> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mention-me.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Managing Gaming > Understand what gaming is and how to use gaming controls, velocity controls, and eligibility checks to protect your referral programme. ## What Is Gaming? Gaming refers to attempts by customers to get referral rewards without referring genuine new customers. Common forms include: * **Self-referrals and fake accounts** — Creating multiple accounts using different emails to refer themselves * **Collusion** — Groups of individuals referring each other to inflate numbers * **Incentive misuse** — Signing up multiple times to access welcome offers * **Broadcasting referral links** — Posting links on public forums or coupon sites About 15% of referrals may be suspicious — often higher in luxury segments. Most brands accept a small level of gaming that still leads to purchases. ## Three Tools to Manage Gaming Mention Me provides three complementary tools: 1. **Gaming Controls** — Algorithmic scoring that evaluates referrals via IP address, cookies, email similarity, and more 2. **Velocity Controls** — Limits on how many rewards a referrer can earn or distribute in a set time 3. **Eligibility Controls** — Business-specific criteria that must be met before rewards are issued ## Gaming Controls Our gaming algorithm evaluates referrals via factors such as IP address, cookies, and email similarity to prevent self-referral. You can: * Apply controls to referrer and referee flows independently * Manually review or automatically decline high-scoring referrals * Use recommended defaults or customise for each offer * Enhance scoring using additional data (e.g. postcode) * Blacklist suspicious emails or IPs ### Components of the Gaming Score Each triggered fraud rule adds to the score. Higher scores mean increased likelihood of dishonest behaviour. Gaming score components showing fraud rules and their point values Not all rules apply immediately. For example, name-matching can't occur if the referee doesn't enter their name. ### Configuring the Gaming Score Controls can be applied to either the referrer or referee side, or both: * **Referee side:** Stops reward until a reviewer approves * **Referrer side:** Allows introductory reward; referrer is reviewed only if fraud is detected later Gaming controls configuration for referrer and referee sides ### Acting on the Gaming Score Referrals that exceed thresholds go into an approval queue. These should be reviewed regularly for approval or rejection. Gaming approval queue showing flagged referrals Gaming score threshold configuration ### How to Switch on or Amend Gaming Controls Gaming Controls are enabled by default. To update them: These controls apply at the Offer level. If you update one offer, replicate changes across other active offers. Click **Campaigns**, select the relevant campaign, then click **Drafts, Upcoming & History**. Click **experiment actions** (three dots) and **Duplicate (to draft)**. Navigating to offer settings via experiment actions menu Click **offer actions** (three dots) → **View offer settings** → **ApprovalRules**. Click **Add rule**, and repeat to add both: * **Gaming score (at Referrer fulfillment)** * **Gaming score (at Referee fulfillment)** The standard gaming threshold is a score of **55 for existing customers** and **49 for new customers**. Adjust these scores as needed to make your programme stricter or more lenient. Click **Save**. Adding gaming score approval rules to offer settings ## Velocity Controls Velocity controls prevent disproportionate reward distribution, especially during viral events. They pause referral rewards once limits are reached, requiring manual approval. They can apply to: * **Referrers:** Cap how many vouchers they send per timeframe * **Referees:** Cap how many referrals can come from a referrer Standard velocity control examples: * 5 referrer rewards in 24 hours * 25 referrer rewards in a month * 10 introductory offers claimed from the same referrer in 24 hours Velocity controls configuration showing reward limits To set up velocity controls, follow the same steps as [Gaming Controls setup above](#how-to-switch-on-or-amend-gaming-controls) and add velocity rules in the ApprovalRules section. ### Acting on Velocity Thresholds When scores exceed limits, referrals go to a queue. Review them manually for approval or decline. Velocity threshold approval queue ## Eligibility Controls Ensures referrals meet business-specific criteria before rewards are issued. Examples: * **Utilities:** Reward delayed until supply begins * **Travel:** Reward given after trip completion Connected data feeds or timed delays can be used to revoke rewards if eligibility isn't confirmed. ## How Mention Me Detects Gaming Mention Me uses several methods to identify and address gaming: * **Intelligent detection** — Machine learning and behavioural analytics identify unusual activity patterns such as repeated referrals from the same device, email domain, or IP address * **Gaming score system** — Evaluates referral behaviour based on risk indicators including referral frequency, IP duplication, and account creation patterns * **IP and device tracking** — Monitors IP addresses and device fingerprints to detect unusual patterns * **Dynamic rewarding rules** — Set specific eligibility criteria such as purchase validation periods or referral thresholds * **Controlled reward distribution** — Implement a waiting period before rewards are issued Speak to your Client Success Manager if you have further questions about gaming and how to optimise your programme.