Online Gambling Forum Power Shifts From CAP to GPWA
The loss of confidence in Casino Affiliate Programs over undisclosed conflicts of interest in the ownership and operation of Cardspike Poker and Absolute Slots has eroded the once-mighty CAP forums.
As banned members of the online casino industry are joined by those voluntarily leaving, CAP posts and visits are dropping while the Gambling Portal Webmaster Association forums have become the industry's gathering spot.
The abrupt changes in status by CAP leader Lou Fabiano reflect the panicky attitude of the organization. First, after fighting over whether the conflicts exist, Fabiano changes the subject when proof is offered and says he is resigning for health reasons. Then it is announced he is on vacation leave. Finally, within a space of days, Fabiano returns, blasting his self-appointed stand-in as he reclaims his spot.
Meanwhile, even as CAP insists only Michael and Steven Corfman were banned from their forums, a punishment that was lifted, dozens of posts appear on GPWA asserting that the posters are banned for offenses as light as asking what the mess is about.
Running an organization designed to smooth out uneven business practices and arbitrate unfair situations doesn't lend itself to a paranoid shunning of any raising legitimate questions. And a stonewalling refusal to confront evidence and air out problems destroys trust.
Traffic numbers reported on the GPWA forums indicate that CAP business has been greatly affected by the scandals. Members of the Internet gambling industry have shown that they will fill the void of federal regulators by exposing shady operations and then ignoring the offending sites, letting them drift to ghost town significance.
As the online gaming community turns its attention to GPWA, APCW, the Corfmans, and J. Todd, let all hope they remember the lesson of CAP, and refuse to let a few dollars tempt them away from integrity.
Recent Comments
| Posted by: Dave Sawyer | When: 02/14/2009 01:40:35 AM EST |
| Good summary of recent events. Are you also aware of CAP being blacklisted by several portals. See http://www.onlinecasinoreviewer.com/casinoaffiliateprograms.htm | |
| Posted by: caroline jawad | When: 03/11/2009 04:01:08 PM EST |
| Hi - I am new to this site and I am here to ask any site / visitors / members if they could spare ten minutes or less to take part in my survey which is trying to investigate effective responsible gambling features. I really am a PhD student!! and I have set up an online survey which is trying to identify features which gamblers think would be useful for persons who feel that their gambling is becoming a problem. I am not asking you to take part in this survey because I have a problem with you guys, or that I think all gamblers are problem gamblers - it is because I think you might have a greater familiarity and understanding of useful features in a site than I do because you are more familiar with the internet gambling environment. Academics have suggested many features which they think are useful for problem gambling but this does not consider the opinions of people who take part in gambling. The survey is not perfect and the literature in my research explains some of the limitations - however it is one survey to cover many different kinds of online gambling. Any thoughts you may have - I would really appreciate hearing - thanks http://www.effectiveresponsiblegamblingfeatures.blogspot.com | |




