[Case Study] How We Made Over $11,000 in Profit Using Popunder Ads to Maximize iGaming Conversions
Hey everyone,
I’m excited to share a recent performance highlight from one of our iGaming partners—a detailed look at how a carefully structured Popunder ad campaign led to over $11,000 in profit in a relatively short time. Whether you're new to iGaming or already running campaigns in this vertical, the insights from this case study could help you unlock more ROI from your ad spend.
Objective: Driving Conversions in the iGaming Space
The goal of this campaign was simple: boost the number of first-time depositors (FTDs) for a selection of online casino offers across a mix of Tier 2 and Tier 3 GEOs. The partner we worked with had experience running these offers but was struggling to scale beyond a break-even point using traditional ad formats.
After analyzing the past traffic performance and patterns, we decided to test a new approach using Popunder ads—a format often underrated but highly effective when used correctly.
The Challenges We Faced
Before diving into the strategy, it's important to understand the core obstacles we had to overcome:
- Low deposit conversion rates, even with high click volume
- High traffic drop-off after initial engagement
- Inconsistent ROI due to poor placement quality from previous traffic sources
- Compliance concerns around ad creatives in a sensitive vertical
These are pretty common in iGaming, especially when relying on broad traffic sources with minimal targeting.
The Strategy: Smart Targeting with Popunders
Our approach was built on precision and scale. Here’s how we tackled it:
- Source Selection
We partnered with a reliable ad network that specializes in clean, high-quality Popunder inventory. Our focus was on mobile traffic, particularly Android users, based on the offer data and historical conversion behavior. - GEO Targeting
The campaign focused on countries with proven interest in online gaming but less competition—markets in Eastern Europe and Latin America. These regions offered strong engagement at lower CPMs. - Ad Creative and Pre-Landers
Instead of sending users directly to the casino offers, we created localized pre-landing pages that educated users, addressed common objections, and funneled them toward action. These pages were essential in warming up cold traffic. - Bid Optimization
We didn’t just go with standard automated bids. Instead, we manually adjusted bids based on OS versions, carrier types, and specific time zones. Non-performing placements were blacklisted within 48–72 hours. - Tracking & Filtering
We used real-time tracking to measure each placement’s performance. Combined with the ad network’s fraud protection filters, this ensured we weren’t wasting budget on invalid or low-quality clicks.
Results
After 3 weeks of campaign optimization, here’s what we achieved:
- Total Clicks: Over 18,000
- FTDs Generated: 350+ across three iGaming offers
- Profit: $11,326.47
- ROI: 158%
The campaign not only became profitable—it became predictable, which allowed us to reinvest and expand. What’s more, the partner was able to use these learnings to optimize future campaigns for even better results.
Lessons Learned
Here are the key takeaways from this campaign:
- Popunder traffic still delivers, especially when paired with a conversion-friendly funnel and a well-thought-out audience targeting strategy.
- Pre-landers are essential. Skipping them would have meant missing out on over 40% of the final FTDs.
- Constant optimization is non-negotiable. The success came from actively managing bids, placements, and user segments—not setting the campaign and forgetting it.
- Focused traffic (Android users from specific GEOs) converted better than broader segments.
This campaign was a great reminder that smart use of underrated traffic formats can outperform traditional channels—when done right. If you're looking to scale iGaming offers, consider giving Popunders a serious test. And as always, keep testing, optimizing, and learning.
Let me know if you have questions or want more breakdowns like this.