Chess House Affiliate Program Terms
Network: Awin
Program Owner: Chess House, LLC
Scope: Only products and services sold directly on www.ChessHouse.com (external links are excluded).
Read First! About this program
Chess House is a specialty chess retailer with 25+ years serving players, families, schools, and organizations worldwide. We run a selective affiliate program. We approve fewer than 1 in 20 applicants.
We're looking for publishers who genuinely serve a chess, board game, strategy game, or educational audience. If your readers already buy chess sets, teach chess, or are looking for thoughtful gifts for players and learners, we'd love to work with you.
We approve: chess content sites, board game blogs, and education resources, family learning platforms, and creators with an authentic chess or strategy game audience.
We do not approve: coupon sites, cashback platforms, deal aggregators, comparison engines, browser extensions, sub-networks, or general shopping directories — regardless of traffic volume. Applications from these publisher types will be declined.
If you're unsure whether you qualify, ask yourself: Would my audience naturally want to buy a chess set? If yes, apply. If not, please don't.
1) Enrollment & eligibility
You ("Affiliate", "you", "your") must be 18+. Apply via Awin. We review each site and may approve or decline at our sole discretion. If declined, you may reapply once your site complies with these terms.
Minimum site criteria
- Uses a top-level domain (no free-host subdomains).
- Fully functional (no "under construction").
- Clear, quality design (no "banner farms" or pages packed with affiliate links).
- No coupon/deal aggregators or general shopping directories.
- Content aligns with education, chess, board games, or closely related themes that add real informational value.
- Primary promotional type must be Editorial Content, Content Creators, or Media Content. Discount Code, Cashback, Comparison Engine, Sub Networks, and Loyalty types will not be approved.
Grounds for rejection/removal
Sites that include or promote:
- Adult/sexual content; explicit, vulgar, or obscene language.
- Hate, harassment, discriminatory or extremist content; political agitation.
- Illegal activities (drugs, counterfeiting, piracy, hacking/"warez", password lists).
- Browser toolbars, BHOs, adware, malware, forced clicks, pop-ups on third-party sites, cookie setting without a click.
- Auto-redirect links, unsolicited email (spam), or incentive clicks (cash, points, entries, prize rewards to click).
- Download software that could divert tracking/commissions, at our discretion.
We may suspend or remove any Affiliate we deem questionable or misaligned with our brand.
2) Brand, linking & creative usage
- Upon approval, we grant a revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license to use our name, logo, URL, and trademarks solely to promote Chess House through Awin.
- Do not alter our banners, product images, or logos. Use only approved creatives found in Awin.
- Your site must not mimic the look/feel of ChessHouse.com or imply you are Chess House. Framing our site requires prior written approval.
- No content scraping or spidering our site.
- No press releases or public statements about Chess House without written approval.
- You may not represent our pricing, policies, or availability beyond what we publish.
We monitor traffic and placements. If you fall out of compliance, we may deactivate your account pending review. You're responsible for staying compliant.
3) Promotion rules
Email & messaging
- No unsolicited email (spam).
- Emails must be opt-in, identify you as the sender, and comply with applicable laws.
- Do not include private/invite-only offers unless we grant written permission.
Communities & social
- You may post generic, non-incentivized messages.
- Do not post coupon codes or specific offers we've designated "private" or "exclusive" unless authorized.
PPC search (paid search)
Bidding on our trademarks is prohibited, including:
- "Chess House", "ChessHouse", "ChessHouse.com", and misspellings/variations.
- No use of our trademarks in ad copy, display URLs, or as negative-match manipulation to game attribution.
- Direct-linking to our site via ads is not allowed unless we approve in writing.
Prohibited practices (immediate termination)
- Forced clicks, cookie stuffing, click bots, fake leads/orders.
- Pop-ups/pop-unders on third-party sites; installing cookies without a user click.
- Toolbars, browser extensions, or software that modifies user sessions or injects affiliate tracking.
4) Coupons / voucher codes
- Coupon and deal sites are not eligible for this program.
- Only use codes we provide in Awin. Publishing unauthorized or expired codes may void commissions.
- "Code-only" placements that don't add editorial value may be rejected.
5) Commissions, tracking & cookie
- Standard commission: 8% per qualifying order tracked to your Awin ID.
- Cookie window: 30 days from click. Commission is paid only when a user accepts cookies and the sale is tracked to your Awin ID.
- Attribution: Last eligible click within Awin wins, unless superseded by our own paid media or network rules. If the customer clicks another affiliate or our ad later, you may not receive credit.
- Exclusions: Fraudulent orders, chargebacks, cancellations, returns, shipping/taxes.
- Payouts: Processed monthly via Awin for eligible, validated transactions from the prior period. Commission rates may change at any time at our discretion (we'll make reasonable efforts to notify you via Awin).
- We may place payments in pending if we investigate fraud or policy breaches; you must demonstrate compliance.
6) Term & changes
- Either party may terminate at any time via written notice (email through Awin is sufficient). Keep your Awin contact email current.
- If we terminate for cause (policy violation or objectionable content), no commissions will be paid on outstanding balances.
- We may update these terms at any time. Posting the new terms in Awin (or notifying you via Awin/email) constitutes notice. Continuing to promote 48 hours after changes = acceptance of the new terms.
7) Independent contractor; liability; indemnity
- You are an independent contractor; nothing here creates a partnership, joint venture, franchise, or employment relationship.
- We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages or lost income related to this Program. Our aggregate liability is limited to unpaid, eligible fees at the time of any claim.
- You warrant your content is lawful and you own or have rights to all materials you use.
- You indemnify and hold harmless Chess House, its officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from your site, promotions, or breach of these terms.
- If any provision is held invalid, remaining provisions survive.
8) Contact
Questions about these terms or your participation?
affiliates@chesshouse.com
