Glossary Term

What is a Casino Affiliate?

A casino affiliate is a publisher, website, or creator that promotes crypto casinos and earns commissions for every player they refer — while often unlocking exclusive deals that aren't available to direct sign-ups.

📂 Category: Casino / Marketing
📖 Level: Beginner
⏱ Read time: ~8 min
🗓 Updated: February 2026

📖 Casino Affiliate — Definition

A casino affiliate is an independent third party — a website, blogger, YouTuber, Telegram channel, or content platform — that promotes online or crypto casinos to its audience. In exchange, the affiliate earns a commission whenever a referred player signs up and deposits at the casino.

The affiliate industry powers a huge share of player acquisition for crypto casinos. Sites like PlayOnStake are themselves affiliates: when you use our codes or links to register at Stake, Roobet, BC.Game, or other platforms, we may earn a commission — at zero cost to you.

Affiliates act as a bridge between players and casinos. Good affiliates do the research players don't have time to do: comparing rakeback rates, testing withdrawals, reviewing bonus terms, and negotiating exclusive deals. That's the value exchange — information and deals in return for referrals.

🏆 Top 3 Casino Affiliate Partners

These are our hand-picked top affiliate partners — casinos we personally work with and recommend. Using our links or codes costs you nothing extra and often unlocks exclusive deals not available on the casino's standard sign-up page.

#1
Stake Casino
Official Affiliate Partner
  • ✅ Revenue Share up to 45%
  • ✅ No Negative Carryover
  • ✅ Real-time Affiliate Dashboard
  • ✅ Exclusive Affiliate Code
  • ✅ Dedicated Affiliate Manager
Become a Partner →

18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&Cs Apply

#2
BitStarz Casino
Award-Winning Affiliate Program
  • ✅ Revenue Share up to 40%
  • ✅ CPA & Hybrid Deals available
  • ✅ Monthly payouts
  • ✅ Dedicated Affiliate Support
  • ✅ High conversion
Become a Partner →

18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&Cs Apply

#3
Vave Casino
Rising Star Affiliate Program
  • ✅ Revenue Share up to 35%
  • ✅ CPA Deals on request
  • ✅ Fast-growing player base
  • ✅ High player retention
  • ✅ Transparent tracking
Become a Partner →

18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&Cs Apply

⚙️ How Casino Affiliate Programs Work

The mechanics are straightforward. A casino runs an affiliate program (sometimes called a partner program). Affiliates apply, get approved, and receive unique tracking links or promo codes tied to their account. When a player clicks a tracked link or enters a promo code during registration, the casino records that referral.

If the referred player deposits and plays, the casino pays the affiliate a commission based on the agreed model. Most crypto casino affiliate programs offer real-time dashboards where affiliates can see their referred player count, activity, and earnings.

ℹ️ Tracking: Links vs. Codes

Some affiliates use referral links (clicking the link tags you automatically), while others use promo codes entered at sign-up. Codes are more common on platforms like Stake, where typing a code in the "Promo Code" field at registration links you to the affiliate. Both methods track the same way — they're just different UX implementations.

💰 Commission Models: RevShare, CPA & Hybrid

There are three primary ways casino affiliates earn money. Understanding these helps you see why affiliate incentives may differ — and why some affiliates favor certain casinos over others.

Revenue Share
20–45%
The affiliate earns a % of the net revenue (player losses minus bonuses) generated by their referred players — forever, as long as those players remain active.
CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)
$50–$400+
A fixed one-time payment for each qualified depositing player referred. Amounts vary by casino tier and minimum deposit requirements.
Hybrid Deal
Both
A combination of reduced RevShare + a lower CPA per player. Common for high-volume affiliates who want immediate cash flow alongside long-term recurring income.
Model Best For Risk Long-term Value
Revenue Share Affiliates with loyal, high-volume audiences Low (losing players can mean negative balance) Very high — recurring income from active players
CPA Volume-driven affiliates, paid media High if player quality is low Low — no ongoing income after initial payment
Hybrid Established affiliates negotiating custom terms Balanced Medium — steady income with partial upfront
⚠️ Negative Carryover: Watch Out

In Revenue Share models, if referred players win big in a given month, the affiliate's balance can go negative — meaning they earned nothing that month. Some programs carry this negative balance forward (negative carryover), requiring future player losses to wipe it out first. Always check the program's T&Cs. The best programs offer "no negative carryover" — balances reset to zero each month.

🎁 How Players Benefit from Casino Affiliates

The most important thing to understand as a player: affiliate codes cost you nothing. The commission the affiliate earns comes from the casino's margin — not from your deposits, winnings, or rakeback. In fact, using a quality affiliate's code often gets you a better deal than signing up directly.

✅ Benefit 1: Exclusive Rakeback Rates

Top affiliates negotiate higher rakeback percentages than what's available on the public sign-up page. For example, Stake's standard sign-up might offer no code bonus, while a well-negotiated affiliate code can unlock 5–10% immediate rakeback or a boosted first-deposit bonus. Over months of play, this difference compounds significantly.

✅ Benefit 2: Curated Reviews & Comparisons

Affiliate sites do the due diligence work: testing withdrawal speeds, checking licensing, verifying bonus terms, and rating the overall experience. While you should always verify independently, established affiliates with a long track record provide genuinely useful research that saves players time and money.

✅ Benefit 3: Access to Exclusive Promotions

Some casino promotions are only available through specific affiliates and are never advertised on the casino's own website. These include deposit match bonuses for new users, free spins packages, or fast-tracked VIP access. Affiliates are incentivized to secure the best possible deal for their audience to drive conversions.

✅ Benefit 4: Transparency About Terms

Good affiliates explain the full terms — wagering requirements, maximum bet rules, withdrawal restrictions — so players aren't surprised later. Since affiliates earn from player activity (not from hiding terms), reputable ones have an interest in sending players who are genuinely satisfied and stay long-term.

⚠️ Caveat: Not All Affiliates Are Equal

Some affiliates prioritize CPA payouts over player experience, recommending casinos based on commission size rather than quality. Look for affiliates who disclose their relationships, include honest negatives in reviews, and have been operating long enough to have a track record. Transparency is the key signal of a trustworthy affiliate.

🔗 Use Our Affiliate Code at Stake

PlayOnStake is an official Stake affiliate. Use our code to activate a boosted rakeback rate and start earning more from every bet you place.

🔍 How to Evaluate a Casino Affiliate

✅ Tip 1: Check for Disclosure

Legitimate affiliates disclose that they earn commissions from referred players — usually in a footer note or dedicated Affiliate Disclosure page. If a site promotes casinos with no mention of how they're compensated, that's a red flag. Disclosure doesn't mean bias; it means transparency.

✅ Tip 2: Look for Honest Negatives

Trustworthy affiliate reviews include real downsides — slow live support, limited altcoin options, withdrawal friction. If every single casino reviewed gets a near-perfect score, the affiliate is likely prioritizing payouts over accuracy. Good affiliates lose some referrals by being honest — and accept that trade-off.

✅ Tip 3: Verify the Bonus Terms Independently

Always confirm any claimed bonus or rakeback deal directly with the casino — log in, enter the code, and verify the applied offer before you deposit. Affiliate-advertised deals occasionally expire or change, and the casino's own confirmation is the binding source of truth.

✅ Tip 4: Check Affiliate Age and Track Record

Sites and channels with years of consistent content are more likely to be legitimate businesses with reputational skin in the game. New or anonymous affiliates with no history are harder to hold accountable if a deal turns out to be misrepresented.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a casino affiliate?

A casino affiliate is a website, content creator, or publisher that promotes online or crypto casinos and earns a commission for each player they refer. Affiliates use tracked links or promo codes to attribute sign-ups to their channel. They earn via Revenue Share (a % of player losses), CPA (fixed fee per depositing player), or hybrid models combining both.

Does using an affiliate code cost me anything?

No — using an affiliate's promo code is free. The commission the affiliate earns comes from the casino's margin, not from your deposits, winnings, or rakeback rates. In most cases, entering an affiliate code at sign-up unlocks better terms than a direct sign-up — so there's usually an upside to using one and no downside.

What is Revenue Share in casino affiliates?

Revenue Share (RevShare) is a commission model where the affiliate earns a percentage of the net revenue generated by their referred players — typically 20–45%. "Net revenue" means player losses minus bonuses paid out. This is a long-term, recurring commission: as long as the referred player remains active, the affiliate continues earning. Some programs include negative carryover (negative months reduce future commissions), while premium programs reset to zero each month.

Are casino affiliates transparent about their relationships?

Legitimate affiliates are — and are required to be in most jurisdictions. Regulatory standards in the UK, EU, and elsewhere require clear disclosure of commercial relationships. Look for an "Affiliate Disclosure" page or footer note stating the site earns commissions. PlayOnStake discloses its affiliate relationships in its footer and on the Affiliate Disclosure page. If a site recommends casinos with no disclosure at all, approach with caution.

Can I become a casino affiliate myself?

Yes — most crypto casinos run affiliate programs open to anyone who applies. You'll need a content platform (website, YouTube, Telegram, Twitter/X, or similar) with an audience interested in crypto gambling. You apply to the casino's affiliate program, get approved, and receive tracking links or codes. Note: affiliate marketing in the gambling space is regulated in many countries — check the legal requirements in your jurisdiction before promoting gambling products.

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