Valletta, Malta— The global iGaming industry is entering a new phase of expansion, powered by clearer regulation and next-generation technology, according to the newly released 2026 iGaming Trends report by SOFTSWISS.
The report finds that common-sense regulation, focused on transparency, player protection, and compliance has become a catalyst for industry growth rather than a constraint. As governments provide clearer frameworks, companies make plans for the longer term, investors gain confidence and players increasingly turn to trusted, licensed operators.
The global iGaming market is projected to reach $169 billion by 2030, up from $103 billion in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.44%. Regulation is moving beyond voluntary guidelines, with many countries making responsible gaming (RG) standards, advertising limits, and spending checks a legal requirement.
Industry participants are responding by investing in AI-driven compliance tools, real-time player monitoring, and data analytics to detect and prevent risky behavior. Traditional Responsible gaming measures such as deposit limits and self-exclusion tools are now viewed as a baseline, not a differentiator, says the report, based on a survey of over 350 industry players, investors and regulators.
The relationship between iGaming and its regulators is also changing. Survey respondents were asked to rate the sector’s current legal and regulatory environment on a scale from 1 to 10 – the higher the score the more positive the view, according to research by SOFTSWISS. Nearly half of the respondents chose ratings of 7 or above, with the average rating increasing to 6.36 in 2025 from 6.06 a year earlier, the survey found. This underscores that regulation is viewed in an increasingly positive light, bringing clarity and being mostly supportive of sustainable industry growth.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, commented:
“Regulation is not always the enemy of growth. When done right, it becomes the foundation for it. Just as crypto markets are maturing with the introduction of regulations such as the GENIUS Act, lowering risk and encouraging participation, iGaming is now entering its own ‘GENIUS moment’. Transparent rules level the playing field, protect players, and create confidence that drives sustainable expansion.”
The iGaming sector is now entering a new stage of maturity, comparable to the cryptocurrency industry in the United States, which is using new legislation such as the GENIUS Act to bring stablecoins into the mainstream. Similar to the GENIUS Act, which seeks to transform the crypto space, and stablecoins in particular, into safer and more predictable financial assets, iGaming is experiencing similar regulatory trends. New and evolving regulatory frameworks around licensing, player protection, and advertising standards are working towards creating a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable global industry.
The iGaming Trends Report highlights 2025 as a transformative year, with governments worldwide introducing or tightening frameworks that combine market liberalisation with greater accountability.
Key developments include:
- Finland: The Gambling Reform Bill ends the Veikkaus monopoly, introducing a competitive licensing model and creating a new Licensing and Supervision Authority alongside a national self-exclusion registry.
- Austria: The government launched its first competitive tender for online casino licences, ending Casinos Austria’s decades-long monopoly and inviting private operators under stricter compliance and tax rules.
- Brazil: Implementation of Law No. 14,790/2023 formally regulates sports betting and iGaming, requiring local servers, tax transparency, and responsible gambling programs.
- United Kingdom: The Gambling Act Review introduces stake limits for online slots, affordability risk checks, and data-sharing mandates between operators to enhance player safety.
- United States: States such as New York and California move closer to legalising online casinos, adopting frameworks inspired by New Jersey and Michigan, with embedded responsible gaming technology.
- Philippines: The PAGCOR restructuring bill separates the regulator’s commercial and oversight functions, increasing transparency and improving investor confidence.
Regulatory changes mark the emergence of a global iGaming framework, where regulation and innovation evolve hand in hand. By creating safer, transparent, and competitive environments, governments are reducing the appeal of bad-faith operators and laying the groundwork for sustainable industry expansion.
