Affiliate commission tier

What if you could transform every new player your affiliates send — into a scalable, performance-driven profit engine?

An affiliate commission tier isn’t just a payout model — it’s your secret weapon for building a high-performing affiliate network that grows with your business. By rewarding affiliates based on the volume or quality of the traffic they deliver, you turn motivation into measurable results — and turn partners into long-term growth drivers.

Because in iGaming, the right commission structure doesn’t just attract affiliates — it turns them into your most valuable marketers.

What is an affiliate commission tier?

Imagine you’re running an iGaming brand and want to reward your affiliates for bringing in new players. But instead of paying everyone the same flat rate, you decide to incentivize top performers with higher commissions as they hit bigger milestones.

Traditional commission models? Flat. Static. Uninspiring.

That’s where affiliate commission tiers come in.

An affiliate commission tier is a structured payout model used by iGaming brands to reward affiliates based on the volume or quality of the traffic they deliver. Under this system, affiliates earn varying commission rates according to their performance metrics, such as the number of new depositing players, total deposits made, or generated revenue.

📌 What makes affiliate commission tiers different?
Most payout models offer one-size-fits-all rewards.
Affiliate commission tiers create a dynamic, performance-driven ecosystem — where top performers are always pushing for the next milestone.

How does an affiliate commission tier work?

Affiliate commission tiers typically involve incremental thresholds. As affiliates reach higher performance levels, their commission percentage increases. Common models include:

Number of first-time deposits (FTDs): Affiliates earn more as they bring in more new depositing players.
Monthly net revenue generated by referred players: Higher revenue equals higher commissions.
Total player deposits or turnover: Affiliates are rewarded for driving more valuable player activity.

Example:
An affiliate might earn 25% revenue share for up to 10 new players per month, 30% for 11–20 new players, and 35% for more than 20 new players.

Alternatively, revenue-based tiers might look like this:

Tier 1: $0–$10,000 monthly net revenue — 25%
Tier 2: $10,001–$25,000 monthly net revenue — 30%
Tier 3: $25,001+ monthly net revenue — 40%

This structure ensures that as affiliates scale their efforts and results, their rewards scale too — creating a true win-win partnership.

For what purpose are affiliate commission tiers used?

Affiliate commission tiers are designed to motivate affiliates to continuously increase the quality and quantity of traffic they deliver. They incentivize affiliates to reach higher performance levels, driving more valuable players to iGaming brands.

This structure also helps operators manage affiliate marketing costs by directly linking expenses to affiliate performance. Instead of paying high commissions to everyone, brands reward only those who deliver real results — aligning marketing spend with actual business value.

Examples of affiliate commission tiers

Here are two common ways to structure affiliate commission tiers:

By new players:

Tier 1: 0–10 new players/month — 25% revenue share
Tier 2: 11–30 new players/month — 30% revenue share
Tier 3: 31+ new players/month — 35% revenue share

By monthly net revenue:

Tier 1: $0–$10,000 — 25%
Tier 2: $10,001–$25,000 — 30%
Tier 3: $25,001+ — 40%

These examples show how brands can tailor tiers to their specific goals and market conditions1 3 2.

Advantages of affiliate commission tiers

Incentivizes affiliate growth and improved performance: Affiliates are motivated to reach higher tiers, driving more and better traffic.
Ensures marketing budgets are aligned with real performance: Brands only pay higher commissions when results justify it.
Attracts high-quality affiliates by offering scalable rewards: Ambitious partners are drawn to brands that recognize and reward their efforts.
Encourages long-term affiliate partnerships: Affiliates see a clear path to increased earnings, fostering loyalty and collaboration.

Advice for using affiliate commission tiers

For iGaming brands

Regularly review and adjust tiers to reflect market changes and competitor strategies. The market evolves — your commission structure should too.
Provide transparent reporting tools so affiliates clearly understand their performance. Clear data builds trust and motivation.
Offer additional incentives, such as bonuses for achieving top-tier status or exceptional performance. Extra rewards can drive even more ambitious results.
Clearly communicate terms to avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth affiliate operations. Transparency is key to successful partnerships.

For affiliates

Understand the specific requirements of each tier to strategically focus efforts. Know what it takes to reach the next level.
Monitor performance metrics regularly to optimize campaigns and maximize earnings. Data-driven decisions lead to better results.
Collaborate with affiliate managers for insights and guidance to reach higher commission levels. Your brand partners are there to help you succeed.

Maximize your affiliate program’s potential

You’re building a network, driving traffic, and chasing conversions. But if you’re not using affiliate commission tiers, you’re missing out on the power of scalable, performance-driven growth.

Affiliate commission tiers turn motivation into results — and turn partners into your most valuable growth engine. By aligning rewards with real performance, you create an ecosystem where everyone wins — and your brand’s success scales to new heights.

No more flat-rate mediocrity. No more missed opportunities. Just smart, scalable commissions that fuel long-term growth — for your affiliates and your business.