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Revenue
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue Revenue
The following tables present our revenues, disaggregated by offering, geographical region, and reportable segment. Revenue by geographical region is based on the location where the game developer or advertising customer is headquartered. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers (e.g., sales and other indirect taxes), which are subsequently remitted to governmental entities. For more information on revenues presented by reportable segments, see Note 17, Segment Reporting.

Year Ended December 31, 2024
SkillzAarkiEliminationConsolidated
Revenue From Customers:
Entry Fee Revenue$80,426 $— $— $80,426 
Advertising Revenue— 10,876 (453)10,423 
Other Revenue:
Maintenance Fee Revenue2,016 — — 2,016 
Total Revenue$82,442 $10,876 $(453)$92,865 
United States$77,032 $2,622 $(453)$79,201 
Israel813 2,060 2,873 
Malta9 2,491 2,500 
China2,154 59 2,213 
Hong Kong725 541 1,266 
Cyprus11 962 973 
Other Countries1,698 2,141 3,839 
Total Revenue$82,442 $10,876 $(453)$92,865 
Year Ended December 31, 2023
SkillzAarkiEliminationConsolidated
Revenue From Customers:
Entry Fee Revenue$134,526 $— $— $134,526 
Advertising Revenue— 13,233 (364)12,869 
Other Revenue:
Maintenance Fee Revenue4,684 — — 4,684 
Total Revenue$139,210 $13,233 $(364)$152,079 
United States$129,834 $4,010 $(364)$133,480 
Israel2,011 2,469 4,480 
China3,198 35 3,233 
Malta23 3,057 3,080 
Other Countries4,144 3,662 — 7,806 
Total Revenue$139,210 $13,233 $(364)$152,079 
Revenue from Entry Fees

The Company generates substantially all its revenues through its competition-based Skillz segment by providing a service to game developers for monetization of their game content. The monetization service provided by Skillz allows developers to offer multi-player competition to their end-users for the purpose of end-user retention and engagement. Skillz provides developers with a software development kit (“SDK”) they can download and integrate with their existing games. The SDK serves as a data interface between Skillz and the game developers that enables Skillz to provide monetization services to the developer.
The Company applies the five-step model to achieve the core principle of ASC 606. The Company determined that its customer in the provision of its technology platform and services is the game developer. The Company’s ordinary activities consist of providing game developers services through access to its technology platform using the Skillz SDK. The SDK acts as an application programming interface enabling communication of data between Skillz and the game developers, which when integrated with the developer’s game content, facilitates end-user registration into competitions, managing and hosting end-user competition accounts, matching players of similar skill levels, collecting end-user entry fees, distributing end-user prizes, resolving end-user disputes pertaining to their participation in competitions, and running third-party marketing campaigns (collectively, “Monetization Services”).

The Company provides Monetization Services to game developers enabling them to offer competitive games to their end-users. These activities are not distinct from each other as the Company provides an integrated service enabling game developers to provide the competitive game service to the end-users, and as a result, they do not represent separate performance obligations. The Company is entitled to a revenue share based on total entry fees for paid competitions, regardless of how they are paid, net of end-user prizes (i.e., winnings from the competitions) and other costs to provide the Monetization Services. Entry fees used to enter paid competitions can include net cash deposits, cash from prior winnings, and end-user incentives. The game developers earn monthly revenue share from end-users, calculated based on end users’ paid entry fees attributable to their games as a percentage of total entry fees. End-user incentives are not paid for by game developers. In addition, the Company accounts for end-user incentives either as a reduction of revenue or as sales and marketing expenses (as noted below).

The Company collects entry fees and related charges from end-users on behalf of game developers. This is done via the end-user’s pre-authorized credit card or PayPal account. The Company withholds its portion of revenue share and administrative costs from these entry fees. The balance is then recorded as a reduction to revenue for the amount owed to the game developer. Therefore, the game developer’s ability and intent to pay the amounts withheld by the Company is not subject
to significant judgment or collection risk. Certain of Skillz’ larger developer agreements provide the Company with a right to withhold additional amounts from their revenue share. These amounts relate to game-specific sales and marketing costs incurred by the Company, in its sole discretion, to acquire end-users on behalf of the game developer. The amount and timing of such withholding(s) is (are) uncertain and based on the future performance of the respective developer’s games. Such amounts are recorded as part of the monthly settlement process with the game developer. Accordingly, the Company has included these amounts as a reduction to the revenue share paid to game developers.

Revenue is recognized at the time the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of the promised service in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for the Monetization Services. The Company does not recognize contract assets or contract liabilities as the payment of the transaction price is concurrent with fulfillment of the services. At the time of game completion, the Company has a right to receive payment for services rendered. The Company’s agreements with game developers can generally be terminated for convenience by either party upon thirty days prior written notice, and in certain of the Company’s larger agreements, the game developer, if required by the Company, must continue to make its games available on the platform for a period of up to twelve months. The Company's agreements with certain game developers cannot be terminated by the developer without the Company's approval for a period of at least eighteen months under certain conditions. In accordance with optional exemptions available under Topic 606, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (1) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, and (2) contracts for which variable consideration relates entirely to an unsatisfied performance obligation or to an unsatisfied promise to transfer a distinct service that forms a part of a single performance obligation.
Games provided by two developer partners accounted for 71% and 73% of the Company’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
End-User Incentive Programs

To drive traffic to the platform, the Company provides promotions and incentives to end-users in various forms. Evaluating whether a promotion or incentive is a payment to a customer may require significant judgment. Certain promotions and incentives that are consideration payable to customers, are recognized as a reduction of revenue at the later of when revenue is recognized or when the Company pays or promises to pay the incentive. Promotions and incentives recorded as sales and marketing expenses are recognized when we incur the related cost.

Our primary end-user incentive is Bonus Cash, which is a promotional incentive that cannot be withdrawn and can only be used by end-users to enter paid-entry fee contests. Bonus Cash used as entry fees for paid Competitions can include newly issued Bonus Cash and / or Bonus Cash returned to end-users from prior winnings. We recognize the entire cost of Bonus Cash as sales and marketing expenses or a reduction of revenue (as discussed below). When Bonus Cash is used towards entry fees for a paid Competition and is returned to an end-user as winnings, we do not record any additional sales and marketing expenses or reductions to revenue. Likewise, if Bonus Cash is returned to an end-user and is used to enter subsequent competitions, which they continue to win, we do not record any additional sales and marketing expenses or reductions to revenue.
•Marketing promotions and discounts accounted for as reductions to revenue. These promotions are typically pricing actions in the form of discounts that reduce end-user entry fees. These are offered on behalf of the game developers. Although not required based on the Company’s agreement with its game developers, the Company considers that game developers have a valid expectation that certain incentives will be offered to end-users. The determination of a valid expectation is based on an evaluation of all information reasonably available to game developers regarding the Company’s customary business practices, published policies and specific statements.
An example of an incentive for which the game developer has a valid expectation is the initial deposit Bonus Cash that can be earned in fixed amounts when an end-user makes their first deposit on the Skillz platform. Bonus Cash can only be applied by end-users towards future paid-entry fee competitions and cannot be withdrawn.

Another example of this type of incentive would be the redemption of Ticketz earned via game play for either Bonus Cash or merchandise. The redemption process is managed by Skillz and redemption amounts can be changed at Skillz discretion.
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized a reduction of revenue of $13.7 million and $25.8 million, respectively, related to these end-user incentives.
•Marketing promotions accounted for as sales and marketing expenses. When the Company concludes that game developers do not have a valid expectation that an incentive will be offered, Management records the related cost as sales and marketing expenses. Management’s assessment is based on an evaluation of all information reasonably available to game developers regarding the Company’s customary business practices, published policies and specific statements. These promotions are offered to end-users to draw, re-engage, or generally increase their use of the Skillz platform.

An example of this type of incentive is limited-time Bonus Cash offers, which are targeted to specific end-users, typically those who deposit more frequently or have not made a deposit recently, via email or in-app promotions. The Company targets groups of end-users differently, offering specific promotions it believes will best stimulate engagement. Similar to Bonus Cash earned from the redemption of “Ticketz”, which are virtual currency earned for every competition played based on the amount of the entry fee, or an initial deposit, limited-time Bonus Cash can only be used by end-users to enter future paid entry fee competitions and cannot be withdrawn. The Company also hosts engagement marketing leagues, which run over a period of days or weeks. Prizes are awarded to winners in the form of cash or luxury goods to end-users earning the most medals at the end of the league. End-users accumulate medals by winning Skillz enabled paid entry fee competitions. Skillz determines whether (or not) to run a league, what prizes should be awarded, over what time period the league should run, and to which end-users’ prizes should be paid, all at the Company’s discretion. The parameters vary from one league to the next and are not reasonably known, nor communicated to game developers. League prizes in the form of cash can be withdrawn or applied towards future paid-entry fee competitions.

For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, the Company recognized sales and marketing expense of $35.8 million and $58.9 million, respectively, related to these end-user incentives.
From time to time, the Company issues credits or refunds to end-users that are dissatisfied by the level of service provided by the game developer. There is no contractual obligation for the Company to refund such end-users nor is there a valid expectation by game developers for the Company to issue such credits or refunds to end-users on their behalf. The Company accounts for credits or refunds, which are not recoverable from the game developer, as sales and marketing expenses when incurred.
Total engagement marketing accounted for as sales and marketing expense recognized in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $37.0 million and $64.9 million, respectively.

Advertising Revenue

The Company offers a technology platform (i.e. demand side platform, “DSP”) to source available advertising space from its network of vendors / suppliers (aka, advertising exchange partners / publishers), which uses a real-time auction process. The revenue from advertising is recognized over time based on the number of impressions as the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company considers itself the agent of its customer(s). This is due to the Company’s involvement in programmatically placing and sourcing advertisements on behalf of customers via a network of third party publishers. The Company does not, at any time, take ownership of advertising inventory being sourced and placed. Via the DSP, if the Company wins the auction and an impression is served, the customer’s advertisement is displayed on the publisher / supplier’s mobile application.

Management evaluates whether the performance obligation contained in its insertion order (“IO”) is distinct within the context of a customer contract as defined above. We determined the nature of our performance obligations to customers is to run their programmatic media campaigns by delivering advertisements to their target audience(s). This is carried out based on parameters and strategies outlined by the customer. This performance obligation to the customer incorporates the following:
•The DSP and related services (i.e., development of campaign strategy, provision of creative services, campaign flighting, performance monitoring and serving of the ads); and
•Sourcing mobile advertising space from the Company’s network of vendors / suppliers.

None of these promises are separately identifiable from each other in the contract, as they are integrated with the DSP to provide the customer a combined output. The output empowers the customer to acquire the most valuable space for their mobile advertising campaign based on a pre-established / maximum budget in the IO. Our customers do not dictate where or how the Company sources advertising space. Likewise, the Company does not take ownership of any inventory before the mobile advertisement is served to the customer.

For performance obligations related to advertising revenue, customers are extended 30 day payment terms from completion of each month’s IO and no advertising revenue customers accounted for more than 5% of the Company’s revenue in either of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Company recognizes an asset for incremental costs of obtaining a contract with the customer as long as Management expects to recover these costs. Incremental costs are those that would have not been incurred if the contract did not exist. Examples of incremental costs often capitalized are sales commissions whereas examples of costs that would not be included are internal employee salaries, standard benefits, travel costs, and other / general legal costs. Sales commissions are the only incremental contract costs the Company incurs and are paid based on collected revenue based on the recipient’s assigned accounts. As commissions are typically satisfied within one year after an executed contract, the Company applies the practical expedient under ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs: Contracts with Customers.

Maintenance Fee Revenue

When a player becomes inactive on the platform by not participating in a tournament for six consecutive months, the Company will impose a monthly maintenance fee. This fee is charged to the player and recognized as revenue by the Company beginning in the seventh month of inactivity.