Future of RakeBack at Party Skins

[LuvDemNutz]

I just got this email from my PokerNow affiliate. Can anyone substantiate the part about affiliates not being able to track INDIVIDUAL rake stats.

"We regret to inform you that the PokerNOW rake back
plan is officially over.

PokerNOW has become a fully fledged part of Party
Poker and all current PokerNOW Affiliate Agreements
have been terminated. Luckily, PokerNOW did keep
their word and has paid us for February so you will
receive that money by this Friday (4/29/05).
Unfortunately, this also means that there will be no
future payments towards your PokerNOW rake back plan.

Party/IGM has also taken the next step towards their
goal of completely eliminating rake back at all the
skins. Party recently started withholding affiliate
stats on individual trackers. This means there is no
possible way for a Party affiliate to tell how much
rake each individual player has generated.

We currently have affiliate agreements with Eurobet
and Empire Poker, but truly believe that Party/IGM
will definitely be putting a stop to rake back at all
the skins very soon. For this reason we are hesitant
to sign-up alot of our PokerNOW players at Eurobet and
Empire, just to have the same situation happen.

That being said, please let us know if you still want
to sign-up for Eurobet and/or Empire to keep receiving
Party/IGM skin rake back for however long it does
last. We will consider your request on an individual
basis and accept a limited number of new sign-ups....."

[Wyers]

[ QUOTE ]
That being said, please let us know if you still want
to sign-up for Eurobet and/or Empire to keep receiving
Party/IGM skin rake back for however long it does
last. We will consider your request on an individual
basis and accept a limited number of new sign-ups....."

[/ QUOTE ]

Reeks of scare mongering in an attempt to drum up new business.

At least I hope that's all this is...

[TxSteve]

i did recently have to sign a long contract detailing that i would affiliate EXCLUSIVELY for empire (what i did anyway).

Since they were having me sign contracts and fax them somewhere...it is my belief that Empire will continue to support affiliates for at least a while longer.

[Wyers]

[ QUOTE ]
i did recently have to sign a long contract detailing that i would affiliate EXCLUSIVELY for empire (what i did anyway).

Since they were having me sign contracts and fax them somewhere...it is my belief that Empire will continue to support affiliates for at least a while longer.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's good to know as my "home base" is Empire. I extend my business to the other sites when a decent bonus opportunity rears it's head, however as far as rakeback goes... Empire is it for me.

[Richter]

[ QUOTE ]


That's good to know as my "home base" is Empire. I extend my business to the other sites when a decent bonus opportunity rears it's head, however as far as rakeback goes... Empire is it for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. This is what I got from my affiliate.

I read a # of posts by party poker people that said "This only applies to Party poker"

it looks like status quo for Empire at least for the moment.

http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.c...ead.php?t=5798

[goodguy_1]

here's another interesting post:IGM Speaks

Seems to me that in preparation for their IPO Party is really cleaning up its act.Getting rid of individual trackers for those players that utilize rakeback thru a Party affiliate will not solve anything for Party if all these rakeback players migrate to skins that still offer rakeback.

Are we to assume Party is going to radically change its relationship with these skins that enable rakeback ie Empire and EuroBet?Can Party risk cutting these skins off?How could Party actually find out which players are getting rakeback on these skins without the cooperation of said skin?Are the skins and Party going to go head-to head legally over this?Can Party afford to let the heavy volume players(an increasing % of total player pool) be incrementally less profitable as more serious players avoid Party and only play thru skins that offer rakeback?

Party is attempting to stem the tide of their making less on each new player or even worse the same player added to the Party Network.Right now by putting on a face that they are protecting the growth of their business model the IPO is more marketable.Fact is the IPO will probably float at the top of Party's popularity unless Party can find a way to legitimatly contnue to grow.Party's growth is being stunted by this leakage of players utilizing rakeback at other skins.

The games will continue to get tougher with a higher % of regular players multi-tabling and playing for rakeback.With a pool of ever increasing educated young players more will multi-table and more will demand rakeback.Party's growth isnt what it appears just in the player#'s -they are very deceptive.Party's best days of growth are behind it.Now they are just trying to clear up house enough to float the IPO get rich and clean the books up enough so they arent legally culpable when everyone figures out that the growth story is not what it appears.10%-20% long-term growth yes maybe 30-50% no.
Party needs to continue to get new fresh players who are no know nothing about rakeback.Can they eliminate rakeback without jeopardizing their biz model or revenue projections?doubtful..that why they are doing this bit by bit.
Right now it looks like Party is just cleaning up its own house and the next target may be all skins once they get a feel for this latest move.

As someone who has just in the last half-year finally gotten rakeback I'm not thrilled to lose 20% but I'm ready for the worst.

[kenberman]

[ QUOTE ]
i did recently have to sign a long contract detailing that i would affiliate EXCLUSIVELY for empire (what i did anyway).

Since they were having me sign contracts and fax them somewhere...it is my belief that Empire will continue to support affiliates for at least a while longer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Party holds the cards in this game. Don't be surprised when your rakeback with Empire ends soon. Party is dead set against it.

[berya]

"Party holds the cards in this game. Don't be surprised when your rakeback with Empire ends soon. Party is dead set against it."

I always thought Party got some percentage if you played on sister sites. Sister sites means partnership to me. And partnership means they must be splitting money one way or the other.

All I know if not for the rakeback I would pretty much never play there. That means between them and sister sites they would be loosing 7-10K a month. Not a smart move if you ask me.

[kenberman]

[ QUOTE ]
"Party holds the cards in this game. Don't be surprised when your rakeback with Empire ends soon. Party is dead set against it."
I always thought Party got some percentage if you played on sister sites. Sister sites means partnership to me. And partnership means they must be splitting money one way or the other.


[/ QUOTE ]


of course Party gets revenue from Empire, and they have a partnership. But who do you think runs that relationship? Empire needs Party far more than Party needs Empire, so Party can certainly impose their will on issues they deem important. They've deemed rakeback something that they are dead against, and will work to get rid of it.

It doesn't make me happy, it's just the way it is.

[ QUOTE ]
All I know if not for the rakeback I would pretty much never play there. That means between them and sister sites they would be loosing 7-10K a month

[/ QUOTE ]

I think they're ready to see if you're serious or not.

[jrbick]

This is from another post (name below) in this forum and thought I may get an answer here.

Quote: Re: how do these rakeback providers not get caught? [Re: LinusKS]
#2272244 - 04/29/05 01:55 AM

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They're under pressure from their legitimate affiliates - the ones that don't offer rakeback. An affiliate who doesn't offer rakeback can't compete against the ones that do.

Also, rakeback has created a tremendous incentive for Party players to move to other skins, or to create second accounts, so that they can get in on the action. The point of affiliates, remember, is to generate new players, not to cannabalize the existing player base. The majority of rb deals - I'd be willing to bet - go to players who already have at least one account.


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DISCLAIMER -- If I misunderstand any of the inner-workings of iGlobalMedia and it's relationship to PTY, forgive me and please correct me.

This (above quote) is exactly what makes me wonder why the the future of Empire and co. have anything to worry about --
Is it not iGlobalMedia that is truly running the show here thus rendering the precise skin of "Party Poker" as expendable? I'm not seeing how "Party Poker" is absolutely essential other than for origninality; but even then, it's not as if PP has marketed itself to the point of being irreplaceable, no?

Case in point, if Empire/Euro/etc. are generating PLENTY 'O MONEY for iGlobalMedia, what does iGlobalMedia care? Are Empire and co. accountable directly to PP?

Maybe I misunderstand the importance of PP to iGlobalMedia's marketing strength?