Gaming Intelligence is delighted to unveil the first winners of this year’s North America edition of the Gaming Intelligence Awards 2026.
Today we announce the winners of the 2026 North America Operator of the Year awards across iGaming, Sports Betting, Land-based and Lottery.
From the bustling floors of land-based casinos to the cutting edge of iGaming, from the thrill of the modern sportsbook to the continued evolution of the lottery, the North American gaming landscape has never been more vibrant.
The North American sports betting market has matured, and the Sportsbook nominees – DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive – have proven they can transition from pure user acquisition to sustainable, profitable growth.
iGaming remains the true profit engine of the industry, and the 2026 nominees – Caesars Entertainment, Caliente, and FanDuel – are redefining digital casino floors.
The digital age has not diminished the power of physical mega-resorts. The Land-Based nominees – Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts – represent the pinnacle of integrated resort luxury and retail gaming innovation.
Finally, state lotteries are the quiet giants of the gaming industry, and the 2026 nominees – Delaware Lottery, North Carolina Education Lottery, and Virginia Lottery – are proving that legacy institutions can innovate just as fast as tech start-ups.
Below, we recognize and reward the leading operators who are shaping the regulated markets in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Congratulations to all our Gaming Intelligence Awards 2026 | North America winners!
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| iGaming Operator of the Year |
| FANDUEL |
While widely recognized for its sports betting dominance, FanDuel Casino has quietly evolved into an absolute powerhouse over the past four years. No longer just a complementary product, the operator has invested heavily in proprietary content to become the leading digital gaming brand in the US. Buoyed by a player base of more than 1 million average monthly players, FanDuel’s US iGaming revenue increased by 14 per cent to $577 million in Q2 2026, having generated more than $2.09 billion in 2025. This comes alongside its successful launch in Alberta in July, which significantly outpaced its previous Canadian launch in Ontario.
Honourable mentions go to Caesars Entertainment for continuing to deliver stellar growth from its iGaming operations, particularly in the US, as well as Caliente Interactive for its dominant position in Mexico’s iGaming market. For 2026 however, our iGaming Operator of the Year is FanDuel Casino for achieving the hardest feat in the sector – scaling rapidly and stealing market share from entrenched legacy casino brands.
Runner-ups:
Caesars Entertainment | Caliente Interactive
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| Sportsbook Operator of the Year |
| FANDUEL |
In a market defined by relentless promotional battles and razor-thin margins, FanDuel is our North American Sportsbook Operator of the Year after transforming massive scale into sustained, industry-leading profitability. While major rivals DraftKings and BetMGM have made significant strides in the past year, FanDuel has maintained its dominance of the North American market, with an estimated 44 per cent share of the US market and an impressive 2.9 million average monthly players.
In 2025, FanDuel commanded a staggering $53.8 billion in US sportsbook stakes, generating sportsbook revenue of $4.63 billion at a net revenue margin of 8.6 per cent. While an adverse swing in sports results may have dented FanDuel’s performance in Q2 2026, sportsbook revenue still surpassed $1 billion for a third consecutive quarter, with a net revenue margin of 8.7 per cent that was better than DraftKings. For its sheer revenue volume, FanDuel is the definitive benchmark for excellence in the North American sports betting market, making it the undeniable choice for this year’s award.
Runner-ups:
DraftKings | Rush Street Interactive
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| Land-based Operator of the Year |
| MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL |
MGM Resorts takes the award for Land-Based Operator of the Year after setting the standard for bricks-and-mortar gaming in the US. The multi-brand casino operator delivers a varied coast-to-coast footprint with properties in seven US states – from iconic Las Vegas Strip resorts like Bellagio to regional leaders such as MGM Grand Detroit in Michigan and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in New Jersey.
MGM Resorts’ recent financial performance has been strong too, and in Q2 2026 the company boasted regional revenue at an all-time best on a same-store basis, including record casino revenue and slot win. The company continues to invest its properties, spending hundreds of millions on upgrades over the last few years. Most recently, plans for a $107 million transformation of the Borgata Tower in Atlantic City were announced to begin in September. For its range of casinos, financial results, and commitment to property investment, MGM Resorts is a worthy winner in this category.
Runner-ups:
Caesars Entertainment | Wynn Resorts
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| Lottery Operator of the Year |
| DELAWARE LOTTERY |
The Delaware Lottery is the worthy winner of our Lottery Operator of the Year, as the only US lottery directly operating a full online gambling portfolio – casino, table games and statewide sports betting.
The Delaware Lottery also chose commercial control rather than licensing out these services, as other lotteries have done. The payoff has been remarkable. FY2026 gross gaming revenue jumped by 55 per cent to $196.8 million, building on an astonishing 176 per cent surge in FY2025. In addition, registered players climbed by 65 per cent to160,336 accounts, engaging nearly one in five Delaware adults.
The Delaware Lottery’s online growth has been achieved with no retail cannibalisation but has propelled the state’s General Fund transfer to a 14-year high of $257.6 million. A small state but big impact, the Delaware Lottery’s strong performance and clear strategy was unsurpassed in 2026
Runner-ups:
North Carolina Education Lottery | Virginia Lottery
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Tomorrow we will announce the 2026 North America Rising Star of the Year winners