Optimove Insights: December iGaming Pulse Snapshot - 2023/24 NFL Player Retention Falls from Regular Season to Playoffs

Optimove Insights’ iGaming Pulse highlights the importance of player retention for sports betting operators, with data from the 2023-2024 NFL season showing significant dips in player activity during key moments like playoffs and championships. Recognizing these patterns allows operators to take proactive steps, engaging players with targeted strategies to enhance loyalty and maximize lifetime value.

Optimove Insights’ iGaming Pulse offers a comprehensive analysis of player behavior and market trends, aggregating anonymous data from over 200 global iGaming operators.

Key takeaway: Player retention drops from regular season to playoffs in the 2023-2024 NFL season

Optimove Insights found that player retention during the 2023-2024 NFL season significantly drops as the season progresses:

• 48% retention from the regular season to the playoff phase, meaning less than half of the participants continued betting.
• 42% retention from the regular season and playoffs to the championship stage.

These numbers reveal that nearly 6 in 10 players disengage by the time the Super Bowl arrives. See chart below for more details.

What it means for operators:

This highlights a critical challenge for operators: while the NFL season attracts a notable surge in sports bettors, retaining these players through each phase of the tournament remains a hurdle.

Operators need to implement innovative strategies to sustain player interest throughout the tournament.

Retention strategies for operators:

To encourage players to remain active and invested as the tournament progresses, operators can:

1. Send targeted campaigns: Use predictive analytics to identify at-risk players and re-engage them with time-sensitive offers and promotions.
2. Introduce personalized offers: Tailor incentives based on player behavior and preferences, such as rewarding consistent engagement with free bets or exclusive bonuses.
3. Leverage gamification: Integrate features like leaderboards or NFL-themed tournaments to create excitement and competition among bettors.

In summary

Retention is the name of the game in NFL sports betting, and the latest Optimove iGaming Pulse data underscores its critical importance. The 2023-2024 NFL season reveals sharp drops in player retention during key phases like playoffs and the championship, with nearly 6 in 10 players disengaging by the Super Bowl.

For operators, this isn’t just a statistic—it’s a call to action. Keeping players engaged through personalized offers, gamification, and targeted campaigns can make all the difference. By addressing retention proactively, operators can drive loyalty, sustain interest, and maximize lifetime value.

Explore these insights further in Optimove’s iGaming Pulse and see how retention strategies can transform your game plan.

Visit Optimove Insights’ iGaming Pulse to dive deeper into these findings and explore strategies to enhance player retention. For more insights on driving player engagement and retention, contact us to request a demo.