Optimove reports significant drop in player retention after the World Cup in Latam

Optimove's data shows that the retention of active players in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru suffered a considerable decline in August 2026. This phenomenon, detected after the closing of the World Cup period, is attributed to the decrease in engagement from casual players who entered during the tournament. Despite this decline in retention, all three Latin American markets recorded significant increases in both deposit and betting volumes in casinos and sports.

Drop in Player Retention After the World Cup

Optimove, a marketing technology provider for iGaming operators, collected data based on an average of 7.2 million monthly active players between August 2025 and August 2026. The study indicates that the active customer retention rate dropped in all three markets: Peru and Colombia reported their largest monthly decline during the analysis period. Optimove attributes the variation mainly to the exit of casual players linked to the global event.

• Brazil fell from 80% to 72% in August 2026, although it maintains the highest annual average at 79%.
• Peru decreased from 77% to 54% in just one month.
• Colombia dropped from 69% to 50%, marking the most pronounced drop in the 12-month window.

The definition used by Optimove considers "active retention rate" as the percentage of casino and sports bettors who were active in the previous month and remain active in the current month.

Increases in Average Deposits and Sports and Casino Betting

Alongside the drop in retention, average deposit and betting amounts increased in all three countries during August 2026:

Average Monthly Deposit

• Brazil led the segment with an annual average deposit of $162, rising to $166 in August.
• Peru, second, reached $149 in August (annual average: $151).
• Colombia stood at $124, with a 35% increase compared to July (annual: $78).

The average deposit is calculated by dividing the total deposited by the number of players who made at least one deposit.

Monthly Casino Bets

• Peru recorded the highest volume with an annual average of $746, although in August the amount was $659.
• Brazil reported $486 in August (annual: $525), the only monthly drop among the three countries.
• Colombia increased from $536 to $588 from July to August.

This figure reflects the total wagered in casinos among players with at least one bet in that channel.

Monthly Sports Bets

Amounts rose in all three markets, with notable variations:

• Peru experienced the largest monthly jump, going from $230 to $368 (+60%).
• Colombia rose from $124 to $172 (+39%).
• Brazil advanced from $277 to $338 (+22%).
• Annual averages: Brazil $352, Peru $344, Colombia $130.

Optimove defines this data as the average total wagered divided by players with at least one sports bet.

Average Days of Activity per Player

Brazil shows a notably higher frequency of active days:

• Brazil averaged 13 active days monthly in the year, reaching 14.8 in August.
• Colombia rose to 7.3 days in August (annual: 7.7).
• Peru slightly decreased to 7.2 days (annual: 7.7).

This indicator is obtained by dividing the total active days per player in casino and sports betting.

Implications for Retention Strategy in Latam

The report suggests that the observed pattern obliges operators to reinforce loyalty strategies. The influx and subsequent exit of occasional players during the World Cup influenced both spikes and drops in deposits and retention, reaffirming the challenge of converting occasional spikes into sustainable engagement. For the industry, the main risk is the erosion of the active base post-events of global magnitude, highlighting the need to strengthen campaigns focused on retention and prolonged engagement.

"The pattern in Latam points to the need to boost loyalty; operators must align betting moments with retention campaigns" — Optimove Report

The evidence accumulated by Optimove —including the complete World Cup report cited in the original publication— underscores the volatility of the user base in post-event periods.

Conclusion and Technological Perspectives for Operators

Optimove emphasizes that strong competition in these markets necessitates investment in analytical tools for player segmentation and activation. In an environment where the effects of major tournaments can distort key metrics, operating with a vision of an annual cycle and counter-cyclical strategies can make the difference in sustaining the player base against peaks and valleys associated with major events. The report frames Brazil as the most resilient market in terms of activity and retention —despite the recent decline— and Colombia as the most volatile in terms of growth and active base erosion.