Is pure CPA dead for T1? Everyone asks for spend deals now

[Alexandr_TraffKnights]

Hey guys,

I’ve been trying to network and find solid iGaming media buying teams. But recently, I’ve been noticing a crazy trend. Literally every new team that hits me up demands a spend deal or prepay right from the first message.

They completely refuse to run a simple 20-30 FTD test on CPA just so we can check their traffic quality. We have the budgets, and we obviously work on spend with proven partners, but handing out blind cash to a completely new team with no track record seems wild to me.

I'm curious about your experience from the media buying side:

Is the T1 auction really that tough right now that nobody wants to risk their own money for a test? Or are there actually advertisers handing out blind test budgets without checking quality first?

How do you guys usually start with a new direct advertiser? Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[T J Tutor]

run a simple 20-30 FTD test

Are you saying 20-30 U.S. dollars? I never run any tests under $200, never! $20 to $30 is not enough to acquire enough data in my opinion.

handing out blind cash to a completely new team with no track record seems wild to me.

That is because it is weird. These types of tactics are not what solid companies do. This is what new, unproven, teams do. Those in the iGaming or finance niches are trying to be bullies because these niches are so active and increasing in volume daily.

I only deal with well established partners. There are plenty of them out there.

 

[AutoCoin]

Not dead, but you're seeing a real shift. The "demand spend/prepay on first message" pattern usually signals one of two things: (1) the team got burned on CPA by a shaver network and is now overcorrecting, or (2) they don't actually have track record and are trying to extract upfront cash before anyone notices.
FTD tests aren't unreasonable — T1 iGaming with any real media buyer should happily do a 50-100 FTD CPA test if the terms are symmetrical (clear hold, clear KPIs, clear payment schedule). What usually kills these deals isn't the model, it's the buyer not wanting their numbers audited. If a team refuses to pilot on CPA and won't share even anonymised geo/source splits, that's the flag, not the spend ask itself.
On your side, the filter that's worked for us: ask for one reference who's run with them in the last 60 days. The good teams give it instantly, the rest vanish.

 

[Mila Pay2.house]

Rather, the market has simply become tougher: strong teams do not want to risk their budget on CPA tests, especially in T1. But reliable partners still agree to small tests - if they completely refuse, this is more likely a red flag.