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Sportsbook Marketing Agency

Updated October 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team

A sportsbook marketing agency plans and runs the advertising, partner programs and player communications that bring verified adult customers to a licensed sportsbook or online casino and keep them playing responsibly. It is for licensed operators, tribal and commercial casinos with online products, and the B2B suppliers that sell to them, and it produces state-by-state campaigns, promotion copy that clears review, CRM programs and reporting by cost per first deposit. Progression Agency is based in New York City and works with clients across the United States and worldwide.

On this page · 18 sections
  1. What does a sportsbook marketing agency do?
  2. What is sports betting advertising, and how does it differ from other ads?
  3. Gambling advertising regulations every campaign is built inside
  4. Is advertising gambling legal, and where can an operator advertise?
  5. Google, YouTube and Meta: platform rules for igaming advertising
  6. iGaming PPC and paid search for licensed operators
  7. Programmatic, streaming TV and audio with 21+ audience controls
  8. iGaming affiliate marketing and partner programs
  9. CRM, retention and responsible gaming
  10. Promotion copy and creative that pass review
  11. Casino marketing strategy for online and land-based casinos
  12. How AI assistants answer questions about sportsbooks and suppliers
  13. Measuring sportsbook marketing by verified players and revenue
  14. How much do sportsbooks spend on advertising, and what does an agency cost?
  15. How to choose a sports betting marketing agency
  16. Launching a sportsbook in a new state
  17. How Progression runs igaming marketing services
  18. Related services for sportsbook and casino operators

The short answerSportsbook marketing is acquisition and retention work done inside some of the strictest advertising rules in any consumer category. We build paid search, YouTube and streaming video, Meta where an account is authorized, programmatic, affiliate programs and CRM for operators licensed in the states they target, with 21+ audiences, responsible gaming messaging and full promotion terms in every ad. Results are judged by verified sign-ups, cost per first deposit, 30-day activity and net revenue per player. A state launch takes about sixteen weeks of preparation; an existing program can be audited and rebuilt in four to eight weeks.

State gaming rules and Google and Meta policies are described as published in October 2026 and change often; nothing on this page is legal advice, and the operator’s counsel should confirm the rules for each state. Prices are Progression’s own published prices except the paid media fee bands, which are market figures; a quote follows a written scope.

What does a sportsbook marketing agency do?

It finds adult customers in the states where an operator holds a license, persuades them to register and deposit, and keeps them engaged with messages that respect limits and exclusions. Every piece of that work has to pass the operator’s compliance review and the regulator’s rules before it runs.

Who we work with

Licensed online sportsbooks, online casinos where the state allows them, retail sportsbooks inside commercial and tribal casinos, and the B2B companies that supply them: platform and odds providers, payments and identity vendors, data and streaming firms. B2B work is ordinary business marketing, aimed at operators, not players.

What does a sportsbook marketing program produce?

A channel plan per state, campaigns on each approved platform, landing pages with the required disclosures, promotion copy and terms, a partner and affiliate program, a CRM calendar, and one report that connects spend to verified players and revenue.

What this work never includes

No betting picks, odds content, promo-code pages or tipster material, nothing aimed at people under 21, no targeting of people who have excluded themselves and no claims that betting is a way to make money. Those lines protect players, and they also protect the operator’s license.

Organic search for operators and affiliates is a separate discipline with its own page: our casino SEO agency covers it. Being named by AI assistants is covered on AEO for casinos, and product builds on sports betting app development.

What is sports betting advertising, and how does it differ from other ads?

Sports betting advertising is any paid or partner message that promotes a wagering product: a search ad, a streaming spot, a social post from an authorized account, an affiliate review or a branded segment in a sports broadcast. It differs from other consumer ads because the audience, the wording and the placement are all regulated.

Three things every ad has to get right

Who can see it (adults, in licensed states, not self-excluded), what it says (no misleading offers, full material terms, the operator named) and what it carries (an age statement and a helpline in the form the state specifies).

Sportsbook ads in a crowded season

Football season tends to pack operator spend into the same weeks and the same broadcasts. Sportsbook ads that stand out in that window usually have a sharper offer, cleaner terms and better audience data rather than a bigger budget.

Sportsbook advertising channels compared
ChannelBest useAudience controlMain compliance point
Paid searchCapturing operator, product and state searchesState geotargeting, age exclusionsGoogle gambling certification per state
YouTubeVideo reach around live sportAdult audience signals, content exclusionsHelpline and age message in the creative or landing page
Streaming TV and audioBig-event reach on connected screensPublisher audience composition dataPlacement away from under-21 audiences
Meta (Facebook, Instagram)Reach and retargeting from an authorized accountAge and location settingsMeta authorization before any ad runs
Programmatic displayRetargeting and contextual reachContextual and age filtersSite lists that exclude youth and campus media
Affiliates and media partnersComparison and review trafficPartner audience reportingContracts and compensation that meet state rules
CRM (email, push, SMS)Onboarding and retentionConsent and exclusion listsUnsubscribe and self-exclusion suppression
Search: Paid search and brand defense. Certified, state-targeted.
Video: YouTube and streaming TV. Adult audience data first.
Social: Meta where authorized. Age set to the legal floor.
Display: Programmatic and audio. Contextual and age controls.
Partners: Affiliates and media deals. Contracts that meet state rules.
CRM: Email, push and SMS. Consent and self-exclusion.

Online gambling marketing follows the same pattern whatever the product. The gambling marketing strategies that last are built on verified adult audiences, honest offers and retention, and the ones that fail chase raw sign-ups and loose promotion wording.

Gambling advertising regulations every campaign is built inside

Sports wagering is legalized and regulated state by state, so the rules a campaign follows depend on where each ad is seen. We build campaigns inside these rules and keep the operator’s compliance team in the approval loop; nothing here is legal advice.

Why does each state set its own rules?

In May 2018 the Supreme Court held in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that the federal provision prohibiting states from authorizing sports gambling violates the anticommandeering rule. Since then each state decides whether to allow sports wagering and writes its own licensing and advertising rules. Gaming on tribal lands sits under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 and the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Massachusetts: one of the most detailed rulebooks

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s sports wagering advertising rule, 205 CMR 256 makes the operator responsible for every ad placed on its behalf, including by agencies and affiliates, and requires the operator to give the rule to every agency it retains. Ads must state that players must be 21 or older, carry a link to and phone number for the state’s problem gambling helpline, and identify the operator. They may not run where 25% or more of the audience is reasonably expected to be under 21, on college or university campuses or in college media.

Ohio: identity, helplines and campus limits

Ohio’s sports gaming advertising rule, Ohio Adm.Code 3775-16-08 requires ads to disclose the identity of the sports gaming proprietor, include messages designed to prevent problem gambling with an approved helpline, avoid targeting anyone under 21 and stay off college and university campuses in Ohio. Its promotions rule, 3775-16-09 says a promotion described as free or risk-free must not require the player to incur a loss or risk their own money.

New York: what casino ads must carry

New York’s Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law section 1363 requires each casino advertisement to state a problem gambling hotline number clearly and conspicuously, bars ads that depict anyone under 21 engaging in gaming, gives people two ways to opt out of direct advertising and requires licensees to keep every ad for at least two years.

The industry’s own code

Operators that belong to the American Gaming Association also follow its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. Its 2023 revision, as reported at the time, ended college partnerships, restricted ads to media where at least 73.6% of the audience is reasonably expected to be 21 or older and dropped the words free and risk-free for promotional bets.

Rules that shape a sportsbook campaign and what each means in practice
RuleWhere it appliesWhat it means for the campaign
21+ statement in every adMassachusetts and other 21+ statesAge line is part of every creative template
No placement where 25% or more of the audience is under 21MassachusettsAudience composition checked before buying media
No ads on college campuses or in college mediaMassachusetts, OhioCampus geofences and student media on every exclusion list
Helpline in every ad, at a set sizeMassachusetts, Ohio, New York (casinos)Helpline sized to the rule for each format
Free or risk-free only if no own money is at riskMassachusetts, OhioOffer wording reviewed before launch
Operator named in the adMassachusetts, OhioBrand and license holder shown on every placement
No agency or affiliate pay tied to wager volume or outcomesMassachusettsPartner contracts drafted around flat or permitted fees
Ads archived with a placement logMassachusetts (six years), New York (two years)Every version stored with where and when it ran
Bar chart of minimum responsible gaming message font sizes in Massachusetts: 8 percent on a video end card, 5 percent on a billboard, 2 percent during a video and 2 percent on print, signs and direct mail.Bar chart of minimum responsible gaming message font sizes in Massachusetts: 8 percent on a video end card, 5 percent on a billboard, 2 percent during a video and 2 percent on print, signs and direct mail.
Summary of 205 CMR 256.06 as published; the rule text governs.

Yes, for an operator licensed in the state where the ad is seen, within that state’s rules and each platform’s policy. Advertising an unlicensed or illegal product is prohibited, and the Massachusetts rule bars operators and anyone advertising for them from promoting illegal gambling in the state.

Where to advertise gambling as a licensed operator

Search, YouTube and streaming video, sports radio and podcasts, Meta from an authorized account, programmatic display, outdoor media that meets local law, sponsorships of professional teams and venues, and partner sites. The test for each is the same: can you show the audience is overwhelmingly adult and inside the licensed state?

Where operators stay out

Schools and their sports venues, college campuses and student media, media used mainly by people under 21, and placements that flood a sports event with so many ads that they saturate the broadcast, which the Massachusetts rule also prohibits.

National brands, state licenses

A national campaign has to respect state lines. Massachusetts allows ads from operators not licensed there only if the ad makes clear the offer is not available in the state, so national creative usually carries a state availability line.

Launching in a new state next season?Send the state, the launch window and the channels you plan to use. You get a free proposal with a written scope, a compliance checklist for that state and the first campaigns we would build.

Get a free proposal

Google, YouTube and Meta: platform rules for igaming advertising

Platform policy sits on top of state law. Both Google and Meta require approval before a gambling ad runs, and both limit who can be targeted.

Google’s gambling and games policy requires certification for gambling ads. In the United States, advertisers of sports betting and online casinos must be licensed by the state entity where required, must not target users under 21 or users outside the states where they are licensed, and must include a warning against addictive and compulsive gambling with assistance information on the landing page or in the creative.

YouTube and the formats that cannot carry gambling

Google allows national targeting for sports betting ads on YouTube, which makes video the one Google channel that can run across state lines. Gmail ads, Shopping ads, reservation display ads and the Google TV and YouTube masthead cannot promote gambling.

Meta authorization

Meta’s online gambling and games policy allows these ads only once an ad account has obtained authorization through Meta Business Suite, with evidence that the activity is licensed by a regulator, and it does not allow targeting anyone under 18. Because the states on this page set 21, we set the age floor in every ad set to the state’s legal age rather than Meta’s minimum.

Platform requirements for licensed operators in the United States
PlatformApproval before ads runAge settingGeographyWhere the warning goes
Google Search and DisplayGambling certificationNot under 21Licensed states onlyLanding page or creative
YouTubeGambling certificationNot under 21National targeting allowed for sports bettingLanding page or creative
MetaAuthorization in Business SuiteMeta minimum 18; we set the state’s ageDeclared jurisdictionsPer state rule
Programmatic and CTVPublisher and exchange policiesPublisher audience dataGeotargeted to licensed statesPer state rule

Platform work for these channels runs through our YouTube advertising, Facebook and Instagram advertising and pay-per-click management teams, with the gambling policies above applied to every account.

iGaming PPC and paid search for licensed operators

Paid search catches people who already intend to bet or play with a licensed brand. iGaming PPC is mostly about winning those searches efficiently in each state and sending them to a page that carries every required disclosure.

Brand defense and state campaigns

Separate campaigns per state keep budgets, offers and disclosures aligned with each license, and brand campaigns stop affiliates and competitors from buying the clicks your own name earns.

Landing pages built for the rules

One template per state: operator name, 21+ statement, the offer with its material terms at the size the rule requires, the helpline and a clear path to identity checks. We design and test these on our landing page design service.

Bidding on verified outcomes

Smart bidding learns from the conversion you feed it. Feeding it verified first deposits, not raw registrations, stops the system chasing sign-ups that never pass identity checks.

Programmatic, streaming TV and audio with 21+ audience controls

Programmatic and connected TV deliver the reach of broadcast with far better audience data, which matters when a placement can be judged by the share of under-21 viewers.

Audience composition before every buy

We ask publishers for audience composition data, exclude youth-skewing content and apps, and keep the evidence in the campaign file so the operator can show the regulator why a placement was chosen.

Contextual and site exclusions

Campus media, gaming content aimed at teens, school sports coverage and responsible gaming resources are excluded at the exchange level. The Massachusetts rule specifically bars ads on websites devoted primarily to responsible gaming.

Frequency and saturation

Frequency caps keep a viewer from seeing the same spot over and over during one game, which is both better practice and a safeguard against the saturation rule.

Our programmatic advertising, video advertising and display advertising services run these buys; retargeting is limited to adults who visited the operator’s own pages.

iGaming affiliate marketing and partner programs

Affiliates and media partners are a standard acquisition channel for operators. The operator answers for what partners publish, so a partner program needs contracts, tracking and review as tight as the operator’s own ads.

The operator is responsible for partner content

Massachusetts holds the operator responsible for advertising done on its behalf by any third party under contract, whether or not that party is itself licensed or registered as a vendor. Partner pages need the same age line, helpline and terms as the operator’s own ads.

How can partners be paid?

In Massachusetts, an operator may not pay a third party for advertising or marketing when compensation depends on the volume of patrons or wagers or on the outcome of wagers. Sports betting affiliate marketing in that state therefore runs on flat or other permitted fees, and we draft partner terms state by state with the operator’s counsel.

Tracking and disclosure

Each partner gets its own tracked links and reporting by state, so the operator can see which partner produced verified, active players and which produced sign-ups that never deposited.

Partner program checks before a partner goes live
CheckWhy it mattersHow we verify it
State license or registration where requiredSome states license marketing vendorsPartner documents on file before launch
Compensation modelSome states bar volume-based payContract reviewed against each state’s rule
Age, helpline and terms on every pageThe operator answers for partner contentPre-launch review and monthly spot checks
No content aimed at under-21 audiencesProhibited in every 21+ stateAudience data and content review
Ad archive and placement logRecords rulesShared folder with dated captures

Creator partnerships follow the same discipline; our influencer marketing team adds age-verified audiences and written disclosure requirements to every brief.

CRM, retention and responsible gaming

Retention decides whether acquisition spend pays back, and it is also where responsible gaming obligations are most direct. Good CRM keeps players informed and engaged without pressure to chase losses.

Onboarding that explains limits

The first messages after a deposit explain deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion as plainly as they explain the product. Players who understand the tools trust the brand more.

Suppression comes first

Every send is filtered against self-exclusion lists and opt-outs before it leaves. Massachusetts bars text messages and unsolicited pop-up ads to people enrolled in its self-exclusion program and requires a clear unsubscribe in all direct marketing.

Messages to avoid

No messages that encourage players to chase losses or reinvest winnings, suggest that betting solves financial problems, or imply that more time or money raises the chance of winning, which are all on the Massachusetts list of prohibited content.

A retention calendar for the first 90 days
WhenMessageGuardrail
Day 0Welcome, account security, limits toolsSent only after identity checks pass
Days 1 to 7How the product works, settlement and withdrawalsNo offer that requires a loss to unlock
Days 8 to 30Sports calendar, product features, loyalty basicsFrequency cap per channel
Days 31 to 60Personal preferences and channel choiceOpt-out honored across every channel
Days 61 to 90Loyalty status and responsible gaming check-inExcluded players removed before every send
Check grid of eight sportsbook marketing channels, marked by whether each is a strong fit for acquiring new players, retaining existing players, or both.Check grid of eight sportsbook marketing channels, marked by whether each is a strong fit for acquiring new players, retaining existing players, or both.
Editorial assessment, not measured data.

Lifecycle builds run on our marketing automation and SMS marketing services, with the CRM structure set up by our CRM consultants.

Promotion copy and creative that pass review

Promotion wording is where state rules get most specific. The safest offer is one whose cost to the player is as visible as its value.

Free means free

Massachusetts and Ohio both bar describing a bet as free or risk-free when the player has to risk their own money to use it or to withdraw winnings. If a player must wager a set amount to receive a bonus, Massachusetts requires that amount to be shown in the same font size and style as the bonus, and the bonus cannot be called free.

Terms where the player sees the offer

Material conditions belong in the ad itself, and in Massachusetts a pop-up must explain the terms when promotional credit is added to an account. Non-material detail can sit on a terms page when the format is too small.

People and places in the creative

Massachusetts bars depicting anyone who is or appears to be under 21, apart from live footage of professional athletes during events, and bars school or college settings. Casting, wardrobe and locations are checked against these rules at the storyboard.

No implied outcomes

Copy never suggests that betting guarantees social, financial or personal success, and no employee or partner advises a player to place a specific wager. Offers describe the promotion, not the result.

  • The operator and license holder named on the ad
  • The legal age stated in the form the state requires
  • The helpline at the size the format requires
  • The amount a player must wager shown as clearly as the bonus
  • Material terms in the ad, detail on a linked terms page
  • No people who are or look under 21, and no school or campus settings
  • No promise of winnings, success or a way out of money problems
  • Approval recorded from the operator’s compliance team
Scorecard of eight sportsbook promotion examples, four marked acceptable and four marked as failing state advertising rules.Scorecard of eight sportsbook promotion examples, four marked acceptable and four marked as failing state advertising rules.
Editorial assessment, not legal advice.
21+: Age statement in every ad. Where the state sets 21.
Help: Helpline in every ad. The wording each state requires.
Terms: Material terms up front. Same size as the offer.
Free?: Free means free. No own money at risk.
Opt out: Unsubscribe in every send. Plus self-exclusion suppression.
Log: Every ad archived. With where and when it ran.

Paying more for each first deposit than last year?Share read access to your ad accounts and your deposit reporting. A free proposal follows, naming the spend we would cut and the audiences and offers we would test.

Get a free proposal

Casino marketing strategy for online and land-based casinos

Casino marketing combines the same acquisition channels with property marketing: hotel, dining, entertainment and loyalty. A casino marketing agency has to plan both, because many players move between the app and the floor.

Online casino marketing strategy

Online casino gaming is legal only where a state has authorized it, often separately from sports wagering, so online casino marketing is narrower and more data-led: licensed-state geotargeting, game-led creative without win promises, and CRM that leans on loyalty and responsible play tools.

Casino marketing ideas that stay inside the rules

Entertainment and dining packages, loyalty tier benefits, tournaments with clear terms, concerts and events, and content about the property itself. None of them depend on implying that a player will win.

Retail sportsbooks inside casinos

A retail sportsbook is a venue as well as a betting product. Local search, events around big games and loyalty integration bring people in; the same age and helpline rules apply to every sign and screen.

Casino property search and local visibility are covered on our casino SEO page.

How AI assistants answer questions about sportsbooks and suppliers

Adults ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot and Google AI Overviews which sportsbooks are legal in their state, how a product works or how to set deposit limits; operators and investors ask which B2B suppliers serve a market. The answers lean on sources that are specific, current and verifiable.

What assistants tend to cite

Regulator lists of licensed operators, the operator’s own help and responsible gaming pages, terms pages, press coverage, and comparison pages from established media. For B2B suppliers, they cite product documentation, partner announcements and trade press.

What an operator should publish

A plain page for each state with the license holder, availability and age rules; help pages that answer how deposits, withdrawals and limits work; and a responsible gaming page with the helplines. Google says there are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode beyond being indexed and eligible for a snippet, so clear, crawlable pages are the foundation.

Our AEO for casinos service handles AI-answer visibility in depth, and our AEO agency page explains the method.

Measuring sportsbook marketing by verified players and revenue

The headline number is cost per first deposit, but it only means something next to retention and revenue. A cheap first deposit from a player who never returns is an expensive one.

Process map of six steps from an ad seen by an adult audience to a retained player, with the check at each step.Process map of six steps from an ad seen by an adult audience to a retained player, with the check at each step.
Editorial process map, not measured data.

Attribution across channels and states

Every campaign is tagged by state, channel and partner, and conversions are passed back as verified events, so search, video, partners and CRM can be compared on the same basis.

Bonus cost is part of acquisition cost

Promotional credit is a marketing expense. We report it next to media cost, so a channel that looks cheap only because of a large bonus is visible.

Sportsbook marketing metrics and what each tells you
MetricWhat it measuresWhy it matters
Verified registration rateSign-ups that pass age, identity and location checksFilters out traffic that can never play
Cost per first depositMedia and partner cost divided by first depositsThe core acquisition number
30-day activityShare of depositors still active after a monthSeparates real players from bonus seekers
Net revenue per playerRevenue after promotions, by channelShows which channels pay back
Bonus cost sharePromotional credit against revenueKeeps offers from eating margin
Compliance incidentsAds corrected or pulled after reviewA program health measure, not a footnote
CPA: Cost per first deposit. The headline acquisition number.
KYC: Verified sign-ups. Registrations that pass checks.
D30: Active after 30 days. Retention, not just sign-ups.
NGR: Net gaming revenue. Per player, by channel.
Mix: Bonus cost share. Promotion spend against revenue.
Flags: Compliance incidents. Ads pulled or corrected.

Tracking and reporting are set up by our marketing analytics team, and page testing by our conversion rate optimization team.

How much do sportsbooks spend on advertising, and what does an agency cost?

Spend varies by state, season and operator size. Publicly traded operators report sales and marketing expense in their annual filings, which anyone can read through the SEC’s EDGAR full text search; for a single brand, the budget follows the number of licensed states and the launch calendar.

What drives the agency fee

Number of states, channels and partners, creative volume, the depth of compliance review and whether CRM is included. A one-state paid search program and a multi-state launch with video, partners and CRM are different jobs.

Sportsbook marketing costs: Progression’s prices and published US market bands
ItemPriceWhat it is
Paid media management, percentage of spend10% to 20% of monthly mediaPublished US price band (market figure, not a Progression rate card)
Paid media management, flat retainer$2,000 to $10,000 a monthPublished US price band (market figure, not a Progression rate card)
Paid media audits and one-off work, hourly$100 to $250 an hourPublished US price band (market figure, not a Progression rate card)
Analytics and conversion tracking implementationFrom $2,400Progression one-off project
Single landing pageFrom $1,400Progression fixed-scope build
SEO retainer (operators and suppliers)From $1,500 a monthProgression retainer, delivered through the casino SEO service

Ad spend goes to the platforms and publishers, not to us. Every engagement starts with a free proposal and a written scope, and a quote follows that scope. Our SEO pricing and website pricing pages publish the rest of our rates.

How to choose a sports betting marketing agency

Choose for regulatory fluency first and channel skill second. An agency that does not know the state rules will cost you more in corrections and pulled ads than it saves on fees.

Requirements for a sportsbook marketing agency and how to check them
RequirementHow to check it
Knows the rules in your statesAsk them to walk through one state’s advertising rule and what it changes in your ads
Works only for licensed operators and suppliersAsk who they decline to work with and why
Has run gambling-certified accountsAsk how Google certification and Meta authorization are handled
Measures verified players, not clicksAsk to see a report structure built on first deposits and retention
Builds partner programs that meet state pay rulesAsk how affiliates are paid in a state that bars volume-based fees
Keeps an ad archive and placement logAsk where every version of every ad is stored
Leaves accounts and data in your nameCheck the contract for account ownership

Questions worth asking before you sign

Which ad of theirs was pulled or corrected and what changed afterward, who reviews copy against each state’s rule, and how they keep campaigns away from under-21 audiences on programmatic and social.

Casino marketing companies or an online betting marketing agency?

Property-focused casino marketing companies and an online betting marketing agency bring different skills: one knows hotel, dining and floor promotions, the other knows certified ad accounts, partners and CRM. Ask which casino marketing solutions they propose for the floor and which for the app, and who on the team has run each.

Marketing agency for sports betting or a generalist?

A generalist can buy media; a specialist knows that the Massachusetts end card needs an 8% helpline, that free has a legal meaning and that partner pay can breach a rule. For a regulated launch the specialist is cheaper.

Launching a sportsbook in a new state

The marketing plan for a new state starts when the license application is underway, not when it is granted. Certifications, partner contracts and creative reviews all take weeks.

Timeline of a state launch from sixteen weeks before launch to the first eight weeks of live campaigns.Timeline of a state launch from sixteen weeks before launch to the first eight weeks of live campaigns.
Editorial timeline, not a regulator schedule.

Before launch

Read the state’s advertising rule, set up certified ad accounts for the state, sign and review partner contracts, build state landing pages and creative, and agree the review process with compliance.

The first eight weeks

Launch with search and video, add partners and programmatic once tracking is proven, run the CRM welcome series and move budget toward the channels with the lowest cost per first deposit and the best 30-day activity.

How to start a sportsbook: where marketing fits

The license, platform, payments and identity checks come first and are set by the state regulator. Marketing begins once the operator knows its launch window, so channels, partners and creative are approved before the first day of wagering.

How Progression runs igaming marketing services

As an igaming marketing agency we work in fixed steps with sign-off at each one, so the operator’s compliance team sees every ad before it runs.

  1. Audit: accounts, certifications, creative, partners, tracking and past compliance issues
  2. Rules map: the advertising rules for each state you operate in, turned into a checklist
  3. Plan: channels, audiences, offers and budgets per state, agreed in writing
  4. Build: certified accounts, landing pages, creative, partner terms and CRM journeys
  5. Review: every ad checked against the state checklist and approved by your compliance team
  6. Launch and optimize: budgets moved weekly toward verified first deposits and retention
  7. Report and archive: monthly results by state and channel, with every ad stored and logged

What we need from you

Your license footprint and launch calendar, access to ad accounts and analytics, your compliance contact and your responsible gaming policy, and one person who can approve creative quickly during launch.

Where an engagement can start

Some operators want a full igaming digital marketing agency for a state launch; others want an audit, a partner program rebuild or a CRM program only. Each one begins with a free proposal and a written scope.

Operators usually need several of these at once. Each page goes deeper on one discipline.

Plan your next state launch with us

Tell us your license footprint, your launch dates and what is working now. We will reply with a free proposal and a written scope.

Get a free proposal

Frequently asked questions

Which services does a sportsbook marketing agency provide to licensed operators?
A sportsbook marketing agency plans and runs advertising, partner programs and player messaging for licensed operators. That covers paid search, YouTube and streaming video, authorized Meta accounts, programmatic, affiliates and CRM, with 21+ audiences, helplines and full promotion terms in every ad. It reports on verified players, cost per first deposit and retention.
Is advertising gambling illegal for a licensed sportsbook?
Not for licensed operators. Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA, each state decides whether to allow sports wagering and sets its own advertising rules. A licensed operator can advertise in states where it holds a license, inside those rules and each platform’s policy. Advertising illegal or unlicensed gambling is prohibited.
Can you advertise online gambling on Google and Meta?
Yes, with approval. Google requires gambling certification, a state license where required, no targeting of users under 21 or outside licensed states, and a problem gambling warning on the landing page or in the ad. Meta requires an authorized ad account with evidence of licensing and bars targeting anyone under 18; we set the state’s legal age instead.
Where can a licensed operator advertise gambling?
Search, YouTube and streaming TV, sports radio and podcasts, authorized social accounts, programmatic display, lawful outdoor media, professional team sponsorships and partner sites. The test for every placement is whether the audience is overwhelmingly adult and inside a licensed state. Schools, campuses, college media and youth-skewing outlets stay off the plan.
How do you advertise sports betting responsibly?
Target only verified adults in licensed states, state the legal age and a helpline in every ad, show the full cost of any offer next to its value, never call a bet free when the player’s own money is at risk, suppress self-excluded players and opt-outs, and keep an archive of every ad with where it ran.
How much do sportsbooks spend on advertising?
It varies widely by state footprint, season and operator size, and no single figure fits every brand. Publicly traded operators report sales and marketing expense in annual filings that anyone can read through the SEC’s EDGAR search. For one operator, budgets follow the number of licensed states and the launch calendar.
Who regulates sports betting in the United States?
Each state that legalizes sports wagering regulates it, usually through a gaming commission or control board, such as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission or the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Gaming on tribal lands sits under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the National Indian Gaming Commission. Google and Meta add their own approval rules for ads.
How do you start a sportsbook?
Start with the license: each state sets who can operate, what suitability checks apply and which platforms, payment and identity systems are allowed. Operators then choose whether to build a platform or license one from a supplier. Marketing begins once a launch window is known, so ad certifications, partner contracts and creative reviews are finished before the first day of wagering.
How do you start a sports betting business without running a sportsbook?
Many companies serve the industry as B2B suppliers instead: platforms, odds and data, payments, identity checks, streaming or marketing services. Some states require these vendors to be licensed or registered. Their marketing is business-to-business, aimed at operators through trade press, events, product documentation and account-based campaigns.
What online gambling advertising laws does a campaign have to follow?
The rules of every state where the ad is seen, plus platform policy. Common requirements include a 21+ statement, a helpline in a set form, the operator named, no placements where many viewers are under 21, no campus advertising, honest promotion wording and an ad archive. Your counsel should confirm the rules for each state.
Can a sportsbook ad say free bet or risk-free?
Only when it is true. Massachusetts and Ohio both bar describing a promotion as free or risk-free if the player must incur a loss or risk their own money to use it or withdraw winnings. Massachusetts also requires the amount a player must wager to be shown in the same font size and style as the bonus.
How do sportsbooks keep ads away from people under 21?
They buy only placements with adult audience data, exclude youth-skewing media, schools, campuses and student outlets, set platform age controls to the state’s legal age, cast only adults and avoid school settings. In Massachusetts, ads may not run where 25% or more of the audience is reasonably expected to be under 21.
What must a responsible gaming message include?
It depends on the state. Massachusetts requires a link to and phone number for its problem gambling helpline in the wording the Department of Public Health provides, at minimum sizes for each format. Ohio requires problem gambling messages with an approved helpline. The National Council on Problem Gambling runs 1-800-MY-RESET for calls and texts.
Can affiliates be paid per depositing player?
Not everywhere. Massachusetts bars an operator from paying a third party for advertising or marketing when compensation depends on the volume of patrons or wagers or on the outcome of wagers. Partner terms have to be drafted state by state, and the operator remains responsible for what partners publish.
Which numbers should an igaming marketing agency report?
Verified registrations, cost per first deposit, 30-day activity, net revenue per player after promotions, bonus cost as a share of revenue and compliance incidents. Clicks and raw sign-ups are tracked but not used to judge a channel, because many never pass identity checks or never deposit.
How long does a state launch campaign take to prepare?
We plan about sixteen weeks: rules review and channel planning first, then platform certifications and partner contracts, then creative, landing pages and tracking, then pre-registration. The first eight weeks after launch are spent moving budget toward the channels with the best cost per first deposit and retention.
How do sports marketing agencies make money?
Most charge a monthly retainer, a percentage of media spend or a project fee, and some add creative production fees. Published US price bands for paid media management run from 10% to 20% of monthly spend or $2,000 to $10,000 a month as a flat retainer. In some states, fees tied to wager volume are not allowed.
How does sports betting help with marketing for teams and media?
For professional teams, venues and broadcasters, licensed operators are sponsors and advertisers, which creates partnership revenue and new content such as branded segments. Those deals carry the same rules: adult audiences, no college or school tie-ins, helplines and honest offers, and no saturation of a live broadcast.
Do you also work as a casino marketing agency for casino properties?
Yes. We work with online casinos in the states that permit them and with land-based and tribal casino properties, covering acquisition, loyalty and CRM, events and entertainment promotion, and retail sportsbook marketing. Property search work runs through our casino SEO service, and every campaign carries the same age and helpline rules.
Will ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews recommend a sportsbook?
Assistants tend to answer state legality questions with regulator lists of licensed operators, and product questions with the operator’s own help pages and established media. An operator improves its chances by publishing clear state availability, help and responsible gaming pages that are indexed and easy to quote.
Do you create betting picks, odds content or promo-code pages?
No. We do not produce picks, odds content, tipster material or promo-code pages, and we do not market to people under 21 or to anyone who has excluded themselves. Our work is for licensed operators and B2B suppliers: compliant advertising, partner programs, CRM and measurement.
How much does a sportsbook marketing agency cost with Progression?
Progression’s own published prices include analytics and conversion tracking implementation from $2,400, a single landing page from $1,400 and SEO retainers from $1,500 a month. Paid media management is quoted per scope; published US market bands run from 10% to 20% of spend or $2,000 to $10,000 a month. Ad spend goes to the platforms.
Can a sportsbook licensed in another state hire a New York agency?
Yes. Our team works from New York City for operators and suppliers in every state where they hold a license, and abroad. Campaigns are planned state by state around each license, and every engagement starts with a free proposal and a written scope.

Launching in a new state next season?Send the state, the launch window and the channels you plan to use. You get a free proposal with a written scope, a compliance checklist for that state and the first campaigns we would build.

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