Publication date: 20 January 2026
iGaming is a blanket term for all types of gambling and betting that take place online: casinos, slots, sports betting, esports, poker, lotteries, and other real‑money products over the internet. The term is interpreted in different ways: some say the “i” stands for internet, others for interactive. However, the essence remains the same: you place a bet not in a casino hall or betting shop, but via a website or application, using electronic payments and digital infrastructure.
Unlike offline gambling, iGaming is defined precisely by this digital layer: in place of physical halls, cash desks, and chips, there are platforms, billing systems, KYC procedures, trackers, CRM tools, bonus engines, and a host of software that keeps your traffic and money moving 24/7 across the globe.
That’s why iGaming is referred to as a global digital industry. It’s not confined to one city or casino, operating simultaneously in dozens of jurisdictions, leveraging fintech, adtech, and AI. For media buyers, it’s a distinct vertical with high payouts, strict quality requirements for traffic and an international audience.
As an industry, iGaming has come a long way from rudimentary sites on dial-up connections to becoming a sophisticated global market complete with regulators, licenses, and AI integrated into every second product. This transformation can be traced back to three major phases: the emergence of early online casinos and payment solutions, followed by the poker boom, culminating in an era marked by stringent regulation and crises for the once-wild online landscape.
The iGaming industry’s structure is divided into several major segments, each with its own distinct approach to product design, monetization, and media buying traffic.
The global iGaming market has long since moved beyond being just a niche online casino sector, evolving into a vast digital industry where tens of billions of dollars circulate annually, with regions, regulators, and formats competing intensely against one another.
According to the latest assessment by Grand View Research, the global online gambling market reached approximately $78.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to roughly $153.6 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 11.9% during the period from 2025 to 2030.
Another substantial report by ResearchAndMarkets presents a similar picture. The market size is estimated at around $93 billion by 2024, with anticipated growth reaching up to $172.8 billion by 2033, aligning well within double-digit rates. Focusing closer to present-day figures, Mordor Intelligence estimates the online market’s size at approximately $91.6 billion in 2025 and around $101.5 billion in 2026, continuing to expand until the beginning of the 2030s. In terms of revenue structure, sports dominate significantly even now. The segment of online betting alone generates more than $44 billion in 2024, accounting for nearly 56% of total global revenues, making it both the largest and fastest-growing type of product within iGaming.
In terms of revenue distribution, Europe confidently retains its lead. According to the industry report of 2025, the European online gambling market generated approximately $32.4 billion in 2024, contributing about 41% of the global revenue. The reason lies in the region’s implementation of a model characterized by strict yet clear legalization: licenses, taxation, responsible gambling measures, national regulators, and established large-scale operators such as Flutter, Entain, Bet365, and others.
North America and Asia follow closely behind in terms of revenue potential, with North America already claiming around 21% of the global market share. The United States is forecasted to emerge as the single largest national market in terms of online gambling revenue by 2030. Asia and Latin America stand out because they represent regions with massive populations and rapidly expanding mobile internet access. Studies indicate that these areas will witness the highest growth rates towards 2030, particularly following Brazil’s introduction of new regulations for online gambling starting January 1st, 2025.
For media buyers, this translates into Europe remaining a stable Tier 1 core, while the most aggressive growth and expansion of offers will occur in Asia and Latin America, where the market isn’t fully divided among established players.
When discussing which entities set standards for the entire global iGaming community, prominent regulated markets with strong oversight bodies take center stage. In Europe, key authorities include the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) in Britain, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) on Malta, and the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) in the Netherlands. They enforce rigorous rules concerning licensing, advertising, KYC/AML, and Responsible Gambling practices, with their approaches frequently emulated or adapted by other countries worldwide. On a broader scale, the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), a network encompassing numerous European and non-European regulators, plays a crucial role by sharing best practices and coordinating supervision strategies.
Each report highlights a unique set of driver countries, but generally speaking, the list looks something like this:
These jurisdictions establish benchmarks for licensing, verification processes, and accountability, gradually influencing less-developed markets. For operators, this implies increased difficulty in collaborating with payment processors, banks, and major partners without proper licensure (such as UKGC, MGA, or local ones). For affiliates, it signifies that more offers and affiliate networks will increasingly rely on legitimate products backed by transparent regulatory frameworks, even if certain GEOs appear imperfectly polished.
iGaming encompasses much more than just casinos and bookmakers; it’s an ecosystem of companies working together to deliver products, drive traffic, facilitate payments, ensure security, and manage recruitment efforts.
iGaming continues to attract career-seekers due to its status as a fast-growing international market with generous budgets, constant demand for tech, marketing, and analytical skills, and the opportunity to work on global products rather than merely local projects. Numerous roles span intersections of IT, data analysis, marketing, finance, and compliance, drawing professionals such as developers, analysts, media buyers, affiliate managers, CRM experts, KYC/AML specialists, and product managers. Most job profiles boast higher salary ranges compared to the general digital market, thanks to the vertical’s high profitability margins.
According to industry reviews, the core of iGaming professionals consists of young and early‑middle‑age groups. There is a significant concentration of individuals aged 25–40, who already have experience in marketing, game development, fintech, or IT and transition into online gambling for the financial rewards, fast pace, and complex challenges. Meanwhile, the share of juniors aged 20–25 is growing, driven by an active influx of newcomers entering through support roles, junior marketing positions, and analytical functions.
Initially, the market is inherently international: companies recruit specialists from CIS countries, Europe, Asia and Latin America, often offering remote work arrangements or relocation packages. Within a single team, people from multiple countries coexist harmoniously, making proficiency in English and adaptability to multicultural environments almost indispensable for career advancement.
Career in iGaming: What You Need to Know? On 3S.INFO, we lay all the cards on the table. Which roles are currently in high demand? Who sits behind the screen at successful casinos and betting firms? What do HR departments specify in their job requirements, and what aspirations do candidates harbor during interviews? We’ll explore all pros and cons of working in this dynamic industry. And most importantly, we’ll provide a roadmap to the best career platforms: where to look for your dream job and where to post vacancies to hit the mark.
In 2026, AI in iGaming is no longer a gimmick but the very air the industry breathes, transforming both games and daily routines. Amid this revolution, we tackle pressing questions: which jobs will be automated first? Whose profiles in gambling marketing will headhunters pursue? Where do new horizons for careers in affiliate marketing emerge, and how to identify one’s entry point?
Payment processing in iGaming isn’t a “background support function”, it’s the foundation of the entire business. Without reliable deposits and withdrawals, players won’t register or return. The speed of transactions, the payment methods available in a given region, how limits, fees, anti‑fraud, and refunds are handled – all of these determine the conversion from registration to deposit, the average transaction value, LTV, and ultimately, how much money the operator and affiliates actually see in their pockets. That’s why in a proper online casino or sportsbook, the payment infrastructure is an entire stack: a payment gateway, processing, banks, local providers, and anti‑fraud tools, all working behind a single “Deposit” button.
iGaming employs the widest possible range of payment solutions. Traditional bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, local networks) remain foundational and widely recognized methods, as they make it easiest for players to initiate their first deposit. Major payment systems offer robust protection, encryption, and operation monitoring. Complementing these are e-wallets and fintech services such as Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, AstroPay, and others. These accelerate deposits and withdrawals, introduce additional limits, cashback incentives, loyalty programs, and often perform better with cross-border payments compared to direct card usage.
A separate layer consists of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. They offer fast transactions, low fees, and independence from traditional banks, which is why many iGaming brands have added crypto wallets as an additional payment method, particularly in international markets.
Additionally, almost every GEO features local payment methods: bank transfers, domestic wallets, vouchers, and instant solutions (such as open banking). Without these, conversion rates for deposits in certain countries would struggle to take off.
None of this works without robust anti-fraud measures and chargeback prevention. Both payment providers and operators implement multi-layered scoring systems: they monitor suspicious activity patterns, block schemes involving stolen credit cards, restrict unusual transaction sequences, verify user behavior against KYC/AML profiles, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Properly configured anti-fraud systems and effective chargeback management distinguish profitable regions from toxic ones. Some territories necessitate stricter filtering of risky BINs and sources, whereas others allow for a gentler funnel approach to avoid harming conversions.
Ultimately, payments in iGaming involve a delicate balance of UX, trust-building, legal compliance, and risk management. Consequently, a competent operator prioritizes establishing efficient financial flows across these layers before focusing on aesthetics like a visually appealing lobby.
Artificial intelligence has become the primary accelerator in iGaming. It powers recommendation systems, bonus engines, fraud detection and marketing initiatives, even though players may not perceive its impact directly.
In online casinos and betting, Artificial Intelligence primarily focuses on personalization. It analyzes your preferences: what slots you spin, which odds you favor, how frequently you deposit, and how swiftly you lose. Then, it tailors your dashboard, bonuses, and missions accordingly. Similar to Netflix recommendations, AI dynamically adjusts game complexity, suggests personalized promotions, and anticipates moments when you’re likely to feel bored or suffer losses, proactively engaging you with quests, cashbacks, or tips to extend sessions and increase LTV. Concurrently, the same algorithms aid in identifying fraudsters and early signs of problem gambling: abnormal behaviors, irregular deposit patterns, or late-night marathons prompt alerts to Responsible Gambling teams or trigger activity restrictions.
Blockchain technology addresses two central pain points in iGaming: trust and payments. Provably Fair providers utilize hashes and cryptography to demonstrate that outcomes of spins or dice rolls are unmanipulated, allowing players themselves to verify fairness through public seeds. Crypto casinos and hybrid brands accept deposits in USDT, BTC, ETH, and other cryptocurrencies, facilitating faster deposits and withdrawals with reduced fees compared to traditional payment methods. Smart contracts automate jackpot payouts and affiliate commissions. For media buyers, this setup enables engagement with a global audience accustomed to cryptocurrencies but requires caution. Regulators are scrutinizing KYC/AML compliance in the crypto niche ever more rigorously, rendering transparent compliance structures indispensable for serious operators.
VR and AR in iGaming currently remain more of a showcase than mainstream, but the trend is clear: it’s about the most immersive live casino and betting experiences imaginable. Here, you don’t just click buttons, you virtually step into a casino hall, sit at a table with a dealer, and see other players as avatars. The spread of 5G and powerful mobile devices makes this technically feasible. Low latency and strong uplink allow for high‑quality video streaming, live odds updates, and VR elements without lag. Operators are already testing “VR tables” and AR overlays for sports — where, for example, odds, stats, and your live bets are displayed over a match broadcast. In this space, IoT most commonly manifests through smart devices: TV set‑tops, consoles, smart TVs, and wearables are becoming additional entry points to the product. Data from these devices helps better understand player behavior, tailoring UX and limits accordingly. Taken together, these technologies don’t fundamentally change the core nature of iGaming, but they make it less a “website with buttons” and more a living digital environment, where personalization, speed, and convenience are tied directly to your devices and context.
iGaming regulation serves as the backbone supporting legal online gambling: laws, licenses, safety requirements for players, and measures combating money laundering.
There are dozens of licensing authorities globally, but three names resonate with virtually everyone delving deeper into iGaming: Malta (MGA), Curaçao, and UKGC (the UK regulator).
The license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority is considered the “gold standard” within the EU. Its strict compliance requirements cover capital reserves, reporting obligations, KYC/AML protocols, and Responsible Gambling measures. In exchange, it grants a high level of trust from payment processors, affiliates, and players, ensuring access to most European markets.
Traditionally, the Curaçao license has been perceived as a quicker and more accessible entry point: simpler requirements, lower costs and timelines, and flexibility in product offerings. Currently undergoing reform, its regulations are gradually aligning with international AML, KYC, and player protection standards.
The UKGC license ranks among the strictest and most prestigious. It grants permission to operate in the British market but mandates maximum transparency, rigorous financial stability assessments, ongoing player monitoring, and readiness for thorough inspections and penalties.
For media buyers, the type of license influences how operators manage payments, GEOs they legally cover, and the extent to which they monitor traffic sources and ads.
The second cornerstone of regulation involves practical requirements dictating how operators verify players and manage risks.
In Russia and parts of the CIS region, the situation is traditionally more complicated. Here, online gambling and betting are subject to unique regulations combining state monopolies, national regulators, advertising restrictions, and periodic legislative amendments. In Russia, only strictly controlled segments (sweepstakes and licensed bookmakers participating in CUPIS/1CUPIS, etc.) are permitted. Separately categorized online casinos remain outside the legal framework according to existing law, and unauthorized websites are routinely blocked by the regulator.
Other countries in the region (Kazakhstan, Ukraine, parts of the South Caucasus and Central Asia) have launched or are reforming their own models. Some are issuing licenses to online casinos and bookmakers, while others are still adjusting their rules, resulting in businesses operating in a grey area between white and semi-white scenarios.
The overall trajectory in the CIS mirrors global trends: pressure on illegal segments intensifies, regulators incrementally impose KYC, AML, RG requirements, and larger players benefit more from operating within a comprehensible local framework than navigating perpetual uncertainty. For the industry, this indicates a rising demand for expertise in licensing, compliance and local regulation, compelling media buyers to discern which offers and formats genuinely conform to specific market rules and which do not.
iGaming remains a legal and high‑tech industry, yet it has a very tangible dark side – ranging from addiction to criminal activity where proper oversight is lacking. How the market manages these risks largely depends on the presence of licenses and the strength of the regulator.
Addiction is the first and most obvious problem. Gambling is inherently built on reward mechanisms and dopamine, and online play amplifies this with 24/7 availability, fast deposits, bonuses, and personalized offers. Without loss limits, self‑control tools, and behavior monitoring, a portion of players descend into problematic gambling: debt increases, mental health suffers, relationships and work collapse. In mature jurisdictions, operators are required to implement Responsible Gambling measures: limits, self‑exclusion options, cooling‑off periods, age and behavior checks. Regulators actively fine those who ignore these requirements. Without that, the industry gradually becomes a toxic generator of addiction.
Gray markets and criminal activity emerge where there is either no clear regulation or it is difficult to enforce in practice. When an online casino or bookmaker operates without a proper license, players have no guarantee of fair payouts, transparent account management, or complaint mechanisms. In such an environment, money‑laundering schemes, the use of drop accounts, circumvention of financial controls, bonus fraud, and chargeback scams thrive. The greater the volume of activity that shifts into this gray zone, the more it attracts criminal elements: illegal payment processing, money laundering, misuse of client data, rigged games, and scam projects that vanish with bankrolls.
Therefore, licensing and proper regulation are not mere formalities for show but a crucial barrier between a functioning industry and chaos. A licensed operator is required to segregate player funds from operational accounts, undergo audits, comply with KYC/AML rules, implement Responsible Gambling measures, and have dispute resolution procedures. A regulator can scrutinize financial reports, impose fines, revoke licenses, and thereby offer players at least a basic level of protection. This is also critical for affiliates and partners: working with unlicensed brands or those in non‑transparent jurisdictions almost always carries a high risk of non‑payment, reputational damage, and sudden shutdowns. Ultimately, a sustainable iGaming market is only possible where the licensed white segment is stronger than the gray and black markets, as well as where rules are not just written into law but are genuinely enforced.
In 2026–2030, iGaming will increasingly evolve into “live” digital ecosystems where gambling, social interaction, cryptocurrency and game development converge into a unified stack.
Web3 in the context of iGaming (online gambling industry) represents one of the most actively developing and potentially revolutionary fields. It’s not merely a technological trend but a paradigm shift from centralized platforms to decentralized protocols.
True Ownership
Transparency and Provably Fair
Decentralization and Lowered Barriers
Anonymity and Global Access
Economic Models
Specific Examples and Formats of Web3 iGaming
A second clear trend is the blurring of the line between classic gambling and skill‑based games. Social casino projects, which monetize time and in‑app purchases rather than cash deposits, are already growing. By 2030, such products will be used even more actively as a soft entry point into iGaming funnels. In parallel, interest in skill‑based games is rising: tournaments in PvP mini‑games, battle arenas, hybrids between esports and casino games where the outcome partly depends on player skill. For regulators, this is a complex issue: how to classify them, how to tax them, and what restrictions to impose. However, for the industry, it represents an opportunity to move away from pure roulette towards more engaging formats. For affiliates, this means a wider range of offers that look like regular games but are built on the same monetization and retention funnels as traditional iGaming.
DeFi and NFTs in iGaming are not a passing trend but a potential new layer in the financial and content stack. DeFi tools are already being tested as a foundation for liquidity pools, where providers and investors deposit capital for a share in GGR or revenue, moving beyond traditional B2B contracts, effectively creating a “casino bank pool” powered by smart contracts.Within this framework, NFTs serve as tokenized elements of the iGaming ecosystem: unique skins for live games, access to VIP areas, private tables or exclusive tournaments, and even shares in jackpots or brands. By 2030, it’s reasonable to expect that major operators will launch hybrid loyalty programs, where a player has not just an account and status, but also digital assets that can be sold, staked, or used cross‑platform. At the same time, regulators and financial monitoring will closely scrutinize how these models manage AML risks and ensure that the DeFi infrastructure around casinos doesn’t simply become a vehicle for money laundering.
In the end, the future of iGaming is not just about growing turnover, but also about increasing structural complexity. Web3 platforms, metaverses, social and skill‑based gambling, DeFi finance, and NFT assets will gradually integrate into the classic casino and betting infrastructure. For industry professionals, this will mean shifting from a mindset focused solely on “traffic → registration → deposit” to one that considers the entire ecosystem: where a player’s money and digital assets reside, how they interact with the community, and how all of this coexists within an increasingly stringent regulatory framework.
iGaming is the entire industry of real‑money online gambling: casinos and slots, sports and esports betting, poker, bingo, lotteries, and similar products played through websites and apps. Unlike offline gambling, it is built entirely on digital infrastructure: payment systems, licenses, tracking, CRM, anti‑fraud measures and traffic acquisition.
The industry demands operational and marketing roles (media buyer, affiliate manager, CRM/Retention specialist, SMM manager, content creator), product and analytical positions (product manager, BI analyst, data scientist), technical roles (developers, DevOps, QA engineers), and experts in risk management, KYC/AML, and compliance. Additionally, there are specialized fields: support and VIP managers, sales and business development professionals, as well as HR and dedicated recruiters who staff international teams.
Formal experience specifically in iGaming is preferred for mid‑level and senior roles. However, to enter the industry, it is often sufficient to have basic skills from related fields (digital marketing, analytics, support, development) and a readiness to quickly grasp the specifics of gambling and regulatory compliance. Many companies hire juniors for support, junior marketing, and affiliate/CRM assistant positions, and then grow them internally if the individual is a fast learner and has a sound approach to the industry.
Crypto is valued in iGaming for its fast and convenient payments, low fees, and the ability to reach an international audience without being tightly bound to specific banks and cards. For players, it means quick deposits and withdrawals. For operators, it represents an additional payment channel and a competitive advantage in markets where traditional methods often face rejections or delays.
The legality of iGaming depends on the country. In a number of jurisdictions, online casinos and betting are fully legal and regulated (licenses from UKGC, MGA, KSA, etc.). In others, only certain formats are permitted (e.g., sports betting), and in some places, online gambling is formally prohibited. Therefore, operators work under licenses from specific regulators, and it is important for both players and affiliates to understand in which countries an offer has the right to provide its services.
Yes, the industry has its own risks: for players — addiction, financial losses, and unlicensed fraudulent operations; for companies and professionals — regulatory pressure, stringent AML/KYC requirements, and reputational issues surrounding gambling. Licensed operators are required to implement Responsible Gambling measures, anti‑fraud systems, and transparent rules. However, gray markets and illegal platforms remain a source of problems, which is why it makes sense to work only with those who openly display their licenses and adhere to local laws.
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