Optimove Data Shows Post-World Cup Retention Slump Amid Higher Spend in Latam

Active player retention across major Latam markets dropped to its lowest in a year in August 2026, while average deposit and betting volumes continued to rise. Optimove’s analysis, drawn from an average of 7.2 million active igaming customers per month across Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, points to World Cup-inflated acquisition giving way to lower loyalty among casual players.

Retention Rates Fall Across All Latam Markets

Optimove’s proprietary data shows that the active customer retention rate declined in all three Latam jurisdictions in August 2026. Colombia and Peru both saw their largest single-month drops over the trailing 12 months; Peru plunged from 77% to 54%, and Colombia fell from 69% to 50%. Brazil’s retention also fell, but only moderately, slipping from 80% to 72% (trailing average was 79%). The data suggest this "post-World Cup drift" reflects the limited engagement of casual players acquired around the event—an observation consistent with the company’s earlier World Cup Full Tournament Report.

Deposit and Betting Volumes Rose Despite Lower Retention

While retention dropped, average deposit amounts and sports betting volumes increased in the same window. In August 2026:

• Brazil posted an average deposit of $166 (up from a 12-month average of $162)
• Colombia reached $124 (trailing average $78), marking a 35% gain from July
• Peru saw $149 (trailing average $151), rising 30% month-on-month

Casino betting was led by Peru, with a trailing average of $746. For August specifically, Colombia rose from $536 to $588, and Peru from $593 to $659. Brazil posted a decline for casino, dropping to $486 from $511 in July, versus a trailing average of $525. Sports betting surged in Peru (from $230 to $368, up 60%), jumped in Colombia (from $124 to $172, up 39%), and grew in Brazil (from $277 to $338, up 22%).

Activity Days Show Brazil’s Players Remain Most Engaged

Brazil again displayed the highest average number of activity days per player: 14.8 in August, up from a trailing 13.0. Colombia and Peru’s activity levels were both far lower, each with trailing 12-month averages of 7.7. In August, Colombia moved up to 7.3 activity days and Peru dropped slightly to 7.2.

Customer Behaviour Following the World Cup Surge

Optimove’s numbers confirm what was widely predicted after the World Cup—market influxes of casual bettors have now subsided, returning spend-per-player to prior standards. The spike in average deposit and betting volumes comes even as retention erodes, highlighting the need for retention-focused campaigns.

“This variation is likely related to the lack of continued engagement among casual players who entered the system for the World Cup finals,” the report notes.

Operators across Brazil, Colombia, and Peru may now need to reinforce loyalty initiatives to stabilise their core metrics. The data imply many of the recently acquired customers wagered at lower-than-average levels and have now left the ecosystem, emphasising the opportunity and challenge for CRM and engagement specialists.

Methodology and Market Definitions

All figures derive from Optimove’s monitoring of 7.2 million active igaming players monthly. Key metrics:

• Average deposit amount: total deposits divided by number of sports/casino players who made at least one deposit.
• Average casino bet: total casino bets divided by number of casino bettors with at least one wager.
• Average sports bet: total sports bets divided by number of sports bettors with at least one wager.
• Average activity days: total player activity days divided by the count of depositing bettors.
• Retention rate: share of bettors active in the previous month who remained active in the current month.

Implications: Converting a Post-Tournament Player Base

The data signal that while player spend has rebounded, activation and loyalty remain major obstacles after major sports events. The scale and timing of the post-World Cup dip make clear just how much of Latam’s 2026 volume was driven by infrequent players. Optimove’s findings suggest that operators will need to prioritise both acquisition and longer-term retention as international sporting calendars drive temporary player surges.

For further region-level analysis see our Latam market section.