In affiliate marketing there are plenty of ways to get paid for traffic. CPA, CPL, CPI, CPS – each model for its own task. But there is one that really stands out. It doesn’t give quick cash, but it can feed you for years. That’s RevShare.
RevShare (or revenue share) is a model where the partner gets a percentage of the revenue that the advertiser earns from the users they brought in. Bring one player to a casino – and you get a share of their losses every month. The player stays active – money keeps coming. They leave – it stops.
Sounds tempting, but there are catches. Income doesn’t arrive immediately. You may be in the red for several months. Or you might find a good player who brings hundreds of dollars every month with no extra investment.
In this article we’ll break down what is revshare, how to calculate it, where it’s used, its pros and cons, and most importantly – whether it’s worth it.
RevShare – short for Revenue Share. In affiliate marketing, it’s a payment model where the affiliate does not get a fixed amount per action but a percentage of the money the advertiser earns from the referred customer. In gambling, it’s a percentage of losses. In dating – from paid subscriptions. In finance – from trading fees. Simply put: the partner brings a client, the client pays the advertiser, and the advertiser shares a portion of that money with the partner. And this continues as long as the client stays active.
Let’s use gambling as an example, because that’s where revshare is most common.
An affiliate joins an online casino’s partner program. They get a referral link. They attract players. Each referred player registers, makes a deposit, places bets. Some bets they win, some they lose. The difference between losses and winnings is the casino’s Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
But the casino doesn’t keep all the GGR. It pays game providers, deducts payment system fees, gives bonuses, and covers operational costs. What remains after these deductions is Net Gaming Revenue (NGR). Revshare is calculated from NGR.
Example with specific numbers.
A player brought by the partner deposits $10,000 in a month and wins $3,000. GGR = $7,000.
The casino deducts:
Net Gaming Revenue NGR = 7,000 – 1,000 – 1,050 – 350 – 1,400 = $3,200.
If the partner’s revshare is 40%, the affiliate earns $1,280 for that month.
If the player continues playing the next month and loses again, the affiliate gets their share again. And so on until the player stops or goes into a big win streak.
But there is a catch. If the player wins more than they lose, the casino takes a loss. The partner’s stats go negative. The next month, that negative balance is first offset by new losses, and only then does the affiliate earn.
Some partner programs reset negative balances monthly. Others don’t. That’s an important detail to check before starting.
Comparing these two models is an endless topic on forums. There’s no single answer. It all depends.
CPA is fast money. The affiliate gets a fixed amount per action: first deposit, registration, app install. Payment arrives in days or weeks. Risk is low. But there is a ceiling – you can’t earn more than the agreed sum.
Revshare is a long game. First payments may take a month or two, or even longer. Investment pays off slowly. But if the client turns out to be active and solvent, the income can far exceed any CPA rate.
Comparison table: CPA vs RevShare
| Parameter | CPA | RevShare |
| Payout speed | Fast – days or weeks | Slow – weeks or months |
| Payout size | Fixed amount | Percentage of advertiser’s revenue |
| Income ceiling | Limited | Potentially unlimited |
| Risk for partner | Low | High |
| Dependency on client behaviour | Minimal | Full |
| Best for | Any vertical | Verticals with recurring payments |
| Payback period | Fast | Slow |
Bottom line: Choose CPA if you need fast turnover and predictable results. Choose revshare if you’re willing to invest in quality and wait.
Revshare comes in different forms. Not everywhere is the same percentage and same rules.
The simplest type. The partner gets one fixed percentage that never changes. For example, 35% of NGR. Pros – simplicity and predictability. Cons – no incentive to grow. If the partner brings hundreds of thousands in profit, they still get the same 35% as on day one.
The percentage changes based on the volume of profit brought or number of active clients. For example:
This model encourages partners to scale. But there’s a catch: the percentage isn’t locked forever. If next month’s profit drops, the percentage drops too. You have to prove your level every month.
The best of both worlds. The partner gets both a fixed amount per action and a percentage of the client’s future revenue. For example: $50 for a first deposit plus 25% of all subsequent losses.
This option is great because the fast CPA part covers current traffic costs, while the revshare part builds long-term passive income. Many experienced affiliates choose the hybrid model.
Revshare doesn’t work everywhere. If a product is bought once, there’s nothing to share. But where users pay regularly, revshare really shines.
Absolute leaders in revshare popularity. Players deposit, place bets, lose. The casino’s net profit can be huge. Average lifetime of an active player – from several months to a year. Payout percentages are typically 20–50% of NGR. But you need to read the terms carefully – often deductions for Admin Fee, bonuses, and commissions mean the partner’s real share is lower than advertised.
Traders and investors make trades, leaving fees for the broker or exchange. Trading volumes are enormous. The partner gets a percentage of the fees. In some programs, revshare reaches 70% of the spread or commission. But again, there are deductions – the affiliate network and payment systems take their cut.
Dating sites work on subscriptions. The user pays monthly for access to chats, profile views, extra features. The partner gets a percentage of each payment. The longer the person stays on the site, the higher the income. Some programs pay up to 50% revshare of the subscription fee.
Online cinemas, cloud storage, CRM systems, antivirus – anywhere the customer pays for access, revshare works. The partner gets a percentage of each monthly or annual payment. Percentages are usually lower than in gambling – 20–30% – but customer churn is also lower.
Students order term papers, dissertations, essays. Good services retain clients – one student may order several papers over a year. Affiliate programs sometimes offer up to 40% revshare per order. But here revshare is often combined with CPA for the first order, because repeat sales aren’t guaranteed.
Table: verticals and typical revshare percentage
| Vertical | Typical % | Calculated from | Notes |
| Gambling & Betting | 20–50% | NGR (Net Gaming Revenue) | High deductions (bonuses, fees) |
| Crypto / Forex | 30–70% | Trading commission | Large volumes, high risk |
| Dating | 30–50% | Monthly subscription | Long customer lifetime |
| SaaS & Subscriptions | 20–30% | Recurring payments | Stable, not explosive income |
| Education | 20–40% | Order value | Often hybrid with CPA |
The formula depends on which metric they pay from. In gambling and betting, NGR (Net Gaming Revenue) is most common.
NGR formula = GGR – bonuses – provider fees – payment system fees – Admin Fee
GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) = total deposits minus total winnings.
Each deduction must be checked in the specific partner program’s terms. Somewhere Admin Fee is 10%, somewhere 30%. Bonuses may be deducted fully or partially.
Numerical example with full breakdown
A partner brings one player. In a month:
Deductions:
NGR = 3,000 – 500 – 450 – 150 – 600 = $1,300.
Revshare percentage per contract – 35%. Payout to partner = 1,300 × 0.35 = $455.
If the partner hadn’t checked what the percentage is calculated on and thought 35% of GGR, they would have expected $1,050. The difference is nearly $600. So always clarify the formula before starting.
The model is good, but not without flaws.
Table: pros and cons of revshare
| Pros | Cons |
| Potentially very high income over the long term | Slow start – months until first payout |
| Passive income – money keeps coming without new investment | High risk – client may stop playing or win |
| Partner and advertiser interests are aligned | Hard to forecast ROI due to unpredictable behaviour |
| Can earn from one client for years | Depends on the honesty of the partner program |
| No income ceiling – the more the client spends, the more you earn | Negative balance – client wins, partner goes negative |
One plus many overlook: revshare lets you earn even after you stop your ad campaigns. Build a base of active clients – and they bring money while you do something else. The downside that scares many: uncertainty. Today a client loses $1,000 – partner is in profit. Tomorrow they win $2,000 – partner is in loss. And this can go on for months.
There are two main paths.
First – affiliate networks. They collect offers from many advertisers, provide ready links and creatives, and handle payouts. Downside – the network takes a fee, so payouts are slightly lower than direct.
Second – direct brand partner programs. Major casinos, bookmakers, dating platforms often have their own affiliate programs. Higher percentages, no middlemen, and you can negotiate individual terms. But traffic requirements are stricter. Beginners may not be accepted.
Promises of 70%, 80%, 90% revshare. In gambling, such numbers almost always mean either calculation on gross revenue (where deductions eat most of it) or outright fraud. Reliable players pay 30–50%.
Refusal to disclose the calculation formula. If the manager avoids answering “what percentage of what exactly”, better not get involved.
Hidden terms in the contract. For example, the advertiser’s right to change the percentage unilaterally at any time.
MyBid.Partners offers partners a hybrid payment model that combines CPA and RevShare.
How it works. The partner chooses an offer. For the user’s first target action – for example, registration with first deposit – a fixed CPA amount is paid. And for all subsequent actions of that same user, the partner gets a percentage via revshare.
This approach solves the main problem of pure revshare: the long wait for the first payout. The CPA part covers current ad costs and prevents going deep into negative. The revshare part builds long-term income.
In the MyBid.Partners catalog, there are offers with a hybrid model in gambling, betting, dating, and finance verticals. Terms are transparent, the calculation formula is spelled out in the contract, payouts are regular. Managers help select the right offer for your traffic source.
For those just starting with revshare, the hybrid is the safest option. You don’t have to freeze your budget for months. Some money comes back immediately, while the rest works for the long haul.
A payment model where the partner gets a percentage of the revenue the advertiser earns from the client they brought. Not just once, but as long as the client stays active.
CPA. Fast payout, clear calculation, low risk. Revshare should be tried when you already have experience and understand the quality of your traffic.
Gambling, betting, dating, SaaS, financial services, crypto, and education with repeat orders.
In gambling and betting – 30–50% of NGR. Above 50% is a reason to doubt and carefully study the calculation formula.
Check the terms: in some partner programs the negative resets at month end, in others it carries over. If it carries over and accumulates, better choose another program.
Yes, many do. Some traffic goes to CPA for fast payback, some to revshare for long-term income. The best option – hybrid offers where CPA and revshare are combined.
Read reviews on forums, ask colleagues, test with a small budget. Before starting, ask the manager for the full calculation formula and make sure there are no hidden deductions.
Revshare is a model for those willing to play the long game. It doesn’t tolerate rush and the desire to get everything at once. But over time it can bring sums that CPA will never provide.
However, revshare requires quality traffic. Cheap, low-engagement leads won’t work. You need users who stay, spend money regularly, and don’t leave after the first bonus.
The choice between CPA and revshare is a choice between speed and scale. Some like fast money and a constant flow of new tasks. Others prefer to invest once and earn for years. Both paths work.
For those who want to try revshare but are afraid of slow payback, start with the hybrid model. It gives both quick return and long-term perspective.
MyBid.Partners offers such hybrid offers. Partners receive payouts for the first action and for all subsequent ones. You can register, choose a suitable offer, and start testing. Managers will help with setup and answer any questions.
Revshare is not a lottery. It’s a tool. In skilled hands it brings stable income. In unskilled hands – losses. But anyone willing to spend time and not afraid to make mistakes can master it.
