I have worked in the iGaming industry for more than 2 decades. During that time, I have seen affiliate networks grow and collapse, brands disappear, and regulations completely reshape markets. One issue, however, has remained consistently ignored: some affiliate programs quietly take affiliates’ results and face no real consequences.

This problem is not new, and it is not rare. It is time to speak openly about what is happening inside the iGaming affiliate ecosystem.

 

How Affiliate Programs Take Advantage of Affiliates

They Stop Accepting New Traffic and Stop Paying

Many affiliate programs suddenly announce that they are no longer accepting new traffic. These decisions are often made without warning or transition periods. If an affiliate does not have a lifetime revenue share agreement, all previous work immediately becomes unpaid. Months or years of SEO, content creation, and promotion are erased overnight, while the operator keeps the benefit of past exposure and customer acquisition.

 

Referral Links Are Changed Without Informing Affiliates

Affiliate programs sometimes change referral links without notifying their partners. When this happens, tracking breaks and campaigns stop converting. Traffic continues to flow to the brand, but commissions no longer reach the affiliate account. These situations are rarely technical errors. They are business decisions where the affiliate absorbs the loss.

 

Affiliate Managers Disappear Without Proper Hand-Over

When affiliate managers leave a company or are dismissed, communication often stops completely. Outstanding issues remain unresolved, emails go unanswered, and tracking or payment concerns vanish along with the manager. Affiliates are left without support while programs continue benefiting from previously delivered traffic.

 

Referral Links Are Disabled Without Warning

Tracking links, including multi-GEO referral links, are sometimes disabled without any notice. Affiliates receive no email alerts, dashboard notifications, or explanations. Campaigns are effectively shut down in silence, while affiliates unknowingly continue sending traffic that is no longer tracked or credited.

 

Affiliate Requests Are Ignored

Affiliates frequently attempt to resolve issues through emails, messaging platforms, and support tickets. In many cases, these requests are ignored entirely. Despite the lack of communication, the affiliate program continues to benefit from brand exposure and traffic that was already generated.

 

The Industry’s Uncomfortable Silence

What is most troubling is how little public discussion exists around these practices. Well-known industry platforms such as GPWA, AffPapa, and AffiliateGuardDog rarely address these recurring problems in a meaningful way. Whether due to lack of visibility or lack of reporting, the result is the same: affiliates feel abandoned and unheard.

What is clear is that many affiliates no longer want to remain silent.

 

Our Experience and ChilliPartners

As part of a new project, we collaborated with multiple affiliate programs across different brands. The outcome was often identical. Initial communication was positive, traffic was delivered, and results were generated. Shortly afterward, communication stopped, tracking issues went unresolved, and payment-related questions were ignored.

ChilliPartners is one affiliate program that placed us in exactly this position. This experience is not unique, and many affiliates in the iGaming industry report similar patterns.

 

Why Affiliates Now Ask for Listing Fees

When affiliates request listing fees or additional guarantees, it is not an attempt to exploit operators. It is a response to years of lost trust. Affiliates are responsible for delivering future customers, yet many have experienced what is commonly referred to as affiliate shaving. Performance is questioned, traffic is labeled as low quality, and transparency disappears.

Affiliates are no longer willing to work solely for reported click numbers or vague explanations that cannot be verified.

 

Break the Silence

To fellow affiliates and industry professionals, now is the time to speak openly. Share experiences, identify harmful practices, and demand transparency from affiliate programs.

Without affiliates, there is no traffic.
Without traffic, there is no business.
And without respect, there is no sustainable future for the iGaming affiliate industry.

 

The silence benefits only those who exploit it.
It is time to end it together.