What Is Pay Per Head?
By Robert W. · Updated: June 1, 2026
Pay per head (PPH) is a model where an independent agent pays a flat weekly fee for each active player to run their own sportsbook on a provider's software. The provider supplies the platform; the agent runs the book, sets the lines and limits, and keeps the action.
The short version
Pay per head, often shortened to PPH, is how most independent bookies run a modern sportsbook without building one. Instead of writing software, taking bets by text, and tracking everything in a notebook, an agent uses a provider’s platform and pays a flat weekly fee for each player who is active that week. The provider runs the technology. The agent runs the book.
The name describes the billing. You pay “per head,” meaning per active player, per week. If a player does not bet in a given week, you are not charged for them that week. That keeps the cost tied to real activity instead of a fixed headcount you are stuck with.
What you actually get
A pay-per-head platform is the whole operation in one place:
- A betting site your players use, on phone and desktop, that looks like a real sportsbook.
- The lines and limits you control, by player and by sport.
- Player management: adding players, setting credit, tracking balances, and seeing who is active.
- Reports that show weekly figures and win or loss in plain numbers.
- A casino and a racebook alongside the sportsbook, usually on one login.
Better platforms add live betting, a prop builder, and bilingual support. The point is that you are not stitching tools together. You log in, set up your players, and run.
How billing works
You are billed per active player, per week, at the plan’s rate. Most providers set a small weekly minimum so very small books are simple to run. Beyond that, your bill rises and falls with how many of your players are actually betting.
Watch two things when comparing prices. First, the headline rate is often a teaser, and the plan you actually need can cost more. Second, some providers quote a low per-head rate and then take a percentage of your casino on top. That casino cut is where an agent can quietly lose real money, because the casino is often where a real share of the profit is.
What a PPH provider is not
This matters, so it is worth saying plainly. A pay-per-head provider gives the agent the software, the platform, and the odds. It does not accept wagers from the betting public, hold player funds, or pay players, and it does not operate your book for you. You run your own book, you carry the action, and you are responsible for following the laws that apply where you operate. Operating a sportsbook is regulated or prohibited in many places, and that responsibility sits with the agent, not the software.
Who it is for
Pay per head fits an agent who already has players, or who is starting out and wants to look professional from day one. If your players judge you by your software, and they do, a clean platform that stays online during a busy game day is the difference between keeping them and losing them to a bigger book.
How to try it without a commitment
Most good providers offer a free trial. With GameDay, the first month is free with no card, migration from your current provider is free, and most agents are live in about 48 hours. The honest way to choose is to run it on your own players for a week and compare it to what you have.
If you want the next step, read how to start a bookie business, dig into the pay per head pricing guide or how to run a bilingual sportsbook, or see how GameDay’s pricing works.
Frequently asked questions
What does “pay per head” mean?
It means you pay a flat weekly fee for each active player (“head”) who uses your sportsbook that week. If a player does not bet in a given week, you are not charged for them. The fee covers the platform, the odds, and support.
How much does pay per head cost?
Rates are usually a fixed amount per active player per week. GameDay charges $9 on Basic and $13 on Pro, with a $100 weekly minimum on small books. A 40-player book on Basic runs $360 a week. Watch for providers that add a percentage of your casino on top of the per-head rate.
Does the provider take my players’ bets?
No. The provider supplies the software, the odds, and support. You run the book, carry the action with your players, and keep the profit. The provider never accepts wagers from the betting public or holds player funds.
Who sets the odds in pay per head?
The provider sets and updates the odds and lines for the major sports around the clock, and you can adjust them for your book or for specific players. Horse racing is the exception, because racing odds come from the track’s pari-mutuel pool, not the provider.
Is pay per head legal?
The software is just software. Whether you can legally run a book with it depends on where you and your players are. Some places regulate or license it, others prohibit it. The agent, not the provider, carries that legal responsibility, so get advice for your jurisdiction. This is not legal advice.
How fast can I start?
With free migration, most agents are live in about 48 hours, with players and balances already moved over. Starting from scratch is faster, because there is nothing to import.
What is the per-head minimum?
A small weekly floor on the bill so very small books stay simple to run. GameDay’s minimum is $100 a week, which affects books with about eleven active players or fewer on Basic. Past that, you pay purely per active player.
Can I run it in Spanish?
Yes. A bilingual platform gives you and your players the site and support in English or Spanish. With GameDay the support team answers in both, which matters when your players are more comfortable in Spanish.