Revenue share is one of the most common commission structures in gambling affiliate marketing. Instead of a one-off payment, the affiliate receives a recurring percentage of the net gaming revenue that their referred players generate for the operator, typically for as long as those players remain active.
The headline figure in a revenue-share deal is the percentage rate, which commonly sits somewhere between 20% and 40% in illustrative terms, though actual rates vary widely by operator, market and negotiation. The base is usually NGR rather than GGR, meaning bonuses, taxes and processing fees are deducted before the affiliate’s share is calculated.
Consider a hypothetical example. An affiliate agrees a 35% revenue-share deal. In a given month their referred players produce £20,000 of NGR. The affiliate earns £7,000. If those same players generate £12,000 the following month, the affiliate earns £4,200. Income therefore rises and falls with player activity.
The central distinction to understand is revenue share versus CPA. CPA pays a fixed amount per acquired player regardless of how much that player later spends, giving predictable, upfront income. Revenue share pays nothing upfront but can deliver far more over time if referred players prove valuable and loyal. Revenue share rewards patience and quality; CPA rewards volume and speed.
A frequently overlooked detail is the negative carryover clause. In some agreements, if referred players win more than they lose in a month, the operator posts a negative balance that must be recovered before future commission is paid. Affiliates should read terms carefully, as this can materially affect earnings during volatile periods.
Revenue share suits affiliates who refer engaged, long-term players and who are comfortable with variable income. Because earnings depend on genuine player value, this model ties the affiliate’s success directly to the quality of the traffic they send rather than merely its quantity.