GGR (gross gaming revenue) is the total amount players stake minus the winnings paid back to them, before bonuses, taxes, payment fees, or other costs are deducted. It measures what an operator wins from players and is the gambling industry's standard top-line revenue figure. In affiliate programs, it is the starting point for calculating NGR.
How it works
GGR = total stakes - total winnings paid
Over time, an operator's GGR on casino games reflects the house edge, but in any short period it can be negative if players win more than they stake. Regulators and tax authorities often use a similar stakes-minus-winnings measure. In the UK, for example, Remote Gaming Duty is charged on gaming profits, meaning stakes received minus winnings paid out (HMRC guidance), with its own rules on details such as bonuses.
Example
Example: one month of activity from an affiliate's referred casino players.
Total stakes: $250,000
Winnings paid: $235,000
GGR: $15,000
If the operator then deducts $3,000 in bonuses and $2,000 in fees and taxes, NGR is $10,000. An affiliate on 30% RevShare calculated on NGR earns $3,000, not 30% of the $15,000 GGR.
Why it matters
For affiliates, GGR is useful for sizing a player base but is rarely the commission base. Most iGaming RevShare deals pay on NGR, so the gap between GGR and NGR determines real earnings. Some deals do pay on GGR at a lower percentage, which can be simpler to audit. For operators, GGR is the headline revenue figure. Because it directly measures player losses, licensing and responsible-gambling rules in each target market apply to any program built on it. See FTD, NGR, GGR and negative carryover.
Related: NGR, RevShare, negative carryover.