| Posted by: ian_go at April 4, 2005, 5:55 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Quote: Originally Posted by Blue
As Dom mentions, and was brought up in other posts in this thread, GFED now needs to contact all the players they are able to, and alert them to what was installed on their computers, with instructions on how to remove it.
I can't see it happening Blue. Not to say that the Gfed should not contact all these players, but it is unlikely that they will. The $5K donation was nice, as was the withdrawal from forums, public apology etc. There are many operators out there who would just ignore the whole situation and continue with their underhanded tactics. At least Gfed have taken some steps to honorably address the situation. But for the Gfed to contact their players would be comparable to committing business suicide. The amount of players that would no longer play would, in my opinion, be considerable. Therefore the loss in net gaming income huge. As I said, the donation was a nice touch and full credit to all involved bringing it about, but really,... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Bethug at March 18, 2005, 9:31 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
I am glad everyone came together. But it did take a long time. And mainly to pressure. Casinomeister acted fast, the rest waited to see what the others was going to do.
There not even going to be going out of business no time soon. I am getting spam from there group everyday. Knowing some greedy players they will take the bonus and still be around.
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| Posted by: dominique at March 18, 2005, 8:53 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Quote: Originally Posted by sickofsleaze
It's a bit far-reaching to see "positives" here, Dom. All actions taken should have occurred much earlier on and not by public pressure.
You are right about that, things moved ery slowly. But one might make allowances since most of the organizations above are large groups of people. Achieving consensus under those circumstances is usually a slow process.
Sure, if I wanted to I could sit down and list all kinds of negatives - they are blatant in this story.
This is still the first time ever I have seen all those groups agree on something and act in unison in favor of players. And I have to iew that as a positive.
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| Posted by: dominique at March 18, 2005, 7:59 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
I want to look at some of the positives that have transpired in relation to this mess.
I am ery pleased to hear about GFED's departure from GPWA, I just knew the folks at GPWA were concerned about this and I recently defended them elsewhere in relation to this situation. John and Marlene have been ery good for the GPWA I think.
The $5000 donation for Gambler's anonymous negotiated by GPWA is a good thing under any circumstances, as is the oluntary withdrawal of GFED from the GPWA forums.
eCOGRA, the IGC, CAP and the GPWA have come through and acted honorably and done the right thing.
What's missing?
I think GFED needs to contact all their players and affiliates directly and explain what happened and, in the case of players, help fix the malware situation on the individually affected computers.
Sometimes one needs to stand back and look at the positive things that can come from a bad situation - and in this case the industry in general has... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Jetset at March 17, 2005, 11:59 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
The latest information from Wes Hines at the iGGBA is that that body is still *investigating* this matter and will be discussing it soon. No indication of whether they will publish their findings or what action may be taken. And still no public statement regarding this incident involving one of their corporate members.
Kinda slow and maybe just a little out of touch.
It's puzzling, given some of the big and reputable names on their membership list.
Perhaps Mr. Fogli will try to sell them his "they stole my database and I need a Code" smokescreen as showcased in his press release.
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| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 17, 2005, 6:02 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
I'm having a tough time figuring out what he is trying to accomplish with that press release.
Considering that his operation is sheltered offshore and presumably just as difficult to sue as Royal Dutch, phrases like "The pot calling the kettle blacK" or "Hoist on his own petard" come to mind.
Even if the IGC issued an edict that all data thieves should be hunted down and beaten with noodles in the harshest possible fashion, I don't see what that has to do with Gambling Federation's expulsion from two organizations that he was actively deceiving for over a year.
He got caught lying. People don't like that. Duh.
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| Posted by: Blue at March 17, 2005, 9:07 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
This is horrible leadership - put aside the original unethical business decision of intiating the malware, the handling of the fallout by GFed, a Foglio in particular, could be used by business schools as an example of the absolute wrong way to handle a PR crisis.
You'd think GFed stakeholders (whoever they might be) would be getting involved at this point and at least trying to provide some sound advice, because as it is now, every time something comes out of their office, it just makes them look worse.
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 16, 2005, 9:08 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
But GFED may be thinking it's a cool smokescreen to direct attention away from the real reason they are in the stocks - they have admitted that they deliberately included malware in their casino download, knowing that it would be downloaded to hundreds (or thousands) of players' computers.
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 15, 2005, 10:21 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Mr. FOGLI has, by issuing this statement demonstrated once again that his capability in executive judgement is open to question, imv.
To further insult those who feel strongly about his actions in the malware affair by figuratively stamping his feet over the IGC decision whilst blithely ignoring the main reason for his companys hassles is ill-advised and arrogant to say the least.
Face the facts, FOGLI - you were the man in charge and the responsibility for this crisis is yours. Your company dumped unwanted and malicious software on the computers of probably hundreds if not thousands of unknowing players.
The issue here is not your lame justification for doing that - it is the fact that you did it, you were caught doing it, you admitted doing it and you paid a fairly light penalty for doing it.
I would suggest that you consider yourself fortunate to have escaped so lightly and show a bit more humility and contrition and less focus on this alleged database thef... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Jetset at March 15, 2005, 10:12 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Gambling Federation has now issued a further statement dealing with it's Malware crisis and the IGC action. It would seem that CEO Flaviano Fogli is a little disappointed at the actions taken against his group for deliberately including blocking malware in their software download to unknowing players!
He has blithely ommitted to comment on the main reason for his company's departure from the IGC, however.
QUOTE Gambling Federation is pleased that the IGC board supports the idea that theft and conversion of property is a reprehensible act. Unfortunately when IGC informed that there are appropriate means to deal with such cases, they failed to indicate what these means were.
Does IGC consider legally pursuing the perpetrator(s) of theft and conversion of property as appropriate means? Considering the offshore presence of the industry and considering that transfers of property do not, for the most part, leave a physical address, it is safe to say that legal actions are not eff... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: dominique at March 15, 2005, 7:10 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Quote: Originally Posted by The Original Mary
1. go to www.google.com
2. enter the url of any Gfed site
3. select the "show sites that link to" option
4. You'll get a list of every site still advertising for that GFed casino
This is a great idea, but it will only yield sites that are listed on google and advertising them.
Some are only listed on Yahoo or MSN.
Many, many are not listed at all - they subsist on other types of advertising and don't bother trying to get a spot on google - it is so competitive that many never will.
Still, the search should yield a good number of the more competitive sites.
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| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 11, 2005, 6:52 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
BT's right. Listing sites here would be rude.
Give all the webmasters who want to a few days to remove banners or whatever.
Then, if you want to know who is still promoting GFed sites:
1. go to www.google.com
2. enter the url of any Gfed site
3. select the "show sites that link to" option
4. You'll get a list of every site still advertising for that GFed casino
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 11, 2005, 12:55 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Good move Lou - good to see responsible affiliates taking a position on this appalling incident.
I'll bet there are techies all over the industry busy checking their downloads and marketing softwares right now to ensure they are not crossing the line that GFED so carelessly ignored.
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 10, 2005, 1:37 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Well done, IGC - for a moment there I was afraid this was going to be swept under the carpet...and this is far too important an issue for that. But you have done the right thing i.m.o.
This sends a strong signal to the industry that malware activities like this will not be tolerated.
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| Posted by: Got2Bet at March 10, 2005, 8:57 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Just in.
Quote:
IGC Terminates Membership of Gambling Federation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 10, 2005 -- The Interactive Gaming Council today accepted the resignation of Flaviano Fogli from its Board of Directors. The IGC Board has also terminated, by unanimous ote, the membership of the Gambling Federation, a Canadian company for which Fogli serves as chief executive officer.
The Gambling Federation provides services to online casinos, primarily acting as an affiliate network. According to published reports, the company had installed malware (malicious software) in Gambling Federation’s software that players downloaded to enable play at certain casino sites. When installed, the malware prevented the players from accessing three specific casinos that had been involved in an earlier dispute with Gambling Federation.
Fogli said the malicious code was designed to block access to the three casinos that were involved with a former Gambling Federat... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Jetset at March 9, 2005, 12:19 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Casinos including codes blocking their competition
Marketers tackling other marketers' material on your PC
It's all alarming and not a little confusing.
In a Utopian world nothing, but nothing should be placed on your equipment without your prior approval and permission.
Unfortunately it looks as if we've gone way beyond that point, and not just in the online gambling industry.
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| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 8, 2005, 5:43 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
The war may have already begun, at least ia marketing partners. Any casino using DirectRevenue to market ia spyware is also benefitting from DeirectRevenue attacking competing spyware. My head hurts. I look forward to Ben's list he's promising...
Removing competitors' programs is not DirectRevenue's only controversial activity. DirectRevenue's core business is showing extra pop-up ads. Which ads? Covering which sites? Early next year, I expect to release a report detailing some of the advertisers supporting DirectRevenue, and showing some ads DirectRevenue targets at certain web sites. Advance access available by request.
I also plan to present the sensitive information sent by DirectRevenue to its servers. In recent testing, I've seen DirectRevenue collect each user's ethernet address or "MAC address" -- a unique identifier permanently associated with each network card (i.e. with each computer). DirectRevenue also transmits users' Windows product IDs -- of particular int... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: dominique at March 8, 2005, 1:11 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
The majority of webmasters have no idea who "their players" are unless the player contacts them.
Players go to a site and click on a link - they don't leave any information behind.
Affiliates with message boards do usually have email adresses and can mail to the registered players - that still doesn't cover most of them because most people lurk at boards and don't contribute much.
Affiliates who have newsletters can contact those members - but again, that is usually a small percentage of the people who isit the site.
I guess people who promote rogues can place a warning next to their ads.
I think it's better to just not promote them.
dominique
Casino Games
Online Bingo
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| Posted by: Blue at March 8, 2005, 9:23 am | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Great point.
As Mary points out, the GFed affiliates should step up and be responsible for doing what they can to alert the players they sent to GFed casinos that their computers have been infected with this malware.
Post a message on their websites telling them how to clean it off, do the same in an email to their database, etc.
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 7, 2005, 10:59 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Quote: Originally Posted by The Original Mary
Webmasters like to talk about "their" players and how they take care of them.
Not only has Gambling Federation had malware installed and functional on players' computers for *over six months*, they have never informed the players whose data was stolen that it happened.
I don't see any Gfed affliliates notifying "their" players that signed up with Gfed during this period of their information being compromised.
This is just disgusting. Both GFed and these webmasters made a lot of money off people who trusted them. They have no concern for the players at all here. None. Zip. Nada.
A good point, Mary.
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| Posted by: Jetset at March 7, 2005, 10:54 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Quote: Originally Posted by Bethug
Jetset, why dont you get as many of the portals owners and playtec reps, rtg reps gambling comission,www.igcouncil.org, etc to come together and blacklist them and let there client base and new customers know what they did.
http://www.iggba.org.uk/html/members.html( many good casinos belong to this organzation)
Why have they not been kick out.
Jetset you might have already got a hold of this people, if you did good job, keep the pressure up
I would have thought that collating such a joint effort would be more in your line of union country, Bethug! But what "independent" organisation referred to in your earlier post do you have in mind for this task?
As to why GFED has not been at the ery least suspended pending an investigation....I'm as mystified as you and the rest of the industry.
For the record we are now into our third week carrying this story and the issue has been widely ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 7, 2005, 6:16 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
GFed Software Details
Address
GFed Software, Inc.
3237 King George Highway
Suite 101-B
Surrey, British Columbia V4P 1B7
Canada
Website
www.gamblingfederation.com
Fax
(250) 542-5023
General Information
(250) 542-5021
Toll Free Business Offices
(888) 922-5021
For reference, here's a list of Gambling Federation casinos from casinocity.com
Players can take notice that none of them are in a regulated jurisdiction.
36 Sites Using GFed Software Software
1
Neo Kazino
Software - GFed Software
Jurisdiction - Belize
Primary Language - Greek
2
Video Poker Classic Casino
Software - GFed Software
3
Golden Balls Casino
Software - GFed Software
Jurisdiction - Belize
4
Commodore Casino
Software - GFed Software
Jurisdiction - Belize
5
Winners ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 7, 2005, 6:07 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Here's IGC installing Flavio on the BoD. Again, the malware is already up and running at this point and he knows it. Gambling Federation lobbies for regulation and integrity while engaging in noncompetitive practices. Other software providers should be howling for Flavio's resignation and GFed's membership revoked.
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE IGC
December 10, 2004
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, December 10, 2004 – Mark Stone, a lawyer and the chief financial officer of Creative Edge Enterprises, is the new chair of the Interactive Gaming Council. He is one of several new officers and directors who were recently elected.
Stone is only the second chair in the IGC’s eight-year history. Sue Schneider, a co-founder and original chair of the organization, decided to step down this year. Stone has served on the Board of Directors for most of the IGC’s existence. Creative Edge is a web development firm based in suburban Los Angeles.
“I assume the helm ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 7, 2005, 5:57 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
iGGBA should be angry. When this happy press release was issued, Gambling Federation had their malware installed and going. Why is iGGBA protecting them when they too are ictims of misrepresentation?
The Gambling Federation joins iGGBA
iGGBA is delighted to announce that Gambling Federation has joined its ranks
Tuesday 2nd November 2004
iGGBA is delighted to announce that Gambling Federation has joined its ranks and become the most recent of 50 members. Gambling Federation is an independent offshore company focusing on the provision of unique gaming experiences and complete operational services for the online casino industry. Arguably one of the fastest growing players in the industry, they bring together all aspects of successful online gaming – casino software, operator management & marketing tools, customer & licensee support, financial, billing & payment services, and hosting & technical support. They operate in 15 languages including most Europe... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 7, 2005, 4:59 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Rest assured, BT, they are hearing from a lot of people.
Those who are making excuses for GFed haven't thought through the implications. If GFed gets a free pass on this, then it demonstrates for *every single provider of gambling software* that it's ok. You won't see a few dinky sites being blocked in the host file--you"ll see open warfare on the players' computers.
Casino On Net (an avid user of popups and spyware) could just disable or uninstall all competitors when installed. How many files do you have called "casino.exe" on your drive? Kiss 'em all goodbye.
Why would any casino share profits with affiliate sites if they can capture players and keep 'em blind to the competition? What good will your affiliate site do if a player never sees a web page with the word "casino" on it ever again?
It doesn't have to be "malware" that the cleaning agents recognize, it can just be a feature of the software itself. It can throw up e... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Bethug at March 7, 2005, 1:49 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Jetset, why dont you get as many of the portals owners and playtec reps, rtg reps gambling comission,www.igcouncil.org, etc to come together and blacklist them and let there client base and new customers know what they did.
http://www.iggba.org.uk/html/members.html( many good casinos belong to this organzation)
Why have they not been kick out.
Jetset you might have already got a hold of this people, if you did good job, keep the pressure up
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| Posted by: The Original Mary at March 7, 2005, 1:47 pm | | Topic: Statement from Flaviano - CEO of Gambling Federation Forum: Winner Online |
Webmasters like to talk about "their" players and how they take care of them.
Not only has Gambling Federation had malware installed and functional on players' computers for *over six months*, they have never informed the players whose data was stolen that it happened.
I don't see any Gfed affliliates notifying "their" players that signed up with Gfed during this period of their information being compromised.
This is just disgusting. Both GFed and these webmasters made a lot of money off people who trusted them. They have no concern for the players at all here. None. Zip. Nada.
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