Fresh News July 2026
The month’s trends, regulatory updates, and innovations
As the second half of 2026 gets underway, the iGaming industry continues to balance strong market momentum with evolving regulatory expectations. Global growth forecasts remain optimistic, while operators face increasing pressure to adapt to stricter compliance standards, emerging technologies, and changing consumer behaviors.
July also marks one of the busiest periods on the industry's calendar, bringing together key stakeholders at major conferences to discuss the trends defining the months ahead. From market expansion and responsible gambling initiatives to cryptocurrency regulation and taxation, these are some of the stories shaping global iGaming in July 2026.
July Conference Season Kicks Off with Major Global iGaming Events
The iGaming industry enters one of its busiest networking and business periods as July's conference calendar brings together operators, suppliers, affiliates, and regulators across Europe and the US.
iGB Live, the iGB Affiliate Awards, and SPARK headline a packed month of industry events across London, Bulgaria, and beyond;
The conferences will focus on AI, regulation, affiliate marketing, payments, player retention, and emerging market opportunities;
With the World Cup underway, industry discussions are expected to center on betting performance, compliance, and growth strategies.
Global iGaming Platform Market Forecast to Reach $248.95 Billion by 2030
A new industry report projects continued strong growth for the global iGaming platform market, driven by digital adoption, AI innovation, and expanding regulated markets.
The market is expected to grow from $130.5 billion in 2026 to $248.95 billion by 2030, maintaining a CAGR of 17.5%;
Mobile gaming, AI-powered personalization, cloud infrastructure, and advanced payment solutions are accelerating platform innovation;
North America remains the largest market, while Asia-Pacific is forecast to deliver the fastest growth over the coming years.
Ohio Moves Closer to Banning Credit Cards for Sports Betting
State regulators are advancing a proposal to prohibit credit card deposits for sports betting, aiming to strengthen responsible gambling measures and reduce financial risk.
The proposed rule would prevent bettors from funding sportsbook accounts with credit cards, reinforcing responsible gambling principles;
Supporters argue the measure discourages gambling with borrowed money and helps reduce risks;
If approved, Ohio would join nine other US states that already prohibit the use of credit cards for sports betting.
Curaçao Tightens Cryptocurrency Rules for Licensed iGaming Operators
Curaçao’s Gaming Authority (CGA) has introduced new cryptocurrency compliance requirements for licensed operators, with full implementation required by June 2027.
Operators may continue accepting cryptocurrencies for gambling payments, but will face stricter AML, transaction monitoring, and analytics requirements;
Licensed operators will no longer be allowed to offer crypto exchange, conversion, or custody services unrelated to gambling, while transactions involving sanctioned wallets, mixers, and certain high-risk assets will be prohibited;
The new framework will be rolled out in phases through 2027, aligning Curaçao’s licensing regime with international standards for virtual asset compliance and financial transparency.
Dutch Gambling Tax Increase Falls Short of Revenue Expectations
A new government report shows the Netherlands’ recent gambling tax increases generated far less revenue than forecast, as stricter regulations and a shrinking regulated market reduced taxable activity.
The gambling tax rose from 30.5% to 37.8% between 2025 and 2026, but additional revenue reached only €2 million in 2025 and an estimated €57 million in 2026, well below government projections;
New deposit limits, advertising restrictions, and declining gambling activity reduced operators’ gross gaming revenue, limiting the tax base despite higher rates;
State-backed operators, including Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij, reported significant profit declines, while casino visits and gaming hall numbers continued to fall.
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