Gambling apps in 2025: growth in spending, advertising, and new monetization strategies

Gambling Apps in 2025: Investment Growth of 7-10%

Gambling apps remain one of the most competitive segments in the mobile market. In 2024, user acquisition (UA) investments in casino apps increased by 7-10%, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025.

Factors Driving Investment Growth:

Stricter advertising platform policies – Facebook, Google, and Apple impose restrictions, making user acquisition more complex.
Rising cost per install (CPI) – Increased competition leads to higher traffic costs, especially in premium geos.
Regulatory changes – Licensed apps are spending more on marketing to compensate for the exit of unregulated competitors.

New Approaches to Casino App Monetization

In-game purchases in gambling apps continue to gain momentum. While casino app monetization was previously based solely on deposits, developers are now implementing hybrid models:

Which Strategies Are Effective?

Battle Passes and subscriptions – Players receive VIP status with exclusive bonuses and higher cashback.
Loyalty programs – A tiered reward system retains players and encourages long-term engagement.
Virtual currency – Users can buy gaming tokens to participate in tournaments and access exclusive slot machines.

How Has In-Game Purchase Revenue Changed in Gambling Apps?

Category	Revenue Change (%)
Casino games	+4%
Lotteries & scratch cards	+6%
Poker apps	-3%
Sports betting	-2%

The trend toward gamification in casino apps is growing. Players expect new engagement mechanics similar to those found in mobile gaming.

Changes in Advertising Strategies

Advertising expenses for gambling apps dropped by 7%. The main reasons include rising traffic costs and fewer available ad platforms.

However, not all categories are losing:

Crypto casinos continue aggressive promotion through Telegram and TikTok.
Licensed brands are focusing on SEO, YouTube, and affiliate programs.
Sports betting apps reduced their advertising budgets by 5% due to increased licensing costs.

The Role of Fintech in Gambling Apps

Financial tools are becoming a key driver of growth for casino apps.

Cryptocurrencies – 40% of online casinos now support Bitcoin and USDT.
Instant withdrawals – Top operators are implementing 5-minute payout systems.
AI-driven payment analysis – Casinos analyze transactions to personalize bonus offers.

Financial infrastructure is turning into a competitive advantage, with fast withdrawals becoming a decisive factor for players when choosing a platform.

The Future of Mobile Gambling: Trends for 2025

Gamification and loot boxes – Casino apps are adopting engagement mechanics from mobile games.
AI-powered offer optimization – Personalized promotions based on player behavior.
Growth in owned media marketing – Telegram bots, exclusive apps, and closed VIP communities.
Balancing between regulation and grey markets – Competition between licensed and unlicensed operators will intensify.

“Gambling apps are evolving, and successful companies are already integrating AI, cryptocurrencies, and personalized offers to scale in 2025.”

Conclusion

User acquisition costs are rising, making advertising strategies more complex.
Hybrid monetization is strengthening – Casino apps are introducing subscriptions, virtual currency, and loyalty levels.
Fintech is transforming the industry – Instant withdrawals and crypto casinos are becoming the new standard.
Key trends for 2025 – AI, personalization, and closed-media marketing.