Launching a new betting app requires more than just a solid product—it demands a strategic PR approach that cuts through the noise of a saturated market. With 70% of app installs coming directly from app store searches and competition fiercer than ever, marketing managers and startup founders need to coordinate media outreach, influencer partnerships, and app store optimization to gain traction. The betting app space presents unique challenges, from regulatory compliance to building trust with skeptical users, making PR an indispensable tool for establishing credibility and driving early adoption. This guide walks through proven strategies that help new betting apps attract media attention, partner effectively with sports personalities, and optimize their app store presence for maximum visibility.
Building media interest starts with understanding what makes your betting app genuinely newsworthy. Journalists receive hundreds of pitches daily, so your press materials must offer something beyond a standard product announcement. BetMGM’s recent app launch demonstrates this principle effectively—their press release focused on concrete improvements like faster navigation speeds, live same-game parlays, and real-time bet tracking rather than vague claims about being “the best” app available.
When crafting your press release, lead with specific user benefits rather than technical specifications. If your app processes bets 40% faster than competitors, frame this as “users can place bets in seconds, never missing crucial moments during live games.” This translation from feature to benefit makes your story accessible to both journalists and their audiences.
Pre-launch buzz generation proves critical for building momentum. Beta testing programs serve multiple purposes: they provide valuable user feedback, create a sense of exclusivity, and generate early testimonials you can include in press materials. Email list building through landing pages allows you to nurture potential users while demonstrating market interest to journalists. Social media teasers that showcase unique features—like AI-driven predictions or social betting capabilities—give media outlets shareable content that extends your reach beyond traditional press coverage.
Timing your press release to coincide with major sporting events or industry developments increases newsworthiness. Launching before football season, during March Madness, or alongside regulatory changes in key markets provides natural news hooks that journalists find compelling. Coordinate your PR messaging with these moments to ride existing media interest.
Partnering with Sports Personalities for Maximum Impact
Sports personality partnerships can accelerate your app’s credibility and reach, but only when executed strategically. The key lies in selecting influencers whose audience aligns with your target users and whose reputation withstands regulatory scrutiny. Start by analyzing potential partners’ engagement metrics rather than just follower counts—a sports personality with 100,000 highly engaged followers often delivers better results than one with a million passive followers.
Vetting sports personalities requires attention to several factors. First, examine their reputation and any past controversies that could damage your brand. Second, verify their audience demographics match your target users—a basketball player’s followers may not align with a horse racing app. Third, confirm they can legally promote betting services in your target markets, as regulations vary significantly by region.
Successful influencer campaigns in the betting space typically provide exclusive access or early features to the personality’s audience. This approach creates authentic content where the influencer genuinely experiences your app’s benefits rather than simply reading a script. For example, giving a sports personality early access to live streaming features or unique betting markets allows them to share genuine reactions and insights with their followers.
Legal compliance remains non-negotiable when working with sports personalities. Different jurisdictions impose varying restrictions on gambling advertising, including requirements for responsible gambling messages, age restrictions, and disclosure of paid partnerships. Work with legal counsel to ensure all influencer content meets local regulations, and provide clear guidelines to partners about what they can and cannot say about your app.
Programmatic advertising can amplify influencer partnerships by retargeting audiences who engage with influencer content. When a sports personality’s followers interact with their posts about your app, programmatic ads can serve follow-up messages that drive them toward download and registration.
Using App Store Optimization to Boost Visibility
App Store Optimization represents one of the most cost-effective strategies for acquiring users, with 70% of all app installs originating from app store searches. Your optimization efforts should begin with thorough keyword research identifying terms potential users actually search for when looking for betting apps. Tools like App Store Connect and Google Play Console provide search volume data for relevant keywords.
Your app title carries the most weight in search rankings, so include your primary keyword while keeping the title clear and memorable. Descriptions should incorporate secondary keywords naturally while explaining your app’s unique value proposition. Avoid keyword stuffing, which both app stores penalize and users find off-putting.
Visual assets make or break conversion rates once users find your app. Screenshots should showcase your most compelling features in the first three images, as many users never scroll beyond these. Include captions that highlight specific benefits: “Place bets in 3 taps” or “Track all your parlays in one view.” Preview videos perform exceptionally well when they demonstrate actual app usage rather than showing abstract graphics or testimonials.
Managing ratings and reviews requires active engagement. Prompt satisfied users to leave reviews by timing requests after positive experiences, like a successful bet payout or completing their first withdrawal. Respond to negative reviews professionally and quickly, demonstrating to potential users that you take feedback seriously. This responsiveness can improve your overall rating while showing prospective users that real people support the app.
Aligning ASO with your PR messaging creates consistency across all user touchpoints. If your press release emphasizes lightning-fast bet placement, your app store listing should feature screenshots and descriptions highlighting this speed. This alignment can improve conversion rates by up to 25% by reinforcing the same benefits across multiple channels.
Highlighting User-Friendly Features in PR Campaigns
Technical features mean nothing to users or journalists unless you translate them into tangible benefits. AI-driven predictions become “personalized betting insights that help you make smarter wagers.” Mobile-first design translates to “bet anywhere, anytime, without missing a moment.” Live stats integration means “real-time data at your fingertips for informed decisions.”
Standout features worth emphasizing in PR campaigns include social betting capabilities that let users share bets and compete with friends, live streaming that allows watching games while betting, and personalized offers based on user preferences and betting history. These features differentiate your app from competitors while addressing real user needs.
BetMGM’s approach to feature promotion provides a useful template. Their press materials focused on specific improvements users would notice immediately: faster app loading times, streamlined navigation requiring fewer taps to place bets, and enhanced live betting features. Each feature connected directly to a user pain point—slow apps, confusing interfaces, and limited in-game betting options.
When pitching to media outlets, prepare different angles for different publications. Tech journalists care about your app’s architecture and performance metrics. Sports media want to know how your features improve the betting experience for fans. Business publications focus on market opportunity and competitive differentiation. Tailoring your feature highlights to each audience increases coverage likelihood.
Effective PR Strategies for Early User Acquisition
Pre-launch tactics determine whether your app launches with momentum or silence. Beta testing programs should begin at least two months before launch, giving you time to gather feedback, make improvements, and build a community of early advocates. These beta testers become your first wave of reviews and social proof when you officially launch.
Email list building through a dedicated landing page allows you to nurture interest before launch day. Offer exclusive benefits to early subscribers—first access, special promotions, or unique features—to incentivize signups. This list becomes your launch day audience, providing immediate downloads that boost your app store rankings.
Social media teasers should reveal features gradually, building anticipation without giving away everything. Behind-the-scenes content showing your team’s work, sneak peeks of interface designs, and countdown posts create excitement while keeping your audience engaged. User-generated content from beta testers adds authenticity that polished marketing materials cannot match.
Coordinating PR with influencer and media outreach requires careful timing. Brief journalists under embargo several weeks before launch, giving them time to prepare coverage that publishes on launch day. Schedule influencer posts to coincide with your press release distribution, creating a wave of coverage across multiple channels simultaneously.
Tracking the right metrics helps you understand PR effectiveness and optimize ongoing efforts. Monitor download numbers, media coverage quantity and quality, social media engagement rates, and conversion from app store views to installs. These metrics reveal which PR tactics drive results and which need adjustment.
Programmatic advertising combined with PR amplifies your reach by retargeting users who engage with your media coverage or influencer content. When someone reads an article about your app or watches an influencer’s video, programmatic ads can serve follow-up messages that drive them toward download.
Affiliate programs extend your reach by incentivizing partners to promote your app. Sports blogs, betting tip sites, and gambling forums can drive significant user acquisition when properly motivated. Provide affiliates with ready-made content, graphics, and messaging that aligns with your PR narrative.
Localized marketing proves particularly important for betting apps, as regulations, popular sports, and user preferences vary dramatically by region. Tailor your PR messaging to emphasize features relevant to each market—football betting for European markets, basketball for the US, cricket for India. This localization extends to influencer selection, media outlets, and promotional offers.
Conclusion
Launching a betting app successfully in requires coordinating multiple PR strategies that work together to build awareness, credibility, and user adoption. Start by creating genuinely newsworthy press materials that highlight specific user benefits rather than generic claims. Partner with sports personalities whose audiences align with your target users, ensuring all collaborations meet legal requirements and feel authentic. Optimize your app store presence through careful keyword research, compelling visuals, and active review management that aligns with your broader PR messaging.
Focus your betting PR campaigns on translating technical features into clear user benefits that journalists and potential users can immediately understand. Build pre-launch momentum through beta testing, email list building, and social media teasers that create anticipation before launch day. Track key metrics like downloads, media coverage, and engagement rates to understand which tactics deliver results and deserve continued investment.
Your next steps should include auditing your current press materials for newsworthiness, identifying potential sports personality partners who fit your brand and audience, and conducting thorough keyword research for your app store listings. Create a coordinated launch timeline that synchronizes press releases, influencer posts, and paid advertising for maximum impact. Most importantly, remember that PR for betting apps is an ongoing process—continue refining your messaging, building media relationships, and optimizing your app store presence long after launch day to maintain momentum and drive sustained growth.
