Affiliates/Rakeback forum closing, now what?

[Pokeraddict]

I have the same understanding about IB but it will require RTR to agree. I'm really on the sidelines here. I mod IB and A/R, I just want to know what everyone expects. Party rakeback has been banned from A/R but woth the recent Party affiliate issues I have been a bit lenient with the discussions there as long as they were rakeback request threads.

[Bobo Fett]

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I have the same understanding about IB but it will require RTR to agree. I'm really on the sidelines here. I mod IB and A/R, I just want to know what everyone expects. Party rakeback has been banned from A/R but woth the recent Party affiliate issues I have been a bit lenient with the discussions there as long as they weren't rakeback request threads.

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FYP?

[StellarWind]

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Party rakeback has been banned from A/R but woth the recent Party affiliate issues I have been a bit lenient with the discussions there as long as they weren't rakeback request threads.

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This is the natural and right approach to the Party issue. It's the Affiliates/Rakeback forum so it's appropriate to allow affiliates to discuss their endless problems with PartyPoker while also banning discussion of illegal rakeback.

Except it just isn't working. Rakeback is almost hopelessly intertwined with every meaningful Party thread. You can't moderate out all the rakeback references without destroying the integrity of the discussions. The recent thread concerning affiliate account freezes and retroactive MGR deductions is a good example. Plus any discussion of the Party affiliate program creates political problems that may force 2+2 to protect their business interests.

As we move forward I think we need a complete ban on PartyPoker discussion in A/R or whatever forum(s) replace it. It's a clear and easily enforceable rule and perhaps it would end many of the problems that have put A/R in constant jeopardy of being abolished.

This compromise would protect the poker-playing readership that relies on 2+2. We need a forum with open discussion of legitimate rakeback and the affiliates that provide it. Otherwise it's a field day for all the people who would cheat the players out of what they deserve.

[Mat Sklansky]

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Mat,

I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind.

1) Are there any plans to move the sponsored RB forums up to where the A/R forum is now? No one's suggested this would happen, I just thought it might be an interesting idea.

2) If I understand your last post correctly, 2+2 will allow RB discussion in the IB forum, as long as the sponsor (RTR) is okay with it...is that correct?

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1) It's possible

2) Yes, that is the point of these sponsored forums. The sponsor gets to make most of the rules.

The affiliate forum, being unsponsored, was a bunch of free advertising for people offering rakeback.

[Sniper]

Mat, then why not simply limit Affiliate linked accounts in that forum to advertisers only?

Closing down an unbiased forum where members can go to discuss issues they are having with affiliates, or out rogues and is on a topic which many members find has increased their overall earn, sounds like a reduction in forum value.

Are you saying that the A/R forum can't be properly moderated so that the Revenue to 2+2 vs Value to Members equation can be adequately balanced?