A solo-operator iGaming push into the UK — a demanding Tier-1 market — through Telegram Mini Apps push-style ads, landing 129 registrations at $14 CPA and a 7% CTR over 25 days.
The task
The advertiser came to us with a funnel that already worked but had hit a volume ceiling. Needed to solo-launch a LeoVegas offer into the UK — a demanding Tier-1 market — on a limited $1,800 budget through a non-standard channel.
We worked the "iGaming" vertical in the United Kingdom market. Payment model — CPA per registration, main sources — Telegram Mini Apps.
How we did it
The setup was built sequentially, testing hypotheses on small budgets.
- Chose Telegram Mini Apps over the official Telegram Ads platform — the format removed creative restrictions, targeted Telegram Premium users with funded wallets, and read as native content rather than tagged advertising.
- Set up push-style creative (icon + text) with a $0.025 CPC bid that, thanks to a 75% win rate, effectively cost around $0.01.
- Tested ten creative variants; the winner combined an exact bonus amount, a direct brand mention ("LeoVegas — the UK's best casino"), an emotional win photo, and a USP around instant payouts and the UKGC license.
- Further optimized via whitelisting converting sources, micro bid increases on top creatives, and maximally fast traffic allocation within the auctions.
What went wrong
Not everything went according to plan. The official Telegram Ads platform imposes creative restrictions, and the UK is one of the most demanding Tier-1 markets for iGaming buying.
Switched to a push format inside Telegram Mini Apps, which bypasses the official platform's creative restrictions and gives precise targeting on the paying Telegram Premium audience.
The result
Here are the final numbers for the buying period. Over the twenty-five days: registrations — 129, cost per registration — $14, ctr — 7%.
Over 25 days and a $1,800 budget the campaign delivered 129 registrations at $14 CPA and a 7% CTR — noticeably above market average.
What we took away
- Telegram Mini Apps give access to the paying Telegram Premium audience without the official ad platform's creative restrictions.
- A direct brand mention and a specific bonus amount in a push-style creative outperform a generic pitch even in a strict Tier-1 market.
- Whitelisting converting sources and micro bid increases remain a working optimization method even on a non-standard ad channel.
These numbers belong to one specific setup, geo, and buying period. Economics will differ on another offer or in another season — we always recalculate them before launch.