Pre-Roll is a great ad format all around. It can captivate users from the get-go, which is great for attracting high rollers addicted to adrenaline and emotions. This ad format is mobile-friendly, scalable, and relatively affordable. When done right, it delivers engaged users who are ready to deposit.

But the iGaming niche doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and the competition there is stiff. Users are accustomed to seeing dozens of generic and similar-looking ads every day. You need to stand out with your Pre-Rolls if you want to be the center of attention. And we’re here to show you how to retain users in 5 seconds, so they’re less likely to skip your offer.

Having spent years testing Pre-Rolls across various GEOs and verticals, we know exactly what works right now, how to grab the required attention in the first few seconds, and how to craft resonating creatives.

The first 1–3 seconds decide everything

Pre-Rolls serve as a heavy-hitter when you need to stop the user, preventing them from skipping your super-special ad. This is especially true for adult traffic, where users are more easygoing and less focused.

Waste no time and hook users with fast movement and tension, bold, clear text overlays, and the main selling points right at the start. When it comes to iGaming, the following examples tend to work well:

• “Instant Withdrawals”
• “500% Welcome Bonus ”
• “Crash Games Paying Out Right Now”

Keep things clear and fair. Make sure you can deliver on what you promise, because if that’s not the case, trust will vanish before the skip button appears.

Why Pre-Rolls work so well for iGaming

Although short by design, Pre-Rolls don’t need to be long because they combine video, audio, and text in a single format. They are perfect for conveying emotion, speed, and reward: everything that drives iGaming conversions. A typical Pre-Roll features a straightforward structure:

1. Quick, attention-grabbing hook
2. Clear benefit, selling point, or offer
3. Strong branding
4. Direct call-to-action

You can take this design to the next level with often-neglected music and sounds. The right audio at the right time is the go-to recipe for excitement, anticipation, and engagement. Just make sure that the sounds and music don’t clash. 

Make Pre-Rolls stand out from the rest

High-quality production might look too blank and sterile at times. This is bad for relatability, and you want your offer to be relatable, somewhat grounded. That’s why you don’t need Hollywood-level production; aim for pacing, relevance, and authenticity. Here are approaches that are working well right now:

• Slightly rough, meme-style edits often outperform overly polished commercials, since players are tired of glossy ads.
• Authentic reactions and real gameplay footage tend to build more trust than fake “big win” animations.
• Using AI tools (like RunwayML for quick iterations) helps test ideas faster, but at the end of the day, your creativity is the asset that will generate the bulk of profit. Delegate routine tasks to AI, but don’t expect it to replace you.

Never forget that when working with TwinRed, you’re allowed to try more daring, suggestive creatives. This concerns iGaming and mainstream verticals too, so don’t be afraid to go bold with your cross-vertical promotion.

And if you struggle with anything, reach out to us, either via Telegram or directly by dropping a line to your AM. We are ready to assist you in achieving the best performance.