SOFTSWISS and Pentasia Unveil 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report to Drive Efficient Hiring

SOFTSWISS in partnership with Pentasia, a leading iGaming recruitment consultancy, presents the 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report, an in-depth industry study analysing the current state of the iGaming talent market and its development trajectory.

The report provides a structured overview of the iGaming workforce landscape in 2026, examining hiring dynamics, talent availability, market shifts over the past year, and strategic recommendations for the year ahead. The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends report is based on combined proprietary data from SOFTSWISS and Pentasia, including survey responses from over 90 B2B and B2C industry leaders, and operational workforce insights across regulated markets.

As iGaming companies transition from rapid expansion to operational maturity, many employers still rely on short-term hiring tactics rather than structured workforce planning. This approach increases exposure to cost volatility and talent gaps. The report highlights key developments to watch: starting from a broader growing need for cross-skilling within teams to maintain flexibility, to upcoming regulatory changes, such as the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which will make compensation transparency an essential part of employer branding.

Three things for 2026: be clear – ambiguity is expensive. Move with intent – good candidates don’t wait forever. Treat hiring as a partnership, not a transaction. And finally, the best candidates are not convinced by perfection. They’re convinced by honesty, competence, and leadership they can trust.

Natalia Perkowska

Deputy Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS

The report is structured into five analytical sections, each addressing a specific dimension of the talent market.

• iGaming Talent Market Overview compares B2B and B2C hiring dynamics, compensation trends, and mobility patterns 
• 7 Key Trends That Shape the Current Tech & iGaming Talent Market identifies structural developments such as AI integration in workflows, and evolving skill requirements
• Candidate vs Employer Market analyses whether 2026 reflects a power shift toward employers or candidates, and their decision-making drivers.
• Employer Branding in iGaming – More Important than Ever evaluates how brand positioning and transparency influence talent acquisition outcomes.
• The Case Studies section provides practical frameworks for efficient hiring.

Experienced candidates choose where they can have a clear impact with strong alignment on compensation, flexibility and growth. Product-led environments appeal to those motivated by shaping roadmaps and solving complex problems. Brand-led teams attract marketers focused on acquisition and retention at pace. In both cases, transparent processes and trust in the employer’s approach influence decisions.

Alastair Cleland

Managing Director at Pentasia

The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends report is available for download on the SOFTSWISS website. 

The discussion of the report’s insights in Malta will be followed by an online event: LinkedIn Live Panel from SOFTSWISS in partnership with Pentasia. Titled Stop Losing Talent: 7 Smart Steps for Hiring in 2026, the panel will take place on 20 March at 13:00 CEST as the first session of the publicly available SOFTSWISS LinkedIn Live Panel Series. Registration is now open here.

The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report continues the company's industry-wide analytics approach, following the Sportsbook KPI guide for smarter betting analytics and 2026 iGaming Trends report that covered AI adoption, responsible gambling, betting formats, and regulatory change across global markets.