pay to play

Alternative forms

 * pay-to-play

Etymology
From sometime practice of charging a fee for admission to a gambling game.

Verb

 * 1)  To incur a cost to participate in an activity.
 * 2)  To make a campaign contribution or illegal payment to avail oneself of business or other opportunities controlled by politicians.

Noun

 * 1) Any kind of charge to engage in an activity.
 * 2)  Campaign contributions (or outright bribes or graft) required to avail oneself of certain opportunities controlled by politicians, such as uncompetitive government contracts.