This summer in Zadar, sporting legends and top broadcasters came together for the first-ever Sofascore Player of the Season Award Show, filmed during the Sunset Sports Festival. Now, the show has reached millions as it premiered on CBS, bringing together football stories and data-supported awards. 

The show celebrated Europe’s top performers from the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and many more leagues across the world, all chosen just through Sofascore’s objective performance ratings. No votes, no popularity contests. Mohamed Salah topped the Premier League with a 7.78 rating, Raphinha led LaLiga with 7.80, Mattia Zaccagni claimed Serie A’s best with 7.34, Joshua Kimmich was Bundesliga’s highest rated player with 7.91, and Achraf Hakimi shined in Ligue 1 with 7.76. Beyond this, the awards also celebrated the highest-rated player in the UEFA Champions League, the top leagues in women’s football, and many more standout performers from around the globe.

Hosted by Kate Scott and Peter Schmeichel, and directed by Emmy Award-winner Pete Radovich, the event featured exclusive insights from football greats and top analysts including Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and Alessandro Del Piero. Raphinha shared his pride as both LaLiga and Champions League’s top-rated player, while Luka Modrić made history by receiving Sofascore’s first-ever Founders’ Legend Award. In the audience, big names like Dimitar Berbatov, Stipe Miočić, and Šime Vrsaljko added extra prestige to the celebration.

The Player of the Season celebration extended beyond the TV broadcast, with massive billboards in London, Liverpool, Barcelona, Munich, Rome, Frankfurt, Lyon, Metz, and other European cities, showcasing Sofascore’s award winners. From Raphinha and Alexia Putellas in Barcelona to Mohamed Salah in Liverpool and Joshua Kimmich in Munich, fans across Europe could see the season’s best right in their own cities.

Advertisement

The Sofascore Player of the Season Award is built on objective data, not public votes. Every goal, pass, tackle or miss contributes to a rating that reflects what truly happened on the pitch. That’s why, for players and all football fans around the globe, Sofascore’s Player of the Season trophy is the only award that counts.

In iGaming, everyone claims to be data-driven. But few actually translate player data into high-value retention, especially when it comes to nurturing VIPs.

Executive Director of iGaming at Digicode, Itai Zak, brings decades of leadership and a clear message: you don’t grow a VIP base by chance. You grow it by identifying value early, acting fast, and connecting data to real engagement.

What “Data-Driven” Means in Practice

Being data-driven goes far beyond having reports or dashboards. True data maturity means using insights daily to steer product, marketing, and player interactions.

1. Let Data Drive Daily Decisions

When churn risk rises or LTV drops on a channel, action should follow immediately, not at the end of the quarter. The most agile teams monitor live metrics and adjust campaigns, budgets, and messaging in real time.

Advertisement

2. Break Down the Silos

Many operators suffer from fragmented data. Real impact comes when departments share a single player view, blending gameplay, deposits, support history, and withdrawal behavior. It ensures VIP managers, CRM teams, and support agents speak the same language.

3. Predict What Comes Next

Looking backwards doesn’t build loyalty. Leading operators use predictive models to surface VIP potential based on the first few sessions long before players hit traditional thresholds.

4. Connect Insight to Action

Too often, BI teams flag valuable insights, but they die in a spreadsheet. The real differentiator is execution: triggering CRM flows, personal outreach, or incentives when data demands it.

The First 72 Hours: Where VIP Potential Is Revealed

Early behavior is the clearest predictor of long-term value, but only if you know what to track and how to respond.

1. High-Intent Behaviors

Watch for:

Advertisement

• High first or second deposits

• Short time gaps between deposits

• Early high-stakes bets

• Players exploring multiple game types
  

These are all signs that a player isn’t casually browsing – they’re actively looking to engage.

2. The “Testing” Pattern

Many VIPs start small – not because they lack funds, but because they’re testing. A small deposit followed by a quick withdrawal is often a trust check. If the process is smooth, they’ll return with bigger deposits. If it’s slow or frustrating, they’re gone.

3. Session Frequency and Progression

A sharp increase in session frequency or bet size across the first few days often signals growing comfort and potential scaling.

4. Offer and Message Engagement

If a player interacts with your welcome email, opens push notifications, or clicks SMS links, they’re giving you an open door. Don’t wait to walk through it.

5. Support Interactions

Players who contact support early, especially with questions about withdrawal limits or VIP benefits are usually serious. They’re checking if your operation is worth their loyalty.

Combine Predictive Models with Human Judgment

Advanced operators don’t just rely on instinct. They use scoring models that factor in behavior, deposit timing, game preferences, and more to surface likely VIPs.

Advertisement

But human oversight still matters. Not every large deposit means high value, and not every bonus-heavy player deserves long-term investment. Blend automation with VIP manager insight for the best results.

Turning Signals Into VIP Journeys

Once a player shows potential, the next steps must be fast, personal, and frictionless.

Move Immediately

Don’t wait for a fixed deposit milestone. If the model flags potential, move them into a high-touch onboarding flow instantly.

Assign a Personal Contact

A VIP manager should reach out directly: via phone, email, or chat. Introduce the service, highlight available perks, and offer real-time support. Early personal connection builds long-term trust.

Build Operational Confidence

For VIPs, reliability is everything. That means:

Advertisement

• Fast, seamless withdrawals

• Clear communication

• Instant issue resolution
  

Operational delays are one of the most common reasons VIPs walk – often without saying a word.

Tailor Offers Immediately

Ditch the generic bonus paths. Instead, align offers to:

• Game preferences

• Deposit frequency

• Bet sizes or session patterns
  

Consider non-monetary perks too: early access, private tournaments, or priority support often go further than cash.

Build Emotional Loyalty

Celebrate milestones, send personalized notes, or deliver surprise perks. Loyalty stems from recognition, not just rewards.

Automation That Converts Insight to Action

To deliver consistently, operators must integrate CRM, analytics, and predictive scoring into a real-time ecosystem.

Unify Player Data

Gameplay, transactions, offers, and support logs must feed into a central CRM. Without a 360° view, personalization fails.

Use Smart Triggers

When churn risk rises, send a reactivation offer. When VIP behavior is flagged, notify the VIP team and start an automated journey. Speed is critical so is consistency.

Advertisement

Segment and Route Intelligently

For example:

• “Bonus-heavy” players → low-cost paths

• “Testing” depositors → fast payment messaging

• “Multi-session, high-value” players → early VIP escalation
  

Close the Loop

After launching a campaign, track results. Feed that data back into the model to improve future accuracy and ROI.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with good data, many operators fall into predictable traps.

1. Acting Too Slowly

Waiting for a player to reach “VIP level” before acting often means missing your chance. Loyalty builds early or not at all.

Fix: Act within 48 hours of first signals, not weeks later.

2. Equating Big Deposits with Value

A one-time high roller isn’t necessarily a long-term asset.

Advertisement

Fix: Prioritize session consistency, gameplay diversity, and communication engagement, not just deposit size.

3. Confusing High Turnover with Profit

Bonus abusers can look like VIPs until the promotions stop.

Fix: Monitor bonus-to-deposit ratios and net revenue. True VIPs bring long-term, sustainable value.

Summing Up: VIP Growth Is Execution, Not Luck

The most successful operators don’t wait for players to raise their hands. They spot signals early, move fast, and create journeys that blend automation with human care.

VIP growth is no longer about guesswork. It’s about predicting value, delivering relevance, and doing it before your competitors do.

Advertisement

Because in iGaming, the player’s decision to stay (or leave) is often made in the first 72 hours.