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New Study Reveals Economic and Social Risks of iGaming
In response to the increasing concerns over the social and economic risks of iGaming, the gaming and entertainment business leaders have joined forces to launch the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG).
The organization is formed in opposition to the expansion of iGaming and its well-reported economic and social dangers and urges other local businesses, employee unions, and community groups to mobilize in their effort to protect local communities.
A new study for NAAiG by The Innovation Group, a research and advisory firm specializing in gaming, hospitality, and tourism that has previously conducted multiple studies of online gambling for state governments and industry stakeholders, debunks the myth that iGaming offers easy revenue for states. Instead, the study uncovers the damaging effects of iGaming expansion, exposing widespread job losses and significant declines in economic output across multiple states.
Main findings of the report:
Land-based casino revenue drops by 16% on average after iGaming is introduced, leading to substantial job losses, hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic output and reduced tax contributions that fund public services.
States introducing iGaming face significant economic losses, with projected job cuts reaching 4921 in New York and 4733 in Illinois by 2029.
iGaming results in significant losses for states in economic output. All states analyzed would see massive GDP reductions, including Ohio ($602 million), Indiana ($428 million), Maryland ($372 million), and Colorado ($313 million).
States’ net tax gains from iGaming are limited, even before accounting for the increased social costs associated with its high rates of problem gambling and related social ills. For instance, Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi could all see negative net tax revenue due to displaced in-person gaming dollars and related impacts on state and local economies.
Brick-and-mortar casinos in every state would face significant revenue losses due to iGaming cannibalization. Projections reach up to $983.7 million in New York, $545.3 million in Illinois, $522.6 million in Ohio, and $342.6 million in Maryland by 2029.
The introduction of iGaming reduces in-person casino employment, with an estimated 2818 jobs lost in Ohio, 2642 in Louisiana and 1906 in Mississippi.
The job losses caused by iGaming will result in massive reductions each year in employee wages and related taxes for states. Annual labor income losses would reach nearly $110 million in Colorado and Maryland, $204 million in Ohio, nearly $300 million in Illinois, and nearly $450 million in New York.
States with iGaming experience an 8.3% decline in distributed gaming revenue, impacting taverns and small gaming establishments.
Projected U.S. gambling losses from iGaming are expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2028, straining local economies and public health resources.
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for action. iGaming’s unchecked access to gambling on cell phones is bad public policy that threatens local jobs and businesses and will cost states. When increased social costs caused by iGaming higher rates of underage and problem gambling are considered, the net tax revenue results are uniformly negative for every state,” said Mark Stewart, EVP & General Counsel of The Cordish Companies and NAAiG board member. “
“Beyond the lack of any real upside for states, iGaming puts vulnerable individuals at greater risk of problem gambling and financial instability. NAAiG is uniting stakeholders to push back and stop the spread of these harmful trends and advocate for responsible gaming policies,” said NAAiG board member Jason Gumer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Monarch Casino & Resort Inc.
“iGaming is eroding our communities. This isn’t just about responsible gaming—it’s about protecting local family-sustaining jobs and preventing financial harm. In Maryland alone, iGaming could cost $372 million in economic output, $342.6 million in lost casino revenue and nearly $110 million in annual wages. We must act now to protect our state and local economies nationwide,” said Shannon McCracken, Senior Director of Government Relations at Churchill Downs Incorporated and NAAIG board member.
The post New Study Reveals Economic and Social Risks of iGaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Big Daddy Gaming® has entered a content distribution partnership with St8, a fast-growing casino aggregator with a strong footprint across regulated European markets and a recent expansion into Canada.
Under the agreement, Big Daddy Gaming’s early portfolio will be integrated into St8’s single-API platform, providing operators with seamless access to the studio’s distinctive Reel Fun. Real Value. content offering.
This partnership is part of Big Daddy Gaming’s ongoing commercial momentum, supporting the newly launched studio’s expansion into key regulated European markets.
As part of the rollout, St8 will onboard an initial selection of Big Daddy Gaming’s early titles, including Going Ape, Legacy of Desperados, and Redneck Dynamite, all featuring high-impact mechanics designed to maximize operator value.
Leveraging St8’s established presence in multiple regulated markets and reputation for fast, stable integrations, the partnership offers Big Daddy Gaming® a scalable distribution channel to accelerate its European growth strategy.
Erland Hellström, CEO at Big Daddy Gaming®, said: “Partnering with St8 is a big step forward for us at this early stage. Their compliance credentials and strong operator network make them an ideal aggregator to help deliver our content to the right markets quickly and reliably. We are delighted to be working together and look forward to seeing our first titles go live through St8’s platform.”
Vladimir Negine, CEO at St8, added: “Big Daddy Gaming® is one of the standout new studios to launch this year, and their early portfolio shows real promise. Their creative DNA and focus on delivering genuinely entertaining content make them a valuable addition to our offering. We’re excited to introduce their first wave of titles to our operator partners and expect a strong reception from players.”
The post Big Daddy Gaming® goes live with casino games aggregator St8 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The partnership enhances ELA’s European strategy, bringing its high-quality creative portfolio to an important market.
ELA Games is excited to reveal a significant collaboration with Stake.dk, the Danish division of the globally recognized betting brand, Stake. The agreement will incorporate the creative excellence and strong performance of ELA Games’ expanding portfolio into the Stake.dk platform, enhancing the operator’s localized content selection.
With this collaboration, Stake.dk players will receive instant access to ELA Games’ distinctive “WinPot” features and narrative-based slots. The integration features the studio’s best-selling games alongside the visually captivating journey, Wealth of Legends. This partnership allows Stake’s Danish clients to access the same high-quality, engaging content that is contributing to ELA Games’ achievements throughout Europe.
Collaborating with a brand as internationally acknowledged as Stake marks a significant achievement in ELA’s growth approach, confirming its status as a preferred provider for Tier-1 operators in regulated markets such as Denmark.
“At Stake Denmark we are thrilled to welcome ELA Games as we continue to elevate our offering to the Danish market. Our goal has always been to provide local players with a world-class gaming experience, and integrating ELA Games’ high-performance portfolio, including fan favorites like Wealth of Legends is a major step toward that. Their unique mechanics and immersive storytelling perfectly complement our brand’s innovative edge, and we look forward to seeing our players engage with this exciting new content,” said Peter Eugen Clausen, Managing Director of Stake.dk
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, added: “Stake is one of the most bold and recognizable names in our industry, so launching with Stake.dk is a massive achievement for us. We know their players expect fast-paced, high-quality action, which is exactly what titles like It’s Shark Time and Cash of Gods deliver. We are thrilled to bring our vision of immersive gaming to their expanding Danish community.”
The post ELA Games Strengthens Danish Market Presence via Stake.dk Tie-Up appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ThrillTech, a global leader in side-bet jackpot technology for iGaming operators and game studios, has partnered with EstrelaBet to launch ThrillPots in the regulated Brazilian market. EstrelaBet has established a strong presence in Brazil by embracing innovation and collaborating with international technology partners, making it an ideal launch partner for ThrillTech’s market entry.
This partnership marks ThrillTech’s first operator deal in Brazil and follows the company’s expansion into the market under a regulated framework. Through the agreement, ThrillPots will be integrated into EstrelaBet’s platform as ThrillTech continues to grow its presence across Latin America’s regulated iGaming markets.
The EstrelaBet collaboration builds on a year of robust momentum for ThrillTech, following recent operator launches including a deal with NordPlay. In 2025, the company expanded its regulatory footprint to 10 jurisdictions, achieved ISO 27001 certification, and strengthened its senior leadership team in preparation for further geographic growth. ThrillTech’s ThrillPots and ThrillDrops products are now deployed across 10 regulated markets worldwide.
Ben Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “This partnership brings ThrillTech into Brazil, which is a market that’s developed fast and is setting the pace for regulated growth in the region. EstrelaBet knows the market inside out, and together, we’re bringing ThrillPots live and opening up new jackpot experiences for Brazilian players.”
Pedro Schmidt, Chief Commercial Officer for EstrelaBet, added: “This partnership introduces a new jackpot technology to the Brazilian regulated market. We are pleased to be among the first operators to make this solution available locally, expanding the range of experiences offered to our players while maintaining our commitment to responsible gaming.”
The post ThrillTech enters Brazilian market with EstrelaBet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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