Publication date: 28 October 2025
What is a Minimum Deposit (Mindep) in Affiliate Marketing? A minimum deposit (mindep) is the smallest amount a player can fund their casino or betting account with. It typically ranges from $1-5 to $20-50, or the equivalent in local currencies like BRL, TRY, or INR.
Specifically for affiliate marketing, this metric carries strategic significance. Ultimately, success in gambling and betting traffic arbitrage hinges on a few key performance indicators. If you miss just one, your ROI can quickly turn negative. In practice, the minimum deposit is one of these critical metrics.
In simple terms, it’s the smallest sum your lead must deposit for the action to count as a conversion. It’s a financial threshold that separates a “cold” registration from a paying customer. In practice, the mindep acts as a strict gatekeeper. Until this barrier is crossed, all your efforts—from crafting compelling creatives to optimizing landing pages—essentially count for nothing in terms of revenue.
Why Do Affiliate Networks Implement a Minimum Deposit?
Fundamentally, setting a minimum deposit is a calculated business decision. Therefore, understanding the logic behind it is crucial for building more effective and profitable campaigns. The main advantages of minimum deposit include:
- Filters Out “Cold” and Curious Users. The mindep automatically screens out users who registered “just to see” or for a no-deposit bonus but aren’t ready for real financial commitment. For publishers, this means a higher-quality lead flow and more accurate data for campaign optimization.
- Identifies High-LTV Players. The mere act of depositing is a quality marker. Such a user has already shown loyalty and is more likely to have higher retention rates and a greater Lifetime Value (LTV), which is crucial for RevShare models.
- Protects Against Bonus Abusers and Fraud. A low entry threshold attracts fraudsters who create multi-accounts to abuse welcome bonuses. A minimum deposit raises the cost of such attacks, protecting the operator’s budget—a move that ultimately benefits honest partners in the long run. For media buyers, it Provides a Clear Focus for Arbiters.
- Provides a Clear Focus for Arbiters. Mindep shifts your focus from quantity to quality. You stop chasing empty registrations and start seeking paying customers. This directly shapes your choice of GEOs, creatives, and promo strategies.
How Does the Minimum Deposit Impact Your Traffic Arbitrage Strategy?
Always analyze offer conditions before selection. The minimum deposit amount determines optimal traffic types and promotion channels. For detailed country-specific tactics, explore our 3S.INFO market reviews.
- Low Mindep ($1-5 / €). Ideal for mass arbitrage and testing new channels like teaser ads or social media traffic. A high initial deposit Conversion Rate (CR) allows for rapid scaling in Asian GEOs. However, be prepared for a lower average deposit amount.
- High Mindep ($20-50 / € and above). These offers require quality, “warm” traffic. This means working with channels like contextual advertising, SEO, and email marketing. The user must be motivated and trust your promotion. For instance, a high mindep is standard when promoting sports betting in Canada or Italy. Your landers and pre-landers must convincingly communicate the operator’s value to justify a larger initial investment for the user.
How Minimum Deposit Connects with Monetization Models in CPA Networks
This analysis requires one more crucial element. A minimum deposit’s true value only emerges when evaluated alongside the monetization model.
- CPA/CPL Models: Here, the minimum deposit is the trigger that unlocks your payout. All your funnel optimization efforts must be directed at overcoming this threshold.
- RevShare (Revenue Share): In this model, the mindep is a quality indicator. A player who starts with a larger deposit is more likely to have a high LTV, which reduces risk for your affiliate portfolio in the long term.
- Hybrid Model: You receive a CPA for the first deposit and a percentage of subsequent activity. The mindep here serves as the starting point for dual monetization, which is particularly profitable when promoting crash games and live casinos. To optimize your funnel, here are actionable tips.
Practical Tips for Working with Minimum Deposits
To make this theory work for you, here are some actionable tips you can implement right now:
- Always Clarify Terms with the Affiliate Network. Don’t rely on data from public sources. The same offer can have a different mindep for various traffic sources and GEOs. This is a question to discuss privately with your affiliate manager.
- Segment Your Traffic According to the Mindep. For audiences with lower spending power (e.g., from Vietnam or Nigeria), choose offers with a low threshold. For audiences with higher spending power from Spain or Turkey, confidently test offers with an increased minimum deposit.
- Adapt Your Creatives and Landing Pages. In promo materials for offers with a high mindep, emphasize reliability, exclusive bonuses, and high limits. Use PWA technologies to build trust and increase conversion. Never hide the deposit requirement—this will worsen your KPIs and attract irrelevant traffic.
- Calculate Efficiency and Use LPM. On one hand, a high mindep offers a larger payout but often comes with a lower CR. Conversely, a low mindep presents the opposite scenario. As a result, your primary task is to find the balance that maximizes profit in the “traffic cost > deposit conversion > payout” equation. Use the LPM approach for accurately assessing the potential of each user.
Minimum Deposit (Mindep) as a Systematic Funnel Filter
Think of the minimum deposit as a key filter in your conversion funnel. It clearly shows which users the affiliate program wants. Your goal is to adapt your entire strategy—from creatives to landing pages—to meet this financial threshold.
For instance, a $50 mindep offer won’t convert with “play for free” messaging. You need creatives that immediately appeal to users with higher spending power.
Mastering this offer selection skill is essential. It’s particularly crucial in competitive GEOs like Brazil or Italy. This approach transforms simple traffic generation into predictable ROI.
For a deeper dive into industry terminology, use our glossary, and for planning your advertising activities, check out the sports events schedule.
FAQ
Why is a minimum deposit necessary?
A mindep filters out casual users and bonus hunters, leaving only paying players. This improves traffic quality, protects against fraud, and benefits both the network and the arbiter.
How does the mindep affect traffic source selection?
A low deposit ($1-5) is suitable for teaser ads and social media. A high deposit ($20-50+) requires quality traffic sources like contextual ads, email marketing, and SEO.
Should you hide the deposit requirement in ads?
No. This worsens conversion rates and attracts the wrong audience. It’s better to target users who are already prepared to deposit the required amount from the start.
What is a minimum deposit in affiliate marketing?
It is the smallest deposit amount for which an affiliate network pays a reward. If a user deposits less, the action does not count as a conversion.
Why is the first deposit size important in RevShare?
A larger first deposit often indicates a high Lifetime Value (LTV). Such a player is likely to generate more revenue over the long term.
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