CPA, RevShare or Hybrid: which deal to choose in iGaming affiliation?

Every affiliate deal answers one question: who carries the risk of the player's value? A player who deposits once and leaves and a player who plays for two years bring the brand very different revenue. The three classic deal models split that risk differently.

CPA: a fixed amount per qualified player

With a CPA (cost per acquisition), the brand pays a fixed amount for each player who meets a condition, usually a first deposit (FTD) above a minimum.

For the affiliate:

• Cash comes quickly: the amount is known as soon as the player qualifies.
• No exposure to the player's later results, good or bad.
• But the upside is capped: a high-value player pays the same as an average one.

For the brand:

• The acquisition cost is predictable.
• But it pays upfront for players whose value is still unknown, which is why CPA deals come with conditions: minimum deposit, qualification rules and quality KPIs.

CPA suits affiliates who need predictable income, test new traffic, or work on short campaigns.

RevShare: a share of the revenue, for the lifetime of the player

With RevShare, the affiliate earns a percentage of the net gaming revenue (NGR) generated by their players, month after month.

NGR is usually calculated as gross gaming revenue (bets minus winnings), minus bonuses, fees and adjustments. Each deal defines its own formula, so read it carefully.

For the affiliate:

• Income grows with the quality of the players and can last for years.
• But it starts slowly and varies from month to month.
• A player who wins big can make a month negative. Whether that negative balance is carried over to the next months (negative carryover) is a key clause of the deal.

For the brand:

• It pays according to the real value of the players: the risk is shared.

RevShare suits affiliates with loyal audiences and a long-term view: content sites, communities, streamers with a regular following.

Hybrid: a lower CPA plus a lower RevShare

A hybrid deal combines both: a reduced CPA when the player qualifies, then a reduced percentage of the revenue. The affiliate secures part of the income immediately and keeps an interest in the player's value.

It is often the best compromise for a new partnership: the brand limits its upfront risk, the affiliate is not betting everything on the long term.

How to choose

Ask yourself four questions:

1. How much cash do you need now? If your costs are immediate (paid traffic, media buying), CPA or hybrid protects your margin.
2. How good are your players? If your audience deposits and plays regularly, RevShare usually pays more over time.
3. How long will you promote this brand? RevShare only makes sense if you plan to keep sending players and the relationship is stable.
4. What are the conditions? Compare minimum deposits, qualification rules, KPIs and negative carryover, not just the headline amount.

Read the deal, not just the number

A CPA of 200 with strict KPIs can pay less than a CPA of 150 with clear conditions. Before you accept a deal, check:

• the event that releases the CPA (first deposit, qualified first deposit);
• the minimum deposit;
• the quality KPIs and what happens when they are missed (see our article on FTDs and deposit KPIs);
• the allowed countries and traffic sources;
• the NGR formula and the carryover rule for RevShare;
• the payment terms.

On DRAVIX, all of these are written on the offer page and stored with each conversion, so the deal you accepted is the deal you are paid on.