the hype pipe

[vinylweatherman]

I think they're feeling the pressure.

I have been forwarded several copies of emails to affiliates where there is an implicit threat that if affiliates post nasty things on the message boards they will not be assisted in getting their money.

Here's the content of one email (I see these guys still have some trouble with the definitions "Licensor" and "Licensee"):

"Dear xxxxxx

This email is designed to advise you of the situation with your affiliate payment.

Normally a Licencee would not intervene however as stated in our first email, we view affiliates as important to a business such as Online Gaming.

The previous owners have not responded to our requests for payment of affiliates, the affiliate payments were made solely by the Casino Owner and Marketing Team.

Rather than let the affiliates sought (sic) out the situation with the Previous Management on their own we are going to investigate a method that we can provide some assistance in this area.

Negative Postings and bad press although may be justified on the previous owners , it not in the interest of anyone and we will only support affiliates that support us in this matter.

So please whilst we find an amicable solution we ask that no postings, blogs or general comments are made, if a posting is made by an affiliate we will not be inclined to assist them in resolving this situation, as we did not create this unfortunate situation .

We will require a further 7 days to resolve this issue as we are not going to see a response from the Owners and any solution can only come from the software supplier.

Thank you for your understanding.

Casino Licensee (sic)"

How will they know WHICH affiliates made the negative comments if said affiliates ensure they do not include any information that enables their forum handle being connected to their affiliate tag.
Given that who is to blame is a matter of dispute (it seems), then this is only the opinion of one party, and the other party may well feel that negatve press be directed at the software providers, and not the previous owners.
The new owners will suffer from this, as the brand has lost all credibility, and will need to rebuild it from scratch. Earlier we were told (when inchilli was in trouble) that Hype was unconnected, and was absolutely fine! This was not true, Hype was just not in such bad shape at the time, and were able to maintain their credibility for a further couple of months.
While unrelated casinos do share software, unconnected casinos do not normally go bust within months of each other. When the old Captain Cooks went under, we didn't see other MG casinos collapse a couple of months later.

I don't mind that they may now not help me "reclaim my affiliate payments", as I have never been one
This E-mail seeks to curb forum discussion on this issue, and provided rumour is not presented as fact, such discussion should continue. If no pressure had been applied in the first place, no doubt there would have been no offer of help in the first place, and players would eventually find out about the new owners, and affiliates would have to take a loss of a few months payments and sign up again with the new owners (who I am sure would inherit players, but not liabilities to affiliates).

 

[jetset]

One of their managers contacted me yesterday and is checking on the three outstanding PABs that have been submitted.

We've seen this tactic before, too - settle the high profile complaints to take the heat off.

Good post VWM - in this case a public and official statement from Nix Court explaining exactly who was responsible for what would be helpful, seeing as PP-Firebrand are claiming that affiliate payments were not their responsibility.

It is a pity that Nix Court has chosen to leave a communication vacuum in the wake of their departure, but that may be on the advice of their lawyers if litigation is pending.

 

[Casinomeister]

We've seen this tactic before, too - settle the high profile complaints to take the heat off...

Yeah, but - they're in the rogue pit. So it's a day late and a dollar short for them.

The Google-bot has already done its job. Google "hype gaming" and tell me what you see as a result for #3 and #4.

 

[Pinababy69]

Negative Postings and bad press although may be justified on the previous owners , it not in the interest of anyone and we will only support affiliates that support us in this matter.

So please whilst we find an amicable solution we ask that no postings, blogs or general comments are made, if a posting is made by an affiliate we will not be inclined to assist them in resolving this situation, as we did not create this unfortunate situation .

We will require a further 7 days to resolve this issue as we are not going to see a response from the Owners and any solution can only come from the software supplier.

Thank you for your understanding.

Casino Licensee (sic)"

So does that mean if a responsible webmaster/affiliate posted a warning on their site about Hype, and "advised" people not to deposit...or maybe simply posted a warning about recent non-payment issues, then they're screwed? I don't mean nasty comments, but just the truth? Wow, that is utter bullshit if you ask me.

 

[kwblue]

They have been talked to about that email and said it was a poor decision on their part to put that statement in the email.

They said there will be no retribution for outspoken affiliates.

I hope they come thru, but only time can truly tell.

Hype and Inchilli were seperate (entirely) until which time Firebrand had to take them both back under their own control. When the owners of Inchilli left (relatively early), Firebrand took over. When Nix Court left (relatively recently), Firebrand took over.

NOW - they are totally related.

 

[vinylweatherman]

They have been talked to about that email and said it was a poor decision on their part to put that statement in the email.

They said there will be no retribution for outspoken affiliates.

I hope they come thru, but only time can truly tell.

Hype and Inchilli were seperate (entirely) until which time Firebrand had to take them both back under their own control. When the owners of Inchilli left (relatively early), Firebrand took over. When Nix Court left (relatively recently), Firebrand took over.

NOW - they are totally related.

What about the OTHER E-mail, the one to Zoozie offering a slots bonus. Hype are in no position to be soliciting deposits until this has been sorted out. Doing so only makes a bad situation look worse, irrespective of who owns/runs Hype now.
Once all outstanding payments have been made, then the time will have come to market more aggressively to existing and potential new players, but a scheme should be in place to prevent what has now happened TWICE from happening a third time, leaving yet more unpaid players.
If the new owners of Hype screw up, the software will be pretty much finished as a viable brand, no-one will trust it, and no decent affiliate will go near it. Even now, you would be hard pressed to find any regular player who trusts that "new Hype" will be safe to play after the failures of inchilli and the former Hype.

 

[jetset]

It nearly did happen a third time - I'm very reliably informed that Giant Palace only lasted about two weeks with these companies!

The more I see of PP-Firebrand moves, the more I am convinced that players need to be extremely careful around these operations.

My gut feel is that there are no "new owners" of Hype - I reckon the operation has, like Inchilli, been taken back by PP-Firebrand.

 

[Zoozie]

What about the OTHER E-mail, the one to Zoozie offering a slots bonus.

For validity of my claim, here is the mail, and it is sent from a support@hypegaming.com

---------------------------------------------------------


Dear XXXXXXX

Hype would like to offer you a special mid week offer of:

100% BONUS on NEXT DEPOSIT!
(up to $200)

Your bonus will be credited to your account immediately!

If you have not received your bonus within 5 minutes please contact the call centre and they will credit your bonus immediately.

Your Login ID : XXXXXXXXXXX

Offer closes : Thursday 24th Midnight

Best Regards

Hype Gaming

Conditions:
- Offer closes on Thursday 24th @ Midnight
- Offer is only available to players who were sent this email
- Maximum Bonus is $200
- Normal Wagering Conditions apply.

 

[KasinoKing]

How will they know WHICH affiliates made the negative comments if said affiliates ensure they do not include any information that enables their forum handle being connected to their affiliate tag.

Well, it's a bit late now!
For example, my tag is KasinoKing & my site is www.KasinoKing.co.uk...
Does not take a genius to work that connection out...

So does that mean if a responsible webmaster/affiliate posted a warning on their site about Hype, and "advised" people not to deposit...or maybe simply posted a warning about recent non-payment issues, then they're screwed? I don't mean nasty comments, but just the truth? Wow, that is utter bullshit if you ask me.

No comment.

Not KK

 

[kwblue]

What about the OTHER E-mail, the one to Zoozie offering a slots bonus. Hype are in no position to be soliciting deposits until this has been sorted out. Doing so only makes a bad situation look worse, irrespective of who owns/runs Hype now.
Once all outstanding payments have been made, then the time will have come to market more aggressively to existing and potential new players, but a scheme should be in place to prevent what has now happened TWICE from happening a third time, leaving yet more unpaid players.
If the new owners of Hype screw up, the software will be pretty much finished as a viable brand, no-one will trust it, and no decent affiliate will go near it. Even now, you would be hard pressed to find any regular player who trusts that "new Hype" will be safe to play after the failures of inchilli and the former Hype.

I'm not a rep of these guys or anything...sheesh I'm just trying to disseminate the information that I know. Do I agree with everything that has gone on?? Hell, no. I just hope they correct it.

My gut feel is that there are no "new owners" of Hype - I reckon the operation has, like Inchilli, been taken back by PP-Firebrand.

Pretty much the same thing I said.. i.e., 'Firebrand took over'.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Looks like they want to continue their stay in the pit then.

Since it nearly happened a third time, they continue to be high risk until they drastically change their business model, no amount of "new owners" and promises under the current model will cut it.
I am sure they are aware that, while no Casinomeister member will go near them, they have rich picking grounds elsewhere.
I am just waiting for the spam

 

[kwblue]

I am just waiting for the spam

God - I hope not We have so much spam to deal with already.

 

[dominique]

I have been told that the staff necessary to process payments had been let go by the owners during the dispute and has now been replaced and payment processing is being sorted now.

I was assured that both players and affiliates will be paid asap, it is just a matter of getting the job done now.

 

[vinylweatherman]

I have been told that the staff necessary to process payments had been let go by the owners during the dispute and has now been replaced and payment processing is being sorted now.

I was assured that both players and affiliates will be paid asap, it is just a matter of getting the job done now.

So, players and affiliates were considered to be pawns to be used for leverage in the dispute, not as customers. There is no valid reason for letting processing staff go while they still had a job to do, unless the old owners intended that players and affiliates were not going to be paid. Worse, at the time, we were not told this, but just experienced slow payment and various excuses. I believe at the time the processing staff were let go, the casino was still taking deposits, otherwise there would have been no need for the caution.
They are now running under "new" owners, and soliciting deposits, but surely the above means there is a huge backlog of payments in the system which has only just started being sorted out. This does not bode well for new players, or existing players tempted by the renewed offers.

 

[jetset]

Well said, Vinyl - my feelings exactly!

 

[KasinoKing]

They are now running under "new" owners, and soliciting deposits, but surely the above means there is a huge backlog of payments in the system which has only just started being sorted out. This does not bode well for new players, or existing players tempted by the renewed offers.

Playing a little bit of devils advocate here, but I don't think it's as bad a picture as you are painting.
Granted I know nothing of the 'politics' of casinos & don't have the insight of the likes of Jetset, and I agree that the appalling lack of communication was the single worst thing about this whole sorry affair, but are there really that many players still waiting for money?
I think I'm right in saying the only regular player/poster here still waiting is DarkPixie, and although 1 is 1 too many, at least all the others who were waiting have been paid.
As you may well know, I was/am an affiliate for Hype (all trace now removed from my site) and I am personally owed more than a 2-figure sum from them but I am quite happy to wait for my money if they'd only sort out all the outstanding player payments first - and quickly.

KK

 

[darkpixie]

Just to quickly update here, I recieved the email today that I would be paid in the next 48 business hours. So time will tell. I'll make sure to let you when the cash is in hand!

 

[vinylweatherman]

Playing a little bit of devils advocate here, but I don't think it's as bad a picture as you are painting.
Granted I know nothing of the 'politics' of casinos & don't have the insight of the likes of Jetset, and I agree that the appalling lack of communication was the single worst thing about this whole sorry affair, but are there really that many players still waiting for money?
I think I'm right in saying the only regular player/poster here still waiting is DarkPixie, and although 1 is 1 too many, at least all the others who were waiting have been paid.
As you may well know, I was/am an affiliate for Hype (all trace now removed from my site) and I am personally owed more than a 2-figure sum from them but I am quite happy to wait for my money if they'd only sort out all the outstanding player payments first - and quickly.

KK

Maybe so, but who is to say this wont happen again, after all, it has happened twice before, and there have been near misses. Their current business model is not working, they need one that leads to stable long term reliability of the casino, and ensuring it is properly funded and backed up by a guarantee of player payment if something goes wrong again.

 

[darkpixie]

Got paid today, strangely my deposit amount in canadian funds was less than my withdrawal was in US funds...?? I will have to wait to see the slip from the bank to find out why.