Strategies for Revenue Maximization in a Fantasy Sports App

7% ARPU jump, 50% more joins

When a major daily fantasy sports platform faced declining user engagement and revenue stagnation, they turned to our product advisory team to unlock new growth opportunities.

Through our methodical approach to product strategy and user experience optimization, we developed the "Treasure Hunt" - a revolutionary gamification feature that increased average revenue per user (ARPU) by 7% and drove 50% more users to participate in multiple contests.

This case study demonstrates our ability to identify core product challenges, design innovative solutions, and execute complex feature rollouts across gaming, fintech, and engagement-driven platforms.

Need help? Email us at help@reymanadvisors.com and our team of advisors will be happy to help you!

Client Background: Gaming Giant's Growth Challenge

Our client, a leading daily fantasy sports platform with millions of active users, was experiencing critical engagement issues:

• 73% of users joined only single contests with single teams

• Revenue cannibalization between different contest types

• Poor visibility for smaller, innovative contest formats

• Limited user retention beyond initial contest participation

The platform needed a strategic solution that would increase user engagement without disrupting their core revenue streams from mega contests.

The Challenge: Breaking the Single-Contest Barrier

Primary Pain Points Identified

1. Single Contest Dependency The platform's user behavior analytics revealed a concerning pattern:

   1. 73% single team, single contest participation

   2. Only 11% multiple team, single contest

   3. 12% multiple team, multiple contest

   4. 5% single team, multiple contest
      

      

      Single team, single contest users dominated the app

2. Revenue Cannibalization Risk

   The company couldn't launch low-entry-fee contests ($1-5) due to fears of cannibalizing their high-value contests that drove primary revenue.

   
   

3. Discovery and Visibility Issues

   With hundreds of contests available, smaller or newer contest formats struggled for user attention, limiting experimentation and growth opportunities.

   
   

4. Missed Monetization Opportunities Over $5 million in unused wallet balances sat dormant in user accounts with less than $3 remaining - representing untapped revenue potential.

Our Strategic Approach:

Phase 1: Deep User Research and Behavioral Analysis

We conducted comprehensive user journey mapping and behavioral analysis to understand why users weren't engaging with multiple contests. Our research revealed:

• Users wanted to "win big" with minimal investment

• Contest discovery was overwhelming and non-intuitive

• No clear progression system to guide user engagement

• Lack of exclusive, achievement-based access to premium contests

  
  

Phase 2: Competitive Analysis and Market Research

Through systematic competitive analysis across gaming, fintech, and engagement platforms, we identified successful gamification patterns:

• Progressive unlock systems in mobile gaming

• Tier-based rewards in loyalty programs

• Spending-threshold unlocks in e-commerce platforms

• Exclusive access models in premium services

  
  

Phase 3: Solution Design - The Treasure Hunt

Based on our research, we designed a comprehensive gamification system that would:

1. Create spending-based progression without cannibalizing existing contests

2. Provide exclusive access to special contests as rewards

3. Utilize unused wallet balances through micro-engagement opportunities

4. Maintain user excitement through unlock animations and achievements

Tier Structure & Mechanics:

Level	Name	Contest Types	Psychological Driver
1	Big Treasure	Entry-level exclusives	Accessibility
2	Gold Treasure	Mid-tier opportunities	Progression
3	Grand Treasure	High-value contests	Status
4	Max Treasure	Premium access	Exclusivity
5	Ultra Treasure	Elite competitions	Prestige

Cohort-wise unlocking thresholds:

We developed a data-backed system of unlocking thresholds where exclusive contests would unlock at different values for different users. For instance: Let's assume the user's usual spend is $5 per session

Level	Name	Unlock Threshold	Logic
1	Big Treasure	$5	Unlock at user's usual spending pattern. User does not need to spend any additional money to start the Treasure Hunt
2	Gold Treasure	$7	L1 will have a $2 contest that enables user to unlock L2
3	Grand Treasure	$10	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards
4	Max Treasure	$12	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards
5	Ultra Treasure	$15	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards

Now, for a higher value user whose usual spend is $100 per session

Level	Name	Unlock Threshold	Logic
1	Big Treasure	$100	Unlock at user's usual spending pattern. User does not need to spend any additional money to start the Treasure Hunt
2	Gold Treasure	$110	L1 will have a $10 contest that pushes users to join L2 contests.
3	Grand Treasure	$125	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards
4	Max Treasure	$150	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards
5	Ultra Treasure	$170	Progressive spends to unlock higher rewards

Technical Implementation Strategy

Backend Architecture Innovations:

1. Real-time Spending Tracker

   • Match-level spending attribution

   • Cross-platform synchronization

   • Millisecond-level unlock processing
     

2. Dynamic User Segmentation Engine

   • Personalized threshold adjustments

   • Behavioral pattern recognition

   • Cohort-based experience optimization
     

3. Anti-Cannibalization Logic

   • Revenue protection algorithms

   • Contest placement optimization

   • Competitive impact modeling
     

4. Built on existing infrastructure

   • Re-used existing streaks infrastructure

   • Ensured rapid deployment

     
     

Frontend User Experience Design:

1. Progressive unlock animations with 15% engagement boost

2. Real-time progress visualization driving 23% increased session duration

3. Personalized achievement notifications improving retention by 18%

Lessons Learned: Strategic Insights for Product Success

1. User Psychology in Product Design

Key Insight:

Users respond more positively to earning exclusive access than receiving discounts.

Application:

Frame new features as rewards for engagement rather than cost-reduction mechanisms.

Industry Relevance:

Applicable across gaming, fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS platforms where premium access can drive engagement.

2. Anti-Cannibalization Strategy

Key Insight:

New features must complement, not compete with, existing revenue streams.

Application:

Design progressive systems that require engagement with core features to access new opportunities.

Industry Relevance:

Critical for established platforms introducing new monetization models.

3. Real-Time Engagement Importance

Key Insight:

Immediate feedback and gratification significantly impact user retention and satisfaction.

Application:

Invest in real-time system capabilities for instant user feedback and progression updates.

Industry Relevance:

Essential for any platform where user engagement drives business success.

4. Unused Asset Monetization

Key Insight:

Small, seemingly insignificant user assets can represent substantial untapped revenue opportunities.

Application:

Analyze user account data for dormant value that can be activated through strategic feature design.

Industry Relevance:

Applicable to any platform with user accounts, wallets, points, or credits.

Why Our Approach Works

Deep Industry Expertise

Our team combines extensive experience across gaming, fintech, and engagement platforms with deep technical knowledge of scalable product architecture. This unique combination allows us to design solutions that are both user-centric and technically feasible.

Methodical Problem-Solving Process

We don't just implement solutions - we systematically identify root causes, analyze user behavior, design targeted interventions, and measure results. Our framework ensures sustainable, long-term success rather than quick fixes.

Cross-Industry Innovation Transfer

By understanding successful patterns across multiple industries, we bring innovative solutions that may be novel to your specific sector while being proven in others. This approach often leads to breakthrough competitive advantages.

Technical Implementation Excellence

Our solutions aren't just strategic - they're built to perform at scale. We consider technical architecture, performance optimization, and operational requirements from day one to ensure successful execution.

Transforming Your Product Strategy

Assessment and Discovery

We begin every engagement with comprehensive product and user behavior analysis to identify your specific growth opportunities and constraints.

Strategic Solution Design

Based on our assessment, we design customized solutions that address your unique challenges while leveraging proven success patterns from relevant industries.

Implementation Support

We provide ongoing support throughout implementation, from design to user experience optimization and results tracking

Continuous Optimization

Our engagement doesn't end at launch. We provide ongoing optimization support to ensure your product continues evolving based on user feedback and performance data.

We're here to help

Ready to unlock your product's growth potential? Our team of experienced product strategists specializes in transforming user engagement and revenue optimization across gaming, fintech, SaaS, and e-commerce platforms.

Email us at help@reymanadvisors.com and our team of advisors will be happy to help you!

Or you can also book a free 1 hour call with us to discuss how we can apply these proven methodologies to your specific challenges and opportunities.