Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2026 report revealed that sports apps saw record downloads in 2025, with sportsbook and gambling establishment platforms at the centre of the development.

Global downloads for sportsbook and gambling establishment apps saw year-on-year growth of 34%, regardless of a decline of 6% in the US.

Adoption in brand-new markets consisting of Brazil drove the sector-wide boom, with Betano being the most downloaded sports app in the country.

Meanwhile, Flashscore, Betnacional and bet365 completed the country's leading 4, and Sportingbet, H2bet, Betão bet and Superbet made the top 10, hammering home the dominance of the sector in the area.

"Superbet's growth in Brazil has been driven by a long-lasting approach to consumer engagement, developed on the mix of product quality, brand name relevance and accountable operations," stated Patricia Bortolozo Prates, SuperBet Brazil's Marketing Director.

"From the beginning, we comprehended that presence alone does not create loyalty. Sustainable engagement comes from providing a constant, trustworthy and intuitive experience that develops trust gradually.

"On the item side, the focus has been on usability, platform stability and a broad offering that fulfills various customer choices. This is supported by strong customer support and a clear commitment to openness, which are necessary to retention and life time worth."

Globally, Indian fantasy sports platform Dream11 topped the list. Dream11's addition on the list will likely supply some relief to company management following the restriction on real-money games in India last year, triggering the company to start a substantial international growth drive.

Following Dream11 were streaming platform and betting operator DAZN and football media app BeSoccer, while live scores app, sports media and sports betting affiliate marketing Flaschore ranked 5th.

"The State of Mobile 2026 report validates what we see in our raw data: sports fans are increasingly demanding speed and depth over easy content," said Martin Matejka, Marketing Director of Flashscore.

"This dual accomplishment highlights an unusual supremacy in the mobile ecosystem: Flashscore is not just maintaining the biggest worldwide audience however is also acquiring brand-new users quicker than any rival in the sector.

"For the wagering and sports marketing markets, these numbers represent a huge, extremely engaged audience that counts on Flashscore for instantaneous data, making it a crucial touchpoint for real-time sports intake."

Changing landscapes from India to America

Dream 11's addition on the list will likely supply some relief to company management following the ban on real-money video games in India in 2015, triggering the firm to start an extensive worldwide expansion drive.

Despite a small dip in the US - likely due to the intro of regulatory constraints in areas like California, Texas and Georgia - the development of Pick 'em apps halted the slide.

Apps such as Underdog (+39%) and Sleeper (+15%) saw significant growth, while established names consisting of betMGM (-33%), FanDuel (-17%) and DraftKings (-15%) all experienced double digit falls.

The figures around BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings might show a plateauing of the US sportsbook market, as smaller competitors find their niche and predictions markets like Kalshi and Polymarket continue to grow - though the latter 2 were not featured on Sensor Tower's list.

Separetely, Underdog, Sleeper and fellow Pick 'em apps like PrizePicks and Betr Picks have actually targeted US markets inaccessible to conventional sportsbooks, as they are typically categorised as Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) apps and are exempt to the very same regulative requirements as wagering platforms.

The space in month-to-month active users share in the region has actually closed significantly, with 37% of users now on Pick 'em apps and 63% on sportsbetting apps. This is a stark contrast to around 3 years back, when sportsbetting apps had 79% of users.

Although the gap is closing, FanDuel still ranked as the 3rd most downloaded sports app in the US, ahead of PrizePicks in fourth and 5th put DraftKings.

FanDuel likewise made the top 10 in Canada, ranking 5th, behind second placed bet365 and third positioned Ontario Gaming and Lottery Group (OLG), but ahead of Stake in 6th and DAZN in seventh. The latter was likewise the 3rd most downloaded sports app in Argentina.

Mexico's top 10 was betting-heavy, with Caliente Casino, DAZN, betmexico.mx and Betmaster comprising the top four respectively.

Playdoit (6th) ranked ahead of Rushbet (seventh), Betano (eighth) and LiveScore (10th) in a country which could see further development this summer when it plays host to the World Cup.

So, how does a brand secure its location on this list? How does one ended up being so well acknowledged that it ends up being the average customer's go-to when they initially download a sportsbook? SuperBet's Marketing Director uses a description.

"From a brand perspective, Superbet invests in sports, home entertainment and cultural platforms that develop genuine emotional connections with audiences, while incorporating these efforts into a more comprehensive media and material strategy," Bortolozo Prates mentioned.

"We have actually placed ourselves among the leading gamers in Brazil's home entertainment and cultural sectors, moving beyond mere direct exposure to provide special user experiences through high-impact sponsorships, including Carnival, the Club's World Cup, and Brazil's premier music festivals.

"Importantly, this engagement strategy has developed in lockstep with Brazil's regulated market. By adhering to the greatest standards of governance and compliance, we differentiate ourselves through reliability and sustainable value production.