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In the latest APWA video report, J. Todd called Casino Affiliate Programs admitted relationship with a rogue online poker room, CardSpike.com, a "shell game". (watch video here)
Affiliates of CardSpike.com were not paid until reports started circulating about the possible connection between CAP and the card room. Lou Fabioni, who is a co-organizer of Casino Affiliate Programs, admitted he engaged in "consulting" work through another corporation he owns on behalf of CardSpike.
The Effective Media Group, run by Fabioni, also managed the CardSpike affiliate program.
"If you are a new startup and you want to have someone help you set up your affiliate program and get it off to a good start, and manage your affiliate program, I offer consulting services that do that."
"You (Lou) just admitted that Effective Media manages affiliate programs, but it's no big deal, right?" a sarcastic J. Todd questioned, referring to what many believe to be an obvious conflict of interest. "If it's not a big deal, why the shell game?"
Todd also questioned why Fabioni was not more upfront from the beginning.
GPWA head, Michael Corfman, issued a statement this week, stating that that "real issue here is trying to hide and obscure the relationship, whatever its nature, in the context of running an affiliate forum. Having a hidden agenda behind the scenes where you have a vested interest in promoting one program over others is not right. And when the program involved is not treating players and affiliates properly, then the trust that has been broken is, in my opinion, unforgivable."
In his first response to Gambling911.com regarding the allegations lodged against CAP, co-founder Warren Jolly requested all reader comments appearing on articles related to the story be removed. Gambling911.com politely denied the request.
"I am respectfully asking that you remove any of the malicious comments posted on the articles you've published on G911 by your "Guests" - a lot of those comments are very negative and damaging and are not helping you spread news and information," Jolly said.
Gambling911.com policy encourages freedom of speech from readers with the exclusion of malicious personal attacks. In the case of CAP, it was determined that readers were simply expressing their opinion and at times echoing what was revealed by the GPWA investigation. Mr. Jolly has been encouraged to respond to these comments.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
