IBIA launches The Next Bet to examine digital assets and betting integrity

IBIA launched The Next Bet on 10 November 2026, a new industry publication examining how digital assets, blockchain and payment technology could affect regulated sports betting. The initiative brings together Betsson Group, Pay4Fun and the Malta Gaming Authority to explore cryptocurrency adoption, payment security and gambling regulation.

What The Next Bet covers

The first edition focuses on digital assets and betting payments and forms part of IBIA's Mission 2030 strategy. The publication compares industry perspectives on regulated stablecoins, transaction monitoring, fraud prevention and consumer protection rather than recommending a single payment system. Betsson Group contributed commentary on customer payments and sees regulated stablecoins as a potential payment option for online gambling.

"Players now expect familiar payment methods that support instant deposits, near-instant withdrawals, one-click mobile payments and frictionless onboarding," said Nadia Calleja, Head of Legal for Payments & Customer Operations at Betsson Group. "Operators must balance conversion, cost, fraud prevention and regulatory compliance."

Sarah Vassallo, Senior Legal Counsel at Betsson Group, expects adoption to concentrate on regulated digital currencies. "In regulated iGaming markets, crypto asset adoption is likely to focus on regulated, fiat-backed stablecoins embedded within established compliance frameworks," she said. Stablecoins generally aim to maintain a stable value against traditional currencies and could give operators a payment option without the price fluctuations associated with Bitcoin.

Regulators and payment providers weigh in

The Malta Gaming Authority said blockchain could help regulators follow transactions and investigate suspicious activity. Martha Brincat, Chief Regulatory Officer at the Malta Gaming Authority, commented: "Certain applications of blockchain technology may support greater transparency and traceability. Where appropriately used, they could add value to monitoring and investigative processes, supporting integrity oversight." The publication stresses that regulators must oversee both gambling operations and the financial services handling digital assets.

Pay4Fun highlighted the compliance and monitoring role of payment providers. Leonardo Baptista, CEO and Co-founder of Pay4Fun, said: "Through robust compliance, fraud prevention, and anti-money laundering controls, payment providers play an increasingly strategic role in ensuring that innovation strengthens, rather than compromises, market integrity."

IBIA context and scale

The Next Bet supports Mission 2030, a five-year IBIA strategy introduced in October 2025 that covers monitoring suspicious betting, improving cooperation and preventing betting-related corruption. IBIA operates a Global Monitoring & Alert Platform that uses intelligence from more than 90 operators covering over 200 betting brands. Its network monitors more than $300 billion in annual betting turnover, a scale the publication cites when discussing surveillance needs.

The report notes faster deposits and withdrawals are a commercial priority for operators but adds new payment options raise questions around fraud prevention, anti-money laundering controls and consumer protection. The publication's first edition therefore examines how betting operators, payment providers and regulators can adopt new financial technology while maintaining effective controls. For further reading on payment security and regulatory themes, IBIA directs readers to related sections, including payments, regulation and b2b.