Advertising -- Gambling ads

Last Update: May 9, 2008

Standards of Integrity for Advertisers

by Michael Shackleford, Wizard of Odds

I have certain quality standards because if I advertise low-quality sites then it reflects poorly on me. I won't advertise any site that uses popups, popouts, or browser hijacking (automatically moving or resizing the browser window when a visitor clicks over from our site to yours). I review all potential advertisers to make sure they're a good fit and reserve the right to reject any advertiser or any ad if the quality appears to be lacking.

I personally choose and endorse all advertisers on this site who take bets (casinos, poker rooms, bingo, etc.) Only gaming operators I trust have a place here. I feel confident that these advertisers are safe places for players to put their money, and I intend to keep it that way. My promise to my readers is that if they are unable to resolve a dispute with one of these advertisers after clicking through an ad on my site and playing at that advertiser, I will help as an artbitrator. (This covers only advertisers who take bets, not portals. I can't help players who click over to a portal and then click onto a betting site from there.)

The following are my standards for both the casino and the player. "Casino" includes any direct-wagering site, such as poker rooms, lotteries, bingo. etc.

What is expected of the casino:

1. Timely Payment. The casino will pay players in a timely manner.
2. Timely Customer Service. The casino will respond to player inquiries in a timely manner.
3. The casino will abide by its own rules. In particular if a player is deemed to be a "bonus abuser" (taking advantage of a bonus but not giving more than the required play) it is fine to cut off that player from future bonuses, or even terminate his account. However once a player earns a bonus that bonus may not be seized, nor any winnings that resulted from it. In the event a player is cut off for bonus abuse mid way through completing the terms of a bonus the casino shall give the player that bonus on a pro-rata basis based on play completed. Obviously I will not side with a player in the case of fraud, such as playing under a false identity or multiple identities, or colluding with other players. Fair play is expected of both player and casino.
4. Mediation and Arbitration. If a player who opened an account after clicking through a banner on my site is unable to resolve a problem with the casino after three attempts then the casino agrees to allow me to mediate, and if I deem it necessary, to arbitrate. If the casino has an existing and independent arbitration service that is a good thing and I encourage that process to be used. However players have the right to have me intervene if their attempts at resolution are unsuccessful. Since 2000 I have received inquiries from dissatisfied players only about once a year, and it is usually just a matter of a simple oversight that is quickly resolved. I'd rather not have to spend time mediating between players and casinos which is why I allow only high-quality casinos to advertise with me in the first place.
5. No spamming. The casino will not share/sell/give/rent/loan the player's email address to any other party besides their gaming software provider, unless required to do so by law.

What is expected of the player:

1. The player will carefully read and abide by the casino's rules.
2. The player will supply any requested documents.
3. The player will act in good faith. It is fine to play for a bonus but the player will not attempt to defraud the casino.
4. The player will try to resolve a dispute on his own before asking for my help.

Here is detailed information about the current casino advertisers.