Customer acquisition cost has become one of the most critical metrics for igaming and crypto operators to optimize. And when churn rate remains a serious challenge, retargeting is not just a part of your sales funnel but it is one of the key methods to communicate with your target audience.
The Economics of Re-Engagement.
Retargeting is one of the most cost-efficient ways to reduce CPL (cost per lead) and CPD (cost per deposit). It allows brands to reconnect with users who have already shown interest — a segment with high conversion potential and significantly lower cost.
According to industry data, retargeted users convert 4–6 times more often (and in some cases, many times more often) than cold audiences. For products with long funnels — registration, verification, deposit — retargeting delivers a multiple return on traffic investment.
Why Audience Touchpoint Frequency Matters.
Conversion in iGaming and crypto is rarely an immediate decision. And any step of sales funnel may be a quiet point of no return for customers.
Retargeting eliminates this silence. Each additional impression strengthens brand awareness and brings the user closer to the target action.
Push and Native: Working Formats for Sensitive Verticals.
The most effective retargeting formats in gambling and crypto are:
Push ads — instant messages delivered to the user’s device. Highly effective for reactivation, repeated deposits, and missed promotions. Platforms like PropellerAds and AdOperator offer scale and the necessary targeting tools.
Native ads — non-intrusive ads within the context of content. Especially effective for crypto: through articles or guides, you can gently reignite interest. In gambling and betting, native works well for promotions and events (e.g. match finals or poker tournaments).
Both formats provide access to segmentation, A/B testing, and budget savings.Many media buyers have noted that CPL in retargeting drops by 30–50% compared to first-touch campaigns.
Tools That Reduce Lead Cost.
Performance-focused platforms offer more than just impressions:
AdOperator and Kadam allow push-based retargeting triggered by events — from abandoned deposits to inactive accounts. Taboola gives brands the ability to re-engage previous visitors by showing them native content ads across high-traffic news and media sites. Ubidex offers a comprehensive multi-format approach, allowing for structured delivery and audience segmentation.
Advertisers working with such platforms achieve higher LTV, lower CPC, and reduced blended CPA.
Additional tips, case studies, guides on cookieless approaches, and budget optimization through retargeting can be found on the AdOperator blog.
Tactical Methods That Save Budget.
Segment your users based on their position in the funnel — for example, those who only visited, those who registered, and those who didn’t complete a deposit.Set up trigger-based messages that respond to user behavior — like an abandoned step, extended inactivity, or a specific page view — and use those signals to deliver timely ads.Run Limited-time offers — “Bonus available for 48 hours only” is a great reactivation tool.Rotate creatives regularly. Refresh ad copy and visuals every 7–10 days to maintain engagement and avoid CTR decline.Use Frequency capping — limit the number of impressions per day to avoid audience fatigue.
Retargeting in Push and Native Is a Performance Driver.
Retargeting is not just a way to bring users back. It’s a truly effective lead generation mechanism. When properly configured, it significantly reduces lead cost, saves budget, and increases conversions at all funnel stages.
