CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)

CPA is the dominant affiliate commission structure in mature regulated markets. The operator pays a fixed amount (typically several hundred dollars in major markets) for every FTD the affiliate delivers that meets qualifying criteria (minimum deposit, qualifying wager, KYC completion). The benefit to the operator is predictable acquisition economics; the benefit to the affiliate is upfront payment without long-tail risk on player retention. The shift from revenue share to CPA in many markets reflects several pressures. Listed operators prefer predictable cost structures. Increasing player protection controls (affordability checks, bonus restrictions) reduce long-tail player value, which makes revenue share less attractive to affiliates. And some markets explicitly restrict ongoing revenue share affiliate models. Mature affiliates negotiate for hybrid arrangements that retain some upside if a delivered player turns out to be high-value, but pure CPA is now standard in the UK, much of the US, and selected European markets.