Bitcoin Forum

Heya all,

not sure how this actually goes and how the merit source application should look like. I'll try my best here:

Who am I?

I'm a campaign manager (Cro2 team with Trofo). Together we run competitions (paid pools) in the gambling part of the forum and I spend most of my time there.
I'm a BTT member since 2018, constant DT1/DT2 member and 170. in the list of most recognized BTT users.
I write mostly in gambling boards (where I also work) and in the Croatian local section. We have enough merit sources there, so I'd spend most of mine in the Gambling boards.

What I want to accomplish

I want to do my best to improve the gambling section of the forum - to reduce the amount of spam and to encourage/incentivize meaningful discussion there.
A lot of members think that the gambling boards are the cesspool of the forum and it would be great if we could try and change that perception a bit.
Yep, it's full of spam and yep, people write there to fulfill their campaign quotas - but it's also the place of the forum where BTC is used the most - in pools, sidebets, etc.

It has some great topics and great conversations, but it isn't really a part of the forum in which Merits are given that often. By changing that, I feel that we can improve the quality of the posting there little by little.

How I'd like to accomplish that

I would announce that a new merit source is available there, exclusively for these boards, one that would merit interesting new threads/topics and meaningful conversations.
I hope that, by meriting quality, there would be more incentive for the majority of members to write something meaningful and interesting - because they would finally realize that they can improve their account rank in the gambling boards as well.

Examples of the types of posts I'd merit

* please note that I just collected these in 10 minutes or so - there are certainly better examples.
The posts that would be merited would be OP's of original and interesting threads and posts with some interesting infos/opinions.

1. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5460971.msg62599353#msg62599353
2. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5438071.msg62734618#msg62734618
3. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5461543.msg62625683#msg62625683
4. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5461543.msg62657048#msg62657048
5. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5330519.msg62697565#msg62697565
6. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5406159.msg62723627#msg62723627
7. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5462153.msg62734775#msg62734775
8. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5249415.msg54973910#msg54973910
9. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5458296.msg62493294#msg62493294
10. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5288319.msg62713526#msg62713526

Final thoughts

Gambling boards are both a horrible place and a great one at the same time - depending on which threads you read.
I'd like to tip the scale in favor of the great ones a bit.

Can you please quote the post instead of just sharing the links? That's how everyone applies and that's what theymos asked to. It will be easier for him to judge as right now, theymos has to click all the links to check out the posts.

Anyway, gambling section requires more merit to be circulated. There's no doubt there are huge spam generated in the gambling section as people are forced to do so, but there are good quality posts too. Due to huge number of spam participants, quality posts get buried.
Supporting your application to get approved.

I think that its obvious for anyone that ever visited gambling board that there's not enough merit being circulated there so I am glad to see that you finally decided to make an application. Good luck with it and hopefully theymos approves it eventually.


There's no need to quote the posts, its perfectly fine the way he did it as there are at least two examples where members applied in exactly that way and their applications were approved meaning theymos didn't mind: Ratimov merit source application (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5197199.0) and dkbit98 merit source application. (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5277161.0)

Nice application, I included your thread application in my combined in one list of merit application thread. Merit Source pipeline applications (New and Old) (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5464174.msg62733073#msg62733073)

Good luck!

I am in full support of your Merit Source application. Just like the Altcoin boards, the gambling board surely need some merit sources there. Despite the fact that there are so many clueless users who post in the mega threads, there are also some very knowledge members who share their excellent views in some threads. I believe their efforts ought to be recognized and perhaps this could help or encourage other members to improve on their post quality.

Wow!
I don't know if I am amazed at the topic or the topic creator. The OP is a very intelligent human being. It seems that there is a kind of unspoken rule that no merits be given in the gambling section. I have always said to myself that if I can be a merit source, I will distribute more than 50% of my merit allocation in the gambling boards. I didn't know that another person has the same mindset with me.
It is true that there are alot of spams in the gambling board, especially gambling discussion mega threads but there are still merit worthy posts that are often buried so fast.

Every board has there share of spam or generic posts and for those we think there are no spam in the boards they write, they should reexamine those boards and read through the threads there and they'll find many repeating discussion so nobody should think any board is a saint. I'm already familiar with your works and integrity that you have on the forum so you're good to go. I hope theymos look into this appeals and grant new source because it's looking like merits is begining to reduced or not circulating round the forum properly.

It feels like merit is saturated on some specific boards and you can't expect everyone to be knowledge on one board so people in other board's should be granted sources to take care of those boards. I also spend time in the gambling board (sport discussion) although we have lost of spams over there but there are some users that spend time to composed their posts and you'll know they aren't spamming but contributing to healthy discussion. No board should be overlooked, every board should be accounted for therefore I support your application cryptofrk, good luck on your application.

@cryptofrka this is a great move and hopefully if this application is entertained and approved it can influence and propel the quality of posts and discussions in the gambling board as members posting there will strive to generate healthy and quality posts/discussion so to attract the attention of a merit source to their post.
Those boards we claim are producing healthy posts and discussions are doing so because of the presence of merit source's allocated to those boards and every member posting their is striving to have his posts gain attention to be rewarded by putting in more work quality into their posts, and am convince same feat can be achieved at least to some extent if theymos make for a merit source to the gambling board.

@cryptofrka You have my support for your merit source source application, if my opinion matters to anyone. As far as I know you from the Croatian board, I believe that you will manage such an opportunity sensibly.

Honestly, I'm not sure how much the gambling section is a priority for this forum so it is necessary to improve it with additional merits. What I noticed on the part of theymos (or who already approves such things), through merit sources, they tried to strengthen the discussion in the sections about the Bitcoin talks and after that the local boards. Gambling is already represented well here, if we ignore the bounty section, it seems that more than 50% of the daily posts come from there.
Will this become a gambling forum?

I support this application, a second one I have seen recently and both users I know well from gambling sub.

There's certainly truth, from my anecdotal experience,  that merit is gained most outside gambling (and alts). While I believe I gain merits there now, the majority of my earlier gains, to make legendary anyway, were from Bitcoin-only sections.

I feel that is a good reflection of previous requirements for quality contributions to promoting and assisting, elevating Bitcoin use.

But as OP points out, gambling continues to be a major utility area for Bitcoin. Even beyond the use of it as a currency, gamblers using and transacting in Bitcoin lead to discussions about its technical aspects. Fee specifications, coin control, even signing of txs. I am certain it has become a perpetual gateway for new Bitcoin users.

OP knows gambling and the activities related, he would make a solid merit source in that board, in my opinion.

I'm not that active in our Gambling section (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=56.0) but from what I've read there, a lack of Merit on that board is indeed a fact.

As a gambling regular and organizer / contributor to many gambling opportunities like ⭐⚽⭐ Sportsbet's Bitcointalk Sports Fanatics League (BSFL) – 7000+$ rewards ⭐⚽⭐ (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5438071.0), cryptofrka knows very well which posts should be merited and in addition to that, cryptofrka is reading there a lot, so any additional sMerit is well spent there.

There's so much spam, so giving out Merit for quality posts can be a factor to encourage people to create better posts.
Our gambling section is really in dire need against Shitposters and their shenanigans.
I've tried to give out some Merit on that board but it's quite hard to wade throught the spam sometimes (well, it's always hard).

I believe cryptofrka will do a good job over there as a Merit source.  :)
+1

It will be nice if this really gets accepted.

As much as there are many spammers in the gambling boards, and some forum member believe that gambling posters do not really post anything of value, there are still very many good topics there that are valid for discussion and deserve merit.

Cryptofrka regularly frequents the gambling boards, and he will be good to make a merit source for it.

I fully support his application.

I agree, frka would be an excellent choice for this.

We don't need to know your height, little one. Or if you want to tell us how tall you are, at least mention how much you weigh as well ;D. Just joking, my bad.
The gambling board is definitely a sewer, and it's sad that it is. It has so much potential, particularly since gambling is a big use case of bitcoin and crypto. I hope that with a successful application and acceptance by theymos you can help to change that.

Thumbs up for cryptofrka!

Gambling board is in need of merit source and I have also been entertaining the idea to put out an application for merit source just for gambling. Granted I have been delaying for too long and you beat me to the punch. Fair game and you have my absolute support for what it is worth, I am sure you will do good job as merit source if/when your merit source application gets approved.

I also support the application of Cryptofrka's because he's very active member of the gambling board and there is need of a merit source on gambling board and gambling discussion board. There are many good posts on gambling boards that didn't receive the merits they deserve and I believe a merit source like Cryptofrka could support those posts by giving them the merits they deserve. Once again I support the application of Cryptofrka and I hope that theymos will consider his application.

I do not frequent the gambling board but along with the altcoin discussion section it is one of those boards that require merit sources and more motivation for users to make quality posts. There are lots of spam posts there but that's same with every other board and there are also great posts there which mostly goes unmerited, which further discouraged quality posters.

Cryptofrka is a regular in that board and a good choice for a merit source to encourage the quality posters there.

Now we wait for the raffle draw by theymos and hope to make the cut.

I want to support cryptofrka in his application to become a Merit source. I'm participating in one of the competitions that he and his colleague are running in the Gambling section and I have to say that they are doing a great job. Not that it's important for the application, but it shows that he is focused on making the Gambling section better. I'm not sure how many merit sources are in the Gambling section but that section definitely lacks in the number of Merits given to the users that deserve it. I'm sure that accepting cryptofrka's application would make that problem go away.

Disagree.

No one should be a merit source for one of the most unethical boards/sections of this forum. There is no shortage of merit for the amount of quality/merit worthy posts in the gambling section; which is very little in comparison to other, more important and non capitalistic boards of the forum.

I also think merits should not be focused on posts in this section. It does not positively contribute to the Bitcoin economy. It only concentrates wealth to unethical network participants who are exploring other users with unfair odds, ridiculous terms of service, extensive and intrusive kyc checks to ban accounts, questionable provably fair claims, and more.

My 2 cents

What an irony. Yet you are participating in a campaign that promotes gambling. I do not see any reason why you would call it an unethical board/section of this forum. Everyone does not support unfair odds, ridiculous terms of service, or KYC checks to ban accounts. You are talking like whoever participates in the gambling section they are supporting those casinos.

If so, you are doing the same thing, my friend. Do you always see people visit the casino ANN thread and praise like OMG, this is the most trusted casino, please play here. People visit those sections to check what's going on On those platforms. They criticize platforms if they see something unfair. I do not see any reason why you are calling it an unethical board. Not all threads are casino ANN.

I love how people have a sook at who is paying for my signature space and use that as the only response to my otherwise quite valid opinion.

Sorry sir, do I have to not be a part of a signature campaign to have an opinion? If I wear a signature does that mean my opinion must also change? And if I have an opinion, does that mean I'm not allowed to share it if it has anything to do with the sector that my campaign sponsor is in?

Id the answer is yes, then it sounds like you're telling me to fall in line and that my opinion is also included in the purchase of my signature space. That definitely doesn't sound right

As for the question if gambling is unethical - it undoubtedly is. Casinos, gambling, etc have always been unethical. Why do you think some countries outright ban gambling activities? Because it's exploitative.

Then add all of the unjust actions toward players and the amount of scams and robberies made by casino administrators on top of gambling's already exploitative and unethical nature...that only validates that this board specifically is more unethical than most other boards here even further.

If you really think the gambling board is as ethical as other boards this forum contains, you're out of touch with basic ethics and probably lost in the casino sauce.

Lol, guy that is willing to promote something that he thinks is highly unethical and exploitative for a little bit of bitcoin will teach us about ethics.  :D

Well, I was coming here to say that I also support cryptofrka's application, as I understand that he is a person who spends a lot of time in the gambling section and can help distribute merit to quality posts that often get buried between rubbish pages.

But I'm also surprised that BenCodie is going as a moral defender here, I don't want to get too long with this because is kind of OT, but if you say this:


What you need to do is to stop wearing a gambling ad on your signature, especially because you get paid for it. I don't know where you learned ethics, but where I'm from someone who lets himself be bought to advertise something he thinks is wrong is not only behaving in a morally wrong way, he is also a hypocrite.

If you have strong opinions, you should also have strong principles to suport it. You are not principled, if you were, you would never have agreed to apply and agree wear the signature and avatar to promote a casino here. Because of your unprincipled nature, you have no right to talk about ethics.

Also not all discussions in the gambling board is about casinos, some discussions under its subboard "gambling discussion" address and talk about issues relating to gambling.

Gambling involves use of bitcoins, and there are gamblers who have a preference for gambling with bitcoins. Believe it or not, the fact that bitcoins can also be useful for gambling can be a reason why some people have gotten bitcoins.

I could not care less about anyone's opinion about me wearing a signature and being paid for it

As long as what I an advertising is not a scam, then I do not care.

If better services were offering campaigns, I'd go to them. But the fact is there are not.

I'm not promoting shit, they're leasing my sig space. I take zero responsibility for the service nor do I endorse it for as long as it's not a proven scam.

Good job picking one thing out of all of the valid parts of what I said and using it to invalidate my post. Great job, actually. Very effective. Dumbass.


Discussion about gambling is not worthy of needing a merit source. My post stands.

My principles align with how the forum is conducted. If the principles of the forum were better, I would be better.
I know that I'm not a scammer, a gambler, a scumbag, or anyone who contributes negatively to this community. So, anyone's judgement means absolutely 0 to me. I know my code, and I know that it's reasoned, refined and fine.


All of you go back to the gambling board where you all came from and belong. If you can't read and understand a high IQ post, don't respond to it with bs personal attacks about my signature.

I'm not a hypocrite for taking opportunity when it's available. And just because I wear a signature, thsn doesn't mean that should be a main focus to my valid opinion on a topic.

All of you have a common theme - low IQ.

Please let's keep on topic.

@BenCodie - everybody has a right to their opinion, I understand and accept yours.
You already did disagree, so from now on keep your opinions that are not connected to the topic to yourself or feel free to open another thread for them.


Considering your superior IQ, I'd really hate to keep you here any longer than necessary.

So you want to increase the quality of that section so that people be committing sins and lose their fortune at the same time but with a cleaner and fancy looking forum board?

Seems legit, I support it ( NOT), not that matters.😉

I support your application. I think that most will agree that merit distribution isn't  big enough in gambling board. Yes, there lot of shitposts from users who have no idea about gambling or sports, but many good posts get no attention in terms of merit. I have impression that most of merits is distributed in bigger or smaller bubble of people who play in variious prediction pools and BSFL.

If you don't care about what other think, why do you think that your opinion should matter? You literally called casinos business unethical, but you're ok to advertise unethical business and get paid for it.
And it's just nonsense that gambling doesn't affect Bitcoin economy positively. Then I'm wondering what kind of business affect it positively. Because after all casinos is one of the most mainstream types of business related with Bitcoin.
@cryptofrka, sorry for offtopic.

Yep - I've come to support your idea, I hope you'll be a merit source on that board and help more quality build around the discussion.

As far as I'm concerned - anywhere merit are often shared there will be more effort from users trying to post something that makes sense and is unique. I think once there are many merit source of attention on the gambling board – then there is quality to be expected there.

cryptofrka - I hope your application gets approval from theymos, but please be patient because you will be in a queue. The merit system should be felt across all forum board ^{[without exception]} as long as there are quality posts to be had. It works the same no matter what board catches your attentions.

If you bother to read the whole proposal made by OP, you'll come to see that the reason for being merit source request is that OP acknowledged the board can be a horrible place, and for that exact reason they asked to be a merit source, to improve the situation there so more good quality posts can be better appreciated and, from it, urged people posting on that board to write better.


But, as on the earlier part of that quoted post you said this,


allow me to return back to your initial argument,


Ironically, that board actually have some positive contribution to the bitcoin economy. There are a lot of gambling platforms that utilize crypto, thus a positive towards crypto economy. The gambling platforms on this forum also held raffles, competitions, and [as I am sure you're fully aware] signature campaigns, which kinda "distributes" helps keep the wheel of crypto economy roling by distributing some wealth to the cryptocommunity.

BenCodie reminds me of that shitposter who advertised a gambling site in his signature but in his shitposts, he opposed gambling:

https://www.talkimg.com/images/2023/08/28/MBl9b.png

Why wearing a signature if you don't like such a site at all.  ???
Main problem are stupid (or greedy) campaign participants but of course campaign managers could shut this down as well. After all, such participants are just not suited to be any longer in such a campaign and getting paid an handsome amount of valuable BTC for opposing (any?) gambling site...

---

Luckily, only a tiny minority is sharing your uneducated opinion.  :D

---

After all, cryptofrka knows very well where good posts in our Gambling section are under-merited and that's why in this topic is also massive support for cryptofrka's application.  :)

It's been a while, so I just thought, why not give it a bump?

Currently gambling board is filled with a lot of spam, to be honest, but if this is going to help it to be a better place then I will support it and I believe this will encourage the members to make better posts in the gambling section so their posts will be considered for merits.

The gambling sector is one of the spaces where the crypto's growth is remarkable so let's make it a better place for the community too.

He is the same guy who was certain Whirlwind was a scam but decided not to not express his views because he wanted to get signed up on their signature campaign, clearly stating if he could earn from it he had no issues. Another example of lack of morals and ethics on his part.

Have you all read the same thing I did? What a stunning way for this deranged person to contradict himself.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen of this wonderful forum our ours. According to this member, we all have low IQ and as for him he does not mind outing himself as a hypocrite by applying to join signature campaigns (which he is convinced are promoting scams) just be because he does not want to miss the opportunity to earn some BTC.

I could not have expressed it better but 1miau (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5464289.msg62758596#msg62758596) did make a fantastic post that deserved a comment.

The thread deserved a bump  ;D

The overwhelming consensus in the thread supports your application. Have you received any initial response from theymos yet?

I did not want signature spammers flooding my threads in the gambling board therefore I created self-moderated ones. Merits would be a good way to encourage quality posting but in my opinion when you have signature spammers flooding they have almost no interest in whether they receive merits for those posts or not, they simply want to get their weekly quota to be paid using all their farmed accounts.

Over the years I had contemplated on several occasions applying for merit source because I spent a lot of time in the sports threads I created in the gambling board. That was after I decided to give myself a needed break from searching for scams and posting about them. I had similar intentions/reasons mentioned earlier in this thread to apply for merit source but never got around to doing it. I suppose the only way to test if it were to be successful would be if a merit source starts concentrating specifically on that board.

If this application is accepted it will a good test to see what happens in the gambling board when those posting choose between trying to get merits for quality posts, or get no merits for low quality posts or get no merits for signature spamming.

Nope, nothing yet. From experience that other applicants went through, I think you just eventually receive a message or you don't - depending on his decision ;D

Let's also be honest - 1 merit source is far from enough to drastically improve the situation on the gambling boards.
Still, it would be a good small step forward for the betterment of the most active area of the forum.

As I alluded to in the previous post, what would be the possible effect of having one merit source in the gambling board actively giving merits to quality posts versus say for example those that do not care for anything except spamming in order to meet their signature campaign quote?

What happens if you raise the number to say two or five merit sources. I created self-moderated threads in the gambling section to keep them legible and it has worked well because even though post numbers have dropped since I started deleting low quality posts and spam, it means those flooding with signature campaigns can go and do it somewhere else.

I am unsure if merit source alone will get the gambling boards to a better level, I think it self-moderated threads are already helping immensely in that process therefore merits would be an added component (not vice-versa).

I have seen others applying for merit source but cannot recall announcement from any member stating they had become merit source. Your is an application in a current long list, let us see how this will play out. Maybe you will receive that message soon  :)

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,  So let's take one step before another,  You've indeed done a great job on your end in creating self-moderated threads and I agree with your point, but on the other hand,  I also agree with the idea of cryptofrka as I do hope this will likely bring more improvement to this board as regards to improving post quality and will a kind of discourage spamming in this board a bit.

So I pledge my full support.

Proof that JollyGood doesn't read my responses to anything to-date.
Not responding.

But this....


There you have it ladies and gentlemen, JollyGood modifying quotes and probably lying, by claiming Don't Pedro Dinero's post as mine, and using it to lay false accusations and comments.

Here is the post from the real author - Don't Pedro Dinero.



Yep, I'm sure that's why you posted...because the thread needed a bump ::)

archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20230925214823/https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5464289.msg62899059#msg62899059)

Well done, buddy

Keep voicing what's in your head and don't make the campaign a prison and shackle what's in your head. I know you have good character and thoughts even though you seem ambitious and stubborn (maybe like me  ;D). However, not many people like to discuss on this forum, most people see this forum as a place to make money. Maybe you are one of the people who likes to discuss here, and ideally a member is like that. So, slaughter anyone who disagrees and invite them to discuss with clear arguments

Go.. go.. go..  ;)

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btw.. it seems my comment is off topic

Thank you. The spammers do not bother going to most self-moderated threads because they are worried about having their posts deleted as soon as they come across as low quality or spam. I think that is the best way forward but dangling the merits carrot could have a profound effect too. It is good to see you and many others support the OP in his application.

You seem to care a lot more than a friend, about this application, for an outsider this could be seen as if you have monetary incentive if OP is accepted as a merit source.

I don't know maybe your recent attack on me was a wake up call to inspect your close circle merit/trust activities just to make sure there is no account/merit farming.

Of course I'm not accusing anyone of anything, just saying you are a bit too much invested in this topic.  And honestly for someone who uses negative feedback for things that happened 5 years ago with no shame or remorse, I'd say merit/account/trust/ power farming is as easy and shameless.

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Not that my scammy/ untrustworthy opinion matters, it's just my obligation to point out what I can observe and consider suspicious.

Guys, thanks for the free bumps, but I'd ask you to keep this topic clean of that kind of spam and on topic.
There are multiple threads of you arguing which are perfect for this kind of content.


Regarding this - well, if there would be a merit source on the boards, people might be incentivized to open more interesting threads, with more content and maybe some interesting links in the OP - instead of just opening another 'what to do when losing' thread every few days.
It can't reduce spam, it can improve the quality though. Then increased quality brings more quality in the form of better replies etc. Gradually, it decreases the % of spam posts that have no value whatsoever. Well, hopefully at least.

The path on BTT is more or less defined - more merits, better account standing, better campaign, more money, better opportunities.
I would like to help members that write quality posts get merited more, so they can grow their accounts on the boards that are currently rarely merited.

One particular type of post / topic I could imagine to attract more Merit are community contests, like ⭐⚽⭐ Sportsbet's Bitcointalk Sports Fanatics League (BSFL) – 7000+$ rewards ⭐⚽⭐ (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5438071.0).

Or creating prediction pools, where organizing a sponsor is part of the deal, like bringing a Signature Campaign into Bitcointalk. It's beneficial for everyone if it's a good deal. We still don't have any pools for sports like NFL, NBA or MLB, which could be interesting in my opinion (just as an idea).
Or mixed sports events like BSFL is arranged like.
We have so many betting sites here on Bitcointalk, so much potential to uncover. Sponsoring a prediction pool is probably much better used money than to pay for spam in a sigspam megathread.

Merit could cause a shift towards more of such incentives, where also more sponsors are involved.
People could share their strategies, dedicate more time to Gambling topics and (for self-moderated posts) remove spam as well.

There are many ideas and I'm sure a Merit source could be key to incentivice good ideas.  :)
For example, I'm still completely baffled why I'm the one who gave the most Merit (4) to cryptofrka's and Trofo's ⭐⚽⭐ Sportsbet's Bitcointalk Sports Fanatics League (BSFL) – 7000+$ rewards ⭐⚽⭐ (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5438071.0). It's so much work to arrange it and keep it updated. This fact alone shows we need much more Merit (sources) to reward good Gambling topics.

Has anyone ever analyzed how many Merit sources come regularly to the gambling section? Because of writing posts or personal interest in gambling, regardless, as long as they are present.

I don't know if this has already been discussed here, but I didn't really read the whole thread, I was a little discouraged when I saw some off-topic and useless discussion.

Not sure how updated his list is, but we can pull the "data" from Huppercase (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5464174.0)'s list, and I think there's none, with cryptofrka being the applicant asking for it, with the same reason; that there's no gambling board merit source. Though... I rarely take a stroll in gambling board, so I might miss some name, that one or two merit source on that list were actively meriting gambling posters.

If merit was designed as a solution to help fight spam on the forum, then it just makes sense to have someone that understands the board very well and can help clean it up from within in a board that has been labelled to be a spam Hub for a very long time.
Having a merit source on this designated  board is long overdue and am in support of cryptofrka being a merit source especially that his intentions is to have patrons of this board to up the post quality and help fight  spam altogether with incentivized posting.

Good luck cro2 :)

I wonder how could merit fight spam? It was meant to reduce the number of lazy garbage posters by preventing them from ranking up simply by posting garbage, so they learned quality is needed to keep farming accounts and campaigns, therefore merit forced them to provide a proof of work/ quality to deserve the reward/ rank up.

So, no having "enough" sources will not force people to spam less, it will help them to farm more accounts.

The same spammers will not suddenly turn into quality posters if gambling board has more sources, instead certain somebody would double down on busting stranger spammers/ cheaters to make room for the cartel's employees which systematically post the same artificial generic garbage in a more "qualitative" manner.😉

Spammers will always be spammers, there is no reliable method that can change anything much. Merit should influence those who are on the border between useless and a post that really brings something new to the discussion.
Somehow, users like this have recognized that there is more merit traffic in sections like Meta, Reputation, and B&H, so they come here, start new discussions or at least try to participate. More merit in gambling, maybe keep some of the users who will write better about the gambling they know than open meaningless topics in Beginners & Help.

I think that's not a true statement because the merit sources are really valuable for the members of the forum who make high-quality, constructive posts, and if there are more merit sources then most of the posts which are good in quality but haven't received any merits may get merits from those merit sources.

The merit sources mostly give merits to those threads and replies which contain valuable information, and I believe that in gambling board there are members who make very informative threads/replies but unfortunately due to lack of merit sources in that board they don't get deserving merits for their contribution.

I really think that the gambling board also needs merit sources and someone like cryptofrka who's active on that board could be a very reliable merit source for that board. I wholeheartedly support the merit source application of cryptofrka and I hope that theymos will select him as a merit source when the selection starts.

Could be an interesting task to look up in DdmrDdmr's Merit dashboard. From what I know, LFC_Bitcoin is actively distributing Merit in our Gambling section but it's not enough of course. From all sections, Gambling seems to be the biggest one, overtaking Altcoin Discussion and Bitcoin Discussion after especially in Bitcointslk's Altcoin, activity declined due to bankrupt shitcoins.  :D
And we have so many different Gambling topics, it's close impossible to impossible for even 5 Merit sources to notice every post. Of course, Gambling section is 95%+ of posts not deserving any Merit, too.

There are several campaigns that are now making increased payouts to members that have accrued x-thousand merits therefore it is an incentive for members (posting in any thread) to make their posts have some meaningful content and context as well as have some quality behind it. When it comes to the gambling board we know there are threads that are out of control with signature spamming going on at unbelievable speed.

You are right when you state that even if focusing merits in the gambling board will not reduce spam, it will (or should) at least have some impact on improving post quality. I would like to see that experiment happen.

I am supporting candidate cryptofrka Merit Source application for making Gambling boards great again.
He is managing campaign so he knows they way how members are posting, and he is active in gambling threads I usually visit.
For start I would give him 6 months test period to see if he can bring back law in order in Gambling board or not  ;)

A small bump, considering that advertising mixers will be banned soon, there might be even more interest in the gambling boards.

Let's make a small step towards the right direction there :)

Do you want to meritsource for quality posts? Or do you want to meritsource gambling?
Do you want to become a temporary meritsource before mixers are banned or do you want to be a forever meritsourcer?

Why would there be more interest in the gambling board if mixers are banned?

There are only two reasons that I can deduce:
1. The casinos will be used as a new frontier for mixing, which (no matter innocent privacy intentions or not) would be considered as money laundering.
2. As paid posters will now have to post in the gambling board to reach their quota's, which would mean that there would be an increase in posts where genuine posting isn't the motive, but rather to meet their quote.

Tell me how there could possibly be a positive increase in gambling board posts as a result of the mixer ban?

I hope some old/new casinos/sportbooks take advantage and start advertising instead of mixers.
We might be seeing new competitions, paid pools, whatever.

There wasn't much interest in sponsoring anything other than football, considering football is taken care of for the season and there's a gap to fill, maybe we start seeing basketball, tennis, cricket competitions appearing.
We already saw SB having F1 pool that went really well.

It's a guess, but a decent one. But even if gambling lost 50% of traffic, it would still need a dedicated merit source.

These boards are where most interaction on the forum is happening, and it's not all bad. Far from it.


Quality posts in gambling boards, permanent merit source.

I agree with you that once the mixers will get banned the attention of the users will be on gambling boards as most of the signature campaigns that are intended to promote their casino have a rule of having at least 5-10 posts in gambling board and to reach that quota users might make valuable posts there. I believe that someone like you should be a merit source of the gambling board and I truly hope that theymos may consider your merit source application and appoint you as a merit source of those boards.

I think OP speculate there will be more signature campaign run by casino.


Irrelevant, mixers still exist and people can use it anytime they want. Besides, using platform which ask KYC to perform money laundering is nothing new.


I agree, but what matter most is quality of the post itself.

I think it points to another thing.
After January 1, about 150 members will appear without a campaign and the vast majority are quite active and at the same time write high-quality posts. It is to be expected that some gambling campaigns will restructure and make room for some quality posters. This must certainly result in greater interest in the gambling board.

And how many of those 150 posters are merit sources? I'd say if that's the case then we might even think about removing some sources since they will all be concentrated on gambling boards. If that happens then we might as well rebrand the forum and call it gamblingtalk forum. This should be a good indicator to identify true Bitcoin contributors and those only interested in earning money by any means necessary.

Yup, partially that's true. Then again, if only those that contributed to Bitcoin write here and use Bitcoin, it'd still be worth 5$.
You need people to use Bitcoin. A lot of people receive their first Bitcoin by being in sig campaigns.

They learn how to open wallets, send and receive BTC, they tell about it to others etc. You have a snowball effect which you otherwise would not have.

Hate gambling boards all you like, but crypto bookies and casinos have made a significant contribution to BTC being used more and more worldwide.

It seems disappointing at the length of time it takes for merit source applications to be dealt with. Your application process has been ongoing for several months but as of yet has not been addressed. I cannot recall the name of the member that made the comment but he stated it could take years for an application to be looked at.

I hope you have an answer soon.

Even if that happens any many merit sources moved to gambling board (which I don't think will happen anyway), that still shoulnd't make cryptofrka's merit source application obsolete as opposite to them, he is a native gambling board poster which I think is something that theymos probably takes into consideration.


Yep, you need some luck with these applications as theymos usually approves merit source applications in bulk and after monthly amount of merit shared drops down sigfnificantly, which hasn't happened yet so it might take some time. Unless he changes the way he readjusts the merit system.

I agree with this synopsis.

I havent given the matter of Merit in relation to the Gambling board any thought before and there actually
isnt very much Merit awarded in the Gambling threads I frequent. I suppose its probably because its a very
busy board which inevitably means there is a lot of nonsense posted, I guess I subconsciously thought in general
the Gambling board was not worthy of merit.

Hopefully if cryptofrka gets approved and there is a Merit stream on the board it will prompt people to
post at a higher quality therefore I back cryptofrka's application_FWIW

Theymos might have other engagements and I believe if there is a pressing urgency for the merit source allocation, it would have been done by now. In my understanding, it follows some kind of pattern. If you study how theymos work, he doesn't rush, there are some that would have complained about what he should have done and will not take any action still, but suddenly you see it done. It might have been that the task has been scheduled and fixed at a stipulated time he has for it to be done. Those who applied close to that time would only think they are lucky enough to be attended to that fast, while those who had applied for a longer time would think he's so slow.

Going by this, I strongly believe that merit source allocation and adjustment can't be different and might happen in 2024 if he follows the pattern I read and heard. And those who had applied without any response should not be weary, it's possible he had noted it down but waiting for the right time to deliver it.

I had to think about this and am still not sure, maybe there was just one case where a member has been made merit source after making an application in Meta. I cannot recall when it happened or the name of the member.

Now that cryptofrka has made his application there is nothing more to do except hope for good news soon.

In the coming days I might apply for merit source too.

You have my support as someone active in the gambling board, especially in boxing matches, some posts evoked great discussions and rich content but unfortunately failed to generate the merits that rightly deserve, the gambling board is one busy board because of the gambling quota imagine if there are 10 gambling campaign and they have to at least drop 5 to 10 posts in the board, so many posts of these posts will become redundant.

My stance for Cryptofrka's application hasn't changed. I genuinely believe that the gambling deserves at least one active merit source such as Cryptofrka. It's not just all bad in the gambling board. There's still some really good posts but those points don't garner as much merits as we'd expect.


My premise is that no board is above/below having a merit source. By default, there should be merit sources for any and all board as long as the board generate some kind of traction and have sufficient amount of frequent posters.

Monthly bump :)

The last case I recall is the NotATether application; after then, I haven't seen anyone come to the meta to announce his application has been approved. I am not sure which board he applied for, but he is more active on the gambling board lately and might be valuable to us until we have someone allocated to the gambling board.

I asked you to apply two years ago, and now is the moment. If the two applications are successful, the spam on the gambling board will be reduced, and my banter will begin to receive the merit it deserves.  :)

Quarterly bump :)