January 31, 2026 · 10 min read
How Much Does Stake Pay Affiliates? Complete Breakdown
Program ReviewsHow Much Does Stake Pay Affiliates? Complete Breakdown
Stake offers 40% flat RevShare. But the negative carryover can destroy months of earnings. This is part of our best crypto casino affiliate programs series.
Stake is the biggest name in crypto gambling. That brand recognition is both their greatest strength and the reason many affiliates put up with terms that would be dealbreakers elsewhere. This guide breaks down exactly what Stake pays, how their commission works in practice, and whether the brand advantage outweighs the downsides for your specific situation.
Stake's Commission Structure
Rate: 40% RevShare, flat rate, no tiers Model: Revenue Share only (no CPA option) Carryover: Yes (negative balances carry forward) Payment Schedule: Monthly, Net-30 Minimum Payout: $100 Payment Methods: Crypto only (BTC, ETH, LTC, and others)
What Exactly is NGR?
Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) is what Stake earns from your players after deductions. Your 40% is calculated on NGR, not gross player losses.
NGR calculation:
| Component | Impact |
|---|---|
| Player deposits | Not directly—wagering matters |
| Player losses (gross) | Starting point |
| Minus bonuses given | Reduces NGR |
| Minus chargebacks | Reduces NGR |
| Minus fraud adjustments | Reduces NGR |
| Minus promotional costs | Reduces NGR |
| = Net Gaming Revenue | Your 40% is calculated here |
Example:
Your players deposit $10,000 and wager $50,000 over the month. They end up losing $2,000 net.
- Gross player losses: $2,000
- Bonuses attributed to your players: -$300
- No chargebacks: $0
- Promotional costs: -$100
- NGR: $1,600
- Your 40%: $640
The $2,000 in player losses becomes $640 in your pocket. That's a 32% effective rate on gross losses—not 40%.
The Negative Carryover Trap
Stake's negative carryover policy is the single biggest risk for affiliates. Here's how it works in detail.
How negative carryover functions:
When your players' NGR is negative (they won more than they lost), that negative amount becomes debt that must be paid off before you earn commission again.
Month-by-month example:
| Month | NGR | Your 40% Share | Carryover Debt | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | $3,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $1,200 |
| February | $2,500 | $1,000 | $0 | $1,000 |
| March | -$8,000 | -$3,200 | $3,200 | $0 |
| April | $2,000 | $800 | $2,400 | $0 |
| May | $2,500 | $1,000 | $1,400 | $0 |
| June | $3,000 | $1,200 | $200 | $0 |
| July | $2,000 | $800 | $0 | $600 |
Seven months of active referrals: $2,800 in earnings.
Without carryover (same NGR figures), you'd earn: $5,400. The March player win cost you $2,600 in lost earnings—not counting the time value of waiting months to get paid again.
Why Carryover Hits Small Affiliates Hardest
The math of negative carryover improves with player volume. Here's why.
5 active players:
- One player wins big = entire month negative
- Probability of negative month: ~25-30%
- Recovery time: 2-4 months average
50 active players:
- One player wins big = offset by others' losses
- Probability of negative month: ~10-15%
- Recovery time: 1-2 months average
500 active players:
- One player wins big = barely noticeable
- Probability of negative month: ~2-5%
- Recovery time: Usually same month or next
The threshold: Around 30-50 active players, negative carryover becomes manageable. Below that, it can be devastating.
Real Earnings at Different Traffic Levels
Small Affiliate: 500 Clicks/Month
Conversion assumptions:
- Click-to-signup: 15% = 75 signups
- Signup-to-FTD: 10% = 7.5 FTDs (round to 8)
- FTD-to-active: 60% = 5 active players
Monthly earnings pattern:
| Month Type | Frequency | NGR | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good month | 6/year | $800 | $320 |
| Average month | 3/year | $400 | $160 |
| Negative month | 3/year | -$1,500 | $0 (+ debt) |
Annual reality:
- Gross potential: ~$3,000
- After carryover impact: ~$1,800-2,200
- Effective monthly average: $150-185
The hard truth: At this level, Stake's carryover policy costs you 30-40% of potential earnings. A program without carryover (even at 35%) would pay more.
Medium Affiliate: 5,000 Clicks/Month
Conversion assumptions:
- Click-to-signup: 15% = 750 signups
- Signup-to-FTD: 10% = 75 FTDs
- FTD-to-active: 60% = 45 active players
Monthly earnings pattern:
| Month Type | Frequency | NGR | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good month | 8/year | $6,000 | $2,400 |
| Average month | 3/year | $3,500 | $1,400 |
| Negative month | 1/year | -$5,000 | $0 (+ debt) |
Annual reality:
- Gross potential: ~$25,800
- After carryover impact: ~$22,000-24,000
- Effective monthly average: $1,800-2,000
At this level: Stake becomes viable. Carryover still hurts (10-15% reduction), but brand recognition starts paying off through higher conversions.
Large Affiliate: 50,000+ Clicks/Month
Conversion assumptions:
- Click-to-signup: 15% = 7,500 signups
- Signup-to-FTD: 10% = 750 FTDs
- FTD-to-active: 60% = 450 active players
Monthly earnings pattern:
| Month Type | Frequency | NGR | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good month | 10/year | $60,000 | $24,000 |
| Average month | 2/year | $40,000 | $16,000 |
| Negative month | 0/year | N/A | N/A |
Annual reality:
- Gross potential: ~$272,000
- Carryover impact: Minimal (diversified base)
- Effective monthly average: $22,000-24,000
At scale: Stake's terms are competitive. Brand recognition boosts conversions 20-30% vs lesser-known casinos. Carryover is a non-issue with 400+ active players.
Stake's Dashboard and Tracking
Stake provides one of the better affiliate dashboards in the industry.
What you can track:
- Real-time clicks and impressions
- Signups and FTDs by day/week/month
- Individual player activity (anonymized)
- NGR breakdown by player cohort
- Commission balance and payout history
- Marketing material performance
Dashboard strengths:
- Clean, professional interface
- Accurate real-time data
- Detailed player-level insights
- Exportable reports
Dashboard limitations:
- No CPA tracking (RevShare only)
- Cannot see specific player deposit amounts
- Carryover debt displayed but not explained well
The Approval Process
Stake is selective. They want proven affiliates who will drive quality traffic.
Requirements
Traffic requirements:
- 10,000+ monthly website visitors, OR
- 50,000+ social media following, OR
- Demonstrable track record with other programs
Content requirements:
- Gambling-relevant content
- No spam or black-hat SEO
- Professional presentation
Geographic requirements:
- Some markets excluded (check Stake's current list)
- US traffic complicated (gray area)
Application Steps
- Submit application on Stake's affiliate portal
- Provide proof of traffic or social following
- Wait 5-15 business days for review
- If approved: Receive dashboard access
- 90-day probation: Terms can be adjusted if traffic doesn't materialize
If You're Rejected
Common rejection reasons:
- Traffic below threshold
- Traffic from restricted countries
- Low-quality or spam content
- No clear gambling focus
What to do:
- Build traffic for 6 months
- Apply to easier programs first (BC.Game, TrustDice)
- Reapply to Stake once you have traction
Why People Promote Stake Despite the Drawbacks
Brand Recognition
Stake is the most recognized crypto casino brand. In surveys of crypto gamblers:
- 78% have heard of Stake
- 52% have used Stake
- 34% name Stake as their primary platform
This recognition translates to conversions. When you write "Play at Stake," readers already know what it is. No explanation needed. No trust barrier to overcome.
Conversion impact: Stake-focused content typically converts 20-40% better than identical content for lesser-known casinos.
Player Quality
Stake attracts serious gamblers. Their average player deposits more and plays longer than industry average.
| Metric | Stake | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Average first deposit | $180 | $120 |
| Average monthly wager | $3,500 | $2,200 |
| 90-day retention | 45% | 35% |
| Whale frequency | 1 in 80 | 1 in 150 |
Higher player quality = higher NGR per player = higher commissions (when you're not in carryover debt).
Payment Reliability
Stake pays. On time, every time. In an industry with payment horror stories, this reliability matters.
Payment track record:
- No reported payment delays in major affiliate forums
- Transparent balance reporting
- Multiple crypto payment options
- No surprise deductions or "adjustments"
Professional Support
Stake's affiliate team is responsive and knowledgeable.
Support quality:
- Response time: 24-48 hours
- Dedicated manager: Available at $5,000+/month earnings
- Problem resolution: Generally favorable to affiliates
- Marketing materials: Extensive library provided
When Stake Makes Sense
Good fit for:
- Established affiliates with 10,000+ monthly visitors
- High-volume operators who can absorb carryover variance
- Brand-focused promoters who can leverage Stake's recognition
- Long-term builders willing to accept short-term carryover pain
Bad fit for:
- New affiliates still building traffic
- Small-volume operators with under 30 active players
- Cash-flow dependent affiliates who need consistent monthly income
- Risk-averse promoters uncomfortable with negative months
The Alternatives
Programs with no negative carryover pay more long-term for most affiliates, but lower conversion due to weaker brands. Compare Stake directly with Rollbit's affiliate earnings and BC.Game's program. For the full head-to-head analysis, see Stake vs Rollbit vs BC.Game.
Direct Comparison
| Factor | Stake | Rollbit | BC.Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevShare Rate | 40% flat | 40% flat | 25-45% tiered |
| Carryover | Yes | No | No |
| Brand Recognition | Highest | Medium | Medium |
| Approval | Hard | Medium | Easy |
| Best For | Large affiliates | Medium affiliates | Beginners |
The Math
Affiliate with 20 active players, $1,500/month average NGR:
| Program | Rate | Carryover Impact | Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stake | 40% | -25% | ~$5,400 |
| Rollbit | 40% | None | ~$7,200 |
| BC.Game | ~28% avg | None | ~$5,040 |
At this volume, Rollbit pays 33% more than Stake due to carryover elimination.
PureOdds offers 50% RevShare with no negative carryover and a 1% house edge that keeps players active longer. Worth considering as a Stake alternative for small-to-medium affiliates.
How to Maximize Stake Earnings
If you're committed to Stake, here's how to minimize carryover damage.
1. Volume First
The single best protection against carryover is player volume. Prioritize growth over optimization until you have 50+ active players.
2. Quality Traffic
Stake's brand converts best with crypto-native audiences. Focus on:
- Crypto gambling communities
- Sports betting + crypto crossover
- High-intent keywords ("stake casino review", "stake bonus code")
3. Content Longevity
Create evergreen content that will drive traffic for years. Your player base compounds over time, reducing carryover risk as it grows.
4. Diversify
Don't put all your traffic into Stake. Split between Stake (for brand conversions) and a no-carryover program (for stable baseline income).
Bottom Line
Stake pays well if you can handle volatility and have volume. Their 40% rate is competitive, payments are reliable, and brand recognition genuinely improves conversions.
But negative carryover is a dealbreaker for small affiliates. If you have fewer than 30-50 active players, you're likely losing 25-40% of potential earnings to carryover debt.
Recommendation by traffic level:
| Monthly Visitors | Stake Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Under 2,000 | Don't apply yet |
| 2,000-10,000 | Consider Rollbit/BC.Game first |
| 10,000-50,000 | Worth applying; diversify programs |
| 50,000+ | Strong choice; brand pays off |
Small affiliates should avoid negative carryover programs or learn about programs that accept low-traffic sites as a starting point before graduating to Stake.