Softswiss Regulatory Trends 2026: H1 Recap

Softswiss launched its yearly iGaming Trends 2026 study in October 2025. With the first half of 2026 already in the rearview mirror and before the upcoming iGaming Trends 2027, here’s an updated look at how regulation has progressed across important markets.

The first half of 2026 saw a wave of regulation changes in the global iGaming industry. Three key developments emerged – new license frameworks, considerable gaming tax hikes and heightened regulatory focus on payments, anti-money laundering (AML), advertising and player protection.

In Europe, operators continued to prepare for the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, which comes into force in July 2027. Finland opened for licence applications for its new competitive online gambling sector, where private operators can begin from July 2027 under a 22% tax rate alongside strict player identification, deposit limitations and a national self-exclusion record.

Ireland has gone from legislative change to execution with the opening up of its licensing process for betting operators. Betting licences come into force but more consumer protection measures including advertising limits and a nationwide exclusion record will be phased in.

Malta’s controversial Article 56A, which aims to protect Malta-licensed operations from certain foreign court rulings, was again examined legally before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and a final decision is yet to be taken. At the same time, the European Commission is pursuing infringement actions against Malta.

The Netherlands raised gambling tax to 37.8% and imposed tougher license criteria, such as required exit plans and AML risk assessments. Regulators also said just roughly half of online gambling spend was channeled to registered operators, fueling concerns that rising taxes may be pushing consumers to unregulated marketplaces.

Sweden has tightened rules on credit-funded gambling and raised the technical requirements for linking to its national self-exclusion register Spelpaus. Such actions indicate a larger trend toward greater operational oversight.

One of the most major fiscal reforms came from the United Kingdom which doubled Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40%. Horse racing betting will remain at a reduced rate of tax and a new rate for remote betting tax will come in 2027.

In the Americas, regulation increasingly became a question of enforcement and taxation. Brazil has stepped up its campaign against illegal operators by empowering authorities to order banks and payment companies to restrict transactions and accounts linked to unauthorized gaming operations. Financial institutions and marketers may also be liable for aiding and abetting illicit operators.

Alberta (Canada) completed its regulated iGaming launch, which requires operators to go through a regulatory registration and commercial onboarding process before entering the market. Chile has moved up the pace of discussion around its long-awaited internet gambling bill, although the bill wasn’t finalized by June.

Colombia imposed a 16% consumption tax on internet gambling and broadened the reach of compliance duties to cover payment providers, software suppliers and media businesses who supply services to illegal operators. Mexico increased the tax on gambling from 30% to 50%, and offshore operators were hit particularly hard because they were taxed differently.

In the US, regulatory developments were more focused on taxation and jurisdiction than on market expansion. New federal tax laws cut the amount of gambling losses that may be deducted, while battles over prediction markets intensified as federal regulators disputed enforcement measures taken at the state level.

Asia also underwent major reforms. India announced its national online gaming framework, banning online money games but permitting regulated esports and other social games. The legislation also imposed requirements on payment providers to restrict transactions relating to prohibited gaming.

The United Arab Emirates amended its civil legislation on agreements linked to gambling but continued to maintain a distinct federal licensing system through the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) for commercial gaming activities.

New Zealand set up the first regulated online casino framework in Oceania, with a competitive licensing system capped at 15 operator brands. The law featured broad responsible gambling provisions that covered deposit limitations, self-exclusion, identity verification, advertising restrictions and game design controls.

Kenya started to enforce its Gambling Control Act in Africa with precise operational restrictions that call for real-time regulator access, central monitoring integration, geolocation technology and local data storage. Operators serving overseas markets also have higher capital and compliance requirements.

H1 2026 overall was a global move away from licensing operators only to more complete regulation. Governments concentrated more on payment systems, financial institutions, advertising, technological compliance and responsible gaming measures and more taxation became a popular policy instrument.

The trend is that operators will need better compliance capabilities and more engagement with authorities as the markets evolve. The iGaming Trends 2027 study will also include additional research in cooperation with WorldGaming (previously Clarion Gaming). The partnership will integrate data and reach from WorldGaming’s existing brands, including ICE, iGB and GGB. The collaborative partnership has ensured that the 2027 report is the go-to reference point for understanding the expanding global iGaming landscape.”