In iGaming industry, success hinges on keeping players interested. However, driving traffic to your website doesn’t automatically translate into real, paying users. This disconnect puts long-term profitability at risk.

Getting players through the door might be easy. For some, throwing in a flashy welcome offer or a tempting bonus is enough. But please don’t rely on this tactic — it won’t turn curious visitors into loyal depositors. In iGaming, there is so much choice that you need to work hard to keep your players attached to a single platform. Bonuses like sign-up rewards, deposit codes, and loyalty perks are the trust base for attracting and retaining players.

Converting them into paying customers takes more than luck. Unless you’re counting on magic, you need a thoughtful loyalty strategy that builds lasting engagement and fuels your revenue stream. In this article, we’ll show you what that looks like in action.

What is a first-time deposit (FTD)?

First-time deposit conversion is the key to understanding how well you turn visitors into active players. It's calculated by dividing the number of users who make a first deposit by the total number of website visitors. The amount of that initial deposit (and sometimes the second one) can also reveal a customer’s long-term value.

In the iGaming world, first-time deposit conversion rates are often shockingly low — sometimes as low as 1%. This means casinos spend hundreds of dollars per player to get that initial deposit. With such low conversion rates, meaningful A/B tests can take months to gather enough data for actionable insights.

Comparison of registration and FTD conversion performance

How to motivate deposits

Before diving into strategies, I suggest exploring why players make deposits and what motivates them to do so. Spoiler alert: it’s not just bonuses. 

The psychology behind FTD

Immediate rewards and a seamless experience often drive first-time depositors. A report from Z2A Digital explains that many players make their initial deposit based on the perceived value they’ll receive. That’s why offering a clear, easy-to-follow path to rewards is fundamental for turning new visitors into paying customers. Fair enough — who likes waiting in an environment built for instant gratification?

What motivates players to deposit again?

  • Fear of missing out: players often want to feel included in the excitement. Limited-time bonuses or special offers are powerful moves to encourage players to make deposits. When customers know a special deal won’t last forever, it creates a sense of urgency. 
  • Social proof: seeing others win often influences behavior. A positive community experience — such as witnessing fellow players hit big wins — encourages deposits. According to BMMagazine, players are more likely to stay engaged when they feel part of a community.
  • The need for instant gratification: quick, seamless processes make a difference. PayNearMe’s study found that fast deposits and instant rewards increase the likelihood of users following through, while delays or convoluted multi-step pathways can lead to frustration and drop-offs.
  • Keep sign-up forms short and simple: reduce the number of fields in your sign-up form to make it easier for users to complete the process and increase the likelihood of a first-time deposit. Ask only for essential information to avoid drop-offs.
  • Flexible payment options matter: 32% of players said they’d deposit more often if their preferred payment methods were available. The study also noted over 20 deposit types used in iGaming and highlighted that requiring sensitive info like card details at sign-up can drive users away. 

Main finding: If they had access to their preferred deposit type, 32% would make larger deposits more often.

Survey results showing deposit size and frequency choices

How to increase casino deposit rates 

You can’t rush players into depositing with quick fixes or cheap tricks, so please treat them with respect and don’t force their loyalty. In the next section, I’ll walk you through my favorite strategies for increasing deposit rates, with a strong focus on gamification and player reward systems. Use them wisely.

Activate in-game bonuses

In-game bonuses, from free spins to exclusive offers, are among the most effective ways to sustain player retention in iGaming. Bonus money = players have more chances to win.

Casinos can reward players for making progress in the game to boost engagement and drive deposits. Hit a milestone or leveled up? Unlock a reward. It keeps the momentum going and makes the experience more exciting. And when players know they’ll get something extra for making a real-money bet or deposit, they’re much more likely to stick around.

Trueplay’s Play to Earn feature offers additional incentives, a key factor in promoting player engagement. For example, a casino might roll out a promotion where players receive extra branded tokens as daily cashback.

Increase casino deposits by 10% with Hold to Earn

Hold to Earn is a key feature of the Trueplay loyalty program, created to encourage players to hold their rewards directly in their casino account on the gaming platform for 8 hours, 1 day, or 3 days. The reward is calculated as a percentage of the casino’s GGR during the holding period and then distributed based on player stakes within the staking pool.

What makes Trueplay stand out is its simple and automated reward system. Players get a reward if the casino’s GGR stays positive during the holding period. If GGR is negative, a player’s staked amount is refunded without additional rewards. On average, operators experience a 10% increase in deposit volume within a few months of integration, resulting in a 5.6% rise in NGR.

Boost deposit volume and NGR with Hold to Earn by Trueplay

Engage players through gamification

iGaming is blending traditional casino experiences with video game mechanics, and it’s no surprise this is a hot trend. 

Why does this matter for deposits? Well-designed gamification taps into the psychology of reward and progress. When players feel like they’re leveling up, unlocking perks, or working toward goals, they’re more likely to stay engaged — and to deposit more.

Gaming — an adjacent industry — offers a wealth of best practices that operators can effectively adapt to iGaming. Players are seeking something more profound and engaging. They aren’t attracted to the same old gamification tricks anymore. It’s essential to nail a few key things to satisfy the players.

Narrative and world-building

This approach is my favorite because it encourages operators to make your everyday games into captivating adventures. Add storylines and quests to deepen player engagement, encourage longer play sessions, and increase deposits.

Levels and progress bars

Leveling systems and progress bars work because players love seeing how far they’ve come and what’s next. When they move up, unlock rewards, and feel that sense of progress, they’re more likely to keep going (and depositing) to see what’s ahead. It’s a win both for them and for your revenue.

Achievements and badges

Through recognition of player milestones with achievements and badges, casinos give their players a feeling of accomplishment. Having their performance acknowledged keeps players motivated to stick around and play more — and often, which means they’ll deposit more as they try to unlock new rewards.

Social integration

Features like leaderboards, multiplayer modes, and chat tools help create a sense of community within the game. Players are more likely to return and deposit when they feel part of a community and can share their achievements with others.

Hosting streams with CopyStake

CopyStake is a proprietary Trueplay feature that enables hosting live casino streams directly on casino websites. Streamers invite their audience to try CopyStake on the social casino platform, offering players the opportunity to automatically replicate their bets and share both wins and losses in real time.

By integrating CopyStake, casinos offer players a distinctive and immersive experience, allowing them to game alongside their favorite streamers. This feature increases casino deposit rates, and collaborating with streamers can boost the active audience, enhancing visibility. Casinos can continue to engage with the same streamers as before CopyStake integration, but in a brand-new way. Additionally, offering casino bonus codes as part of the promotional strategy can attract new players by providing extra incentives.

Visual of CopyStake interface

Online casino bonuses that sell

The iGaming industry is challenging and full of opportunity. To stay competitive, the very best online casino bonuses — including deposit bonuses, free bonuses, and sign-up perks — are essential. A great welcome bonus grabs attention, but it takes more to boost casino deposits and keep players loyal. In-game bonuses, loyalty programs like Hold to Earn, gamification elements, and engaging CopyStake streams all create a powerful long-term strategy. Trueplay hits two targets with one shot: it speaks to what players want and helps operators drive more deposits.

iGaming is becoming more competitive every day, so remember: success doesn’t result from cutting corners but from smart, player-focused strategies.

Illustration of player interacting with rewards and loyalty elements
Table of Contents
Book a call
Best loyalty tools and solutions in 2025
Download the report