A player payout is the amount paid to a participant as winnings or rewards, whether from a video game, a tournament, a lottery or a betting platform. The term has no single technical meaning. In crypto gaming, it usually refers to the tokens or NFTs a game's contracts send to a player's wallet for completing tasks, winning matches or ranking on a leaderboard, as in play-to-earn models. Crypto casinos and prediction platforms also use the word for winnings settled on-chain. The value of a payout in tokens depends on the token's market price at the time it is sold and can differ sharply from its value when earned; payouts may also be taxable. In gambling, the expected share of stakes returned to players is a separate measure, checked in licensed markets under rules for online gambling. Also see GameFi and esports.
Last updated 13 Nov 2026