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Ad & Media Agencies Under ED Scanner Over Surrogate Marketing of Gambling Sites

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The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in India has widened its crackdown on Cyprus-based illegal online betting platform Parimatch, placing advertising and media agencies under the scanner for allegedly aiding the company’s surrogate promotions in India.

In extensive search operations on August 12 across Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, Surat, Madurai, Kanpur and Hyderabad, the ED froze funds worth nearly ₹110 crore parked in mule bank accounts suspected of being used for money laundering and layering transactions. Officials also seized digital devices, documents, and more than 1200 credit cards used in the racket.

The investigation revealed that Parimatch routed user funds through a complex network of mule accounts, hawala channels and crypto wallets. In some cases, funds were withdrawn in cash in Tamil Nadu and converted into USDT cryptocurrency through UK-based wallets controlled by Parimatch agents. Other methods involved the use of domestic money transfer agents and rejected payment aggregators who provided backdoor API access for fund collections disguised as e-commerce payments and refunds.

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However, investigators said the platform’s aggressive rise in India was fueled not just by these financial networks but also by heavy marketing and surrogate advertising. Despite being an illegal offshore betting operator, Parimatch gained visibility through sponsorship of sports tournaments, celebrity endorsements and brand extensions under “Parimatch Sports” and “Parimatch News.”

Payments to Indian advertising and media agencies handling these promotional activities were allegedly routed via foreign inward remittances, raising questions about the role of advertising companies in enabling the brand’s presence in the country. Officials hinted that several agencies may now face questioning over their involvement in running surrogate ads designed to bypass gambling restrictions.

Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation, said: “ED’s action to freeze funds linked to surrogate offshore gambling entities such as Parimatch Sports and Parimatch News is a much-needed step to curb the growing menace of illegal offshore gambling operations that continue to exploit India’s growing gaming user base. Curbing the financial networks of such offshore is very important. We are hopeful that the persistent threat of surrogate advertising of such platforms, often disguised as sports or news content that misleads Indian gamers and normalises illegal gambling will also be stopped by media platforms.”

Landers said: “There is now an urgent need for a central regulatory framework that will bring in uniformity across states, ensure clarity, stability, and a level playing field for compliant indian skill-based operators who adhere to laws and contribute meaningfully to the economy. This will not only help in effectively curbing illegal offshore gambling but also unlock the true growth potential of India’s legitimate, skill-based online gaming industry.”

A research by Skill Online Games Institute states that almost 83% on the spends of the 500 million strong Indian gaming players community is going to offshore gaming platforms. Today only USD 3.2 billion (17%) is coming to Indian gaming platforms.

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Amrit Kiran Singh, the founder president of Skill Online Games Institute, said: “We have raised the issue with PMO, MHA FIU besides MIB & MEITY. The government has been discussing this with us but more concrete action needs to be taken to really address this significant issue. While investigations on celebrities and advertising agencies who help promote the illegal platforms will help slow down the promotion of these platforms, the size of the business should indicate that the horse has, already bolted -that this illegal business is already well established and thriving.”

The post Ad & Media Agencies Under ED Scanner Over Surrogate Marketing of Gambling Sites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Onlyplay Releases Gold Oktoberfest Video Slot

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Onlyplay has released its latest game Gold Oktoberfest! This vibrant video slot takes you straight into the heart of the world’s most joyful celebration, where laughter fills the air, the smell of grilled sausages drifts through the crowd and every corner glitters with the promise of unexpected treasures. From the very first spin you are no longer just a player – you are a guest of honour at the grand Oktoberfest, with reels that shine like freshly polished beer mugs and symbols that dance with colour and flavour.

The reels are alive with frothy mugs of beer, golden pretzels, hunter hats with bright feathers, shining hops and bursting wursts, each symbol bringing a little more of that irresistible Bavarian charm to your screen. The mascot himself, a cheerful fellow in traditional costume with a hearty laugh and a stein in his hand, welcomes you into the game with warmth and good fortune, reminding you that this is not just a slot – this is a festival of joy, risk and reward. Every spin feels like another toast, another clink of mugs, another chance to step closer to the treasure hidden beneath the foam.

As the game unfolds, the atmosphere grows more intense. You feel the adrenaline rush with every coin that lands, the suspense when the reels slow down, the electricity of risk turning into triumph when the screen lights up with a jackpot win. Mini, Major or even Grand – each prize feels like the ultimate cheer from the crowd, a standing ovation of golden confetti and roaring applause. And when the bonus round begins, it’s like the music swells, the lights grow brighter and the party rises to a whole new level, carrying you on a wave of excitement that never seems to end.

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StatRankings Launches with Aim to Deliver Faster, Cleaner, and Smarter Sports Data Experience

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StatRankings, the ultimate data hub for sports fans, bettors, and fantasy players, announced the launch of its new website. Designed for speed, simplicity, and privacy, StatRankings helps users make smarter decisions by removing the clutter of outdated, stat sites. With more than 500 NFL data points organized on dedicated, ad-free pages, fans can instantly find the data they need to help set fantasy lineups or put together a betting slip without endless tables, pop-ups, or dashboards getting in the way.

“The sports stats industry has been stuck in the past for too long. These sites supposedly designed for bettors, fantasy players, and media are archaic, cumbersome, and confusing. We are committed to keeping the experience of finding stats as smooth and easy as possible, without all the noise. We want StatRankings to represent a new standard in how sports data can be delivered,” said Kevin Adams, Founder of StatRankings and fantasy sports industry veteran.

In addition to the launch of its website, StatRankings created a partnership with One Week Season, a premium DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) subscription service that offers content, tools, and community. StatRankings data will be used across shows and articles found on One Week Season’s site for the duration of the NFL season.

“One Week Season is all about teaching people the ‘how’ when it comes to becoming a better DFS player. StatRankings helps us in that mission by making sharper and deeper data more accessible and doing so in a manner that has previously been awkward and downright clumsy. By incorporating StatRankings into our content, we’re able to offer the most optimized insights to our users for their success,” said One Week Season’s CEO Jordan Tohline.

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The post StatRankings Launches with Aim to Deliver Faster, Cleaner, and Smarter Sports Data Experience appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

AU10TIX announced the launch of a free Child Safety Age Assurance Risk and Readiness Assessment and Age Assurance Readiness Guide designed to help businesses better understand their risk and tailor their strategy to meet regulatory obligations. They support AU10TIX’s Selfie-based Age Estimation service, which delivers the industry’s most precise and unbiased age assessment in just two seconds. In the US, federal legislation such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires parental consent for users under 13, while the California Consumer Privacy Act mandates age verification for websites accessed by users under 16. Additionally, 19 U.S. states now enforce mandatory age checks for adult content and gambling platforms. Similar regulations are impacting social media and online services in the UK, EU and Australia.

Caesars Entertainment has launched its third fully in-house developed proprietary online casino title: Signature American Roulette. Now live in New Jersey, the game is available across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, bringing another standout addition to the Company’s Signature table game series. Developed by Empire Creative, Signature American Roulette reflects Caesars’ growing investment in building its own proprietary content, a cornerstone of its online casino strategy aimed at delivering a best-in-class player experience. Signature American Roulette follows the recent launches of fan-favourite Signature titles, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender in May and Signature Blackjack Surrender in June, both also developed by Empire Creative.

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Novig announced the successful close of an $18 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Forerunner, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, NFX, Perceptive Ventures and Gaingels. Founded by Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah, Novig is reimagining sports predictions as a transparent and fair marketplace. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, Novig allows users to trade directly with one another, rather than against the house, eliminating hidden fees, biased odds and the risk of being penalised for winning.

Partnerships

IGT announced that it has secured a multi-year sports betting technology and services agreement with Hipodromo de Agua Caliente SA de CV and Distribuidora Internacional de Equipos de Juego, S. De R.L. De C.V. that will significantly extend IGT PlaySports’ footprint to Mexico and Latin America via Corporación Caliente. Per the agreement, 42 Caliente sportsbooks in Mexico will leverage the IGT PlaySports platform and services from the Company’s Trading Advisory Services Team. Through a phased rollout, Caliente will also be able to provide select sportsbooks operators throughout Latin America access to IGT PlaySports’ technology, extending the technology’s reach to more than 100 additional venues across eight countries.

CT Interactive has announced a strategic partnership with Ondiss. Through this collaboration, CT Interactive’s top-performing titles are now integrated into the Ondiss platform, significantly expanding the company’s reach within the region’s regulated iGaming market. This integration adds value to the broad Argentine audience of Casino & Hotel Casino Magic S.A., which successfully uses the Ondiss platform. With CT Interactive’s certified and player-favourite content now available, operators on the platform are empowered to diversify their offerings and meet the increasing demand for engaging, high-quality games.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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