What’s Happening:
Since the US federal ban on sports betting was lifted four years ago, state governments have been slowly rolling out their own policies. As more states change regulations around sports betting, especially ahead of major sporting events, sports betting apps are seeing a surge in downloads. When Michigan and New York opened up online sports betting ahead of the Super Bowl in January 2021 and January 2022, respectively, nearly all major sports betting apps saw a spike in downloads. When Arizona changed its state regulations on sports betting in September 2021, by January 2022 (again, ahead of the Super Bowl) the state had set a new state record with the handle figure, the amount of money in wagers accepted, of $563.6M.
data.ai’s mobile data shows the intersection of latent demand for sports betting apps and seasonal sports events. We expect to see upticks in downloads for the upcoming Kentucky Derby in May 2022.
Why it Matters:
Mobile is the go-to portal for most people. As laws in a highly-regulated industry shift, mobile is often the first place for shifting consumer behavior to surface. App publishers should consider User Acquisition and promotional strategies during these times — including marketing, app store optimization (ASO) and paid search — to sustain the boost from state-led policy changes. These strategies — alone or bundled — can boost awareness and downloads for sports betting apps by building hype for upcoming sports events including March Madness or the World Cup.
Other highlights in the category:
Timely marketing promotions of sports betting apps can also help improve engagement in-app, especially during peak sports betting season. Sports betting apps are a well-established industry in the UK, and recently, we saw usage peak off the back of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Go Deeper:
As regulations on sports betting continue to lift in areas in the US, we’ll likely see the increased use and popularity of sports betting apps on mobile and, in turn, increased handle size, especially around popular sporting events including the Super Bowl, NCAA Tournament and horse races. We expect mobile to continue to carve out share of wallet during these events. It will be vital for app publishers to find ways not only to differentiate themselves but also to retain new users during seasonal peaks will be vital to sustain long-term success.
To learn more about the data behind this article and what AppAnnie has to offer, visit www.appannie.com.
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Data is changing the speed of business. Investors, Corporations, and Governments are buying new, differentiated data to gain visibility make better decisions. Don't fall behind. Let us help.