Emerging iGaming Solutions to Watch in 2026

At the moment, most operators continue to compete based on game selection and bonuses, while the industry has changed. In 2026, an iGaming solution does not mean more games or higher payouts; instead, it represents a dramatically different method of interacting with users. As this shift occurs, early adopters will develop an increased lead over their competition, especially those that partner with providers like DSTGAMING.

Live Streamers Are Replacing Traditional Marketing

Live streamers are gradually replacing the traditional method of marketing. How do users currently find new sites? Most of them spend hours watching Twitch streamers that they have developed trust in before they choose to register with that site. Since streamers can place a bet at any time during their live session, viewers can immediately follow in kind.

Livespins has demonstrated the validity of this approach by implementing betting options directly into the lobbies of their casinos. Users do not move away from their stream to gamble and vice versa. This creates a high level of engagement, as well as real-time conversion from viewing to placing a bet, which is the reason why DSTGAMING developed exclusive tools to manage these types of relationships with creators.

However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for operators to manage compliance issues related to the viewers of their streaming partners, since users come from different countries with varying promotional content rules. Traditional affiliate tracking methods are no longer viable, as the period from discovery to depositing is often short-lived, minutes rather than days.

Tokens Are Making Loyalty Portable

Every operator understands that it is less expensive to retain a customer than to acquire one. However, many loyalty programs still restrict players’ rewards to individual verticals. The use of tokenized loyalty eliminates that restriction by enabling players to use their rewards in any vertical. Players earn tokens from poker, sports, and casino games and may redeem them in any of those options for rewards.

Socios.com demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale inter-vertical tokenization. Fans who earn tokens for supporting a particular team or league are able to spend those tokens across all sports and entertainment properties. For white label operators operating multiple properties, DSTGAMING believes this creates a compelling value proposition. Rather than treating each brand as a stand-alone entity, operators may have the opportunity to create a single, interconnected network of loyalty programs.

This opportunity, however, is complicated by privacy regulations. In order to be able to effectively track players across multiple platforms, each player must provide explicit consent, and operators must comply with all regulatory requirements pertaining to customer data handling. Operators will need to implement strict privacy policies and ensure that their data handling practices are transparent. If operators do not implement these two elements, then the entire tokenized loyalty model will fail.

Prediction Markets Are Blurring Industry Lines

The recent $300 million funding round completed by Kalshi and its current weekly trading volume of $1 billion demonstrate the increasing demand from players to not only bet on sporting events but also to have the ability to bet on political elections, significant economic developments, and box office performance. Many traditional sportsbooks are now offering prediction market-type features that allow players to create contracts based on real-world event outcomes.

Massachusetts has engaged in a legal battle with Kalshi regarding whether they classify their business as gambling or trading. While the legal definition is essential, the players themselves are indifferent to how the company is classified. The aggregator API developed by DSTGAMING provides an easy way to integrate with various platforms.

However, as the regulatory landscape changes frequently, operators must continually monitor the risk of operating in an uncertain environment. Some jurisdictions will embrace the new technology; others will prohibit it altogether.

Community Features Aren’t Optional Anymore

For many years, traditional online casinos created an isolated space for their players. This isolation worked in the past when most players were older and had experience playing in physical casinos. However, today’s younger generation has grown up playing video games and has come to expect their digital experiences to have social elements, such as team challenges and competition with other groups.

DSTGAMING online software and CRM tools facilitate these community aspects by allowing operators to track team accomplishments and group milestones. Instead of designing campaigns to incentivize individual players, operators can create campaigns based on collective accomplishments, which change the way players view the operator’s platform.

Many operators have found that the downside of integrating social features is greater than anticipated. More social features require a larger commitment to moderating and securing the gaming environment. While players will harass each other and will continue to test the boundaries of the operator, agencies will need to have dedicated moderation teams and sufficient reporting systems in place to manage these risks. Many operators have expressed surprise at the expenses they have incurred as a result of integrating social features, as they believed that these were simply a technical addition to their site.

Conclusion

For more detailed information on how to implement the solutions discussed, please refer to this complete guide by DSTGAMING, which provides specific technical considerations.