Sustainability in the gambling field has become an integral part of company assessment. It impacts investments, brand trust, and their future. That is why the industry is increasingly focusing on transparent and verified metrics.
The SustainabilityPlus 2025 rankings from FiNTEL Sustain demonstrate how gaming enterprises address non-financial risks, social responsibility, and corporate governance. The task is complicated amid a dynamically changing regulatory environment.
Casino Market’s team analysed the report’s key findings and identified central trends to consider when planning strategies, interacting with investors, and entering new jurisdictions.
Updated Non-Financial Data Requirements in Europe
The study aptly reflects the ongoing changes across the EU countries. In 2024–2025, niche authorities revised declaration demands and removed some of the initially announced standards, thereby diminishing the administrative burden on businesses.
The updated version of Europe’s directive on corporate sustainability reporting reduced the amount of mandatory data by almost 2/3 and postponed the implementation of key norms until 2028. These measures responded to criticism from industry participants who found the previous information-declaring model too complex and costly.
Simplifying the rules, however, does not mean a moderation in quality requirements. On the contrary, the market is gradually abandoning a surface approach in favour of a more systematic one to non-financial indicators.
This shift means that operators and suppliers must pay greater attention to data collection and reporting. SustainabilityPlus rankings clearly show that companies that focus on systemic processes have more stable ratings and grow faster.
ESG: Effect on a Business Investment Appeal
The relaxation of reporting requirements may create the perception that the Environmental, Social, and Governance considerations are being relegated to the background. Nevertheless, the 2025 report indicates the opposite: the attention an enterprise pays to this area directly impacts how the market perceives it.
Investors continue to view non-financial risks as part of a comprehensive business assessment. It is not only a matter of image but also an indicator of process manageability, the quality of internal controls, and the ability to operate within a regulated environment.
Abandoning a systematic approach to ESG has tangible consequences over time:
- interaction with authorities and partners becomes complicated;
- the level of trust among major sponsors and creditors decreases;
- more questions and assumptions arise when analysing threats and the capital cost;
- additional barriers appear during mergers and acquisitions and when entering new markets.
Formal requirements may change, but investors need to see that the brand is continuously monitoring risks and data. Companies that maintain transparency and consistency in their ESG administration are perceived as more predictable and manageable, even as legal demands change.
Complications Related to Market Growth: Reasons
The regulated iGaming segment proceeds to expand. Its primary revenue sources are online products, tourism, and entertainment-related verticals. This pool represents hundreds of billions of dollars in turnover, and at this scale, the niche becomes increasingly visible to authorities and public organisations.
At the same time, financial growth is accompanied by multiplying social and compliance burdens. The larger the business, the higher the expectations for process control and risk management. The report specifically notes that even in licensed jurisdictions, questions remain regarding responsible gambling, AML compliance, and antitrust regulations.
As a result, casino operators are under double pressure. They are expected to further expand into licensed markets, but any failures in control or communication with supervisory authorities become more visible than before and directly affect their business valuation.
SustainabilityPlus’ analysis clearly demonstrates this difference: despite similar financial results, industry perceptions of companies vary depending on their approach to social and legal issues. Basic compliance with requirements does not compensate for the lack of a well-thought-out system within an organisation.
Central Changes in the Sphere Assessment
Operators’ attitudes toward non-financial issues are gradually transforming. The dynamics are uneven: alongside brands working responsibly and thoughtfully, there are still those limiting themselves to isolated measures or declarative decisions.
The most noticeable shifts have occurred in the environmental area. Many market participants are beginning to consciously account for energy consumption, emissions, and related processes.
Progress in the area of social metrics is not that rapid. The topics of responsible approaches, inclusivity, internal control, and similar aspects are rather complex and require more time to implement.
Summarising the rating results, the picture is as follows:
- environment — the most dynamic field in terms of real changes and data transparency;
- social issues — gradual improvements without sudden surges;
- corporate governance — a noticeable gap between firms with a thorough strategy to process incorporation and those limiting themselves to basic measures.
The 2025 report does not offer a universal formula for success. Brands that work in multiple areas and do not focus on one at the expense of others tend to rank higher. This balance reduces uncertainty and makes valuations more stable over time.
Importance of ESG Indicators in Financing
Investors increasingly rely on SustainabilityPlus data when making funding-related decisions. The ranking helps distinguish between companies that implement practical measures to address the ESG agenda and those that prefer surface, ostensible reporting.
In the case of equity contributions, long-term business sustainability takes centre stage. Transparent processes, balanced social programs, and the ability to manage operational risks reduce uncertainty and boost trust.
In debt financing and credit transfers, verifiable results are more important. Banks and lenders look not only at overall reputation but also at specific ESG metrics that can directly impact investment terms.
In the end, the same rating plays different roles depending on the assessment objectives. Organisations that demonstrate consistent development across multiple areas can expect more favourable treatment from both sponsors and lenders.
When analysing risks and prospects, special attention is paid to the following issues:
- Growth potential — the company’s ability to expand while maintaining control over critical elements.
- ESG data quality — transparent and verifiable metrics that reflect real-world processes.
- Access to resources — the impact of ESG nuances on the cost of capital, loans, bonds, and M&A agreements.
This approach allows the identification of operators using a clear and manageable risk-evaluation model. Brands that can focus on all aspects simultaneously achieve more stable estimation and strengthen market trust.
Gap Between the Regulated and Shadow Sectors
The 2025 analytics revealed significant differences between licensed platforms and those working in the grey or illegal zone. Certified brands actively implement control processes, address uncertainty and social aspects, and provide transparent data to investors and oversight authorities.
Fundamental benefits of this strategy:
- reduces the risk of fines;
- allows for faster deal approval;
- enhances credibility from partners.
In the unregulated segment, companies face limited opportunities and weak vulnerability monitoring systems. As a result, they often lag in ESG assessments, even if financial results are similar to those of licensed companies.
Compliance directly affects ratings and the perception of a business by industry participants. Firms that ignore transparency and control processes risk missing out on growth and collaboration advantages.
Lack of Uniform Rules: Factor Complicating Deals
Different countries have wide-ranging reporting requirements, creating issues in collecting and analysing data. Each market uses unique models, metrics, and verification standards.
For companies, this situation means additional time and resources, and for investors, it generates challenges in comparing businesses and assessing risks. Mergers and acquisitions require special attention.
Questions related to the past performance of projects and their associates are arising:
- Is the enterprise operating in grey or illegal zones?
- Is it experiencing compliance issues?
- How robust are its internal processes?
Last year, some major industry representatives, such as Allwyn and Flutter, increasingly chose to go public or switch to full ownership of assets. These choices provided greater control and reduced dependence on partners and joint ventures.
Practical Steps for Improving ESG Performance
For small and medium-sized businesses, simplifying reporting requirements opens up opportunities to strengthen their competitive edge and enhance investor trust. It is important not only to comply with regulations but also to demonstrate systematic steps towards managing risks and social aspects.
How to improve a position in SustainabilityPlus rankings:
- develop a transparent ESG framework — succinctly and clearly describe the approach to community, environmental, and governance issues;
- ensure regular disclosure of audited data — use structured information comparable between reporting periods;
- consistently reduce ecological impacts — achieve positive changes in emissions and energy consumption, recording even small but proven improvements;
- rapidly address threats from illegality — provide arguments that the company controls its market influence and complies with legislation;
- link ESG indicators to financial results — demonstrate how the social and regulatory risk management system affects business profitability and sustainability.
These steps help expand the pool of potential sponsors, reduce uncertainty, and simplify possible merger and acquisition negotiations.
Looking Ahead: Forecasts and Benchmarks
In 2026, working with data and systematically handling non-financial metrics will be crucial. Companies that adhere to the principles of open information and provide tangible ESG results will gain an advantage in the market and among investors.
Let us consider the key benchmarks for the near future:
- Data transparency. The records must be accurate, verifiable, and easily comparable to previous periods.
- Control over social and compliance risks. Assessment must be based on practical results reflecting brand productivity.
- Integrating ESG into a business plan. Brands that link non-financial metrics to commercial and operational performance gain a long-term advantage.
- Influence on deals and access to capital. Controlled work with key elements improves positions in the lending, M&A, and fundraising fields.
These trends demonstrate that systematic ESG compliance is becoming an important part of the development approach. It will enable industry participants to strengthen their reputation as reliable players and safely expand into new jurisdictions.
The Main Things About Sustainable iGaming Growth
The 2025 rankings provide a clear understanding of how gambling companies manage social, environmental, and corporate risks. They serve as practical benchmarks for operators and suppliers, helping expand their influence and capture the attention of partners and investors.
Key findings from the study:
- Regulated businesses benefit from transparent processes and the focus on community and compliance nuances.
- Simplifying formal requirements does not diminish the importance of ESG: sponsors and associates concentrate on real outcomes, not mere documents.
- The greatest progress is in environmental indicators. Social and governance aspects are developing more slowly, but are critical for a stable assessment.
- Systematic data administration enhances investor and creditor confidence, improves collaboration terms, and reduces hazards in mergers and acquisitions.
- Small and medium-sized businesses benefit from building transparent processes, achieving good results, and linking ESG with financial and operational metrics.
- In 2026, increased attention should be paid to data disclosure, risk management, and ESG integration into corporate strategies.
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