There are a host of excellent poker blogs and poker affiliate blogs we at Poker Affiliate Solutions read. They’re listed below in no particular order.

• Iggy’s Party Poker Blog - a long time resource. Shows the importance of regular poker content. Always an entertaining read, it shows you don’t need fancy seo packages or the latest wordpress themes to rank well for poker related terms. It’s number two for “poker blog.”
• Tao of Poker - An excellent blog from Pauly - writer, traveler, poker player. Not only do we like his writing, we’ve got a number of Dead fans in the office. Not just a poker player, but a full-time writer, with articles and/or columns on a number of other websites and Bluff Magazine.
• Bill’s Blog - An awesome resource for information about the online poker industry. If you are a poker affiliate, get the feed on this one.
• Money Hater - A hilarious poker blog from PokerBob. He just needs to update it more.
• PAP Blog - Our friends at Poker Affiliate Programs write a good blog with fresh content on the industry. Excellent tools for a current or prospective poker affiliate.
• Joe Tall’s Blog - Poker, Rakeback, Deuces Cracked, Poker Coaching and more from our friend Joe.
• Michelle Lewis’s Blog - Um, Er, she’s hot. And it’s good reading about the goings on in the world of poker - online and off.
• Noted Poker Authority - Ed Miller’s Blog. He is a multiple time 2+2 author and his blog is an excellent poker strategy resource.

There are actually a ton more. We’re always reading about the industry and poker generally. A few more: JeremyEnke.com, PokerNews, Pokerati, Grinders Warehouse, DeathDonkey, and a bunch of others I am forgetting. Comment to turn us on to more good resources.

Jeremy Enke is right - it is absurd that most poker affiliates are paid their earnings via player accounts.  Many poker affiliates have sizable businesses, demanding accurate, real-time accounting for operations and tax purposes.  Paying into a player account is fine for an industry that just started, but unacceptable for one that has grown up (or should have grown up) that way that online poker has.

However, waiting weeks or months for a check or wire is less an issue of the poker sites, more an issue of the US governments policies.  I don’t say laws, because there are none, at the Federal level, where poker is concerned.  But that is a discussion for another post.

Therefore, the question becomes: Are US financial institutions going to find a way to cut ties with FBME?  Let’s be honest - it’s not Citi or Wells Fargo.

I suppose I shouldn’t speak too soon.  I don’t know FBME other than what I’ve gathered from their website, the Affiliate Speedpay website, and a few google searches.  So it’s hard to say.  But that is my biggest concern.

Our CEO Chris put a few other issues up on Jeremy’s Blog.

1. What about currency exchange?
2. Wire Fees
3. $ Back to the Rooms

Chris,

To answer Q2  - standard and reasonable.   The others still need answering.  Currency X is an important one obviously.  It appears that ASP is looking to make most of their money from affiliates withdrawing from debit cards - .6% fee and, obviously, from the interest on cash that sits in the accounts.  FBME cuts them back a % I’m sure.

U.S. Affiliates,

Be aware that you need to file an IRS form on your foreign bank accounts.  It’s no big deal.  I believe the correct one is TD F 90-22.1  Check with your accountant though.

Byron