Australia

Exclusive Q & A with Marc Edwards, CEO of ORDER

Published

4 years ago

May 27, 2021

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Q. Congratulations on joining ORDER as the new CEO! What are your early reactions to the job?

A. It is an exciting time to join the organisation. I had been working for ORDER in a consultancy capacity for 6 months prior to joining as CEO, so the transition has been relatively seamless. My early impressions are full of opportunity and growth. The industry is forging ahead and receiving a lot of attention from mainstream media and non-endemic brands looking to be involved in the space, and with ORDER being a first mover in esports and now 4 years later is well established, we are looking forward to this next stage of our evolution.

Q. Do you find heading an Esports team much different than leading an organization in traditional sports or motor sports, where you had spent most of your career?

A. There are a lot of similarities with the support structure of esports and traditional sports, especially when it comes to fostering a culture of high performance and professionalism. And now as we look ahead, player welfare and grass roots programs are firmly on the agenda to ensure we are both looking after our professional players, but also playing a role as a leader in the industry to provide pathways for the next generation of talent. If we look at the commercial side of the industry there are certainly some parallels to draw with sponsorship, brand activations and fan engagement and how these are delivered to offer the best value to brands. The real difference in this area of the business is the ability to innovate and execute on new ideas without the constraint of governing or league bodies. Further, we also see the customer facing area of our business as a far more creative than traditional sports – more along the lines of a music label. Essentially our talent, who are professional gamers and content creators, are at the core and the support crew we build around them to bring this to life are creatives, e.g. content managers, creative directors, digital marketers and brand builders.

Q. For the outside world, Australia, where ORDER is based, is known for its outdoor sports. How is esports catching up in the country? How does its popularity compare with that of traditional sports?

A. Traditional sports are fed by generations of participation and ultimately viewership. Right now the esports industry in Australia is no more than 5 years old, yet despite the lack of history and level of unfamiliarity the fan base has more than doubled in the past 2 years alone. With the majority of esports fans being in the 18 to 34 age bracket and skewing male, there has been a natural migration of fans from traditional sport into esports, which is a sign of how Australia’s deep passion for sport is changing. Esports provides this generation an alternative outlet for entertainment and it’s being supported big time. While the current audience base skews male there is a ground swell of engagement coming from the female audience and is being driven by women gamers increasingly turning professional.

Q. ORDER has recently raised a $5.3 million funding? What are the immediate plans to drive the growth?

A. We will solidify our position in Oceania esports while continuing to look at opportunities in other esports titles. The real growth for ORDER though will be in content creation and production and building an audience around our brand. To do that we are looking for content creators across multiple platforms and gaming influencers who will become part of the ORDER crew and benefit from our administrative support and enabled to continue to grow their current activities. Also, in a first for an esports organisation the region, earlier this year ORDER took residency at our new facility in Collingwood Melbourne, which will feature the Alienware esports high performance room, Logitech streaming room, production studio and administrative offices.

Q. Could you talk about the new diversification initiatives that are in pipeline?

A. Outside of what I have mentioned above, ORDER will continue to evolve our gaming production capabilities, with a bespoke offering across events and licensed content. We are also looking towards collaborations with creatives and artists across music, fashion, and art. We see gaming as aligning strongly with the future of pop culture and these pursuits have paved the way for gaming to move from a subculture to pop culture in its own right.

Q. It appears that the lock down forced by the Covid 19 pandemic has turned out to be a turning point for esports in general. How did it affect the growth of ORDER?

A. For ORDER, and most esports organisations, the events of the last year or so have put greater emphasis on the need for online event capability, content production and building a mass audience. While much of this growth is still in it’s infancy, the realignment of strategy in the early stage of 2020 provided us a long enough runway to start executing and importantly secure significant funding to accelerate our growth ambitions.

AUSTRAC

AUSTRAC Cracks Down on Cryptolink for Late Reporting

Published

1 week ago

October 31, 2025

Niji Narayan

austrac-cracks-down-on-cryptolink-for-late-reporting

Reading Time: 2 minutes

AUSTRAC has issued Cryptolink an infringement notice of $56,340 and accepted a court-enforceable undertaking that addresses the company’s AML/CTF deficiencies.

The action follows AUSTRAC’s Crypto Taskforce identifying late reporting of large cash transactions and weaknesses in the company’s money laundering and terrorism financing risk assessments.

AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the package of infringement notices and the enforceable undertaking is designed to ensure useable intelligence does not slip through the cracks.

“The infringement notice addresses previous non-compliance around reporting and the enforceable undertaking seeks assurance that Cryptolink has improved its risk assessments and strengthened its AML/CTF controls,” Mr Thomas said.

“Crypto ATMs are one of the highest risk money laundering channels in Australia at the moment. They are being exploited by criminals to launder money and move scam proceeds. This is not conjecture. It’s what our Crypto Taskforce observed and has been backed up by the work of our law enforcement partners.”

As part of the enforceable undertaking, Cryptolink must engage third party reviewers to:

• validate whether the business has reported all required threshold transactions to AUSTRAC

• assess whether the business has implemented effective controls for large cash transactions

• review Cryptolink’s money laundering and terrorism financing risk assessment to ensure it is fit-for-purpose.

Cryptolink has fully cooperated with AUSTRAC and paid the infringement notice in full. Payment of an AUSTRAC infringement notice is not an admission of liability.

The enforcement action comes after intensive engagement with crypto ATM operators since late 2024.

Working in partnership with law enforcement, AUSTRAC’s Crypto Taskforce estimated that 85% of transactions made by the 90 most prolific crypto ATM users were the proceeds of scams and money mule activity.

“Scams are one of the biggest drivers of suspicious activity and criminals have been using crypto ATMs to move and cash out stolen funds,” said Mr Thomas.

A recently released Australian Institute of Criminology report found more than 40% of cybercrime victims are revictimised, often within months.

“With this in mind we want people to be cautious of making transactions to any wallet they don’t control and thinking twice in circumstances where someone asks you to deposit money into a crypto ATM.”

The second stage of the Crypto Taskforce is focussed on high-risk operations.

“Criminals don’t care how they hurt people, they care about making money,” said Mr Thomas.

“We want to work with the digital currency exchanges to harden the sector against exploitation but if operators don’t take this seriously, we will take action.”

The post AUSTRAC Cracks Down on Cryptolink for Late Reporting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

RTG Global Awards to be Presented During Regulating the Game 2026 Gala Dinner on 10 March 2026

Published

1 week ago

October 30, 2025

Niji Narayan

rtg-global-awards-to-be-presented-during-regulating-the-game-2026-gala-dinner-on-10-march-2026

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Momentum is building for the inaugural RTG Global Awards – a new global platform celebrating excellence in leadership, innovation and impact across the gambling industry.

Designed to spotlight those advancing integrity, safer gambling and sector resilience, the awards have attracted international attention from organisations driving meaningful reform and raising industry standards.

To be presented at the Regulating the Game 2026 Gala Dinner on Tuesday March 10, 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, the RTG Global Awards recognise excellence across leadership, safer gambling, compliance, technology innovation and community impact.

Paul Newson, principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game, said the awards have struck a chord with the sector:

“There’s a genuine need to acknowledge those striving to lift standards and lead with purpose. The RTG Global Awards provide a platform to celebrate excellence, integrity, and innovation – and to champion those shaping a stronger, more sustainable industry.”

The RTG Global Awards feature six categories:

Leadership Voice – Recognising principled, reform-focused leadership that strengthens capability, trust and integrity.

Safer Gambling Champion – Celebrating initiatives that deliver meaningful harm minimisation outcomes.

Compliance Excellence – Highlighting uplift in AML, risk culture and regulatory compliance.

RegTech Solution of the Year – Showcasing technologies improving sector integrity and compliance.

Community Impact Initiative – Rewarding projects delivering tangible community benefit.

Emerging Leader – Spotlighting rising talent (under 40) driving positive change.

Nominations are now open – anyone can put forward a colleague, organisation or initiative that exemplifies leadership and impact.

The RTG Global Awards judging panel brings together internationally respected leaders with deep expertise across integrity, gambling law and safer gambling, including:

Khalid Ali, Chief Executive Officer, International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA)

Jamie Nettleton, Partner, Addisons, and former President, International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL)

Tracy Parker, Vice-President, Policy, Standards & Accreditation, Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)

Together, they bring a wealth of global experience and insight to the judging process – ensuring the awards reflect genuine excellence, leadership and impact across the international gambling sector.

The post RTG Global Awards to be Presented During Regulating the Game 2026 Gala Dinner on 10 March 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

VGCCC: Footy Legends Team Up to Champion Limit Setting

Published

1 week ago

October 29, 2025

Niji Narayan

vgccc:-footy-legends-team-up-to-champion-limit-setting

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Aussie Rules football legend Sam Docherty and rugby league superstar Cameron Munster are teaming up for Gambling Harm Awareness Week to encourage people to set limits before they bet.

Both footballers use practical tools when they gamble and are sharing their advice with others, particularly males aged 18–34 who are the biggest users of wagering and sports gambling products.

“I’m committed to raising awareness and encouraging safer gambling habits. I know from experience the highs and lows that can come with gambling. Now, I want to focus on supporting change so that gambling harm can be minimised.

“In the last few years, I have grown immensely as a person and by setting limits, I’ve had the occasional gamble but have been able to focus on what matters most,” Munster said.

Sam Docherty said: “I’ve had my struggles with gambling in the past and now I set a weekly deposit limit. I’ve found it really helps keep my gambling activity in check. People struggling with gambling harm can feel stuck and alone because of feelings like shame and guilt – and I want them to know that it’s okay to seek help.

“It’s important that people, especially young guys, think about their actions before they place a bet. I wouldn’t take to the field without warming up and making sure my body was match fit. Setting a limit is the same. It will help protect you.

Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO, Suzy Neilan said safety should be front of mind as the state’s sporting calendar ramps up.

“There is always a spike in wagering and sports gambling at this time of year, which is why it’s crucial we reach people that are statistically at greater risk of experiencing gambling harm.

“This is about safety. Setting a limit is like putting on a seatbelt as soon as you get in the car. Limits can reduce the likelihood of you experiencing gambling harm.”

Victorians spend more than $7 billion a year on gambling, including approximately $2.5 billion on wagering and sports betting products.

Gambling Harm Awareness Week is an annual event that encourages people to understand the risks of gambling. The 2025 campaign “Set before you bet” focuses on how setting limits can reduce someone’s risk of experiencing gambling harm. Protective behaviours that can be used include:

• Gamble no more than 2% of take home pay.

• Gamble no more than once a week.

• Gamble on no more than 2 different products.

“Sam and Cameron have unique experiences with gambling, and I commend them for implementing their own strategies, including setting limits when they gamble.

“What’s more, it’s great that these role models are now sharing their lessons and advice with other young men who are the cohort most at risk from experiencing gambling harm from sports betting,” Ms Neilan said.

The VGCCC has released findings from the annual Community Attitudes Survey, which asked more than 3000 Victorians about their views on gambling. The survey shows that most Victorians overwhelmingly agree gambling is addictive and can damage families and communities.

“With the widespread popularity of sports betting, it is so important for people to understand our Gambling Harm Awareness Week message and set limits before they bet,” Ms Neilan said.

“Gambling is a personal choice, and it’s vital that people are equipped with the knowledge and practical tools to manage their activity and participate safely.

‘The gambling industry must act with integrity, comply with their licence conditions and Code of Conduct obligations, and care for their customers who may be showing signs of gambling harm.”

The post VGCCC: Footy Legends Team Up to Champion Limit Setting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.