pay to play

The term "pay to play" describes situations where financial contributions are required to participate in activities, gain access, or receive benefits.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US Voice:
πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(common)A situation where access to a service or opportunity requires making a payment.

Example

  • Many online games operate on a pay to play basis.

C1Politics

(political, corruption)A practice where political favors or access are given in exchange for financial contributions.

Example

  • The scandal revealed a pay to play scheme involving high-ranking officials.

C2Venture Capital

(technical, finance)A provision requiring existing investors to participate in future funding rounds to maintain their equity stake.

Example

  • The startup's term sheet included a pay to play clause to ensure continued investor commitment.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "pay to play":

pay to winplay moneypay trainplay to winpay the piperpay the fiddlerplay tobuy and pay forpay outpay the rentpay one's own wayante upplay at