In threads that have ballooned on Poker Affiliate Program’s website as well as TwoPlusTwo, numerous affiliates have reported issues with payments from CardSpike, a skin of the Cake Poker Network. Other sites on the Network include PlayersOnly and Red Star Poker, which appear to remain viable options for affiliates promoting rakeback.
On FeltPoker back in September, site administrator “Randy” made a post outlining a brand new site on the Cake Poker Network called CardSpike. It offered 33% rakeback and allowed players who had already signed up with Cake Poker an opportunity to sign up for CardSpike as well using a different e-mail. Two months later, as some of the first payments were being processed to affiliates, slow processing became the central theme.
The Poker Affiliate Programs (PAP) message board was one of the epicenters of the firestorm against the newly created online poker room. “Ridge,” who is billed as “PAP’s Voice of Reason,” commented in a November 16th post, “How hard can it be to pay people? How hard is it to pay your affiliates that have been pushing this room?” Poster “Greg,” who is now banned, had been the main force pushing CardSpike on the PAP forums. On November 19th, which was right before the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, “Greg” stated that all affiliate payments would be processed that week.
Following the November discussions, Greg may have parted ways with CardSpike, although his ultimate fate is unclear. In his place, “Peter_CardSpike” began to assure affiliates that payments would be processed. On December 12th, he claimed, “Payments will be going out over the next few days. We will have every affiliate paid by the end of next week.” On December 18th, it was more of the same: “Peter_CardSpike” commented, “I would like to make everyone aware that payments will be going out over the course of today and tomorrow. As promised.” Peter listed his e-mail as peter@cardspikeaffiliates.com and his Skype name as “PeterCardspike,” although these changed to peter@cardspikeaffiliates.com and “peter_cardspike,” respectively.
On December 31st, PAP’s “Warren” stated, “We are working behind the scenes with CardSpike trying to get the payments issued as fast as possible but with the holidays, it doesn’t make anyone’s job easier. They are a client of ours and unfortunately were run poorly which is why Peter was brought in to correct this.” The thread has since been locked. “Warren” advanced “Ridge” his affiliate payment. However, in a post updated later that day, PAP Administrator “Professor” revealed that PAP would no longer recommend the site and revoked its All In status.
Blogger Nat Arem and others have since alerted their constituencies as to the slow and non-payments at CardSpike. Arem, who was instrumental in uncovering the online poker scandals that rocked Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, described CardSpike as a “rogue skin on the Cake Poker network.”
CardSpike’s website is still active. It proudly boasts that is a member of both PAP and Casino Affiliate Programs (CAP), displaying the logos of each as well. CardSpike claims it is a “poker room and casino which started in 2008 by a team of online marketers and gaming experts who have been involved in the iGaming business since 2000.” Payments to affiliates are scheduled to be made on the 15th of every month for revenue generated during the previous calendar month.
“Warren” and PAP suggest that “everyone remove their links and cease promotion of this product as it does not appear they can salvage the brand given all the negative issues that have taken place.”
Meanwhile, PAP is gearing up for its first ever poker expo and conference, to be hosted on May 19th and May 20th, 2008 in Cyprus just prior to CAP Spring Break, which is also being held on the island nation. There is no cost for either conference for PAP and CAP members.
