Online casino operators and regulators are reshaping the global iGaming landscape at the start of 2026, as fresh deals, state-level policy moves in the United States and enforcement challenges in regulated markets combine to alter competition, consumer protection and revenue flows.
Expansion and platform deals reshape supply chains
Major suppliers and operators continued to reconfigure partnerships this month. On January 9, 2026, Bragg Gaming announced a short-term extension of its Player Account Management (PAM) arrangement with Entain for BetCity.nl through May 31, 2026, a move that secures content delivery and account services in the Dutch market while leaving the longer-term relationship unresolved. The deal highlights how platform technology and content aggregation remain critical bargaining chips as operators adapt to divergent national rules and local licensing conditions. (seekingalpha.com)
U.S. state patchwork and revenue opportunity
In the United States, the patchwork of state-by-state legalization continues to define market access. As of December 2025 and into January 2026, seven states – New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, West Virginia and Rhode Island – permit regulated, real-money online casino play, with regulators and legislatures in other states actively debating model frameworks and tax proposals aimed at attracting operators while protecting consumers. That uneven legal map is driving operators to prioritize markets with clear rules and high consumer demand while lobbying in states considering legalization. (cbssports.com)
Regulatory friction and player protection concerns
Regulators are under pressure to curb offshore and unlicensed operators even as licensed markets expand. Reports from jurisdictions including Ontario and Connecticut in 2025 showed growth in licensed online revenue alongside persistent concerns about players using unregulated sites and the public-health implications of easier access to gambling. Enforcement activity and policy proposals this past year have focused on stronger verification, deposit controls and tighter advertising rules to address problem gambling risks and opaque offshore offerings. (reddit.com)
Why this matters
The iGaming sector’s current trajectory matters for state budgets, consumer safety and the strategic choices of media and technology partners. Operators are investing in platform stability and content deals to capture customers in the limited set of legalized U.S. markets while simultaneously managing regulatory and reputational risk in legacy European and Canadian markets. Observers say the next six to 12 months will be pivotal: licensing rounds, tax decisions and further supplier-operator negotiations will determine which companies scale profitably and which face costly market exits.
What to watch next
State legislative calendars in the U.S., where model bills and tax-rate proposals may unlock new markets in 2026. (apnews.com)
Outcome of platform and supplier negotiations – like the Bragg-Entain extension through May 31, 2026 – which will signal whether short-term deals become longer strategic alliances. (seekingalpha.com)
Regulatory enforcement results in Canada, the U.K. and Dutch markets that will test how effectively authorities can push players toward licensed operators.
For an overview of where U.S. states stand on legalizing internet casino play as of January 2026, see the detailed state-by-state breakdown from CBS Sports: Where all 50 states stand on legalizing internet gambling. (cbssports.com)