pay to play
Money for access
Pay to play describes systems where money is required for access or advantage.
In politics, it refers to exchanging campaign contributions for government contracts or favorable treatment—often illegal or ethically questionable: The mayor's pay-to-play scheme landed him in prison.
In gaming, pay-to-play games require purchase or subscription rather than being free: It's not free-to-play; it's pay-to-play.
The phrase also describes any situation where participation costs money: Youth sports have become pay to play.
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
patronage · influence peddling · political donations · campaign contributions · dark money · soft money · super PACs · lobbying
Payment for access
- cover chargePayment for venue entry
- membership duesRegular payments for affiliation
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
- paywallFee-based content restriction
freemium · microtransactions · in-app purchases · unlockables · season pass · VIP access · paid tier · buy-in
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
cronyism · patronage · influence peddling · political donations · campaign contributions · dark money · soft money · super PACs · lobbying · special interests
entry fee
Payment for access
- cover chargePayment for venue entry
- membership duesRegular payments for affiliation
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
paywall · freemium · microtransactions · in-app purchases · unlockables · season pass · VIP access · paid tier · buy-in · stake
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- ethics violationsbribery, bribes, kickbacks, kickback, nepotism
- government ethicsethics board, ethics committee, ethics rules, ethics violation, ethics violations
- official misconductmalfeasance, ethics violation, misconduct, misfeasance, nonfeasance
- Political Corruptionbribery, graft, kickbacks, cronyism, nepotism
- political scandalsWatergate, Iran-Contra, Whitewater, Teapot Dome, coverup
pay to playfree to play
No upfront payment needed
free-to-play · freemium · open access · free entry · complimentary
pay to playmeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
skill-based · merit-based · level playing field · equal opportunity · play to win
pay to playanti-corruption
Opposing abuse of office
transparency · ethical conduct · grassroots democracy · grassroots · democratic participation
play, pay, player, playing, paying, played, playmate, pays, plays