Vertical-Specific Deal Frameworks
One Template, Three Verticals
The core agreement structure covered in this course applies across verticals, but the specifics -- commission mechanics, regulatory requirements, qualification criteria, and risk profiles -- vary significantly between iGaming, Forex, and prop trading. Operators managing multi-vertical affiliate programs should maintain a single base agreement with vertical-specific appendices.
iGaming Deal Frameworks
iGaming affiliate agreements are shaped by heavy regulatory oversight, high fraud risk, and complex revenue calculations. The agreement must address jurisdiction-specific advertising rules, responsible gambling obligations, and the distinction between GGR and NGR for RevShare calculations.
| iGaming Element | Agreement Specification |
|---|---|
| Revenue definition | GGR vs NGR with explicit deduction list (bonuses, jackpots, processing fees) |
| Negative carryover | How months with negative NGR affect accumulated RevShare (typically 3-month carryover cap) |
| Player exclusions | Self-excluded players, bonus abusers, players from restricted jurisdictions |
| Responsible gambling | Mandatory messaging requirements, prohibition on targeting vulnerable users |
| License compliance | Affiliate must comply with operator license conditions (MGA, UKGC, Curacao) |
| Sub-affiliate rules | Whether the affiliate can recruit sub-affiliates and under what terms |
A UKGC-licensed operator must include clauses requiring affiliates to display responsible gambling messaging, link to self-exclusion tools, and avoid targeting users under 18. These are not optional enhancements -- they are license conditions that the operator is responsible for enforcing across their entire affiliate network.
Forex IB Deal Frameworks
Forex introducing broker agreements differ from standard affiliate agreements in structure and economics. IBs often maintain ongoing client relationships, receive lot-based commissions on every trade their referrals make, and may operate multi-tier sub-IB networks. The agreement must account for these ongoing revenue streams and hierarchical structures.
| Forex IB Element | Agreement Specification |
|---|---|
| Commission model | Lot-based rebate (e.g., $7 per standard lot), spread markup share, or CPA per funded account |
| Multi-tier structure | Override commissions on sub-IB referrals (e.g., $2 per lot on tier-2 clients) |
| Volume thresholds | Minimum monthly lot volume to maintain active IB status |
| Risk disclosure | IB must include regulatory risk warnings in all marketing (ESMA, FCA, CySEC requirements) |
| Client ownership | Clarity on whether the broker or the IB "owns" the client relationship |
| Platform access | IB portal access rights, client trading data visibility, reporting scope |
Forex IB agreements should specify whether the IB earns commissions on all trading instruments or only specific ones. An IB agreement that pays $7 per standard lot on forex pairs but nothing on CFDs or commodities needs to state this explicitly to avoid disputes.
Prop Trading Deal Frameworks
Prop trading affiliate agreements are structurally different from iGaming and Forex because the primary conversion event is a challenge purchase, not a deposit or funded account. The commission model typically centers on CPA per challenge sale, with potential bonuses for repeat purchases or funded account conversions.
| Prop Trading Element | Agreement Specification |
|---|---|
| Commission trigger | CPA per challenge purchase, per funded account conversion, or per repeat purchase |
| Coupon code attribution | Rules for coupon-based tracking, including stacking and expiration |
| Refund handling | How refunded challenge purchases affect earned commissions (clawback rules) |
| Repeat purchase credit | Whether affiliates earn on subsequent challenge purchases by the same user |
| Payout calculation | Whether CPA is a flat fee or percentage of challenge price (varies by account size) |
| Marketing restrictions | Prohibition on guaranteed pass rates, misleading profit claims, or unrealistic income promises |
Prop firms face a unique challenge with refund-driven commission gaming. An affiliate promoting "buy the challenge, get a refund if you fail" can drive high CPA volume while the firm absorbs refund costs. The agreement should specify clawback windows (typically 14-30 days) and commission reversal rules for refunded purchases.
Building Your Agreement Template Library
Operators running multi-vertical programs should maintain a modular agreement system: a base agreement covering universal clauses (definitions, data protection, dispute resolution, termination) plus vertical appendices that layer on industry-specific terms.
- Base agreement: Universal clauses covering 70% of terms
- Vertical appendix: Commission mechanics, regulatory requirements, qualification criteria
- Custom addendum: Negotiated terms for high-value partners that override standard rates
- Regulatory update supplements: Jurisdiction-specific additions triggered by new regulations
Review your agreement templates quarterly. Regulatory changes, product updates, and lessons from partner disputes should feed back into your templates. Track which clauses generate the most disputes -- those are the ones that need clearer language.
A well-designed agreement library reduces onboarding time, minimizes legal review costs for custom deals, and provides consistent compliance coverage across your entire partner network. The goal is not to make agreements longer but to make them more precise -- every clause should earn its place by preventing a specific problem or clarifying a specific calculation.
Key Takeaways
- Use a modular agreement system: base contract plus vertical appendices plus custom addenda for high-value partners
- iGaming agreements must address NGR deductions, negative carryover, responsible gambling, and license-specific compliance
- Forex IB agreements must cover lot-based commissions, multi-tier structures, and instrument scope
- Prop trading agreements must specify challenge-based CPA triggers, refund clawback windows, and repeat purchase attribution
- Review templates quarterly and update based on regulatory changes, product updates, and dispute patterns
Explore Further
Key terms and tools related to this lesson. Deepen your understanding and see how Track360 supports these concepts.
Affiliate Program
A structured partnership where a business rewards external partners (affiliates) for driving traffic, leads, or conversions through tracked referral activity.
Affiliate Manager
An affiliate manager is the operator-side role responsible for recruiting, onboarding, managing, and optimizing affiliate partnerships within a partner program.
Publisher
A publisher is an individual or company that promotes an advertiser's products or services through an affiliate program in exchange for commissions on conversions they drive.
Offer
An offer is a structured agreement between an advertiser and affiliates that defines the action to promote, how conversions are tracked, and what commission is paid for each qualifying event.