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The US is the most valuable gambling GEO you can legally work, and the narrowest. Regulated online casino revenue passed $10.7 billion in 2025, up almost 28% in a year, according to the American Gaming Association. Yet real-money iGaming is live in just seven states, and in most of them you need a state licence before an operator can pay you RevShare.
That changes how you pick a program. In Europe you compare rates. In the US you compare state footprint, licensing cost and how much of your traffic lands where the brand is actually allowed to take bets.
Vetting affiliate programs is what we do every day at AffRoom. Below are the best gambling affiliate programs for USA traffic in 2026: regulated sportsbooks and casinos, plus the sweepstakes segment, with commission models, state coverage and audience fit. Terms are checked against open sources as of October 2026.
New to the vertical? Start with how casino affiliate programs work: NGR, baselines, hold periods and negative carryover explained.
How Gambling Affiliate Programs in the USA Work
The mechanics are the same as anywhere: you get a tracking link, a player registers, makes a first deposit and plays, and the operator pays you a CPA, a RevShare on NGR or a hybrid. Three things make the US different.
- The market is split by state. There is no federal licence. Each state decides whether to allow sports betting, online casino, both or neither, and each runs its own regulator.
- The affiliate is regulated too. In most legal states you register or get licensed as a vendor before the operator can pay you. The licence type usually depends on your commission model.
- Every bet is geofenced. A player outside a legal state cannot place a real-money bet, so that click earns you nothing.
Where Real-Money Gambling Is Legal in 2026
| Product | States | What it means for affiliates |
|---|---|---|
| Online casino (iGaming), live | New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island | Highest player value; NJ, PA and MI bring about 90% of US iGaming revenue |
| Online casino, legalized, not live | Maine (tribal exclusivity, launch pending) | Watch for the launch; Caesars holds three of four slots |
| Online sports betting | About 30 states plus Washington, DC | Bigger reach, lower margin, seasonal revenue |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Most states without a ban; banned in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Montana, Tennessee, Indiana and others | No gaming licence; the map changes every quarter |
The casino states are where the money sits. When Rush Street Interactive cut affiliate deals in 2024, it dropped sportsbook-only states and kept its iCasino states, where a referred player is worth far more.
For the brands players in these states actually choose, see our ranking of the best online casino brands in the USA.
Do You Need a Licence as a US Affiliate?
Often, yes. The rule of thumb: a flat fee or CPA needs a simple registration, a RevShare deal needs a fuller licence with background checks, because you now share in gaming revenue.
| State | CPA / flat fee | RevShare |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Vendor registration, filed by the operator | Ancillary CSIE licence, $2,000 non-refundable fee |
| Pennsylvania | Registered gaming service provider | Certified gaming service provider |
| Michigan | Vendor registration, $200 | Supplier licence: $2,500 application + $5,000 licence fee |
| Colorado | Vendor Minor, $350 | Vendor Major, $1,200 + $10,000 background deposit |
| Illinois | Allowed | Revenue-share deals prohibited for sports betting |
In practice, the operator’s affiliate team tells you which filings it needs from you and often starts the process. Budget the time: approval can take weeks.
Commission Models in US Gambling Affiliate Programs
Tier-1 US operators default to CPA for new partners. RevShare and hybrid deals open up once you prove player quality, and once you hold the licence your states require.
| Model | How it pays | Reported US range | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPA | Fixed sum per qualified first-time depositor | $100–$500 per FTD, set by state and source | Media buyers, review sites with fast cash needs |
| RevShare | Share of the player’s NGR, often lifetime | 20–40% of NGR | SEO, content, communities |
| Hybrid | Reduced CPA plus reduced RevShare | Negotiated case by case | Proven partners with steady volume |
| Sweepstakes CPA / RevShare | Per first Gold Coin purchase, or share of net purchase revenue | $25–$120 CPA, 25–35% RevShare | Social, content and paid traffic in non-ban states |
Two US specifics change the maths:
- Casino NGR stacks on sportsbook NGR. A player you bring to a sportsbook may also play the operator’s casino in iGaming states. On a RevShare deal that covers both verticals, one referral earns from two revenue bases.
- The licence follows the model. A $300 CPA needs only a vendor registration in most states. A 35% RevShare needs a full licence, fees and a background check. Run that cost against your expected volume before you ask for RevShare.
Comparison Table: US Gambling Affiliate Programs Side by Side
| # | Program | Brands | Model | Reported terms | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FanDuel Partners | FanDuel Sportsbook, FanDuel Casino | CPA, RevShare, hybrid | $100–$500 CPA; up to 35% RevShare | Sportsbook in most legal states; casino in iGaming states | Big review sites, sports content |
| 2 | DraftKings Affiliates | DraftKings Sportsbook, Casino, DFS, Golden Nugget | CPA, RevShare | $100–$600 CPA; 25–40% RevShare | Widest sportsbook footprint; casino in iGaming states | Sports and DFS audiences |
| 3 | BetMGM Partners | BetMGM Sportsbook, BetMGM Casino, Borgata Online | CPA, RevShare, hybrid | $100–$400 CPA | Broadest combined sportsbook + casino footprint | Casino-first publishers |
| 4 | Caesars Affiliates | Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe | CPA, RevShare, hybrid | Not published; tier-1 band | Sportsbook states, iGaming states, Maine at launch | Promo-code and loyalty angles |
| 5 | bet365 Partners | bet365 Sportsbook, bet365 Casino | RevShare-led | Not published | Selected US states | Global affiliates adding US |
| 6 | Rush Affiliates | BetRivers Sportsbook & Casino | RevShare | Tiers up to 35%; admin fee applies | Focus on iCasino states | Casino SEO in PA, NJ, MI |
| 7 | Chumba Casino (VGW) | Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots | CPA, RevShare | Sweeps band: $25–$120 CPA, 25–35% RevShare | Non-ban states | Social and paid traffic |
| 8 | Stake.us | Stake.us | RevShare-led | Sweeps band | Non-ban states | Crypto-savvy, streamer audiences |
| 9 | Pulsz | Pulsz, Pulsz Bingo | CPA, RevShare | Sweeps band | Non-ban states | Slot-focused content |
| 10 | McLuck | McLuck, sister brands | CPA, RevShare | Sweeps band | Non-ban states | Mobile and social traffic |
Tier-1 rates are not public: they are set per affiliate by state, source and player quality. Confirm current terms, allowed states and licensing requirements with the affiliate manager before you spend budget.
10 Best Gambling Affiliate Programs for USA Traffic in 2026
Programs 1–6 are licensed real-money operators. Programs 7–10 are sweepstakes casinos, which run on promotional law instead of a gaming licence and reach states where real-money play is banned.
1. FanDuel Partners
The US market leader by sports handle, owned by Flutter. New partners start on CPA, reported at $100–$500 per FTD, with RevShare of up to 35% for established partners. FanDuel’s terms sit at the firmer end of the market: it has the brand power to ask for quality.
The real value is dual-vertical NGR. A player you send to the sportsbook in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Michigan also plays FanDuel Casino, and both revenue bases count on a combined deal.
- Models: CPA, RevShare, hybrid
- Verticals: sportsbook, casino, DFS
- Best for: large review and sports content sites
2. DraftKings Affiliates
The widest sportsbook footprint in the country, plus casino, DFS and the Golden Nugget brand. Reported terms run $100–$600 CPA or 25–40% RevShare. Some sources report a higher RevShare in a player’s first 30 days, then a lower ongoing rate.
DFS is the edge: it is legal in states with no sportsbook, so a DFS player can convert to betting the day their state goes live.
- Models: CPA, RevShare
- Verticals: sportsbook, casino, DFS
- Best for: sports, fantasy and betting-tips audiences
3. BetMGM Partners
The best fit for casino-first publishers. One affiliate ID earns from up to three NGR bases: BetMGM Sportsbook, BetMGM Casino and Borgata Online in NJ, PA and MI. Each base accrues on its own, so a bad sportsbook month does not wipe out casino earnings.
Reported CPA runs $100–$400 per qualifying FTD, tiered by state, source and your history.
- Models: CPA, RevShare, hybrid
- Strength: broadest combined sportsbook + casino footprint
- Best for: casino SEO and slots content
4. Caesars Affiliates
Covers Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online Casino and the Horseshoe brand. Rates are not published and follow the tier-1 pattern: CPA by default, RevShare or hybrid for established partners.
Two angles make it worth a test: promo-code-led acquisition and the Caesars Rewards loyalty programme, which converts land-based casino visitors. Caesars also holds three of the four Maine iGaming slots, so it is the first brand to watch when that state launches.
- Models: CPA, RevShare, hybrid
- Verticals: sportsbook, casino
- Best for: promo-code sites, casino-travel audiences
5. bet365 Partners
The world’s largest privately held sportsbook runs a RevShare-led program, unlike the CPA-default US majors. If you already work bet365 in the UK or other markets, adding its US states keeps one partner relationship and one dashboard.
Check the state list carefully: bet365 is live in fewer US states than FanDuel or DraftKings.
- Models: RevShare-led
- Best for: international affiliates expanding into the US
6. Rush Affiliates (BetRivers)
The official program of BetRivers, run by Rush Street Interactive. RevShare tiers go up to 35%, and an admin fee applies, so read the NGR formula. In 2024 RSI cut affiliate deals in several sportsbook-only states but kept its casino states, where it is strongest.
Treat it as a casino program for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia and Delaware, not as a national sportsbook deal.
- Models: RevShare
- Best for: casino SEO in iGaming states
7. Chumba Casino (VGW)
The category benchmark for sweepstakes casinos, operated by VGW alongside LuckyLand Slots. Sweepstakes programs pay on Gold Coin purchases, not deposits: the market band is $25–$120 CPA on the first purchase or 25–35% RevShare on net purchase revenue.
The California and New York bans took a large part of Chumba’s addressable market, so check the current excluded-state list before every campaign.
- Models: CPA, RevShare
- Best for: social, native and paid traffic in non-ban states
8. Stake.us
The sweepstakes version of the crypto casino Stake, with strong brand recognition among streamers and crypto audiences. It exited California at the end of 2025 under AB 831.
- Models: RevShare-led
- Best for: streamers, Kick and Twitch audiences, crypto communities
9. Pulsz
A slot-focused sweepstakes brand with a bingo spin-off. Its simple funnel converts well on slots content and review pages.
- Models: CPA, RevShare
- Best for: slot review sites and comparison pages
10. McLuck
A fast-growing mobile-first sweepstakes brand. It also left California ahead of the ban, so audit your GEO targeting before you launch.
- Models: CPA, RevShare
- Best for: mobile, social and push traffic
Sweepstakes compliance is contract-driven, not licence-driven: the operator’s terms are your rulebook. Our guide on how to promote sweepstakes casinos on Facebook safely covers the ad side.
Also worth reviewing: Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, Hard Rock Bet and regional brands in single states. Want to work several brands from one login? Compare gambling CPA networks and betting affiliate programs in the AffRoom catalogue.
How to Choose a Gambling Affiliate Program for US Traffic
Run these six checks and a long list shrinks to two or three programs worth testing.
- Map your traffic by state. Pull a state breakdown from analytics. If 60% of your visitors sit in Texas and California, a real-money casino deal pays on the other 40% at best.
- Match the product to the state. Casino traffic in NJ, PA and MI goes to real-money brands. Sports traffic goes to sportsbooks in about 30 states. Traffic from non-ban states without legal iGaming is where sweepstakes brands fit.
- Price the licence into the deal. A RevShare deal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Michigan means a licence fee and weeks of paperwork. At low volume, CPA under a vendor registration earns more.
- Read the qualification rules. Get the minimum FTD, wagering requirement and hold period in writing. Multiply the CPA by your expected approval share: that is your real payout.
- Check NGR deductions and carryover. Ask for the exact NGR formula, the admin fee and the negative carryover policy. A 30% deal with light deductions can beat 40% with a heavy admin fee.
- Demand clean tracking. You need per-player reporting by state and an S2S postback into your tracker. See postback URL tracking and our list of affiliate marketing trackers.
What About Offshore Programs That Accept US Players?
Many Curaçao and crypto casino programs accept US traffic and pay 30–50% RevShare with no negative carryover. Two long-running examples:
- Ace Revenue (since 2009): Captain Jack, Planet 7 and Silver Oak casinos, 30–45% RevShare, lifetime cookies.
- Slotland Affiliates (brand since 1998): proprietary slots, 25–50% RevShare, no negative carryover.
These brands hold no US state licence. Promoting them can conflict with state law, and regulators have sent cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators. Google and Meta will not run their ads, and you have little recourse if commissions stop. If you work this segment, keep it separate from your licensed-brand business.
Traffic Sources and Compliance for US Gambling Offers
In the US, the source decides both your conversion rate and your compliance risk. Match it to the program before you buy a single click.
| Source | Fit | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| SEO and review sites | Best for RevShare on real-money casino | State-specific pages rank and convert; YMYL quality bar is high |
| Google and Bing Ads | Licensed brands only | Gambling certification per state; brand bidding usually banned |
| Meta and TikTok | Licensed brands, sweepstakes with care | Approved advertiser status; strict age targeting |
| Push, pop and native | Sweepstakes and CPA tests | Geo-target by state; pre-lander required |
| Streamers, Telegram, Discord | Sweepstakes, sports tips | Disclosure rules; 21+ audience only |
Three compliance rules apply to every US campaign:
- Age 21+. Most states set 21 as the legal age for online betting and casino. Never target college audiences.
- Responsible gambling messaging. Show the state helpline and “21+” on every creative and landing page that promotes a licensed brand.
- No “risk-free” claims. Several states penalise misleading bonus language. Use the operator’s approved offer copy word for word.
For organic traffic, read gambling and casino SEO in 2026. For paid traffic, compare gambling ad networks and sweepstakes ad networks, and build a gambling pre-landing page before launch.
FAQ
What are the best gambling affiliate programs in the USA?
For licensed real-money traffic: FanDuel Partners, DraftKings Affiliates, BetMGM Partners, Caesars Affiliates, bet365 Partners and Rush Affiliates (BetRivers). For states without legal online casino, sweepstakes brands such as Chumba Casino, Stake.us, Pulsz and McLuck. The best choice depends on where your traffic sits by state.
How do gambling affiliate programs in the USA work?
You join an operator’s program, get a tracking link and send players from legal states. The operator pays you when a referred player registers, deposits and plays. In most legal states you must also register or get licensed as a vendor before the operator can pay you.
What commission models do US gambling affiliate programs offer?
CPA, RevShare and hybrid. Tier-1 operators default to CPA for new partners, reported at $100–$500 per first-time depositor. RevShare of 20–40% of NGR and hybrid deals go to established partners. Sweepstakes programs pay $25–$120 CPA or 25–35% RevShare on Gold Coin purchases.
Are casino affiliate programs legal in the USA?
Yes, when you promote licensed operators to players in states where the product is legal. Real-money online casino is live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island, with Maine legalized but not yet launched. Many of these states require an affiliate licence, especially for RevShare.
How do I choose a gambling affiliate program for US traffic?
Start with a state breakdown of your traffic, then pick the brands licensed in those states. Price the affiliate licence into the deal, read the qualification rules and NGR deductions, and confirm per-state reporting and S2S postback before you launch.
Do I need a licence to be a gambling affiliate in the USA?
In most legal states, yes. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado and others require at least a vendor registration for CPA deals and a fuller licence with background checks for RevShare. Fees range from free registration to over $10,000 for a revenue-share licence. Sweepstakes promotion usually needs no licence.
Are US gambling affiliate programs profitable in 2026?
Yes, for affiliates whose traffic sits in legal states. Regulated iGaming revenue grew almost 28% in 2025, and a casino player in New Jersey or Pennsylvania is worth far more than an average Tier-1 depositor. Licensing costs and state geofencing mean US profits come from focus, not volume.
Conclusion
The US pays some of the highest player values in gambling, but only inside the states where your brand is licensed. Most affiliates lose money here by picking the biggest-name program and sending it traffic from states where it cannot take a bet.
Pick two programs that match your state mix and your licence budget. Run the same audience to both for a few weeks, compare approved FTDs and NGR, then ask your affiliate manager for a better deal once you have the data. For more options outside the US, see our lists of top casino affiliate programs and CPA casino affiliate programs.
Gambling involves risk. This article is for affiliate marketers and is not legal advice. Check state rules before you promote any brand.
