for their money for sure!

You had me going there for a minute though, woulda been nice.

Google is a publicly traded company, they know what the ad revenues are. Gambling sites - well, they are a gamble.


PS. Oops, just pushed the "update" button there and now I make even less.

 

[RobWin]

Link Removed ( Old/Invalid)

I would make $468 a month according to that. I am going to jail, lol, I can't pay bills or services and people will sue me for their money for sure!

You had me going there for a minute though, woulda been nice.

Google is a publicly traded company, they know what the ad revenues are. Gambling sites - well, they are a gamble.


PS. Oops, just pushed the "update" button there and now I make even less.

You really should have read a little more, while you were there....

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