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How the Rise of In-App Purchases is Influencing the Mobile Gaming Industry?

Published

8 years ago

December 10, 2018

How the Rise of In-App Purchases is Influencing the Mobile Gaming Industry?

Photo Source: pixabay

The gaming industry captured the minds of users during 2000s, and now it generates large profits – almost $138 billion in 2018. Developers and operators must be happy about the industry showing growth in revenue of 13.3% compared to 2017.
Following the trend, the mobile gaming market is performing even better. The 25.5% growth means that this sector generates more than a half of a total income (51%). Console and PC segments are nearly equal, having 25% and 24% respectively. There are a number of reasons for mobile games blooming, including in-app purchases.

The freemium spirit
In general, in-app purchases stand for the ability of mobile applications to sell products or services, either virtual or real. Developers invented different approaches to integrating them using various types of apps, features, and interfaces. For instance, there are branded catalogs which sell goods through applications. But in-app purchases are way more typical for free-to-play games.
There is a freemium model of games. Combining features of both free and premium projects, these are completely free downloadable applications with integrated purchases. Owing to this approach, developers earn money with smaller deals inside the app instead of one-time payments. Some of the freemium apps offer simple ads disablement, while others provide unique in-game content. Gambling apps also follow this trend – they offer additional features for money, as well as provide different bonuses for such purchases listed on CasinoBonusCheck.com.

Evolution of mobile games
Now, let’s focus on the influence of freemium games growing in popularity. Experts from Scientific Revenue claim that developers move towards commercial sophistication. This trend is typical for projects that rely on micropayments.
To understand how freemium models affect mobile gaming, remember that they change the focus, moving sales from websites or online retailers like Amazon to games themselves. This way, developers can control the process, providing various offers with flexible prices, sales, and promotions.

Here are some of the current trends of the gaming industry:

Multiple points of sale. While premium games are sold on app markets, freemium products can use coins stores, popups with offers, and ubiquitous ads.
Various in-game offers. There may be unique daily or weekly sales, additional content, in-game currency, and so on.
Annuities. These are unique offers, valid during a certain period.
Live Operations. Thanks to in-app purchases, developers can focus on adding new stuff even after the game was launched. They include downloadable content and special promotions dedicated to specific events or major updates.

As small payments are really flexible, developers can easily modify them, trying to reach the maximum engagement. Analysts evaluate the efficiency of in-game content sales and decide whether it’s better to add advertisements or focus on unique offers.

Consequences of the freemium rise
So far as it’s clearer how in-app purchases set trends, we can think about positive and negative consequences. Note that there is no agreement among experts regarding this.

The good side
Ideal freemium games sell cosmetic changes only. Another approach features different types of content but includes an option to unlock them without paying real money. For example, Temple Run offers various enhancements which are available without extra expenses.
Decent freemium projects should focus on improving players’ experience by introducing new content. This is more typical for PC and console games where users can buy new visual styles for characters, unlock extra items and locations.
Free-to-download projects attract way more users who realize that they can easily dive into the game. Also, game providers can focus on improving the single product by implementing Live Operations rather than designing numerous sequels.

The bad side
The modern world is strongly focused on money. That’s why the majority of freemium games turn into pay-to-win or pay-to-play projects:

Pay-to-win. Players can buy in-game stuff to become more powerful and beat opponents.
Pay-to-play. Players can evade time limits and prolong the game process with in-app purchases.

In pursuit of revenue, developers focus less on improving the game itself. Many freemium projects create nothing new, simply offering benefits for premium players. This leads to users realizing they can simply pay and win instead of improving skills or building strategies, which kills the thrill of gaming.
The majority of mobile projects push pay-to-play or pay-to-win styles because it’s profitable now: Clash of Clans or Fruit Pop, just to name a few. It’s much worse for the industry when well-thought series like Dungeon Hunter follow such trends.

Future of in-app purchases
Freemium model works well for game developers as it allows expanding the audience thanks to free downloads and earning more money thanks to engagement strategies. Gamers are free to try different products and decide whether they deserve further investments.
It seems clear that mobile games will expand, generating more revenues compared to PC and console sectors. In-app purchases will definitely grow in popularity as well. Probably, companies will find new ways of implementing this feature, somehow different from pay-to-win and pay-to-play options. Eventually, it all depends on end users as they create the demand.

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N1 Partners at iGB L!VE 2026: Art Collabs with Clym Evernden and Yoomoota, Exclusive Drops and N1 Sport Promo

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Master Editor

N1 Partners team will participate in iGB L!VE 2026 in London, July 1-2. At booth K50, N1 Partners will present exclusive art collaborations with trendy British illustrator Clym Evernden and designer Yoomoota, a new collection of branded merch drop and the N1 Sport Promo opportunities.

N1 Partners exclusive collaborations at iGB L!VE 2026

One of the main events at the N1 Partners booth on July 1 will be an art performance with the participation of Clym Evernden, a BAFTA Award winner known for his collaboration with fashion brands Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Vogue, Diptyque, and Hermes.

Within the framework of iGB L!VE, the artist will create a large-scale artwork in his signature continuous line technique. Guests of the stand will be able to watch the process in real time as well as receive signed postcards and the author’s sketches.

N1 Partners has also prepared an exclusive limited-edition collection with Clym Evernden, which will be included in a select series of gifts for partners.

Another premiere will be a collectible toy created in collaboration with Yoomoota, an art project by artist and designer Taras Yoom, winner of the A’ Design Award and the Good Design Award. His work has been exhibited at PAD London, Art Miami, and the Red Dot Museum and has been featured in Forbes, Hypebeast, Vice, Elle Decor, and Designboom.

Scale sports traffic with N1 Sport Promo

One of the key business topics of the conference will be N1 Sport Promo, which runs from June 10 to July 20.

The promo was created for partners working with sports and Prediction Markets traffic, and is timed to coincide with one of the busiest sports seasons of the year. The FIFA World Cup 2026, UFC, Formula 1, Wimbledon, and other major sporting events open up additional opportunities for scaling campaigns and increasing traffic profitability.

The campaign participants receive additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, which allows them to increase payouts during the period of maximum demand.

N1 Duality: booth concept and activities

At iGB L!VE 2026, N1 Partners will present a new creative concept, N1 Duality, exploring the intersection of opposites: strategy and intuition, technology and creativity, business and art. It is at this juncture that new ideas, partnerships, and growth opportunities are born.

The concept will be reflected in the new limited-edition merch drop SPLIT: London.

The N1 Partners booth will be a visual continuation of N1 Duality. The space will combine business communication, creative activations, and interactive mechanics, reflecting the idea of finding new opportunities through a combination of different approaches and views.

One of the central mechanics will be the interactive DICE game with the opportunity to win instant prizes and limited gifts from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners shortlisted in iGB Affiliate Awards

During iGB L!VE 2026, the results of the iGB Affiliate Awards will be announced. N1 Partners is represented in two categories at once:

Best Affiliate Program;

Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Being shortlisted for one of the most prestigious awards in the affiliate industry has become a recognition of the company’s achievements in developing an affiliate program and implementing large-scale marketing projects.

Book a meeting with N1 Partners

Guests of the booth at the conference will be able to learn more about working with more than 14 casino and betting brands of the partner program in 10+ Tier-1 GEO with flexible cooperation models for different types of traffic.

Guests can discuss the following with the N1 Partners team:

New opportunities for casino, sports and prediction traffic;
Individual terms of cooperation;
Product updates;
Strategies for scaling and increasing traffic profitability.
Current promos and special offers from N1 Partners.

N1 Partners invites existing partners and those interested in cooperation to meet at booth K50 at iGB L!VE 2026.

Contact the team in advance to schedule a convenient meeting time:

Alexa – Head of Affiliates
Vlad – Deputy Head of Affiliates
Vladislav – Affiliate Team Lead
Daria – Affiliate Team Lead
Alina – Affiliate Team Lead
Polina – Affiliate Manager
Victoria – Affiliate Manager
Artem – Affiliate Manager
Pavel – Affiliate Manager
Alexandr – Affiliate Manager
Shirin – Affiliate Manager
Aleksandrs – Affiliate Manager

If you wish to discuss marketing activities, content projects, media placements or other collaboration formats, N1 Partners’ marketing team will be happy to meet you at iGB L!VE 2026.

Tatiana – Head of Brand Marketing (B2B & B2C)
Maria – Team Lead of PR, Event, Production
Oleksandra – Head of SMM & Content

See you at booth K50 in London.

Start working with N1 Partners — become number one!

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N1 Brand Series: N1 Bet — Player Profile & GEOs

Published

14 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Master Editor

Every brand requires its own approach, which is why in the N1 Brand Series, the N1 Partners team breaks down products through a practical, hands-on lens.

In this episode let’s look inside N1 Bet: its core strengths, audience specifics, and approaches to improving traffic efficiency. In addition, the team has prepared a traffic setup for N1 Sport Promo, a new promotion aligned with the upcoming high-intensity sports season and FIFA 2026.

Within the campaign running from June 10 to July 20, partners will be able to earn additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, increasing their potential rewards alongside the number of acquired FTDs.

N1 Bet: Product breakdown

N1 Bet combines classic sports betting, casino, and Prediction Markets into a single product, offering users a wide variety of markets, an intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and attractive promotional mechanics designed to boost engagement.

Brand name: N1 Bet
GEOs: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE, NO, IT
Main verticals: Casino, betting, prediction markets
Target audience: Users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots, and live games, oriented toward a fast and seamless gaming experience.
User value: Ease of use, fast access to games, bonuses, and promotional mechanics
Features/advantages: Simple and fast registration flow, smooth UX, wide selection of slots and live games, fast deposits/withdrawals, and regular promotions.
Reg2Dep:
PPC: 40–60%
FB: 22–30%
SEO: 40–45%

Retention Rate: 25–35%
LTV: up to €1500

Player’s portrait

N1 Bet audience is primarily composed of Tier-1 GEO users, which directly influences their behaviour and expectations toward the product. From a payment behaviour perspective, Tier-1 audiences demonstrate a higher average deposit compared to Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the DACH region.

Another key product characteristic is strong mobile dominance. On average, 87% of active users play from mobile devices. In English-speaking GEOs, this share is even higher:

AU — 95%
NZ — 96%
CA — 95%

In practice, this is mostly a mobile-only audience. In the DACH region, mobile traffic is also dominant, although desktop still retains a presence:

DE — 89% mobile
AT — 91% mobile

Peak player activity occurs in the evening — from 19:00 to 23:00 local time.

Player characteristics by GEO

Austria

A premium audience segment.
91% of users play on mobile devices.
High interest in slots, especially classic titles such as Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra.
Higher rates with fewer deposits.
Behavior is close to a VIP segment.

Germany

Also a premium segment.
89% mobile traffic, while maintaining a noticeable desktop share.
The most balanced mix of slots, live casino, and sportsbook.
Slots share is lower than in other GEOs, but classic slots remain in demand.

Australia

95% mobile users.
High average revenue per user.
Main interest focused on slots and crash games.
Branded games, including Chicken Road 2 x N1 Bet, are among the most popular products.

Canada

95% mobile audience.
Average ARPPU is comparable to Australia.
Gaming behaviour is mostly slot-oriented.
High interest in branded content.
Lower sensitivity to bonus offers compared to other markets.

New Zealand

The most mobile-driven audience — 96%.
Lower ARPPU and average bet size.
The only GEO with a consistently high share of live casino activity — 17% to 56% vs 10-22% in other markets.
The most diverse gameplay behavior overall.

New players’ behavior

New user behaviour largely depends on traffic source:

Facebook Crash campaigns — users start with crash games (Chicken Road, Aviator, etc.) and then gradually move into slots.
Facebook Slots campaigns — users immediately engage with slots without switching categories.
PPC — most common mix: slots + live casino.
Influence — mixed interest across slots, crash games, and live casino.
SEO — primarily focused on slots and live games.

General trends

Slots remain the main driver of new player activity, accounting for 60–80% of playtime (higher in AT and AU, lower in DE and CA).
Crash games work extremely well as a primary conversion tool, especially for Facebook traffic.
Live casino becomes more popular after the 2nd–3rd deposit, especially among users from DACH and NZ.

High-LTV Player Behavior

High lifetime value players are not characterised by single large deposits but by consistent product engagement:

more than 4 active gaming sessions per week;
use of multiple verticals simultaneously (slots + live, slots + sportsbook, sportsbook + prediction markets);
active participation in VIP and loyalty programs;
use of cashback and loyalty systems instead of bonus hunting;
strong interest in new providers, tournaments, and product updates;
stable deposit patterns without sharp promo-driven spikes;
engagement in onsite activities (tournaments, bonus shop) and CRM communications.

This category of users forms the most stable and long-term LTV for partners.

Top 3 Working Funnels for N1 Bet

Funnel 1

This funnel is designed for a broad audience and performs well due to a simple and clear message. The main focus is the ability to start with a small amount and potentially win big. This approach helps maintain a low FTD cost and quickly scale traffic volume.

Traffic source: Facebook
GEO: AU
Page type: PWA
Audience: Men and women 25+
Approach: The creative is based on a dynamic video. It starts with a stack of cash in front of a smartphone or computer screen, then shifts to gameplay featuring slots, bonuses, and winning combinations. A voiceover explains the low entry threshold, easy start, and the ability to play directly from a smartphone. The main goal is to create a sense of accessibility and highlight potential winnings.
Why it works: Users immediately see core triggers — money, wins, and a low entry barrier. The funnel appeals to the desire for fast results with minimal investment.
Key funnel element: Slots and PWA
Performance indicators: CPC, FTD cost, and average player value
Scaling method: Duplication of successful ad campaigns
Risks/limitations: May attract lower-quality traffic
Common mistakes: Launching too many campaigns at once with high budgets
Expert note: This funnel should be scaled gradually. The best approach is to start with a single campaign and allow algorithms to gather sufficient data. If stable FTD and average value metrics are achieved over several days, scaling should be done through duplication rather than abrupt budget increases.

Funnel 2

This approach can attract higher-quality audiences thanks to a combination of a recognizable influencer, a real casino environment, and a native-style product presentation. When executed properly, it can maintain an acceptable FTD cost while bringing in users with strong long-term engagement potential.

Traffic source: Facebook
GEO: AU
Page type: PWA
Audience: Men and women 25+
Approach: The creative features a well-known influencer inside a physical casino. They play a slot, share their experience, show bet sizes and winnings. The atmosphere is important: other casino visitors react emotionally, creating a sense of real entertainment and leisure. The entire video is positive and demonstrates that this experience is accessible to anyone.
Why it works: Users see a familiar face and recognizable environment, which increases trust in the ad.
Key funnel element: Creative and PWA
Performance indicators: CPC and FTD cost
Scaling method: Duplication of working campaigns
Risks/limitations: Improper scaling may significantly increase FTD cost
Common mistakes: Rapid budget increases instead of gradual scaling
Expert note: This funnel often delivers higher-quality audiences compared to standard gaming creatives. However, scaling should be done carefully. If performance is stable, it is better to increase volume gradually through duplication while keeping winning campaign settings.

Funnel 3 (for N1 Sport Promo traffic)

During the N1 Sport Promo campaign, sports traffic funnels become especially important.

Below is an approach that can perform well during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Traffic source: Facebook Ads
GEO: Canada
Page type: PWA with content tailored to a specific World Cup match
Audience: Men 25–45 interested in football, sports betting, sports news, and international tournaments. Focus is on users actively following the World Cup, discussing matches, and looking for predictions.
Approach: The creative is built in a news or analytical format centered around a specific World Cup match. It includes predictions, team statistics, starting lineups, injury updates, team form, and expected outcomes. The content must be tightly linked to an upcoming match or trending topic actively discussed by the audience.
Why it works: Users engage with content they are genuinely interested in. Instead of a standard betting ad, they receive relevant match insights and become part of the analysis process. The high interest in the World Cup enables broader reach and high-quality sports traffic.
Key funnel element: Creative relevance and match context
Performance indicators: High CTR, strong registration conversion, and high percentage of users placing bets after registration
Scaling method: Continuous creation of new creatives for each match day, teams, popular fixtures, and trending tournament news
Risks/limitations: Creatives quickly lose relevance and require constant updates
Common mistakes: Using generic sports creatives without match context, scaling too early, and failing to update after the news cycle ends
Expert note: During the World Cup, funnels built around specific matches or teams perform best. Users respond more strongly to events happening today or tomorrow than to generic sportsbook ads. Fast content updates and relevance are key success factors.

Final Takeaways

N1 Bet consistently performs well across Tier-1 markets when using the right approach. Simple gaming creatives drive volume, influencer-based funnels improve traffic quality, and sports-driven funnels effectively capitalize on major event interest.

With the right strategy, N1 Bet remains a strong product both for scaling volume and for working with high-quality audiences.

Run traffic to N1 Bet with N1 Partners and maximize results during the hot sports season:

14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep
10+ Tier-1 GEOs
CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners

Be number one with N1!

News

Connect with N1 Partners at G Gate Conf 2026

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2026

Master Editor

The N1 Partners team will participate in G GATE CONF 2026, one of the largest affiliate conferences in the region, held on June 26-27 at Expo Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The conference will bring together more than 7,000 representatives of the affiliate industry, advertisers, arbitration teams, webmasters, and partner programs for networking, sharing experiences, and discussing current market trends. More than 100 booths will be presented at the event, as well as more than 50 speakers will be announced.

N1 Partners is a sponsor at the G Gate Conf of one of the zones and invites guests to take a look at the branded coconut station. You can find it to the left of the entrance, opposite the reception desk.

There is also a special offer for the company’s partners: the N1PARTNERS promo code provides a 15% discount on the purchase of a ticket to G Gate Conf.

Also, follow N1 Partners on Instagram for a chance to win one of five G Member tickets!

Why meet N1 Partners?

In Tbilisi, the N1 Partners team will discuss new scaling opportunities, current offers, and the N1 Sport Promo, a special promo for partners pouring sports traffic and working with the Prediction Markets vertical.

The promo runs from June 10 to July 20, 2026, and covers the biggest sporting events of the season, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup. As part of the promotion, partners can increase their CPA rate based on the number of FTDs generated and earn higher payouts.