SOFTSWISS and Pentasia have published the 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report, offering an impartial assessment of recruitment trends, salary benchmarks, and the role of AI for industry executives and hiring managers.
Press release.- SOFTSWISS, in collaboration with the specialized iGaming recruitment consultancy Pentasia, has launched the 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report. This comprehensive study examines the current state of the iGaming labor market and its future direction.
The report offers a detailed look at the 2026 iGaming workforce, covering hiring patterns, talent availability, recent market shifts, and strategic advice for the coming year. It draws on combined proprietary data from SOFTSWISS and Pentasia, including feedback from over 90 B2B and B2C industry leaders, alongside operational insights from regulated markets.
As iGaming firms shift from rapid growth to operational maturity, many continue to rely on reactive hiring rather than long-term workforce strategy. This tendency increases exposure to cost fluctuations and skills shortages. The report highlights essential developments to monitor, ranging from the growing necessity for cross-skilling to ensure team agility, to impending regulatory shifts like the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which will make salary transparency a cornerstone of employer branding.
Natalia Perkowska, Deputy Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS, summarizes the outlook for the year: “Three priorities for 2026: be clear, as ambiguity is costly. Act with purpose, because top talent won’t wait. Approach hiring as a partnership rather than a transaction. Ultimately, the best candidates aren’t swayed by perfection; they are won over by honesty, competence, and trustworthy leadership.”
The report is organized into five analytical chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of the talent market.
- iGaming talent market overview compares hiring trends, compensation, and mobility between B2B and B2C sectors.
- 7 Key trends shaping the current tech & iGaming talent market identifies structural changes, such as the integration of AI into workflows and shifting skill requirements.
- Candidate vs employer market analyzes whether the 2026 landscape favors employers or candidates and what drives their respective decision-making.
- Employer branding in iGaming – More important than ever assesses how brand identity and transparency impact recruitment success.
- The case studies section provides actionable frameworks for optimizing hiring processes.
Alastair Cleland, Managing Director at Pentasia, noted: “Experienced professionals seek roles where they can make a tangible impact, with clear alignment on pay, flexibility, and career progression. Product-focused environments appeal to those driven by roadmap development and problem-solving, while brand-oriented teams attract marketers focused on rapid acquisition and retention. In both scenarios, transparent processes and confidence in the employer’s vision are key to securing talent.”
The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends report is available for download via the SOFTSWISS website.
Following the discussion of the report’s findings in Malta, an online event will be held: a LinkedIn Live Panel hosted by SOFTSWISS in partnership with Pentasia. Titled Stop Losing Talent: 7 Smart Steps for Hiring in 2026, the session is scheduled for March 20 at 13:00 CEST as the inaugural event in the public SOFTSWISS LinkedIn Live Panel Series. Registration is available here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7434963006523998208?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Media&utm_campaign=TalentT+Launch
The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends Report continues the company’s commitment to industry-wide research, following the release of the Sportsbook KPI guide for betting analytics and the 2026 iGaming Trends report, which explored AI adoption, responsible gaming, betting formats, and global regulatory changes.