Made with FlowPaper - Flipbook Maker
MAY 2026 • Vol. 25 • No. 5 • $10 Global Gaming Business Magazine BIG DEAL ON THE SLOT FLOOR AI AS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PARTNER THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS NO SUCH LUCK Prediction market jackpots raise concerns Who will bid on rebooted IR licenses? JAPAN STARTS OVER THE TAXMAN COMETHMAY 2026 www.ggbmagazine.com 3 Global Gaming Business Magazine CONTENTS may COLUMNS 10 AGA Drawing the Line Tres York 12 Fantini’s Finance Look Before You Leap Frank Fantini 37 NCLGS No Surrender to Prediction Markets Shawn Fluharty DEPARTMENTS 4 The Agenda 6 By the Numbers 8 5 Questions With Ramiro Atucha, Founder, Atucha Strategic Advisory 13 AGEM Update 32 Emerging Leaders With FIRST-Best in Sports’ Tom Light, pawaTech’s Olabimpe Akingba, and Sportingtech’s Nana Totoe 38 New Game Review 40 Cutting Edge 41 Frankly Speaking 46 Goods & Services 49 People 50 Casino Communications With Ben Lee, Managing Partner, IGamiX FEATURES Vol. 25 • No. 5 22 COVER STORY 14 Predictions and Insider Trading Big wins in the prediction markets on the Iran war pose the possibility of widespread insider trading in predictions. By Matt Rybaltowski 18 Slots for Indian Country Major slot manufacturers revealed their mid-year slot game releases at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow. By Frank Legato 26 Tax to the Max Mexican gaming operators adjust to a new tax rate of 50 percent. By Kyle Goldsmith 30 How artificial intelligence can deepen the host-player relationship. By Sarah Procopio 34 The House Always Wins An excerpt from a new expose follows DraftKings’ rise from startup to fantasy sports pioneer to sports betting dynamo. By Robert Walker 42 Jumbo Phenom Slot manufacturers are improving on a growing trend in the industry of producing high-earning, large-format cabinets. By Frank Legato 30 Japan’s Act 2 In 2027, Japan will take bids for two new resort casino licenses, following the 2023 licensure of MGM Osaka. Is this the market’s second gold rush? By Marjorie Preston 4 Global Gaming Business MAY 2026 exists to benefit the shareholders of the company ing given their history and social connections. Blast from the Past Vol. 25 • No. 5 • MAY 2026 GGB Frank Legato, Editor-in-Chief flegato@ggbmagazine.com Robin Harrison, Publisher robin.harrison-millan@worldgamingbusiness.com Roger Gros, Editor-at-Large rgros@ggbmagazine.com Marjorie Preston, Managing Editor mpreston@ggbmagazine.com Monica Cooley, Art Director mcooley@ggbmagazine.com Terri Brady, Sales & Marketing Director tbrady@ggbmagazine.com Columnists Frank Fantini • Shawn Fluharty • Tres York Contributing Editors Kyle Goldsmith • Jack Goodin • Sarah Procopio Matt Rybaltowski • Bill Sokolic • Robert Walker _____ EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Rino Armeni, President, Armeni Enterprises • Dike Bacon, Principal/Partner, HBG Design • Lauren Bates, President, Global Gaming Women • Mark A. Birtha, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Hard Rock International • Brendan Bussmann, Principal, BGlobal Advisors • Alex Dixon, Senior Advisor, Board of Directors, Resorts World Las Vegas • Daron Dorsey, Executive Director, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers • Sally Gainsbury, Director at Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic & Professor of Psychology, University of Sydney • Stephen Martino, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International • Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association • Walt Power, CEO, Grand Ho Tram • Rob Russell, Senior Gaming Analyst, Regulatory Management Counselors PC • James Siva, Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association/ Vice Chairman, Morongo Band of Mission Indians • Michael Soll, President, International Center for Responsible Gaming • Kresimir Spajic, CEO, Allwyn Digital • Katherine Spilde, Executive Director, Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, San Diego State University —————— GGB Magazine 702-248-1565 • www.ggbmagazine.com The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor. Copyright 2026 Clarion Digital Media LLC GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS is published monthly by Clarion Gaming International, LLC. Printed in Nevada, USA. Email: subscriptions@ggbmagazine.com Official Publication BY ROGER GROS, EDITOR-AT-LARGE THE AGENDA6 Global Gaming Business MAY 2026 BY THE NUMBERS POLL: MOST AMERICANS LIKEN PREDICTION MARKETS TO GAMBLING A new poll from Ipsos and the American Institute for Boys and Men shows that a majority of Americans believe prediction markets are more like gambling than investing. Sixty-one percent said the activity is “closer to gambling.” Nearly 80 percent said it’s either closer to gambling or a mix of investing and gambling. The poll also showed: • Only 21 percent of those polled said they are very or somewhat familiar with prediction markets, versus 35 percent who say the same about online sports betting (OSB). Even among men aged 18–24, familiarity with prediction markets is still below one-third (29 percent). • Prediction market usage does not meaningfully differ between OSB and non-OSB states, suggesting the customer base does not entirely overlap with that for online sports betting. • Just 4 percent of Americans—and 7 percent of young men—believe prediction markets are “good for society.” A concurrent poll from Data for Progress showed respondents were highly concerned about wagers on acts of terrorism or political assassinations, with 82 percent and 78 percent of voters, respectively, expressing alarm. Voters are also concerned about markets that let users bet on election results (70 percent concerned) and markets covering events where a person has complete control of the outcome (69 percent concerned). D ata from the 2026 World Metrics Gambling Report shows that Europe’s vast gambling market has grown rapidly since 2022, even as governments enact stronger regulations and protections. The report projects market value will reach €146.8 billion by next year, growing at a CAGR of 5.3 percent from 2022 to 2027. The European online gambling market is expected to reach €75.2 billion this year, with 6.1 percent CAGR from 2021-26. Also according to the report: In 2022, the U.K. gambling market was valued at £14.3 billion, the largest in Europe. 18 percent of European adults gambled at least once a month in 2022, per Eurostat. The average European gambler spends €1,240 annually on gambling. Women in Europe account for 42 percent of lottery players; men make up 58 percent. The data also shows that the top five European gambling operators (bet365, Unibet, 888 Holdings, Flutter Entertainment, GVC Holdings) control 42 percent of the market. Flutter, the parent of Paddy Power, is the largest, with €8.2 billion in revenue (2022). In the same year, Unibet generated €2.1 billion in revenue, with 65 percent from online sports betting. EUROPE WATCH: MARKET EXPANDS, REGS TIGHTEN VOTERS ARE ESPECIALLY ALARMED BY MARKETS ON TERRORISM AND POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS Just 4 percent of Americans—and 7 percent of young men—believe prediction markets are “good for society.”www.fantalooks.com I sales@fantalooks.com “Gaming Display Trend Creator” VividSlim ® •Slim & Narrowdesign •Powerful color •Thin & Lighter •Eco-Friendly (low power consumption) “The solution for every gaming display -Fantalooks.” Europe No.1 Sep 28 –Oct 1, 2026 Booth# 24198 Global Gaming Business MAY 2026 W ith more than 20 years of experience in the gambling sector, Ramiro Atucha founded Atucha Strategic Advisory last year, and works with operators, suppliers and investors across the LatAm region. Speaking to Kyle Goldsmith of Global Gaming Business in February, Atucha explained the landscape in Brazil, and uncertainty surrounding land-based casino legalization and the recent launch of Kalshi into the market. GGB: When do you think land-based casinos will be legalized in Brazil? Ramiro Atucha: It’s difficult to predict. Brazil has a complex institutional framework, with overlapping responsibilities across federal, state and municipal levels, which often makes regulatory processes slower and more challenging. If we look at how long it took to regulate online gaming, it’s reasonable to assume that land-based regulation may still take time. While progress is possible, I would remain cautious about expecting it in the near term. Do you think politicians can sometimes base their strategies on gambling on emotion rather than evidence and data? I do think that, in some cases, decisions may be influenced by perception instead of data. From an economic standpoint, the most effective way to maximize tax collection is to ensure that as much activity as possible takes place within the regulated market. That requires not only enforcement but also a framework where regulated operators can compete effectively with the unregulated offer. Achieving that balance is key. How do you think Kalshi’s launch in Brazil will go? Brazil presents a complex regulatory environment, with certain areas where interpretation, overlaps and enforcement are still evolving. That context simplifies new types of offerings that may look for ways to position themselves within the existing framework. It will be interesting to see how this develops, particularly given the strong engagement of younger audiences in Brazil and the potential appeal of alternative formats. What did you think of the ban on betting among social welfare beneficiaries in Brazi? It’s more a philosophical debate on how much the state can tell the people what to do with their money. If you ask me, if you’re on welfare, then it makes sense not to spend money on gambling. It’s the same principle that you shouldn’t be going on vacation and buying unnecessary items; your priority should be on fixing your current situation. (But) even if we all agree that this money should not be spent on gambling, enforcing that and limiting that is challenging, and may fall into many other contradictions. How will the upcoming election in Brazil impact the gambling sector? In Brazil, it’s very difficult to predict how it’s going to go. I see the right wing as a lot friendlier towards individual freedom (and) individual liberties, a bit more against taxes, and a bit more about respecting commercial terms, while left-leaning ones are more prone to increasing taxes and subjecting the individual decisions more to what they would consider to be the greater good. Now that regulation is in place, I believe a right party would be better for the gambling sector. 5 QUESTIONS “When I saw this concept that I could make $100 on a Phillies game versus working two days at the store, it was like, ‘Why would I ever work again?’ ” —Rob Minnick, founder, ODAAT Gambling Awareness (the New Jersey native started betting in high school and eventually spent eight hours a day in the activity) Ramiro Atucha Founder, Atucha Strategic Advisory 1 2 3 4 5Save The Date GLOBALGAMINGEXPO.COM SEPTEMBER 28–OCTOBER 1, 2026 THE VENETIAN EXPO, LAS VEGAS THE FUTURE OF GAMING STARTS HERENext >