Commission & Payout Terms
Definitions for CPA, RevShare, hybrid deals, negative carryover, and other payout terms used in affiliate programs.
Terms in this cluster
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)
CPA is a commission model where an affiliate earns a fixed payment for each qualifying action, such as a deposit, registration, or purchase, that a referred user completes.
CPA vs RevShare
CPA pays a fixed amount per conversion. RevShare pays an ongoing percentage of revenue. The core difference is where risk sits after the acquisition happens, and which model aligns with your program goals.
Hybrid Commission
Hybrid commission combines two payout models, most commonly CPA and RevShare, in a single affiliate deal so operators can reward both conversion volume and long-term customer value.
Negative Carryover
Negative carryover is a policy where a negative revenue balance from one period is rolled into the next period and offsets future affiliate earnings before new commissions are paid out.
RevShare (Revenue Share)
RevShare is a commission model where an affiliate earns an ongoing percentage of the revenue generated by their referred customers, typically calculated on a monthly basis.
Payout Model
The structure that defines how and when affiliates are compensated for referred activity, including fixed payments, revenue shares, or hybrid combinations.
CPL (Cost Per Lead)
A commission model where an affiliate earns a fixed payment for each qualified lead they generate, typically defined as a registration, form submission, or account opening that meets specified criteria.
Commission Hold Period
A waiting period between when a commission is earned and when it becomes eligible for payout, used to verify conversion quality and protect against fraud or chargebacks.
Multi-Tier Commission
A commission structure where affiliates earn from their own referrals and from referrals made by affiliates they recruited, creating layered earning opportunities across partner tiers.
Payout Frequency
How often an affiliate program processes and sends commission payments to its partners, typically on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.
Override Commission
An override commission is a payment made to a parent or master affiliate based on the performance of the sub-affiliates or sub-IBs they manage. It rewards partner recruitment and network management without reducing the sub-partner's own earnings.
Hold Period
A hold period is the time window between when an affiliate commission is earned and when it becomes eligible for payout, used by operators to verify conversion quality and protect against fraud or chargebacks.
Performance Tier
A performance tier is a structured level within an affiliate program where partners earn progressively higher commissions or additional benefits as they meet defined volume, revenue, or quality thresholds.
Recurring Commission
A recurring commission is an ongoing payment made to an affiliate for as long as the referred customer remains active or continues to generate revenue for the operator.
Payment Threshold
A payment threshold is the minimum commission balance an affiliate must accumulate in their account before they can request or receive a payout from the operator.
CPC (Cost Per Click)
CPC (Cost Per Click) is a pricing model where the advertiser pays a fixed amount each time a user clicks on an affiliate's link or ad, regardless of whether that click results in a conversion.
Clawback
A clawback is the reversal or recoupment of affiliate commissions that were already paid out, typically triggered by chargebacks, fraud, refunds, or failure to meet qualification criteria.
Dynamic Commission
A dynamic commission is a commission structure that automatically adjusts based on predefined rules such as performance thresholds, volume tiers, traffic quality scores, or time-based conditions.
Conversion Cap
A conversion cap is a limit on the number of conversions for which an affiliate can earn commissions within a specified period, used for budget control and fraud prevention.
Tiered Commission
A tiered commission is a commission model where payout rates increase as affiliates or IBs reach higher performance thresholds, such as monthly conversion volume or revenue generated.
Qualified Conversion
A qualified conversion is a conversion that meets predefined criteria - such as minimum deposit, account verification, or activity thresholds - before commission is owed to the referring affiliate or IB.
Commission Split
A commission split is the division of earned commission between multiple parties, such as a master affiliate and their sub-affiliates, or a master IB and their sub-IBs.
Payout Automation
Payout automation is the automated calculation and disbursement of affiliate or IB commissions based on configured rules, eliminating manual spreadsheet processing and reducing payout errors.
CPA vs CPL
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) pays when a referred user completes a defined acquisition event like a deposit or purchase. CPL (Cost Per Lead) pays when a user completes a lead action like a signup or registration. The difference is how deep into the funnel the conversion event sits.
VIP Program Commission
VIP program commission refers to the commission earned by affiliates on revenue generated by high-value players who qualify for an operator's VIP or high-roller program. These commissions are often structured with enhanced rates or special terms to reflect the disproportionate revenue contribution of VIP players.
Sportsbook RevShare
Sportsbook RevShare is a commission model where affiliates earn an ongoing percentage of the net revenue generated by their referred bettors from sports betting activity, typically calculated on net sportsbook revenue after payouts and adjustments.
Turnover-Based Commission
Turnover-based commission is a payout model where affiliates earn a percentage of the total amount wagered (handle) by their referred players, rather than a share of the operator's net revenue.
Sportsbook CPA
Sportsbook CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) is a commission model where affiliates earn a fixed payment for each bettor they refer who meets a defined qualifying action, such as making a first deposit and placing a bet.
CPA vs RevShare for Sportsbooks
In sportsbook affiliate programs, CPA pays a fixed fee per qualified bettor, while RevShare pays an ongoing percentage of net sports betting revenue. The choice impacts affiliate earnings, operator costs, and program alignment with player quality.