If there was a source for what will transpire in the gaming industry circa 2026, a lot of people would be rich.
Instead, seasoned gaming industry observers who have a finger on the pulse of developments discussed 2026 for our latest CDC Gaming Roundtable.
One thing is certain in 2026: Prediction markets are going to be a focal point of discussion next year.
“This year for sure it’s prediction markets,” says Dr. Laila Mintas, an entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and independent board member. “Obviously so much has happened over just the last couple of months since the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) removed the appeal against Kalshi. And then basically overnight, Kashi and prediction market were seen as regulated in our industry.”
“Not every state in the U.S. agrees to that,” Mintas added.
Gene Johnson, the Executive Vice President for Victor Strategies, agrees that prediction markets will become increasingly prominent in 2026. Already, he says, the prediction markets’ momentum has stalled because of regulatory concerns.
“They’re starting to run into structural issues and more than a few scams,” Johnson said, adding that X was recently rife with tweets about prediction markets.
“They just got lit up on social media for basically not being a serious platform,” Johnson said. “It’s not a binary outcome like an election outcome, or the name of the of the royal baby. Sports is much more complicated. And I think you’re increasingly going to see that sportsbooks and prediction markets become sort of two separate ideas. And I think you will see in 2026 efforts to ban sports prediction markets.”
Prediction markets further delineate the lines between land-based and igaming, Michaels Strategies Founder and Principal Jonathan Michaels thinks. But he also notes that more online sports betting operators will at least explore the space in 2026.
“Nobody really knows that the long-term outlook look likes for that,” Michaels said
In states where online sports betting is illegal, Mintas feels bettors will flock to prediction markets for lack of options.
“They will have to improve their sports product for sure,” she said. “I’m pretty sure if they haven’t done that, they may hire like sports betting people and you will see a lot of people hired, executives in the sports betting industry, to basically go and help.”
Sweepstakes platforms, which became prominent in late 2024 only to lose momentum throughout 2025, may be endangered in 2026.
“I believe sweepstakes casinos will continue to decline as regulated gaming continues to oppose it, as more and more states roll out restrictions or bans,” Johnson says. “I think we have 18 states now that are banning or restricting sweepstakes in some form or other.”
Tribal gaming might have the most to lose with the increased presence of prediction markets. Johnson calls the landscape “gaming 2.0, with a host of new online options that might be gambling. That’s increasingly going to challenge tribal gaming.’
Johnson adds that’s why tribes are exploring getting into online gaming.
Another topic that surfaced in 2025 was artificial intelligence. Michaels acknowledges the use of AI in the gaming industry, but thinks its effect is overstated.
“I think there are some things that you can do with mitigation and responsible gaming that can help identify patterns,” Michaels says, adding “the challenge with it is regulatory.”
Mintas noted that AI is used for marketing and gathering data, but she sees few products that are based on AI.
“But as a transforming product, not really,” she said, adding that AI’s use is in its early stages.
“AI isn’t going to tell you anything new,” Johnson said. “It’s going to tell you what you already know, at least at this stage.”
The debate over skill games also will be scrutinized in 2026. Michaels said that this facet of gaming is playing out in real time in Pennsylvania.
“There’s estimates of somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 of these skill games that are operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania right now on a regular basis,” Michaels said. “The regulators and legislators there, they can’t put the genie back in the bottle. They’re trying to figure out a solution as to how they bring it forward.”
The sports betting scandals that have been newsworthy in 2025 will probably bleed over into the new year. Mintas would like to see more attention paid to how to prevent incidents that challenge the integrity of sports betting.
“I haven’t seen any good solutions for that yet,” Mintas said. “But I think it something that we in the industry have to have an eye on. If sports betting in trouble, if you can bet and you manipulate the outcome of the game to make your bet successful, that puts the whole industry in question.”
We also asked the panelists if they had $10,000 to spend, what aspect of the gaming industry would they invest. Michaels is bullish on the payments sector of gaming, “the picks and shovels ready to get money in and out.”
Mintas, despite the uncertainty surrounding their legality, would invest in prediction markets. “I think that’s what’s coming and what’s going to create a lot of value.”
And Johnson said he would invest in Wynn Resorts other operators who are pouring money into the United Arab Emirates and other regions in the Gulf because “the amount of money they’re going to make is going to be on the scale of Macau.”
