Regulators across global gaming jurisdictions are increasingly focused on illegal gambling, technological disruption, talent shortages and the blurring lines between gambling and entertainment, according to International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) president Ben Haden during a panel discussion at G2E Asia.
Speaking with MdME partner Rui Proença on the third day of the conference, Haden outlined four major regulatory trends shaping the global gaming industry as more jurisdictions move toward regulated gambling frameworks.
Haden said the growing number of regulated markets was pushing regulators to reassess existing frameworks and learn from international models. He cited Ontario as an example of a jurisdiction that combined regulatory elements from different regions while adapting them to local cultural conditions.
“I think that’s a brilliant example of how regulatory thinking is moving forward,” Haden said. He added that new jurisdictions frequently challenge established regulators by questioning why certain approaches were adopted.
A second common challenge identified by Haden was attracting qualified talent into regulatory bodies. He said regulators globally were struggling to secure the technical expertise needed to oversee increasingly complex gambling markets, particularly as technology continues to evolve.
“The same is true of the regulatory community,” Haden said, noting that both regulators and commercial operators are competing for skilled professionals.
Technology and artificial intelligence were also identified as major concerns for regulators. Haden said gambling supply chains had become “far more open” than in the past, creating additional oversight challenges as new technologies rapidly reshape the industry landscape.
He also pointed to increasingly blurred boundaries between gambling, gaming and broader entertainment sectors, particularly in emerging areas such as prediction markets in the United States.
“I think that starts to lead to tough questions,” Haden said.
Illegal gambling remained a central topic during the discussion, particularly in Asia, where Proença cited estimates suggesting annual illegal gambling revenue exceeds $100 billion. Haden said illegal gambling could not be completely eradicated, but regulators should focus on “disrupting” illegal operators and making large-scale operations more difficult.
He also called for greater involvement from social media platforms, technology companies and payment providers, arguing that such firms could no longer remain passive participants in the broader gambling ecosystem.
“Technology’s a bit like water, it will find a way,” Haden said, adding that regulators must continue adapting as digital channels reshape gambling markets globally.
