The themes of G2E: Predictions, Tribal sovereignty and iGaming
Headlining this year’s Global Gaming Expo will certainly be talks centered around event contract trading, as well as whether additional iGaming expansion can be expected in the near future.
At each rendition of the annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, operators, suppliers and regulators alike discuss the most notable topics surrounding the gambling space, with this year perhaps representing the most headline-grabbing build-up to G2E in quite some time. Whether it’s prediction markets, iGaming, Tribal operations or… let’s face it more news involving prediction markets, there are plenty of storylines set to be expanded upon at G2E 2026, once again held from The Venetian Las Vegas.
It remains to be seen if the likes of Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com plan on attending North America’s largest gaming expo, as the operators have yet to mix with state and national regulators at conferences such as G2E since their historic rise in popularity. In the weeks leading up to G2E, additional news regarding prediction markets’ legality in the US is sure to arise, potentially creating an even tenser atmosphere in Las Vegas this September.
On the online gambling spectrum, recent expansion in Maine brought forward new hope for iGaming operators across the US, but the idea that more states could follow suit still appears to be an optimistic scenario. How Tribal gaming operators would integrate such operations is also a question which may be better solved during G2E 2026, making for an exciting list of themes encompassing the Las Vegas tradeshow.
Predictions, predictions, predictions…oh my!
For the past 12+ months, no advancement in gaming has taken over headlines quite like prediction markets, at least since PASPA was overturned back in 2018. Event contract trading has evolved quicker than anyone could have expected, generating billions upon billions of dollars in overall volume while also attracting the attention of operators with more traditional betting backgrounds.
Sportsbook operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics and Underdog have all made the switch or expansion into prediction markets, although none have gained the following Kalshi or Polymarket have achieved up to this point. Underdog may represent the largest threat, however, especially following UK trading provider IG Group’s acquisition of the operator for approximately $1.3bn in July.
"The acquisition of Underdog establishes IG as a leader in US prediction markets, one of the most significant opportunities across trading and entertainment, and accelerates our growth in the world's largest and fastest-growing retail trading market," IG Group CEO Breon Corcoran said at the time of purchase.
Continued iGaming expansion has to be on the mind for operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM, as new opportunities in the sector could help offset their own losses from prediction markets
Kalshi and Polymarket appear poised to challenge sportsbooks to an even higher degree, having recently made strides in expanding its multi-leg contract trading capabilities in an attempt to mirror parlay offerings. How sportsbooks respond – and whether more can be expected from FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics in the months ahead – will be one of the most crucial themes discussed throughout G2E.
Operators such as BetMGM, Caesars and bet365 may also look to address prediction markets during G2E 2026, as each has remained on the sidelines while event contract trading grew into a known commodity in gaming. Regulators such as the American Gaming Association (AGA) will have an obvious presence at the tradeshow, perhaps setting up the latest address from President & CEO Bill Miller.
Tribal regulators will have plenty to say on prediction markets and are sure to become a noteworthy factor at G2E, especially as a desire to expand into online gambling continues to build amongst operators.
How do Tribes plan to integrate iGaming, fight back against prediction markets?
Following recent conversations with Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Chairman David Bean, it’s been made clear to Global Gaming Insider that threats from prediction markets are priority number one for Tribal regulators. Chairman Bean recently spoke in front of federal committees in Washington DC to advocate for tightened regulations on prediction markets, citing the harmful effects such activity has taken upon Tribes.
Coming off 2025 battles against unregulated sweepstakes operators, the victory Tribes eventually earned was nothing but an appetizer to the seemingly endless buffet of prediction market threats. On the other hand, recent Tribal gaming results showcase continued growth for operators across the US, leading some to believe the impact of prediction markets could be a tad overstated.
According to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the industry’s fiscal year 2025 gross gaming revenue (GGR) increased 5.3% to a record-high $46.2bn, representing the fifth consecutive period Tribal gaming has achieved such a feat. Seven of the eight regions that report to the NIGC managed to produce increases in FY2025 GGR, including Sacramento and Washington DC which led all regions in GGR with $12.6bn and $11.2bn, respectively.
On the online gambling spectrum, recent expansion in Maine brought forward new hope for iGaming operators across the US, but the idea that more states could follow suit still appears to be an optimistic scenario
While by no means downplaying the effects prediction markets are, and could, have on Tribal gaming operations, celebrating the industry’s continued success should also be on the docket for G2E 2026. Not only that, with Maine’s iGaming launch creating a blueprint for how Tribes all over the US could benefit from online gambling, it remains possible that discussions over how to extend the vertical even further take place during the tradeshow.
Is iGaming set for more expansion, or was Maine a fortunate outlier?
Even with iGaming’s expansion to an eighth US state having been celebrated in Maine, figures across the industry seem to believe the state may have been an outlier rather than a sign of the future. California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairman James Siva has even said the next political election period – set for 2028 – is the current projection for when his state will reconsider online gambling legislation.
IGA Conference Chair Victor Rocha spoke on how sweepstakes and prediction markets have derailed Tribes from expanding into the vertical, which could still be occurring given the ongoing growth of event contract trading. Continued iGaming expansion has to be on the mind for operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM, as new opportunities in the sector could help offset their own losses from prediction markets.
With so much potential surrounding iGaming in the US, there’s no doubt panels, keynote discussions and general conversations amongst attendees will revolve around online gambling’s growth in the country. Still, it’s unlikely any more expansion occurs before the end of this year, and with 2027 serving as a tune-up to the next Presidential Election, lawmakers may be more keen to push legislation forward once a better understanding of who will be approving the bills is formed.
G2E 2026 will once again become the epicenter of gaming in North America, and with so many storylines encapsulating the industry over the past 12 months, the four-day event will serve as a much needed rendezvous for the top voices in each sector. With no better setting than the Las Vegas Strip, it’s time for regulators, operators and suppliers to roll the dice and see what type of outcomes are brokered at the global expo once more.