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Players and affiliates go to detective mode on 32 white label sites
This week saw an extraordinary volume of irate online player and affiliate posts over some 32 ostensibly individual online gambling websites which carried games from the reputable turnkey provider Microgaming.
White label sites usually carry the games of, and are administered by the main licensee of the software provider, leaving the owner free to market the venture.
Such a large number of 'new' operations from a top of the range provider that usually launches quality rather than quantity when it comes to online casino and poker room operations was bound to attract attention sooner or later, and this one certainly did after one of the owners started posting on the Casinomeister online gambling information portal.
What investigating players and affiliates subsequently discovered proved to be an unwelcome surprise to most - the sites were not full Microgaming licensees at all, but "white label" operations commissioned or sub-licensed through a respected Microgaming licensee - Playshare.com, which owns two full MGS online casinos in Casinoshare and Grand Monaco Casino.
It seemed that white label operations with unfamiliar names and little if any indication to players of their association with Playshare had sprung up without explanation, using the main licensee's backend and games to carry on their business - presumably for a share of the profit.
The growing furore brought a representative of Playshare to the forum, who admitted the "cat is out of the bag" and assured players that his company would ensure they were paid; that full due diligence had been exercised before turning the white labels loose on the gambling public, and that they were monitored.
However, the discovery of links to sex sites on the Casino2See.com website made that appear unlikely. And an email offering affiliates $3 000 for introducing possible white label partners indicated that the recruiting net had been cast wide.
The discoveries implied that a white label strategy had been deployed without either software provider or licensee finding it necessary to publicise a departure from a trusted business practice. A proliferation of significant numbers of previously unknown online casino sites appeared to have been the end result.
Players in particular are sensitive about white label operations, which at the low end of the market tend to lure players in with bonuses, only to disqualify winnings by declaring that only one bonus is claimable from the main licensee. If the white label does not clearly indicate that it is associated with the specific main licensee, it leaves players open to abuse and is therefore perceived as deceptive and unethical.
Some players have personal reasons for not wishing to give their business to particular online casino groups or play certain softwares, and unidentified white labels could deceive those players into giving their patronage to a firm they would prefer not to visit.
Another aspect to the white label trade is that a major player requirement is being paid on time, and having the security of knowing that if an operation fails they will be looked after - a strong Microgaming tradition. It is therefore important for players to know who is really behind the white label, making transparency a critical priority. Players need to know upfront with which group and software the white label is associated, and in the current case this was not clear to most.
Although white labels tend to "unnecessarily clutter the online gambling landscape" as one poster put it, these "sub-contractor" operators are not necessarily bad. White labels can be useful to address niche markets or regions where the licensee does not have entrée, and provided they are introduced in a transparent manner and with professional due diligence beforehand, and policed responsibly this sort of venue can be justified in this role.
The other side of the coin....
Playshare CEO Max Wright stepped up to the plate to address the issues with candour in the following public statement:
"Over the last few days we have worked closely with MicroGaming to define new WL rules. From now on we will be aligning our WL strategy with the strict guidelines that we and MicroGaming have set out.
"It is clear from this thread, and we absolutely agree, that for any WL campaign or program to be successful the following should be taken into account:
Upfront and public announcements about the scheme and accept responsibility for the careful selection, vetting and probity checking on the applicants.
Develop strict monitoring and system controls, together with clear guidelines on what is acceptable in terms of player respect, player protection, player privacy, spam and general marketing.
If these guidelines are infringed, then there is provision to terminate the white label's casino or other necessary steps that need to be taken.
Originating brand identified on white labels
Clearly state that PlayShare takes full responsibility and operates all the payments, operations, support for all the players.
Players and affiliates need to be assured that they will be safe and respected.
The "About Us' page is going to be updated as we agree it is not clear. You can see some info at <a href="http://www.playsharepartners.com" which is a site undergoing some fast work now.
We are going to make this information such as payment processing far more accessible and more obvious to the player.
"PlayShare acknowledges that there are areas for improvement in our White Label Program and we are committed to working on these areas.
"I trust that you feel reassured that all your concerns are being addressed and I invite you to get in touch with me should you require anything further."
Turning to specific player concerns, Wright made the following additional comments:
He said that the WL program started in April 2007, when many of the listed 35 Playshare white label brands were test accounts, dormant accounts or pitch accounts that did not evolve into operational units. The objective was to gain access to niche markets that would otherwise have been hard to penetrate, he said.
Wright accepted that in hindsight his organisation had "....not been as transparent as we could have been and are correcting this by updating http://www.playsharepartners.com, making clear the WL scenario with regards to player funds and who operates these casinos.
He pointed out that with regard to terms and conditions, Playshare had made clear where the player stands with regards to opening offers. "However, we are going to make this easier for the player to spot as not every player actually reads the terms and conditions before playing. The player will only be affected with regards to the opening offer and all future offers will not be affected as every account is treated separately," he said.
Asked about the screening process for new WL owners, Wright gave an undertaking that each white label applicant will go through a screening process, such as personal background checks. He reiterated that PlayShare takes full responsibility for the players so that they are not compromised. And going forward, marketing will be strictly monitored.
Addressing the Casino2See links with sex sites, Wright revealed that this had been an oversight and that he had had the links removed. "This will not occur again," he assured.
Returning to the suitability of WL venues to reach niche markets and certain regions, Wright informed players that the WL initiative had just begun, but venues aimed at specific areas of business will open in October or November. "We had only just launched and so are still in the early stages, and have already learnt some very valuable lessons," he commented. "These marketing campaigns will not benefit our current players, as they are acquisition promotions to get new players on the site."
He added that the public debate on the WL issue had "....definitely got us thinking and given us a kick and so I am putting a lot more resources and my time to improve the white label program for the better. Over the next few days and weeks you will see changes."
Playshare's CEO went on to acknowledge that setting up "hundreds of white label brands" is not productive and is damaging. "All new partners for the future will only be set up as white labels if they have something strong to bring to the table such as an existing powerful brand," he said.
Clarifying a question on where his group's responsibilities rested, Wright said: "PlayShare manages all player funds and takes full responsibility for all purchases and cash-ins on behalf of the White Label. If the White Label goes under and closes their operation then the players will continue to play on the casino and Playshare will honour any associated bets. The Player will not be compromised."
白色标签网上赌场项目消防
球员和子公司去侦探模式32白色标签网站
这周看到了非常生气量在线播放和子公司的职位，一些表面上32个人在线赌博网站进行游戏的信誉BSNL提供Microgaming 。
白色标签的网站通常携带游戏和管理的主要许可的软件供应商，让业主自由市场风险。
这么多的'新'行动从顶部的范围内供应商，通常发射质量而不是数量说到在线赌场和扑克室和行动的约束，以吸引注意迟早，这后一个的确之一业主开始张贴在Casinomeister在线赌博信息门户。
什么调查队员和联营公司后来发现证明，这是一种不受欢迎的意外最-网站没有充分Microgaming持牌人，而是“贴牌”业务委托或分许可通过尊重Microgaming持牌- Playshare.com ，该公司拥有2充分大马政府证券网上赌场在Casinoshare和大摩纳哥赌场。
看来，贴牌业务，不熟悉的名字，并没有任何迹象表明他们对球员协会与Playshare已如雨后春笋般冒出来而没有任何解释，使用的主要持牌人后端和游戏进行业务-大概为每股的利润。
越来越愤怒带来了代表Playshare论坛，谁承认， “猫是不可能的袋子”和有保证的球员，他的公司将确保他们支付;尽责，充分行使了之前的白色标签上的松散赌博人士，他们进行了监测。
然而，发现链接到色情网站上Casino2See.com网站认为不大可能出现。和电子邮件提供子公司3 000美元的介绍可能的白色标签合作伙伴指出，招募净投下了广泛。
这些发现暗示，贴有白色标签的战略已经部署，或者软件供应商或持牌人发现，有必要宣传背离了一个值得信赖的商业做法。泛滥大量以前未知的在线赌场网站似乎是最终的结果。
球员，尤其是敏感的白色标签行动，这在低端市场往往吸引球员的奖金，只宣布取消奖金，只有一个好处是债权的主要许可。如果白色标签没有清楚地表明，它与特定的主要持牌人，它留下的球员可能被滥用，因此被视为欺骗性的和不道德的。
一些球员的个人原因，不希望给他们的企业特别是在线赌场团体或发挥某些软件，和身份不明的白色标签可以欺骗那些球员将给予他们的赞助，以坚定的，他们不希望访问的。
另一个方面的白色标签贸易是一个重要的要求是按时支付工资，并在安全的认识，如果手术失败，他们将照顾-一个强大Microgaming传统。因此，重要的是球员知道谁是真正背后的白色标签，使透明度的一个关键优先事项。球员们需要知道与该集团的前期和软件的白色标签关联，在目前情况下，这是最不明白。
虽然白色的标签往往“不必要地杂波的在线赌博景观”作为一个海报所说的那样，这些“分包商”经营者不一定是坏的。白色标签可以是有益的解决细分市场或区域的持牌人没有主菜，并提供他们介绍了一种透明的方式，并以专业的尽职调查前，和警方负责这类地点可以是有道理的这一作用。
另一边的硬币....
Playshare总裁马克斯赖特加紧向板，以解决问题坦率以下公开声明：
“过去几天我们已经紧密合作MicroGaming确定新的无线规则。从现在起，我们将调整我们的无线战略，严格的准则，我们和MicroGaming已经开始着手。
“很显然，线程，我们完全同意，任何无线广告系列或计划是成功的下面，应考虑到：
前期和公开宣布有关计划，并接受责任，精心挑选，审查和正直检查申请人。
制定严格的监测和系统控制，以及明确的准则什么是可以接受的条件的球员方面，球员的保护，球员的隐私，垃圾邮件和一般营销。
如果这些准则受到侵犯，其次是规定终止白色标签的赌场或其他必要的步骤，需要采取。
原产地品牌确定白色标签
明确指出， PlayShare承担全部责任和经营的所有收支，运营，支持所有的球员。
球员和联营公司需要得到保证，他们将在安全和尊重。
在“关于我们'网页将会更新我们同意，目前还不清楚。您可以看到一些信息在”一href = “ http://www.playsharepartners.com ”这是一个网站进行一些快速的工作现在。
我们将这一信息，如付款处理更加方便和更加明显的球员。
“ PlayShare承认，有需要改善的地方在我们的白色标签计划和我们致力于在这些地区。
“我相信，你放心，所有您的问题得到了解决，我请你取得联系我如果您需要任何进一步。 ”
谈到具体球员的关注，赖特提出了以下补充意见：
他说，无线计划开始于2007年4月，当许多列出的35 Playshare白色标签品牌测试账户，休眠帐户或摊位帐户没有演变成业务单位。我们的目标是获得利基市场，否则已经很难渗透，他说。
赖特接受，现在看来，他的组织已经"....没有透明的，我们本来是纠正这种更新http://www.playsharepartners.com ，明确资格的情况对于球员的资金，谁经营这些赌场。
他指出，有关条款及条件，提出了明确的Playshare在球员方面的立场提供了开幕式。 “但是，我们要使它更容易些的球员的位置并不是每一个球员实际内容的条款和条件在玩。玩家将只影响方面提供的开放和所有未来的提供将不会受到影响的一切帐户分开处理， “他说。
当被问及新的甄别程序轮候册业主，赖特作了承诺，每个白色标签申请人将经过筛选的过程，如个人背景调查。他重申， PlayShare承担全部责任的球员，使他们不受到损害。并展望未来，市场将受到严格监控。
解决Casino2See与色情网站，赖特透露，这是一个监督和说，他已联系删除。 “这将不会再次发生， ”他保证。
返回的适用性轮候册场地达到的细分市场和某些区域，赖特告诉球员资格倡议才刚刚开始，但场地，旨在具体领域的业务将在10月或11月。 “我们才刚刚开始，因此仍处于早期阶段，并已经学到了一些非常宝贵的经验教训， ”他的评论。 “这些营销活动将不利于我们目前的球员，因为他们获得新的促销活动让玩家在网站上。 ”
他补充说，公开辩论资格问题"....无疑是我们的思想和给了我们一个球，因此我把更多的资源和我的时间，以改善白色标签计划好。未来几天和几周内你会看到的变化。 “
Playshare首席执行官接着承认，建立“数以百计的白色标签品牌”不是生产力，是有害的。 “所有新的合作伙伴的未来将只设置为白色的标签，如果他们有强烈的，将表格，如现有的强大的品牌， ”他说。
澄清一个问题，他的小组的职责在于，赖特说： “所有的球员PlayShare管理的资金和承担全部责任的所有采购和现金集代表白色标签。如果白色标签下去并关闭其操作然后球员将继续发挥在赌场和Playshare将履行任何相关的投注。玩家不会受到影响。 “ |
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发表于 2007-8-11 05:10
