Latest News
iOS Users Spent $1 Billion in Social Casino Apps Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Says New Report from Liftoff and GameRefinery

The report also shows a 10% spike in cost-per-install on iOS following Apple’s IDFA privacy regulations
Liftoff, one of the world’s largest independent and privacy-friendly platforms fueling the entire mobile app growth cycle across user acquisition, engagement, monetization, and analytics, along with GameRefinery, a mobile games insight and analytics platform, today released its mobile social casino apps report, revealing unique trends in the mobile market. The report reveals record spend in social casino during the height of the pandemic, as well as shifts in platform engagement following Apple’s privacy regulations and key insights into the value of global regions.
This data draws on more than 83 billion ad impressions and 1.1 billion clicks across 12 million installs and 239 apps between August 1, 2020 and August 1, 2021, to find:
iOS users spent nearly $1 billion on casino apps during the peak of the pandemic
As the pandemic drove a decrease in foot traffic to in-person casinos, social casino titles hit the jackpot. Many consumers took to a new habit of online social casino games, which offer a gambling-like experience without the stakes. According to the report, iOS users in the U.S. spent a record $990 million in social casino apps during the height of the pandemic, Q3 2020 to Q2 2021. Even as vaccinations increased in the U.S. and real casinos in key states were already reopened, the success of social casino didn’t slow down. By Q2 2021, quarterly profits reached a new high of more than $260 million — a particular feat, as the category’s U.S. market share had dropped year-over-year, from 19.43% in Q3 2020 to 18.89% in Q2 2021.
Interestingly, social casino users are older than every other gaming genre — more than half are over 45. The user base is also split about 50/50 men and women, showing that the gaming category has broad appeal.
“As we examine the effects the pandemic has had on gaming, it’s no surprise casino apps are soaring in popularity around the globe,” said Joel Julkunen, Head of Game Analytics of GameRefinery. “Since we are seeing more movement in this market, it’s vital for mobile marketers and developers in this vertical to use these insights to inform long-term strategies.”
Apple kills the IDFA, leading Android to win this round of the “Platform Wars”
Amid Apple’s recent IDFA policy changes, the report sees Android edging out iOS as the leading platform for casino apps. As marketers adjusting to the post-IDFA landscape shifted their ad spend habits, cost-per-install (CPI) on iOS increased to 9.9% year-over-year, up to $11.09. Meanwhile, Android CPIs dropped 13.7% between August 2020 and August 2021, widening the affordability gap for Android — iOS install costs are now 122% higher than that of Android, compared to 2020’s 74%.
The report also shows Android edging out the competition in return-on-ad-spend (ROAS). While iOS takes the early lead over Android, Android pulls ahead 1.9% by Day 30.
Regional: Bet Big, Win Big
While North America (NAR) shows great engagement, reaching those engaged users comes at a cost. At $10.37, CPIs are the highest of all global regions. Asia-Pacific (APAC), meanwhile, offers a CPI half that of NAR, at $5.68. The regions aren’t far off on 30-day ROAS, with NAR (26.47%) only slightly outperforming APAC (21.8%). Marketers looking for great value may want to consider expanding their sights to gamers in APAC, as the up-and-coming market shows great promise.
For more details on Liftoff+Vungle and to download the full report, visit LINK.
Methodology
The 2021 Social Casino Report draws from Liftoff+Vungle and GameRefinery’s internal data from August 1, 2020 and August 1, 2021 — which spans 83 billion ad impressions, 1.1 billion clicks across 239 different apps, 12 million installs and 39 million events to deliver ad performance insights to show how marketers can get the most out of their games.
Latest News
Betano, Official Sponsor of CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™

- The sponsorship agreement between CONMEBOL and Betano reinforces their commitment to the development of football, as part of organising one of the continent’s most important tournaments.
- The CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ will be held in Ecuador from July 12 to August 2.
CONMEBOL (Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol) and Kaizen Gaming are proud to announce the later’s premium sports betting and online gaming brand, Betano, as the Official Sponsor of CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™.
Hosted in Ecuador from July 12th to August 2nd, this year’s tournament is especially significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of the CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina™. Bringing together South America’s 10 women’s football teams, the tournament is a celebration of both football in the continent and women’s sport. At the end of each game, Betano will present the top-performing player with the “MVP Betano” award.
Alejandro Domínguez, President of CONMEBOL, said: “Women’s football is gaining unprecedented momentum across South America. At CONMEBOL, we are focused on promoting the sport, encouraging young women to get involved and fall in love with our beautiful game, and creating better conditions for those who want to pursue a career in football. There is still much work ahead, but having partners like Betano by our side will enable us to elevate women’s football across the continent to new heights. I am confident that our collaboration for the CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ will be as successful as the one we had during the CONMEBOL Copa América™️2024”.
Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer of Kaizen Gaming, commented: “We are proud to be once again collaborating with CONMEBOL for what promises to be an exciting tournament for all football fans to enjoy. Sponsoring CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ is very important for us, as we continue supporting the development of football globally and women’s football in particular. It is amazing to see how the competition has grown in size and strength, while showcasing the skills of some of the world’s best female footballers.”
The sponsorship of CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ is part of Betano and CONMEBOL’s broader partnership, which started with the CONMEBOL Copa América™️ 2024 and extends through 2028. In addition to supporting CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™, the partnership also sees Betano as the Official Sponsor of the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic tournament, CONMEBOL Copa América Futsal Men and Women and CONMEBOL Copa América Beach Soccer.
eSports
BETBY EXPANDS LATAM FOOTPRINT WITH MOBADOO ESPORTS PARTNERSHIP

BETBY, a leading sportsbook supplier, has announced a new partnership with prominent LATAM-focused esports provider Mobadoo, in a move that will see its Betby.Games portfolio fully integrated into Mobadoo’s product lineup.
This collaboration enables Mobadoo — which has an established presence and deep market understanding across Latin America — to incorporate BETBY’s proprietary and award-winning esports offering, delivering dynamic and fast-paced betting content to its growing user base. Among Betby.Games’ titles are eSoccer, eBasketball, eFighting, eCricket, eShooter, eHorse Racing, eTennis, and the Brazil-relevant eVaquejada.
As one of the most comprehensive and high-frequency esports betting solutions in the industry, Betby.Games offers access to more than 70 tournaments, over 350 betting markets, and more than 300,000 live matches each month. This collaboration will not only enhance Mobadoo’s offering but also reinforce BETBY’s position as a leading esports supplier in the LATAM region, a key pillar in the supplier’s global expansion strategy.
“Mobadoo has an excellent reputation and strong regional expertise, making them an ideal partner for us. Their commitment to innovation in esports and the rapid growth of this vertical in the region made our partnership only a matter of time,” commented Kirill Nekrasov, BETBY’s Head of Sportsbook Product. “This agreement not only expands the reach of our unique Betby.Games content, but also aligns perfectly with our global strategy of delivering flexible, high-performance esports solutions to next-generation operators. Together, we’re set to further strengthen our leading position in the LATAM region.”
José Aníbal Aguirre, Chief Marketing Officer at Mobadoo, added: “We’re thrilled to integrate Betby.Games into our offering. The depth and quality of their esports content is unmatched, and this partnership gives us a powerful new edge in catering to LATAM’s passionate esports fanbase. With BETBY’s support, we’re confident we can elevate the player experience and unlock new growth opportunities across the region.”
Latest News
AGA Launches “Play Smart from the Start” Consumer Hub to Help Players Game Responsibly

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the launch of the Play Smart Consumer Hub, a new online resource designed to help consumers game responsibly. The hub builds on AGA’s Play Smart from the Start, a messaging platform that encourages players to make informed choices and develop habits that keep gaming fun.
“The AGA is committed to making responsible gaming a seamless part of the player experience. Part of the fun of gaming is that everyone plays differently, but no matter how or where you play, staying in control starts with habits that work for you. The Play Smart Consumer Hub provides players with straightforward, actionable tools to help them stay in control and keep gaming fun,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA.
Grounded in player research, Play Smart from the Start centers around three key principles:
• Right State of Mind: Start every game with the right mindset—stay present, know your limits, and play on your terms.
• Know the Game: Understand the rules, odds, and bet with intention.
• Act Intentionally: Set a budget, take breaks, and stay aware, win or lose.
The Play Smart Consumer Hub offers practical tools, including:
• A Pre-Play Checklist to help players assess their mindset and set personal limits before betting.
• A Know the Game section that demystifies odds, house advantage, and common sports betting terms.
• A Responsible Gaming IQ Quiz that allows players to evaluate their gaming habits.
• Easy access to support resources like the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) and state self-exclusion options.
In addition to the consumer tools, the platform also features an Industry Toolkit, providing operators and other stakeholders with resources, including messaging guidance, creative assets, customer communications and activation ideas to support the integration of consistent, responsible gaming programs.
“Whether an operator or supplier is building a new responsible gaming program or looking to refresh existing efforts, this toolkit makes it easy to deliver consistent, player-first messaging across every customer touchpoint,” Miller said.
The Play Smart Consumer Hub is now live at playsmartfromthestart.org.
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