The global iGaming industry is heading into a very different kind of growth phase—one that’s no longer driven by hype, loopholes, or aggressive expansion but by something far more unusual: clear rules.

That’s the central message of the newly released 2026 iGaming Trends report by SOFTSWISS, which paints a picture of an industry maturing rapidly as regulation becomes sharper, more predictable, and more aligned with long-term sustainability. In short, iGaming is finally getting its “grown-up moment.”

Regulation Is Becoming a Growth Engine, Not a Roadblock

For years, many operators viewed regulation as the ultimate brake pedal. Today, SOFTSWISS argues the opposite is happening. As more governments move from vague guidelines to stable regulatory frameworks, operators—and investors—now have room to build with confidence.

Companies can project revenue more accurately. Governments can enforce consumer safeguards without stifling innovation. And players, ultimately, gravitate toward licensed platforms that look and feel safer.

It’s a trend backed by numbers. The global iGaming market is projected to reach $169 billion by 2030, up from $103 billion in 2025, according to SOFTSWISS. That’s a 10.44% CAGR—healthy, but not reckless. Growth grounded in rules tends to be durable.

The shift is also visible in the report’s perception survey. More than 350 operators, investors, and regulators rated today’s regulatory climate on a scale of 1 to 10. Nearly half scored it 7 or above, pushing the industry’s overall average to 6.36 in 2025, up from 6.06 the year before. It’s a small uptick—but symbolically important. This is no longer a fight; it’s a partnership.

A Changing Relationship Between Industry and Regulators

One of the clearest takeaways: responsible gaming is now codified, not optional.

SOFTSWISS notes that more jurisdictions are embedding responsible gambling standards directly into law—advertising caps, affordability checks, game-design rules, age verification, and even data-driven risk monitoring. What used to be “best practice” is quickly becoming mandatory, and the industry, surprisingly, isn’t pushing back.

Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, frames it in a way that’s easy for anyone following fintech or crypto to understand:

“Regulation isn’t always the enemy of growth. When done right, it becomes the foundation for it.”

He compares iGaming’s transition to what is happening in crypto with acts like the GENIUS Act—where once-wild markets stabilize, risk drops, and long-term players (including institutions) feel safe enough to enter. It’s a compelling parallel, especially as the two sectors increasingly overlap in payments and digital identity.

2025 Marked a Turning Point

The report positions 2025 as the year when global regulatory approaches shifted decisively. Many governments—particularly in Europe and Latin America—introduced or tightened frameworks that blended:

• market liberalisation
• stricter accountability
• stronger consumer protections
• more transparent licensing
• clearer tax and compliance structures

This mix is pushing out bad-faith operators, raising security standards, and channeling growth into licensed ecosystems.

And it mirrors moves seen in other digital industries. Think of how app stores, fintech platforms, and ad tech all went through their own stabilization cycles. Regulation—when smart—did not kill innovation; it formalized it.

The Wider Market Context

SOFTSWISS has been in the iGaming software space since 2009, serving over 1,000 brands with a global team of 2,000 experts. It sits alongside major players such as Evolution, Playtech, and Pragmatic Play—companies that similarly benefit when markets become transparent, predictable, and safe.

The trend SOFTSWISS describes is visible in independent reports, too:

• H2 Gambling Capital notes that fully regulated markets saw a 17% rise in revenue in 2024 versus 6% in grey or semi-regulated markets.
• EGBA data shows responsible gambling tools adoption rising steadily in the EU as mandatory frameworks expand.
• PwC’s gaming outlook highlights that investor sentiment improves significantly in jurisdictions with clear licensing structures.

In other words: SOFTSWISS’s findings aren’t isolated—they line up with the broader shift toward mature, regulated digital entertainment.

Conclusion: iGaming’s Next Boom Will Belong to the Builders, Not the Opportunists

The SOFTSWISS 2026 Trends report doesn’t just describe what’s happening—it explains why the next phase of iGaming growth will look different from the last.

Clear regulation allows serious operators, tech providers, and investors to build for the long term. It reduces volatility. It pushes out the unreliable players who thrived in ambiguity. And it rewards companies with strong compliance, transparent operations, and responsible gaming technology.

Competitors like Evolution and Playtech are already expanding in regulated markets because that’s where the predictable revenue—and player trust—now lives. SOFTSWISS is signalling the same message: the industry’s biggest opportunity is no longer “going where regulation is loose,” but “going where regulation is right.”

If 2024 was about uncertainty and 2025 was about transition, then 2026 and beyond look set to become the iGaming sector’s “regulated growth era”—a trend backed not only by SOFTSWISS but also by the increasingly aligned data from Europe’s regulators, market analysts, and public companies.

It’s not the flashiest kind of growth. But it’s the most sustainable one the industry has seen yet.