Softswiss Regulatory Trends 2026: first half-year recap

The first half of 2026 saw significant regulatory developments across the global iGaming industry. Three major trends emerged: the rollout of new licensing frameworks, substantial gambling tax increases and a stronger regulatory focus on payments, anti-money laundering (AML), advertising and player protection.

In Europe, operators continued preparing for the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, which comes into force in July 2027. Finland began accepting licence applications for its new competitive online gambling market, with private operators able to launch from July 2027 under a 22% tax rate, alongside mandatory player identification, deposit limits and a national self-exclusion register.

Ireland moved from legislative reform to implementation by opening its licensing process for betting operators. While betting licences became operational, additional consumer protection measures, including advertising restrictions and a national exclusion register, will be introduced gradually.

Malta’s controversial Article 56A, designed to shield Malta-licensed operators from certain foreign court judgments, faced further legal scrutiny at the Court of Justice of the European Union, with a final decision still pending. Meanwhile, the European Commission continues infringement proceedings against Malta.

The Netherlands increased gambling tax to 37.8% and introduced stricter licensing requirements, including mandatory exit plans and AML risk assessments. Regulators also reported that only around half of online gambling spend was channelled to licensed operators, raising concerns that higher taxes may be driving consumers towards unlicensed markets.

Sweden expanded restrictions on credit-funded gambling and strengthened technical requirements for connecting to its national self-exclusion register (Spelpaus). These measures reflect a broader shift towards tighter operational oversight.

The United Kingdom implemented one of the most significant fiscal changes, doubling Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40%. A new remote betting tax rate will follow in 2027, while horse racing betting retains a lower rate.

Across the Americas, regulation increasingly focused on enforcement and taxation. Brazil strengthened action against illegal operators by allowing authorities to direct banks and payment providers to block transactions and accounts linked to unlicensed gambling businesses. Financial institutions and advertisers may also face liability for supporting illegal operators.

Alberta (Canada) finalised its regulated iGaming launch, requiring operators to complete both regulatory registration and commercial onboarding before entering the market. Chile accelerated debate on its long-awaited online gambling bill, although legislation remained incomplete by June.

Colombia introduced a 16% consumption tax on online gambling and extended compliance obligations to payment providers, software suppliers and media companies serving unlicensed operators. Mexico raised gambling tax from 30% to 50%, with offshore operators facing a particularly heavy burden due to different tax treatment.

In the United States, regulatory developments centred on taxation and jurisdiction rather than market expansion. New federal tax rules reduced allowable deductions for gambling losses, while disputes over prediction markets intensified as federal regulators challenged state-level enforcement actions.

Asia also experienced significant reforms. India implemented its national online gaming framework, prohibiting online money games while allowing regulated esports and certain social games. The legislation also placed obligations on payment providers to block transactions related to prohibited gambling.

The United Arab Emirates updated its civil law governing gambling-related agreements while maintaining a separate federal licensing regime under the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) for commercial gaming activities.

In Oceania, New Zealand established its first regulated online casino framework, creating a competitive licensing system limited to 15 operator brands. The legislation included comprehensive responsible gambling requirements covering deposit limits, self-exclusion, identity verification, advertising restrictions and game design controls.

In Africa, Kenya began implementing its Gambling Control Act through detailed operational regulations requiring real-time regulator access, central monitoring integration, geolocation technology and local data storage. Operators serving international markets must also meet enhanced capital and compliance requirements.

Overall, H1 2026 demonstrated a global shift from simply licensing operators towards more comprehensive regulatory oversight. Governments increasingly targeted payment systems, financial institutions, advertising, technical compliance and responsible gambling measures, while higher taxation became a common policy tool.

The trend suggests operators will need stronger compliance capabilities and closer engagement with regulators as markets continue to mature. The iGaming Trends 2027 report will feature expanded research through a partnership with WorldGaming (formerly Clarion Gaming). The collaboration incorporates data and reach from WorldGaming’s established brands, including ICE, iGB and GGB. This strategic alliance positions the 2027 report as the definitive benchmark for understanding the evolving global iGaming landscape.