Blockchain
Online Gambling Market Size & Share | North America, Europe, & APAC Industry Forecasts 2026: Graphical Research
The global online gambling market size is poised to rise substantially during the forecast timeframe owing to the potential for financial rewards, along with the penetration of the internet. With growing betting opportunities, industry players have also prioritized the advertisement of promotion of codes. Cloud providers are seeking solutions in unlimited computing and storage capabilities to help online gambling companies expand their penetration. Trends that are expected to influence online betting business are elucidated below:
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- Expansion of casinos in the U.S. bodes well
Casinos are cashing in on the prospect of online gambling through the integration of AI to assess customer behavior and boost personalization. The technology has become trendier to analyze and bolster customer experience. Online casinos will further gain impetus with technological advancements, ease of playing for newbies, promotions and bonuses. With the future of casinos slated to be virtual, major casino platforms are likely to invest in online channels. North America online gambling market size is likely to surpass USD 20 billion by 2026.
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- Online betting to gain ground across North America
Expanding prominence of e-sports, football, horse racing and tennis has fared well for the prominence of online betting. The growth of sports leagues, coupled with the integration of local sportsbooks, has fueled the penetration in the U.S. and Canada. Prominently, the rising presence of legal sports betting has helped governments explore opportunities in the form of tax revenue and job opportunities.
It is pertinent to mention that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018 that limited sports betting. Moreover, the expansion of leading sports leagues, such as NBL and NHL will also boost the business outlook.
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- Europe poised to be the hub for eSports
At the time when Europe’s tech hubs are pushing eSports to the next level, businesses are flocking to the trend in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. The exposure of esports could be pronounced in Italy, Spain, France, the U.K. and Germany. Millennials and the Gen Z population have shown traction for a host of offerings, including live streams, pay- and free- TV, and video-on-demand.
E-sports has become a force to reckon with as companies strive to leverage brand power across the region. Europe online gambling market size could surpass USD 70 billion by 2026. The robust outlook is attributed largely to the arrival of new game formats, the uptake of content rights sales and convergence among entertainment, telecom and sports companies.
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- Exploring opportunities in mobile gambling in Europe
With online gambling entering a new phase towards becoming a lucrative market, the next few years will shape the global market on multiple revenue sources—mobile devices being one of them. Notably, the emergence of 5G networks played a monumental role to bolster the rise of mobile gambling. Smartphone technology has brought a paradigm shift and played a major role in resisting the challenges of 2020. The prevalence of a large number of people, proximity, cash changing hands in an enclosed environment became a major factor shifting attention from brick-and-mortar to mobile gambling.
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- Poker thrives in Asia Pacific market
Several online gambling sites have shown an increased inclination for poker underpinned by the use of mobile wallets. Prominently, referral-based currency and free joining bonuses have become the go-to business model. The trend for online poker is mainly down to the fact that customers are not confined by geography, are spoilt for choices and can play 24/7 on any device. Besides, poker rooms in China, Japan and Australia have followed the suit of online bingo rooms and casino games, offering slots and more choices and opportunities to gamble. Asia Pacific online gambling market share is forecast to exceed USD 50 billion by 2026.
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- Desktop gambling sought-after in China and India
Over the years, desktop gambling has thrived and is striving to withstand challenges emanating from the rise of smartphone technology. Given the significance of convenience, several players prefer gambling on a PC. Not to mention, gambling on a computer has seemingly outnumbered mobile gambling in emerging economies, including India and China. Desktop could contribute a notable share towards global online gambling market by 2026, partly due to the demand for improved picture quality and storage capacity.
The interest of leagues, sports personalities and clubs, and agencies will expedite the growth of global online betting. Agencies are expected to bring their experience in sports marketing, while the inclusion of sports teams will provide an impetus to the acceptance and awareness of esports, for instance.
Strategic partners are likely to add revenue, capital and know-how to the online betting ecosystem. In a bid to stay ahead of the trends and keep up with the demands of stakeholders, blockchain, VR and IoT are expected to be sought globally. While there’s no denying that the pandemic put the industry to the test, a high proportion of newbies and a surged consumption compared to the pre-COVID levels fared well for the global forecast.
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$SNACK token
Crypto Snack Unveils Five-Pillar Ecosystem Spanning Sports, RWA Tokenisation, iGaming, Consumer Rewards and Payments
Crypto Snack, the blockchain-based crypto infrastructure company behind the $SNACK token, has announced the full scope of its multi-vertical ecosystem — spanning a Premier League football partnership, institutional-grade real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, licensed iGaming, a live consumer rewards platform and an integrated crypto wallet and payments app.
The announcement marks a strategic repositioning for the project, which has spent the past 18 months building infrastructure, securing partnerships and obtaining licences ahead of a coordinated 2026 launch across all five verticals.
“Most crypto projects pick one lane. We’ve built five — and every single one generates real revenue for the token. This isn’t a roadmap built on promises. The partnerships are signed, the licences are secured, and the technology is built. 2026 is about execution,” Stuart Morrison, CEO and Founder of Crypto Snack.
Premier League Partnership
Crypto Snack has secured a partnership with an English Premier League football club, making it the first project to process cryptocurrency payments for a PL club. The integration covers matchday ticket purchases, merchandise sales, LED stadium advertising, VIP hospitality packages, and Ticketmaster-integrated ticketing — with $SNACK enabled as a direct payment method.
The club name remains under embargo ahead of a formal joint announcement in the coming weeks.
Real-World Asset Tokenisation
Crypto Snack facilitated and represents the Alkemya Metacore Security Token Offering (STO), which is listing on a regulated tokenised securities exchange. The STO comprises 800 million tokens, with Crypto Snack holding a 3% allocation. Proceeds are received in USDT, with remaining tokens generating ongoing cash distributions.
The company is actively tokenising UK real estate, commodities, and securities at institutional scale, with projects valued at up to $1.5 billion.
Licensed iGaming
Snack Casino and Snack Bet — a fully licensed online casino and sportsbook — are scheduled to launch in 2026, operated by a strategic iGaming partner under a licensed agreement to use the Crypto Snack brand. All bonuses, rewards and referral incentives will be distributed exclusively in $SNACK tokens, creating a recurring demand mechanism for the token independent of speculative trading.
Live Consumer Rewards
Snack Rewards is already live in the US through a partnership with Affina Loyalty, offering cashback paid in $SNACK tokens across more than 2000 brands including Apple, Nike, IKEA and Uber. The merchant-funded model means brands fund the cashback directly, with Crypto Snack earning a 1% commission on every transaction. UK and European expansion is scheduled for Q3 2026.
Snack App and Wallet
The Snack App will serve as the central gateway to the entire ecosystem, featuring a built-in crypto wallet with virtual debit cards, buy/sell/trade functionality and unified access to all rewards and loyalty programmes. The app is designed for mainstream adoption, removing the technical barriers that typically prevent non-crypto users from entering the space.
The post Crypto Snack Unveils Five-Pillar Ecosystem Spanning Sports, RWA Tokenisation, iGaming, Consumer Rewards and Payments appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blockchain
RPM APPOINTS WEB3 EXPERT STEVE WHYMAN TO LEAD ON BLOCKCHAIN STRATEGY
RPM, the specialist in retail and online betting and gaming, has announced that it has bolstered its digital markets capabilities with the appointment of Steve Whyman as Director of Web3 & Crypto.
Whyman joins RPM with a mandate to shape the credible adoption of blockchain technology within the global gaming industry, and will assist partners with a unique, high-level consultancy service that helps deliver faster routes to market using decentralised offerings and tokens.
This appointment internalises Steve Whyman’s institutional pedigree, having spent 25 years in senior trading and leadership roles with industry giants including Amundi, Aviva, and BlackRock, while he most recently served as Head of Debt Capital Markets at Fidelity International where he oversaw the $90bn fixed income primary markets portfolio and led the tokenisation of the firm’s money market fund.
With the added, potent combination of Web3 experience as founder and CEO at Fulminata Solutions, a digital capital markets boutique working with Layer-1 blockchains and prominent stablecoins, Whyman is well-positioned to translate digital finance innovations into practical gaming applications for RPM partners.
During his time at Fulminata Solutions, Whyman has established himself as a thought leader in the Web3 space with specific expertise in the Solana ecosystem. He currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to KEEL.FI, the largest allocator on Solana, and his new role will see this knowhow utilised to provide the gaming sector with a more seamless path to new business models, improved transparency, and new sustainable growth opportunities.
Richard Thorp, Founder at RPM, said: “Appointing Steve is a landmark moment for us as we take a major step forward in delivering on Web3’s promise. His background is exceptional. Blending the rigour of institutional finance and a first-rate, hands-on understanding of decentralised markets, we’re hugely confident that our partners will be able to reap the benefits of his expertise in bridging to new product and market opportunities in the space.”
Steve Whyman, RPM’s new Director of Web3 and Crypto, added: “I’m thrilled to join RPM at a pivotal time as the gaming industry moves beyond speculative Web3 trends towards implementing genuine utility. My focus will be on delivering major new value opportunities to clients in digital finance through consulting on various product improvements, such as instant settlement opportunities, smoother payment rails or executing on innovative, tokenised growth models.
“By fostering partnerships between RPM, our clients, and the leading, high-performance Layer-1 blockchains, we have a massive opportunity to build igaming-led systems that improve transparency, operational efficiency, and, critically, improve the bottom line, and working alongside Rich and the team, we’re in a strong position to genuinely lead Web3 gaming innovation from the front.”
The post RPM APPOINTS WEB3 EXPERT STEVE WHYMAN TO LEAD ON BLOCKCHAIN STRATEGY appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blockchain
GR8 Tech Launches Crypto Turnkey: High-Value iGaming Platform for Global Expansion
GR8 Tech has officially unveiled its Crypto Turnkey solution, a comprehensive platform designed to give iGaming operators a modern, multi-wallet infrastructure for global expansion. By integrating native multi-currency support from day one, the solution eliminates the need for third-party crypto vendors and complex technical integrations.
According to Denys Parkhomenko, CPO at GR8 Tech, the shift toward crypto is no longer optional for operators looking to dominate.
“Industry data shows crypto players deposit 35-50% more and bet with 40-60% higher frequency than traditional players,” says Parkhomenko. “The operators winning their markets are the ones acting on that data now, not waiting. We built Crypto Turnkey to make that move simple.”
Eliminating Payment Provider Bottlenecks
One of the most significant hurdles for modern iGaming businesses is the dependency on traditional payment providers. Regulatory hurdles or provider outages can delay launches or halt active businesses.
Crypto Turnkey removes these bottlenecks, allowing for:
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Faster Market Entry: Go live quickly without waiting for lengthy traditional payment approvals.
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Operational Stability: Payment uptime is controlled by the operator, ensuring a 24/7 uninterrupted revenue flow.
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Full Compliance: The platform supports over 15 popular cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT) while maintaining strict KYC and responsible gambling standards through existing GR8 Tech modules.
Designed for the VIP Experience
High-stakes players are the lifeblood of the industry. In 2025, VIP players accounted for 47% of total turnover across GR8 Tech’s verticals. These users increasingly demand the privacy, speed, and high transaction limits that only blockchain can provide.
The Crypto Turnkey multi-wallet system provides the flexibility these premium segments expect:
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Single Account, Multiple Currencies: Players can hold and switch between currencies instantly.
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No Conversion Friction: Deposit and withdraw in crypto without losing value to unnecessary exchange fees.
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Real-time Calculations: For games requiring fiat denominations, the system automatically handles balance segregation and exchange rate calculations.
Lower Fees and Zero Chargeback Risks
The economic advantages of the Crypto Turnkey solution are clear. While traditional fiat transactions typically cost between 2.5% and 5%, GR8 Tech’s solution slashes these costs to approximately 0.5%.
Furthermore, because blockchain transactions are irreversible, operators can say goodbye to chargeback fraud and the administrative nightmare of dispute management. Settlement times are also reduced from the standard 3-5 business days to just 10-30 minutes.
The Platform for Champions
When combined with the broader GR8 Tech ecosystem—including AI-driven personalization, advanced CRM tools, and geo-specific “Champion setups”—the Crypto Turnkey solution becomes a powerful engine for maximizing player lifetime value.
The solution is now available globally. New operators can deploy it as a complete turnkey package, while existing GR8 Tech clients can activate crypto capabilities without any additional technical integration.
Meet GR8 Tech at ICE 2026
Are you ready to unlock the potential of the “Platform for Champions” in crypto mode?
Book a meeting with the GR8 Tech team at ICE 2026 to discuss how we can accelerate your success in person at Booth 1C50 in Barcelona.
The post GR8 Tech Launches Crypto Turnkey: High-Value iGaming Platform for Global Expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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