Revenue Share

Revenue share, often shortened to RevShare, ties affiliate payouts to ongoing user economics rather than a one-time event. Instead of a flat CPA at first deposit or first trade, the affiliate earns a percentage of what each referred user produces in revenue over time. The calculation basis matters: iGaming programs typically pay on NGR (net gaming revenue after bonuses, taxes, and chargebacks) rather than GGR, and the difference between the two is significant enough that the choice belongs in the affiliate agreement before any traffic flows. The model rewards quality acquisition because low-value players generate low commissions.

Operationally, revenue share shifts both upside and risk onto the affiliate. The operator pays only when revenue exists, which protects margin during onboarding heavy months. The affiliate carries the early-stage risk that referred users churn before generating enough revenue to cover acquisition cost, but benefits from compounding earnings on long-lifetime users. Most programs apply revenue share deductions including chargebacks, refunds, and bonus costs, and many enforce a revenue share floor of zero so that loss months for a cohort are not passed on to the affiliate. Tier structures often open higher percentages as monthly NGR thresholds are reached.

The main pitfalls in revenue share programs are unclear deduction rules, negative carryover policies that surprise affiliates, and short cohort lifetimes that make the model unattractive compared to CPA. Operators sometimes also struggle with the operational overhead of monthly reconciliation across many affiliates and many user cohorts. Comparing the model against alternatives such as hybrid commission helps both sides decide what fits the vertical: high-LTV iGaming favors RevShare, while short-LTV forex affiliates often prefer CPA or hybrid structures.