Part Two – The State of Casino Operations in 2026: Rising Pressure, Smarter Compliance, and a New Era of Digital Readiness in Casinos

In part one of this series, we spoke to Adam Fong, SVP Product Management, Casino Solutions at Everi, about the State of RegTech in 2026.

There are similar examples of modernization in casino operations solutions within the Everi product portfolio:

• Jackpot Xpress is accelerating jackpot processing times by up to 80%.

• PitXpress is transforming the marker and front money experience dramatically, enabling operators to reassign pit clerks to higher-value roles.

These solutions don’t just reduce labor, they elevate the guest experience and create a more modern, confident interaction at the point of service.

2026 brings structural shifts for casino operators

Fong identified three major operational disruptions to keep an eye on:

1. The IRS W-2G threshold increase

Raising the jackpot reporting threshold from $1,200 to $2,000 may eliminate up to 40 to 60 percent of taxable events on the floor. This will materially impact slot operations and require full floor conversions. Some jurisdictions, such as Missouri, may require additional regulatory updates at the State level before they can adopt the change.

2. The penny phase out

The US Treasury and Mint ceased circulating new pennies, with the final coins struck in November 2025, ending over 230 years of production. Casino operators must now model the cost of rounding to the nearest nickel and prepare for the impact across cage, slot operations, retail, and food and beverage. U.S. operators will face the same journey Canada faced a decade ago, including the operational and guest-service implications.

3. Digital driver’s licenses

More than half of U.S. states have adopted digital IDs. This creates entirely new verification scenarios at the cage, kiosk, and POS.

Casinos must now navigate:

• Whether staff can legally handle a guest’s phone

• How many data elements a guest is willing to consent to share

• How to update SOPs for both physical and digital ID modalities

A connected future, powered by people and unified systems

Despite the complexities facing operators in 2026, Fong is optimistic about IGT’s ability to work through these challenges thanks to a combination of strong products, expanding integrations, and a passionate team.

“Behind every product is a group of talented people who put a lot of care into what they build — product managers, engineers, quality testers, salespeople, etc.,” he said. “Their passion is inspiring given the massive opportunities ahead of us.”

Fong sees the industry moving toward a connected casino ecosystem where AML, operations, identity verification, jackpots, tax forms, and cashless solutions work together in the background. This will continue to enable operators to focus on the guest experience, not just paperwork.

If you're interested in learning more about Everi’s casino ops solutions, reach out to an Everi sales professional today!