What YoY measures
YoY compares a metric in a current period (a month, a quarter, a year) against the same metric in the matching period a year earlier. The formula is simple: (current period value minus prior-year period value) divided by prior-year period value, expressed as a percentage. A monthly YoY of 12% means the metric grew 12% relative to the same month last year.
The advantage over period-on-period comparisons (Month-over-Month, Quarter-over-Quarter) is seasonality adjustment. iGaming is heavily seasonal: sportsbook spikes around major tournaments, casino patterns shift around holidays, and weather affects retail volume. YoY absorbs most seasonality, since the comparison base is the equivalent seasonal slot.
YoY in iGaming reporting
Listed operators publish YoY growth in revenue, GGR, NGR, MAU, and similar headline metrics in every trading update. Platform vendors publish YoY growth in customer count and revenue per customer. Affiliate networks report YoY growth in referred FTDs and revenue. Across the industry, YoY is the single most-cited growth indicator.
One pitfall is base-period distortion. A particularly strong or weak prior-year period (one-off promotion, regulatory event, sporting tournament) can produce misleading YoY figures the following year. Most reporting includes a like-for-like adjustment that normalises for known base distortions.
Why YoY matters in B2B
For investors, YoY growth is the headline indicator of operator and vendor health. For operators, YoY benchmarking against peers is a standard board-pack component. For vendors, YoY growth in customer count and revenue per customer is the indicator most-watched by acquirers and analysts. For Gamblers Connect, YoY trend data underpins the operator-comparison and category-benchmarking sections of the iHub directory.
Because YoY is so heavily cited, the methodology behind the numerator and denominator has to be disclosed: like-for-like adjustments, currency effects, and changes in reporting perimeter all affect comparability across years and operators.
Frequently asked questions about What Is Year-over-Year (YoY) in iGaming?
Month-over-Month (MoM) compares the current month to the previous month. YoY compares the current month to the same month one year earlier. MoM shows short-term change; YoY normalises for seasonality.
It depends on market maturity. Newly regulated markets often see triple-digit YoY growth in the first two years. Mature regulated markets settle at low double-digit or single-digit growth. The benchmark has to be set against comparable operators in the same jurisdiction.
Yes, when the base period is unusual. A YoY drop following a one-off prior-year spike (such as a major tournament or pandemic-era surge) does not necessarily indicate weakness in the current year. Like-for-like adjustments help.
Year-to-Date (YTD) is the cumulative metric from the start of the calendar or fiscal year to the current date. YoY compares to the equivalent prior-year period; YTD compares to the start of the current year.