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Prostrate Travel and Tourism Sector & Legal Restraints to Challenge Growth Even as Casinos Reopen

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The “Casinos – Global Market Trajectory & Analytics” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

While the pandemic and lockdowns have largely benefitted the gaming industry, the gambling sector has been less lucky faced with a tepid outlook and a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges. With 74.6% of revenues coming from the offline brick and motor sector, the closure of entertainment centers and casinos as part of the lockdowns imposed in 1st Q 2020 impacted revenues and profitability for companies. The global market for casinos is expected to decline by 10.8% in the year 2020. The abrupt halting of economic activity has pushed businesses across all industries into financial distress. Sudden fall in revenues and profits as a result of demand disruptions has resulted in workforce pruning and layoffs. Unemployment rates have hit never-before highs with the US topping the charts with 12.5% unemployed as a % of total labor force. Social outlook against this background remains grim with households expected witness erosion in wealth. Personal financial outlook, community, economy, job security confidence, purchasing and investment confidence are all tumbling as the human and economic cost of the global pandemic rises. While brick and motor casinos stagnate, online casinos are faring better although limited by lower discretionary spending. The increase in spending is coming largely from gaming addicts and from consumer clusters spending more on online retail and entertainment during the pandemic.

Even as casinos begin to reopen as lockdowns are cautiously eased in countries worldwide, they face the challenge of falling consumer confidence and spending and the still prostrate travel and tourism sector. In Las Vegas for instance which is the gambling Mecca of the world, millions of tourists and visitors make up for the large customer base at casinos. Gaming operators from Macau to Las Vegas are all anticipating a rough restart after gaming properties are allowed to reopen. In Macau, a few gaming properties have reopened but could not see desirable outcomes. In gambling destinations such as Parisian Macao, Venetian Macao, Sands Cotai Central, Wynn Palace, City of Dreams, Galaxy Macau, MGM Cotai, Grand Lisboa, MGC Macau, Star World and Wynn Macau, customer turnover still remains low. During pre-COVID-19 times, each of those casinos attracted around 200 thousand visitors every day. This extreme drop in visitor numbers is due to stringent border restrictions being followed since the month of March. Limited options for transportation and quarantine rules make it difficult for players to visit gambling destinations. With the global economy now in recession, recovery will be delayed further. Although online casinos are well suited for safe indulgence in gambling in the midst of a pandemic situation, this sector is still fledging and is plagued with legality issues. Online casinos are illegal in most parts of the United States and in countries where online casinos are legal confusion over legal boundaries of betting and gambling is a chief restraint to growth. Underdevelopment online funds transfer platforms also adds another layer of challenge to growth. In younger markets like the U.S. and Asian countries where digital prize money disbursement platforms are still underdeveloped, the challenge is bigger and more difficult to overcome. In Europe, the region with a well-developed online and offline gambling infrastructure, casino owners are innovating in digital payments by using digital wallet services to transfer funds to customers.

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A return to complete normalcy will begin only after barriers to access gaming destinations are completely removed. The market is projected to reach US$159.3 billion by the year 2027, trailing a CAGR of3.7%. Offline Casinos, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 3.4% CAGR to reach US$116.3 million by the end of the analysis period. Few of the factors expected to drive growth in the post pandemic period include migration from cards to crypto currency gambling; continued evolution of online casinos supported by rapid proliferation of mobile devices and growing penetration of smart phones and tablets; development of supplicated gambling apps; growing participation of women in casinos; resurgence in casino tourism; relaxation in gambling regulations and legalization of gambling in several nations given their contribution to national income and development of local tourism.

Key Topics Covered:

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

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2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

IV. COMPETITION

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Companies Mentioned

  • 888 Holdings Plc
  • Betfair Group Plc
  • Boyd Gaming Corporation
  • Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
  • Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc
  • Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.
  • Golden Nugget Atlantic City
  • Harrington Raceway & Casino
  • Ladbrokes Coral Group Plc
  • Las Vegas Sands Corporation
  • Mgm Resorts International
  • Penn National Gaming
  • Sjm Holdings Ltd.
  • William Hill Plc
  • Wynn Resorts Limited

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Cactus Founder Nickolas Ribeiro Defends Industry’s Continued Commitment to Responsible Gaming

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In August, the Brazilian online gaming and sports betting sector will complete eight months of effective regulation. This new phase officially began on January 1, 2025, after a long period of debate and consultation between iGaming market representatives and government authorities.

According to Cactus Gaming founder Nickolas Tadeu Ribeiro de Campos, one of the main issues that has permeated this new era of online gambling is establishing resources and motivating the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming. “The commitment to Responsible Gaming must be ongoing. Here at Cactus, we invest in technological tools, protection policies, and strategic partnerships to ensure that entertainment is always aligned with the safety and well-being of players. We promote transparency, prevent risks, and support practices that strengthen the sector’s sustainability,” adds Nickolas.

It’s worth noting that the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), which regulates gaming and betting activities in Brazil, published Ordinance SPA/MF No. 1,231, dated July 31, 2024, which establishes guidelines and measures to ensure that gaming and betting operations promote the integrity and well-being of bettors. The ordinance provides guidelines on how to manage gambling to prevent harmful behavior.

Awarded Best Platform of the Year for three consecutive years by the BIS Awards and Sigma Awards and expanding internationally, Cactus is a Brazilian company recognized for its innovation and excellence in the iGaming sector, standing out for the development of robust, secure and scalable solutions for operators worldwide.

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All areas of the organization are committed to conscious practices and have leaders who believe this is one of the main pillars for a maturing market, as is the case in Brazil.

In this context, Nickolas Ribeiro emphasizes that consumers must be continually made aware, understanding that this activity needs to be done in a safe, healthy and recreational manner.

“The gaming ecosystem must be committed to raising awareness among its audience, promoting informative and preventive actions. We want gaming to be fun for everyone, while providing tools and support channels for those who need it. Therefore, educational initiatives are the best allies for building a robust, conscious, and transparent market in Brazil,” adds the founder of Cactus.

Welcome to Cactus’ new CFO

At the forefront of the industry, Cactus continues to grow and expand its structure with the acquisition of a new office and the hiring of market leaders. Last month, Thiago Garrides joined the team as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Garrides’ arrival represents a new cycle of financial expansion for the company, aligned with its strengthening in Brazil and growth in regulated international markets. The executive has over two decades of experience in corporate finance, risk management, and treasury. He has also led projects focused on operational efficiency, governance, and the structuring of financial services solutions.

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Cactus Gaming, along with its founder, Nickolas Ribeiro, understands the importance of employing highly qualified professionals to offer partners global standards of innovation, transparency, and security. Since its founding, the brand has established a broad portfolio of products and services geared toward the iGaming market, with the credibility of a company that adheres to international best practices. Garrides’ arrival reinforces this constant pursuit of excellence and responsibility.

“Thiago’s arrival represents a significant step forward in our executive structure. We are currently consolidating and expanding internationally, and having a CFO with his experience and strategic vision reinforces our commitment to solid, responsible management aligned with the challenges of the iGaming sector,” emphasizes Nickolas Ribeiro.

Internationally recognized and awarded brand

Cactus’ pioneering work has been recognized by major national and international industry awards. The company was named Best Platform of the Year for three consecutive years—in 2025, 2024, and 2023—and also won “Best White Label” at the SiGMA Awards and “Best Platform” at the BiS Awards.

With a presence at the main global events in the sector such as ICE, SiGMA Americas, SBC Summit, SiGMA Europe, IGB among others, and in full international expansion, Cactus Gaming reinforces its leadership by expanding its operations in Latin America, Europe and other markets.

 

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The post Cactus Founder Nickolas Ribeiro Defends Industry’s Continued Commitment to Responsible Gaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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From Track to Tech: SOFTSWISS Celebrates Barrichello’s First NASCAR Brasil Triumph

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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, celebrates Rubens Barrichello’s victory in the first NASCAR Brasil Series title in his debut season. As the company’s Non‑Executive Director in Latin America, Barrichello exemplifies the champion’s mindset that underpins SOFTSWISS’ disciplined approach to product delivery in Brazil and worldwide.

The NASCAR Brasil Series crowns its champion over a full season under NASCAR-aligned regulations. The title was sealed at the Match Point finale at Velo Città in São Paulo, where the opening race set the decisive points. Barrichello’s calm, data-driven call at the critical moment mirrors SOFTSWISS’ practice: trust the plan, read the telemetry, execute cleanly. 

Rubens Barrichello, Non‑Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, comments: “Everyone knows how much I love this competition and how fierce I am. My heart is in my mouth and I’m very happy.”

Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, adds: “This title is a powerful example of what passion, confidence and disciplined preparation deliver. The champion’s mindset that Rubens demonstrates – clarity of plan, trust in the team and precision under pressure – inspires everyone at SOFTSWISS. We will keep applying the same approach in Brazil first and across all markets, bringing measured execution and data-driven decision-making to every release and every client partnership.”

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In May, SOFTSWISS marked the first anniversary of its collaboration with Barrichello. This success arrives as an energising milestone for teams and partners, reinforcing a working culture built on preparation, clarity of roles, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement. Earlier this month, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator was named ‘Best Game Aggregator Platform’ at CGS Recife, adding local recognition to the company’s Brazil roadmap.

SOFTSWISS is fully certified in Brazil across its core products – Casino Platform, Game Aggregator, Sportsbook, and Jackpot Aggregator – enabling licensed operators to access a comprehensive, locally compliant stack with trusted support. The same track-to-tech discipline continues to drive responsible and sustainable growth.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides certified software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.

The post From Track to Tech: SOFTSWISS Celebrates Barrichello’s First NASCAR Brasil Triumph appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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The White Label Dilemma: Finding the Right Balance for Your iGaming Business

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It’s not just black and white label

Yoni Sidi, CEO at Wiztech, says white labels are all about striking the balance between pros and cons, but for some, it’s impossible to achieve and that’s why it’s important to consider other options.

 

For most operators, a white label solution seems to offer the best route to market. But is that actually the case?

I’ve been working in the industry for more than two decades now, and over that time, I’ve worked on both sides of the fence – so on the white label operator side and on the white label provider side. This gives me a deep understanding of the pros and cons of white label solutions, and this understanding ultimately led me to launch Wiztech. To answer your question more directly, white labels are always about striking the balance between the pros and cons they present – for some operators, a balance can be found, but for others, it can’t. Ultimately, it comes down to knowing what you want from your platform or technology stack, and whether a white label can meet those requirements with the budget and resources you have available to you.

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So, what are the pros and cons of a white label platform?

There are plenty of upsides to white labels, and that’s why they’re used by so many operators. The main advantages are speed to market and cost effectiveness – you can literally go from first discussions to your online casino being live in a matter of weeks. The upfront fees are relatively small, and, in most cases, you pay a revenue share back to the platform provider. This can tighten margins a little, but it means you don’t have to have a large capital reserve to get going. Another benefit is that you can take on as much or as little of the operation as you like – for some, they will let the platform provider take care of the operational aspect while they focus solely on marketing and customer acquisition. Other upsides include licensing, with the white label partner securing and being responsible for the licences they hold.

Drawbacks. The biggest for me is the lack of differentiation you get with a white label. The many brands that run on the platform often look very much the same, just with different logos and branding. After a few months of operating your online casino, you’ll likely notice friction points that you’ll want to address, but the rigid nature of white-label platforms means it’s incredibly difficult to smooth out even the smallest of bumps in the road. It’s also incredibly difficult to roll out unique features and functionality as the development team is usually working through a backlog of requests – most of which are for the friction bumps that need ironing out. Factor in the frequent regulatory changes that happen, and the need for the development team to respond to them, and it’s easy to see how hard it can be to improve the experience being offered to players.

 

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How can operators strike a balance between the pros and cons of white labels?

It comes down to understanding the capabilities of the platform provider and whether they offer customisation and localisation. If they don’t, the operator needs to determine if this is a price they’re willing to pay in exchange for the speed to market and cost effectiveness that white labels provide. Of course, some white label providers do offer support and are happy to help when it comes to developing and deploying bespoke features and functionality. But in my experience, most don’t have the capacity for this, even if they say they do. For me, the balance is found by accepting the limitations of white labels and working within the (often pretty rigid framework) they provide. There are plenty of examples of operators that have done this and have gone on to run very successful brands in highly competitive markets.

 

Is there an alternative to white labels?

The most obvious alternative is to develop a proprietary technology stack, but this approach comes with just as many, if not more, pitfalls. Building a platform from the ground up is incredibly expensive and tremendously risky, and this is why so few operators outside of the industry power players have been able to pull it off. And even those that do often encounter issues such as ongoing maintenance, tech debt, staffing and compliance. But there is a middle ground between white label and proprietary, and it can be found with smaller platform providers whose technologies offer the agility, flexibility and adaptability required for operators to launch highly customised, almost bespoke, online casinos and sportsbooks.

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How does Wiztech fit into the platform mix, and how do you support your partners in achieving their goals in often highly competitive markets?

At Wiztech, we champion modular tech and the likes of AI and automation. By embracing these, we have been able to build powerful yet highly customisable casino and sportsbook solutions that are also fully compliant in tightly regulated markets. In our experience, being able to quickly respond to regulatory changes provides a competitive advantage to our customers. In Mexico, for example, our client Winpot has been able to deliver a unique player experience while always ensuring compliance. And this is against a backdrop where regulatory changes often come with very little notice. Our technology can adapt quickly while Winpot continues to capitalise on the growing demand for entertaining online casino products and experiences.

But just as important as our technology is our approach to our partners. This sees us undertake a comprehensive onboarding process where we spend a lot of time understanding the client’s “why” before we map out the “what” and the “how”. This has proved to be incredibly effective and ensures that our clients can get the most out of the flexibility of our platform and the high levels of customisation and personalisation it provides.

The post The White Label Dilemma: Finding the Right Balance for Your iGaming Business appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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