Negative carryover is a RevShare rule under which a negative revenue balance in one period, typically when referred players win more than they lose, is carried forward into the next period. The affiliate earns no commission until later positive revenue offsets the deficit. Programs with "no negative carryover" reset the balance to zero at the end of each period instead.
How it works
At the end of each reporting period, the operator calculates the affiliate's NGR. If the result, minus any balance carried forward, is positive, commission is paid on it. If it is negative, nothing is paid and, under negative carryover, the deficit is added to the next period's calculation. Some programs cap the carried amount or clear it after a set number of months; others carry it indefinitely. These details live in the affiliate terms and are worth reading before signing.
Example
Example: 30% RevShare, monthly settlement.
| Month | Affiliate NGR | With negative carryover | With monthly reset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $8,000 | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| Feb | -$5,000 | $0 (carry -$5,000) | $0 |
| Mar | $6,000 | $300 (paid on $1,000) | $1,800 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,200 |
In this example, one losing month for the operator cost the affiliate $1,500 under negative carryover.
Why it matters
Negative carryover protects operators from paying commission while an affiliate's players are net winners, a real risk when a few high-stakes players dominate the results. For affiliates, especially those with small player bases, a single large win can erase months of earnings, which is why "no negative carryover" is a common negotiating point in iGaming programs. Check the terms for caps, reset periods, and whether carryover is pooled across brands. See FTD, NGR, GGR and negative carryover.
Related: RevShare, NGR, GGR, hybrid deal.