Crypto investors are typically early adopters of the latest technology and they like to follow the latest growing industries and trends. Most crypto investors will already be aware that the iGaming industry has experienced strong performance in recent years and that it is a space to watch with keen interest.
From identifying investment opportunities in the iGaming industry to exploring a new hobby that fits their interests and preferences, keeping an eye on what is happening in the iGaming could open up new opportunities for crypto investors.
Online casinos and crypto are merging in many ways, with crypto casinos offering fast transactions and lower transaction fees and the implementation of the tech innovations used across both sectors.
These are some of the key reasons that crypto investors should have iGaming developments on their radar in 2026:
Investment Opportunities
There are confident predictions that the iGaming industry, including esports, is going to experience strong growth through 2026 and beyond. Statista has outlined predictions for an annual growth rate in the gambling market of around 3%, with a projected global volume of US$522.54 billion by 2030.
Canada has experienced overwhelming revenue growth in Ontario, following a new regulatory framework being rolled out in 2022, bringing private casino operators into the market. With other provinces also exploring the idea, the Canadian iGaming market is likely to present good investment options.
The global esports industry is predicted to have a compound annual growth rate of around 21% to 27%, with major expansion happening across viewership volumes and new sponsor partnerships.
Investors who are looking for new opportunities might want to consider investing in iGaming and esports companies to potentially capitalize on the predicted growth. This will also provide them with more options to diversify their investment portfolio, which helps to balance out under-performing markets with high performing markets.
iGaming to Grow Funds in a Fun Way
Many investors are drawn to the risk and reward element of crypto investing, which is also one of the psychological principles in iGaming. Both crypto investors and iGamers find excitement in taking risks that will hopefully result in rewards and both take similar approaches to assessing risk.
For these reasons, and many more, crypto investors are likely to find that playing games like online poker gives them an opportunity to increase their funds, while having fun along the way.
Playing casino games such as poker also involves an element of skill, in the same way that identifying crypto investment opportunities requires skill. Many of the aspects of crypto that attract investors are also used across casinos. For example, the availability of instant payments and borderless access.
Historically, crypto investors may have been sceptical about the fairness of casino games but with provably fair systems now available through blockchain in crypto casinos, these fears can be allayed.
Crypto investors might also be interested in the potential to turn casino bonuses into funds. Investors are usually driven by making profits, especially where minimal investment is required on their part. With crypto casinos, there is a large range of casino bonus choices, many of which are significantly better than non-crypto casino bonuses. If they can turn deposit bonuses and free spins into profits, they can withdraw cryptocurrency to reinvest.
Discovering Innovations
Another area of iGaming that crypto investors might be keen to explore is the innovations that are being introduced in the industry. As tech enthusiasts, the latest tech movements such as Web3 casinos and Layer 2 networks being integrated into casinos may be of interest.
Similarities between crypto tech and iGaming are growing with smart-contract casinos and NFT-betting coming into the mix.
Compliance Approaches
The regulatory approach taken in Ontario and other successful examples around the world may give some indications as to the direction that authorities will take in terms of new regulations in the crypto sector.
Regulations in the crypto sector are still in their early stages, with the UK, for example, currently reviewing how to introduce a new regulatory regime that will impact crypto going forward. The regulations that have already been applied in the iGaming industry could provide indirect insights into what could be on the horizon for crypto regulations.
There are many reasons why crypto investors should keep a careful watch over the iGaming industry in 2026 and it will no doubt be another year of interesting progression for the industry.
If you are a crypto investor then there are many commonalities with iGaming that you are likely to enjoy exploring, whether that is from an investment, educational or fun perspective.