Issue No. 377 of Fitt Insider mapped a shift the whole industry is feeling: young people want fitness that doubles as connection. Bank of America card data cited in the issue shows gym, golf, and country club spending is climbing among Gen Z, even as they seek out communal hobbies and anti-algorithm hangouts over screen time.
The lesson for gyms, studios, and fitness apps is simple. The workout is no longer just the product. The belonging around it is. That is exactly the layer Cadoo is built to power.
Fitness is becoming a fourth space
The issue framed movement as a social ritual, not a solo chore. Membership in gym, golf, and country club categories rose 9% year over year for Gen Z and 5% for millennials, per the Bank of America data the issue cites. At the same time, brands are courting people who want to gather in real life.
- Anytime Fitness is planning a gym inside Sydney Airport, per the issue, meeting members where routine and travel collide.
- Barry's signed Tom Holland's BERO as an official post-workout brew, per Fitt Insider, leaning into the after-class hang.
- Rodeo raised $8.5M to help friends turn scattered plans into real-world activities, per the issue.
These are industry references, not Cadoo partners. But they point the same direction: people show up for each other, not just for the equipment.
The wearable boom proves the appetite is real
Money is following engagement. In the issue's Money Moves, WHOOP announced plans to add more than 600 roles as it scales its wearable health platform, per Fitt Insider, while Oura acquired Finnish gesture-control developer Doublepoint, per the issue. Consumers clearly want to measure and act on their health. The gap is turning that intent into a habit that sticks with other people.
Cadoo turns connection into consistency
Cadoo Games is the accountability engine for that social ritual. Members bet money with friends on reaching fitness goals, so they keep coming back because friends and stakes are on the line, not willpower alone. Recurring challenges fill the gap between visits, the stretch where habits usually die.
It is reliable and measurable, too. Cadoo-verified workouts confirm the effort: the camera counts reps only. Steps and distance come from Apple Health or Google Health Connect, so a gym or run club gets real engagement data instead of a swipe at the front desk. And every finished challenge can become a skinned, shareable video, so members market your brand while they build their habit.
Make belonging your retention strategy
A member locked into a friendly, money-backed challenge with three friends is not drifting away. They are mid-competition and mid-community. That is how a fitness brand converts a fleeting sign-up into a regular.
On our roadmap, not live yet, winnings could convert into credit or perks at your business, tying wins back to your bottom line. See it at cadoo.games/brands or reach the team at Tim@cadoo.io.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cadoo a social fitness app or a betting app?
Cadoo is a social fitness app with real stakes. Members put money toward a fitness goal they control by doing the workout, and Cadoo-verified reps and device-health data keep it honest. It rewards effort and follow-through, not chance, which is what makes it a commitment device rather than a wager.
How can a gym or run club use Cadoo to build community?
Host a recurring challenge your members join together. Friends stake money on a shared goal, compete between sessions, and share branded videos of their workouts. That turns your space into a social ritual people return to, which is the exact behavior this issue shows Gen Z craving.
How does Cadoo keep challenges fair for members?
The camera counts reps only for supported movements, and steps and distance come from Apple Health or Google Health Connect. That verification gives operators trustworthy engagement data and keeps friendly competition fair for everyone in the challenge.
Can members redeem their winnings for perks at my brand?
Redeeming winnings for credit or perks at a partner brand is on our roadmap and not live yet. Today, Cadoo's value is more frequent visits, stronger community, and shareable branded content your members create for you.
