Why Affiliates don't like 888.com (or other similar affy programs)

[Casinomeister]

Just found this in my in box. Not that I'm an affy of 888 - but the entire tone of this email is a total turnoff:

15.12.15

Dear Bryan Bailey,

Use of 888 Marketing Materials

You are receiving this important communication because you are a member of 888's Uffiliate program.

As you are aware, 888 is licensed by the Gambling Commission of Great Britain, and offers its services to residents of Great Britain under this licence. As a GB-licensed operator, 888 is subject to the Gambling Commission's Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice ("the LCCP") as well as other legal requirements that govern the manner in which 888 may operate and market and advertise its services (these include the UK CAP code, consumer protection laws, fair marketing rules, etc.). 888 is deeply committed to ensuring that we are fully compliant with these obligations, including when marketing our services via affiliates and other third parties.

The legal obligations referred to above, apply to you when you are marketing 888's services. You will recall that under the Uffiliates Terms and Conditions, you have undertaken to ensure that you will fulfill your obligations under those terms "without violating any applicable rule of law".

We are writing to draw your attention to your obligation, under the aforementioned legal requirements, to ensure that advertisements are not misleading in any way.

Any advertisement, incentive or reward scheme under which a customer is offered money, goods or any other advantage (e.g. "free bet" or bonus money offers), must clearly set out all significant terms, conditions, limitations and qualifications subject to which the benefit is being offered. These must be displayed on the ad itself, or (if significant time or space restrictions preclude such presentation, e.g. on a banner ad), the applicable terms, conditions, qualifications and limitations must be immediately and prominently visible one click away from the relevant ad.

To ensure that your marketing of our services complies with the applicable requirements, we are writing to require that you immediately comply with the following conditions:

• You must not market our services in a manner which is in violation of applicable UK laws, regulations, conditions and codes of conduct. If you are in doubt regarding the compliance of a particular marketing method or material - you must seek our prior approval.
• You may only use marketing materials provided to you directly by 888 after December 15th 2015 or that are currently available via our affiliate program portal. You may not use any marketing materials provided to you prior to such date or that are not currently available on our affiliate program portal, as these may not be compliant with current legal and regulatory requirements. If you are in doubt regarding specific marketing materials - you must seek our prior approval.
• Any marketing materials / banners employed by yourself, must link to the affiliate home/landing pages, as these have been vetted for compliance with the applicable regulations. You may not link directly to registration or download pages.

Your failure to comply with the aforementioned conditions, constitutes a violation of Section 7.7 of the Uffiliates Terms and Conditions and may result in termination of your membership in the Uffiliates program.

Once again, if you are in doubt regarding your obligations under the Uffiliates Terms and Conditions, under applicable law or under this communication, you must seek our prior approval. Failure to do so may result in termination of your membership in the program.

888 views compliance as a top priority, and as our partners we expect your full cooperation and assistance on this important matter.

Sincerely,

888Affiliates
On behalf of 888

The first thing that comes to mind is "what arrogance." They could have easily written this in a more business-like manner. Here it's like they are getting ready to sue your ass. What a bunch of posers.

It's as if these guys were never schooled on how to speak to your so-called partners. Seriously, would you ever send a message like this to someone you work with?

 

[Simmo!]

The reason I wont work with them is the difference in culture. Over here in Europe the emphasis is much more on building and nurturing the relationship which gives me more confidence, while in some parts of the world, it is more about the business. Nothing wrong with either, it's just a matter of which way of working you prefer. As an example, this came in moments ago:

Hi ,

My name is xxxx, affiliate account manager at William Hill.

I came across your site during my search on google and I think we can work together.

Get in touch.

xxx
Affiliate Account Manager
William Hill Online

No messing around with niceties: the message is quite clear which is good in a way as it tells me straight away it's not for me. I also recently tried to work with Ladbrokes on a modest media buy and it was a horrible experience for someone like me but for others with a different approach to me, it probably works very well. Horses for courses if you'll forgive the pun.

 

[dunover]

The OP is simply bullying, an unbelievable arrogance that comes from a group that clearly think that as they are the 'Big Boys' they can impose agreements on a 'like it or lump it' basis. It almost says "Are you up to it, can you handle us?" They seem to forget that their presence now is party due to all the little people who promoted them previously.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Any advertisement, incentive or reward scheme under which a customer is offered money, goods or any other advantage (e.g. "free bet" or bonus money offers), must clearly set out all significant terms, conditions, limitations and qualifications subject to which the benefit is being offered. These must be displayed on the ad itself, or (if significant time or space restrictions preclude such presentation, e.g. on a banner ad), the applicable terms, conditions, qualifications and limitations must be immediately and prominently visible one click away from the relevant ad.

This one brought a smile to my face. 888 are infamous for refusing to make it clear in their terms what constitutes a "sister site" when it comes to free bets and bonuses, and even when players have the sense to ask first, they still often end up being lead into a trap by the CS agents.

Does this mean that from the 15th December 888 are also going to be abiding by the UK laws and clearly list all important restrictions "in the ad itself" and provide a full list of sister sites in the terms.

It would be interesting to know what our ASA thinks of their "fully compliant" landing pages and terms for UK customers, especially at the more secretive sister sites.

I am still puzzled as to how any of this is relevant to someone who is NOT one of their affiliates, are you using "prohibited marketing materials" in the rogue pit

 

[Casinomeister]

This one brought a smile to my face. 888 are infamous for refusing to make it clear in their terms what constitutes a "sister site" when it comes to free bets and bonuses, and even when players have the sense to ask first, they still often end up being lead into a trap by the CS agents.

Does this mean that from the 15th December 888 are also going to be abiding by the UK laws and clearly list all important restrictions "in the ad itself" and provide a full list of sister sites in the terms.

It would be interesting to know what our ASA thinks of their "fully compliant" landing pages and terms for UK customers, especially at the more secretive sister sites.

I am still puzzled as to how any of this is relevant to someone who is NOT one of their affiliates, are you using "prohibited marketing materials" in the rogue pit

My guess is that it will apply to their 888 UK sites. Just like the slew of Playtech casinos that do not pay progressive winnings in full, go to the UK counterpart and this rogue term is absent from their T&Cs.

 

[maxd]

... here in Europe the emphasis is much more on building and nurturing the relationship which gives me more confidence, while in some parts of the world, it is more about the business.

If it was me I'd word that a little more bluntly: "... in some parts of the world it is more about 'How much money can you make for me?'" If you ain't filling their bank account you are dead to them. "Oh, and please f*** off so the next sucker can step up and beg for their chance to make us richer."

 

[Casinomeister]

Ah yes, it's a pleasure doing business with ya.

We would like to remind you that 888 has a zero tolerance policy to SPAM marketing.

In an effort to fight SPAM marketing, 888 possesses marketing guidelines which all affiliates must abide by when promoting the sites, brands and applications operated by 888. In light of this, the guidelines which you should review carefully are located at

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

, and you must click on the link in order to confirm that you acknowledge the new guidelines.

As detailed in the Affiliate Agreement, located at

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

, which govern the relationship between us, you may NOT advertise any of our sites through the use of SPAM messages.

We condemn any unlawful and unethical marketing practices and as such, these guidelines must be complied with at all times. In any case, as well as you having to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, these guidelines are set as the minimum requirements that you must follow with regards to your marketing.

Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in your termination as our affiliate and we may set off or charge you for all claims, damages, expenses, costs, fines incurred or suffered by us in relation to this matter, in accordance with the Affiliate Agreement.

You must ensure that all recipients of your communications whether by email, SMS, phone or by any other method relating to the services provided by the 888 group and its partners are sent to persons above the minimum legal age which individuals may use such services in the jurisdiction which they are located.

Yours sincerely,
The 888 Affiliate Team

Why not just send a subpoena?

 

[Webzcas]

Ah yes 888. I've worked with them in the past, but it was a media buy deal and I worded the IO so they wouldn't hassle me 24/7 during the period of the media buy.