2026 GDC Panel: AviaGames and PayPal Partnership Improves Player Experience

AviaGames attended GDC 2026 in San Francisco from March 11 to 13, marking our first official appearance in our 10th anniversary year. Over the course of the event, we connected with developers and partners, welcomed around 2,000 visitors to our booth daily, and showcased our approach to skill-based real-money gaming.

Attendees had the opportunity to experience flagship titles, including Solitaire Clash and Bingo Tour. We also hosted two GDC panel sessions: one with PayPal which focused on payments and the player experience, and another with Meta which centered on growth strategies.

One of the highlights was our panel session with PayPal, "From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming," led by AviaGames CEO Vickie Chen and Justin Butler, VP of Digital Money and Commerce Solutions at PayPal.

In the session, we focused on an often-overlooked part of the player journey: what happens after a win. For skill-based real-money games, trust plays a significant role in the overall experience. Players expect a seamless and transparent path from winning to receiving their payouts, making payments a core part of the experience, not just a back-end function.

Working with PayPal, we deliver fast, reliable, and familiar payment experiences that reduce the intimidation factor, making it easier for them to engage with confidence, especially for new players entering the category.

When this experience is executed well, it drives measurable impact:

• Players who receive payouts quickly play 35% more frequently.
• They generate 28% higher lifetime value.
• They are more likely to return and share the experience with others.

When payments feel slow or unclear, the opposite happens:

• Players leave negative feedback.
• Support requests increase, adding operational burden.
• Players are far less likely to return.

With the AviaGames and PayPal partnership, this setup is strengthened by a secure, transparent, and efficient payment system that players already recognize and trust, helping create a more consistent experience and stronger player retention over time.

Since deepening our integration with PayPal, we've seen clear improvements in the user experience:

• 80% decrease in customer support inquiries related to payments
• 53% increase in same-day player return rates
• 39% growth in 30-day player retention

These results show that payments are more than just a supporting feature. They directly influence how players engage, return, and stay over time.

A smooth and reliable payment and cash withdrawal experience reinforces fairness and builds player confidence, making it easier for them to stay engaged.

By combining skill-based gameplay in real-money games with secure systems and seamless transactions, the overall experience becomes more consistent and player-focused, allowing players to focus on enjoying the game and playing their best to win.

GDC 2026 showed how the conversation around player experience continues to evolve. It's no longer just about gameplay; it's about the full journey, from gameplay to payments and everything in between.

Through the "From Win to Wallet" session with PayPal, we shared how payments and player trust are becoming key parts of that experience. In a separate session, AviaGames and Meta also focused on how partnerships and marketing strategies support long-term growth.

Together, these conversations highlight a bigger shift in skill-based real-money gaming. When every part of the experience works seamlessly, it creates something players can trust and keep coming back to.