AviaGames and PayPal Build Player Trust Through Reliable Payment Processing

In skill-based real money gaming, winning is only half the experience. The other half is getting paid.

For some of our regular players, a typical day might include depositing in the morning, entering a few competitions over lunch, and withdrawing winnings before dinner. Some may repeat this cycle several times a day.

Each deposit and payout represents a moment of trust, and at AviaGames, we see these moments as an essential part of the overall player experience.

That's why we've partnered with PayPal to create a more connected, reliable, and convenient payment processing experience, from deposits to payouts. Here's why it matters.

When you play skill games for real cash prizes, you're putting your valued resources on the line: your time, your focus, your effort, and your money. That makes two moments especially important.

The deposit asks the player a simple question: Do I feel good about putting money into this platform?

The payout answers the biggest one: When I win, will I actually get paid?

No amount of great gameplay or clever marketing can make up for a payment system that leaves players unsure. Players who feel confident their winnings will arrive quickly can relax and focus on what they came for, which is playing, improving, and competing. Our CEO and Founder, Vickie Chen, has said that in our business, "payments are the product."

In other words, payments aren't background plumbing. They're the bridge between a player's skill and their reward, and we want that bridge to be as smooth as possible.

To deliver that reliable experience, AviaGames works with PayPal as its main payment partner. Instead of treating each step of the payment journey separately, we brought the key pieces together into one connected system. That includes player deposits, transaction processing, fraud and risk management, and payouts, with Venmo available as an additional option for players who prefer it.

For players, the benefits show up in a few simple ways.

When a returning player adds funds, PayPal recognizes them and lets them deposit in a single step, without re-entering card details or hunting for a password. For players who compete several times a day, that small convenience adds up. PayPal's case study reports that deposit completion improved by 49%, which means fewer interrupted deposits and more players getting straight into the game.

Players also see a brand they already know and trust at the moment they add money. That familiarity matters. In a 2023 survey commissioned by PayPal of people who had played cash games online, respondents named PayPal as their preferred way to deposit and withdraw funds.

When players request a withdrawal, PayPal helps move eligible payouts to their PayPal balance or linked bank account quickly, subject to applicable verification and processing requirements. For players, that means a more convenient experience when accessing their winnings.

Curious how it works in the app? Our guide on how to withdraw your winnings walks through the payment process step by step, from tapping "Withdraw" to linking PayPal or Venmo.

AviaGames also offers Venmo as an additional option for deposits and payouts. According to PayPal's case study, Venmo volume on our platform grew 73% year over year, while payout transaction volume increased by 94%.

In real money gaming, receiving winnings is an essential part of the player experience. Fast, reliable payouts help make every win feel complete.

Busy evenings and tournament finales are when players need payments to simply work. PayPal Enterprise Payments maintained 99.9% uptime, helping support reliable payment processing during busy periods, including peak competition hours.

Protection runs quietly alongside it. PayPal's AI-powered risk tools, including velocity checks that track how often an account transacts in a short window, spot unusual activity while regular players move through the payment process uninterrupted. Among US real money gaming merchants, PayPal reports payments are approved 96.26% of the time on average.

Fraud and risk tools run quietly in the background, screening transactions as they happen and helping protect players and the platform. Because many of those checks are already complete by the time a player requests a withdrawal, payouts can move more smoothly.

As our General Counsel Michael Vella explained in the case study, by the time a player wants to withdraw, we already know they're legitimate. The result is protection that supports a fast experience rather than slowing it down.

The official PayPal case study highlights several improvements in AviaGames' payment performance and player engagement, based on AviaGames' internal data comparing FY 2024 and FY 2025:

• Payout success rate increased from 84% to 98.5%. More payout requests were completed successfully.
• Same-day reentry increased by 53%. More players returned to compete again within the same day.
• 30-day retention rose from 46% to 64%, an 18-percentage-point improvement in player retention.
• Player lifetime value increased by 28%, reflecting greater long-term player value.
• Payout-related support tickets decreased from 3.6% to 0.8% of the total support volume, indicating fewer players needed assistance with payout-related issues.

Together, these results demonstrate improvements in payment reliability alongside stronger player engagement and retention. They reinforce why we continue to prioritize a smooth, dependable payment experience.

At GDC 2026 in San Francisco, our CEO Vickie Chen joined PayPal's Justin Butler, VP of Digital Money and Commerce Solutions, for a panel called "From Win to Wallet: Rethinking Player Experience in Skill-Based Gaming". Their discussion explored how reliable payouts and seamless payment processing can strengthen player trust and support long-term engagement.

Learn more in our GDC panel recap on the AviaGames and PayPal partnership, or explore how AviaGames, PayPal, and Meta are shaping the future of skill-based gaming.

Reliable payment processing is more than a convenience. It's an essential part of the player experience. When players can deposit and withdraw with confidence, they can focus on what matters most: enjoying the competition and improving their skills.

At AviaGames, our commitment to fair, skill-based gaming goes beyond gameplay. Through our partnership with PayPal, we continue working toward a smoother, more secure, and more reliable experience, from the first deposit to the final payout.

Want to explore the results behind our partnership? Read PayPal's official case study: AviaGames Turns Payout Reliability Into Player Loyalty With PayPal.