Per Head: Big Name, Bigger Drawbacks
PerHead.com has been a staple in the PPH industry since 1997, operating out of Costa Rica. Once the top name in pay per head, the platform has hardly changed since being featured in a 2012 New York Times article. Curious to see if it still lived up to its reputation, I set up an agent account and moved four of my most loyal clients over. Not surprisingly, there’s no free trial. PerHead comes with several operational hurdles that smaller bookies should know about before signing up.
- Early Industry Pioneers
- Bilingual Support Staff
- Hidden Add-On Fees
- Strict Requirements
Overall Experience & Value
Despite my players enjoying the eag.ag dynamic player site, any potential positive experience was overshadowed by PerHead’s unforgiving policies. The enforcement of their “Week Ahead Rule” is the most serious drawback: accounts can be suspended if the balance is even slightly behind (in my case, less than $10). This means a single unexpectedly active player can trigger a shutdown. I was abruptly shut down during Monday Night Football while traveling, which caused me to lose a significant amount of action and forced me to give free plays to my customers. This zero-tolerance approach creates massive risk for agents who are not keeping a close eye on their balances, as even minor delays or overlooked deposits can result in account suspensions.
With add-on fees and other headaches piled on, PerHead ends up feeling like a high-maintenance platform that can be frustrating to run, especially for smaller bookies like me.
Special Offer
FREE DEMO
Some funding is required to start.
License & Infrastructure
PerHead is licensed in Costa Rica, as is common for offshore PPH providers serving U.S. agents. Here you can read about Perhead’s infrastructure.
Security Measures: The site uses SSL encryption to keep your data safe.
Complicated Pricing Structure
PerHead’s pricing is so complicated they don’t even post it online. You have to call just to get the details. You can check their FAQ if you think I’m making this up. Hidden fees for essential add-ons like Live Betting and Prop Builder can quickly eat into profits, even for smaller bookies. The base rate is $8 per player per week, higher than low-end competitors like Ace Per Head ($3–$5 per player). Long-time Perhead customers on Reddit have reported paying as much as $18 per player.
The Real Cost: Add-On Fees
Where the cost truly escalates is with the add-ons, which function more like hidden fees than optional upgrades:
- Live Wagering: Adds $4 per player per week.
- Prop Builder: Carries a flat $20 weekly fee for 1–20 players, plus $1 for each additional player using it.
For example, five players at the $8 base rate would normally cost $40 per week. If even one player uses the Prop Builder, the total jumps to $60 per week, or $12 per player, and adding Live Wagering pushes it to $16 per player. Add-ons stack quickly, making what seems like a modest PPH rate surprisingly expensive, even for smaller operations.
Banking – PPH Fee Deposits
PPH Account Funding
They have a fee for everything at PerHead
PerHead accepts cryptocurrency, MoneyGram, and occasionally PayPal, but all transactions must be manually confirmed, making deposits slow and requiring extra effort. Agents are responsible for 100% of all fees, Reddit users have complained about the extra MoneyGram fees charged by PerHead adding even more unnecessary cost.
Deposits
Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin): Most deposits confirmed within 15–45 minutes, but verification is manual via email exchange with Customer Service via attachment form.
MoneyGram: Deposits work, but the fees are confusing and inconsistent.
PayPal: Although advertised as an optioin on the website, Paypal is only available for VIP Customers
Payment Processing
Every deposit and fee must be confirmed manually. There is no automation, so agents have to send screenshots and tracking details for every transaction and hope PerHead remembers not to shut down their accounts while waiting. Be prepared to call in to get things resolved.
Agent Tools & Feedback
Advanced Agent Features
Hands-On Control With Some Frustration
PerHead allows agents to manage credit limits, wager sizes, player settings, casino access, and that is about it. The dashboard works, but it is not very user-friendly. Add-on controls are hidden from the user, so you have to call in to enable or disable paid features like Dynamic Live and Prop Builder.
Reporting & Admin Tools
The reporting tools cover player activity, weekly balances, game-by-game exposure, and profits. While reports can be exported for bookkeeping or weekly settlements, new users will face a learning curve. Handling large numbers of players becomes tedious quickly, and the system does little to simplify operations for high-volume agents.
Agent Feedback & Issues
Agent feedback is mixed. Grading delays are a common complaint, and strict account funding rules have cost PerHead a few major agents. One gambling forum member said he asked to speak to a lines manager about a sharp player and was transferred to a grown man who called himself “Timmy.” Timmy advised him to double the player’s maximum wager to try to beat him. The player, using a bot, eventually won a sum in the six figures before the account was finally cut off. Personally, I would never pay a player if I found out they were using a bot, but this guy swears he did.
Sports Betting Options & Platform Stability
PerHead covers major sports like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, MMA, esports, and niche markets. Live betting works, but grading delays are common on player props, which can frustrate players or allow them to play with money they shouldn’t have. The virtual casino is pretty good, though my players barely use it.
PerHead also seems to be struggling with platform stability. According to Reddit users, they have switched platforms twice in the last year and a half, creating extra headaches for agents trying to keep operations running smoothly.
Betting Products Offered
PerHead offers a broad range of betting products, but the platform comes with several frustrating limitations. Everything works, but hidden fees for add-ons like Dynamic Live and Prop Builder can quickly cut into your profit margin. The Agent Admin is functional, but managing reports can be tedious, especially on mobile devices. The virtual casino is a standard pph style casino, and the racebook covers most international tracks, though it still uses the old DGS racebook software, which is known to suffer from slow grading and missed scratches. Overall, the platform provides the core tools needed to run a sportsbook, but agents must be prepared for extra costs and frequent support calls to keep operations running smoothly.
Prop Builder: The prop builder is a star feature, offering thousands of custom bets daily, mixing games, stats, and players. It’s intuitive and keeps players engaged.
DGS racebook is known for being widely used but outdated. If horse racing is a major part of your business, a PPH with BLR Racing Software might be a better choice.
Casino: The casino includes slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and live dealer games. It’s comprehensive but not as flashy as retail sportsbooks, per Reddit. Players find it to be ok but not a highlight.
Live Betting: Live betting costs an extra $4 per player and opens in a new window, making it awkward to switch back to the regular sportsbook on some phones. Updates are fast, but the added cost and clunky navigation can frustrate players.
Player Website & Mobile App
The player interface appears to be optimized for iOS, Android, and tablets. While I didn’t test it on every device, the bet slip system handled most of the wagers I tried. There is no dedicated app, but the browser-based platform works reasonably well on cellular networks. Reddit users noted that add-ons like Live and Prop Builder open in a new window, making it awkward to switch back to the regular sportsbook on some phones.
Bottom Line
PerHead delivers a usable PPH software and gambling platform with a wide range of betting tools, but operating it can be frustrating. Strict account rules, tough-guy fee tactics, grading issues, platform instability, and inconsistent customer support make it better suited for agents who expect to deal with headaches. Smaller bookies or those seeking smooth, reliable PPH software may want to consider other providers.
While PerHead covers a variety of sports and features, its strict policy enforcement creates a mixed experience. For some agents, PerHead’s tough-guy East Coast attitude may fit their style, but there are more polished, user-friendly options available in the PPH and gambling software market.
In a Nutshell
“Legacy Platform With Rigid Rules”
Big Tools, Strict Rules
PerHead.com works, but their strict rules and old-school approach show they haven’t outgrown where they came from.
