If you’re talking tech startups in the year 2026, there’s no escaping AI. Every founder and their dog is looking for new ways to incorporate the tech behind the world’s fastest-growing market. AI is currently worth $700 billion globally, and despite many concerns that it may resemble a spherical pocket of air floating in a liquid, most projections peg it to grow into a trillion-dollar business by 2030.
So, it’s no wonder that companies all over the world are trying to get in on the game. One particular area of interest is in online gambling – also its own massive growth business right now. The online gambling sector is fragmented, making it difficult to estimate its exact value. But it’s a lot. Estimates range from $80 billion to $125 billion globally in 2025. This is also growing considerably, with many new markets launching worldwide in 2026 alone. These are three companies, two based around AI and one in crypto, that are hoping to strike it big in the fast-evolving online gambling space.
SpeedLabs are Building AI-Powered Micro In-Play Markets
SpeedLabs is a New York-based startup looking to create what it calls “momentum markets”. These are hyper-specific sports betting markets created on the fly during games by AI. While live in-play betting is already a big part of betting, especially in some global jurisdictions, the markets are limited by finding repeatable formats – because human odds makers can’t create whole lines that quickly.
SpeedLabs is looking to change that by using AI. It creates new betting markets in seconds, such as whether x team will score on the current play or whether y team will lose possession in the next 10 seconds. They say they can use AI to adjust odds for each player in seconds, enabling markets such as Player to Score on the Current Play, with each player getting dynamically updated odds based on their on-field position, performance stats, and much more.
SpeedLabs says its system builds on the existing popularity of in-play betting and combines it with fast-paced markets such as Polymarket’s 5-Minute Bitcoin price predictions. A format that has seen billions traded since its introduction only a couple of years ago.
These micro markets will only add to the dizzying range of bonuses found on, for example, a full list of sportsbook promotions you can claim right now by Covers.com. These platforms show just how much detailed information bettors look for on bonuses, sportsbook features, and payment options.
If companies like SpeedLabs really are making the next big thing in betting, then these online betting resources could soon be getting even more content to cover.
The company has yet to launch its product, but it says it will be in 2026. It attracted $6.5 million in investment in its last funding round.
Sentient Studios are Looking at AI-Powered Live Dealer Casino Streaming
If you’re looking at the most seismic technological shifts in online gambling globally in the past decade, two things stand out – live casino gaming and cryptocurrencies.
Live casino games have quickly become standard at any respectable online casino. Players have wholly embraced playing with real dealers using real cards, dice, and game wheels. Developers have also found ways to jazz up the experience with game-show-style productions and even to introduce videogame-style elements and visuals.
However, the next big step, if one company is betting correctly, could be taking out the live part of the equation again.
Sentient Studios, founded by BetHog out of Edinburgh, Scotland, and its thriving startup scene, is looking to use AI-generated video dealers in casino games. It claims that early tests have shown improved engagement metrics and gameplay efficiency over human dealers. Live casinos are very expensive in terms of labor and infrastructure, requiring massive studios and hundreds of staff operating on shifts 24/7. So, saving money and time will be of interest to developers.
However, whether customers will trust them enough for it to truly take over is another matter. Part of the initial appeal of live casino games was that customers could see the mechanics of a real game over RNG-generated virtual tables.
Still, Sentient Studios raised $10 million in its Series A funding round in early 2026 to help it develop the technology to market and find out.
PayRam Creates Private Stablecoin Wallets for Online Casinos
Payments are one of the biggest pain points for startups looking to get into the gambling space. International operators not regulated in local markets often struggle to find mainstream payment systems, and when they do, high fees and restrictions are common.
Cryptocurrency has become one way to get around this, but as governments and regulators globally tighten their grip on big exchanges and wallets across the sector, gambling firms (especially startups) are increasingly getting squeezed out again.
One company, PayRam, wants to change that. They aim to create a tech stack that enables casinos to host their own payment software using stablecoins. They say this reduces fees and can save up to 1% of revenue while removing many of the barriers to setting up an international business.
