pay-to-play

alternative pay to play

1. not comparablepolitical party; etc; political party; etcbusinessAccepting donations or favors in exchange for favors; corrupt.

   Near-synonym: quid pro quo (attributively)

   1 more example

   Davis's pay-to-play reputation, demanding donations before he would consider policies or appointments favorable to the potential donors, was used against him.

   2004, Larry N. Gerston, Terry Christensen, Recall!: California's Political Earthquake

   Synonyms: quid pro quo[Appendix:Glossary

2. not comparablevideo gamesRequiring payment from the player.

   Near-synonyms: paywalled, subscription (attributively)

   1 more example

   As the lawsuit claims, we’re being programmed to constantly seek a dopamine hit from each swipe in what it calls a “pay-to-play” loop.

   2024 March 14, Georgina Lawton, “I’m not surprised people are suing a dating app company – our addiction to swiping makes us miserable”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: paywalled, subscription · Antonyms: free-to-play, free