Compliance Updates
WTA and ITF Publish Season-wide Online Abuse and Threat Report
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) published the first-ever season-wide report outlining the scale of abuse directed at players on social media — and are calling on the gambling industry to more effectively tackle those responsible.
The report findings are taken from Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service, which went live in January 2024, protecting players and tennis family members from targeted online hate, as well as threatening and violent direct communication. Utilising AI and human analysts — including risk and fixated threat assessment experts — the service operates across all the major social media platforms in over 40 languages. All players competing in WTA Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour events (and WTA and ITF players competing in the four Grand Slams) — c8300 players — are automatically covered by the service.
Between January to December 2024,1.6 million posts and comments were analysed by Threat Matrix AI. Analysts then verified c8000 posts/comments sent from 4200 accounts as abusive, violent or threatening. Action has been taken against the most serious and prolific of these, including 15 accounts escalated to law enforcement. During the year, 458 players were targeted with direct abuse or threat, five players received 26% of the total abuse identified, while 97 prolific accounts were responsible for 23% of all detected abuse.
Given the evidence highlighted by Threat Matrix, the tennis bodies now call for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to tackle the individuals that engage in prolific or highly threatening online abuse connected to sports betting.
Prolific Abuse and Angry Gamblers
• Angry gamblers sent 40% of all detected abuse across the year
• 10 prolific accounts [majority being angry gambler related] were responsible for 12% of all abuse — of these, nine have either been suspended, posts permanently deleted by the platform or the user has removed their post(s)
• Details of 39 account holders (majority angry gambler related) who sent prolific abuse have been shared with the tennis authorities and betting industry for further action
• The most prolific abusive account sent 263 abusive messages.
Action
• 15 cases of egregious and highly threatening abuse have been investigated and evidence provided to law enforcement for assessment and action — four related to Grand Slams, one from the Paris Olympic Games and 10 were from across the tours
• Of the 15 cases, three have been submitted to the FBI and 12 to other national law enforcement bodies
• Relevant account details have been shared with event security teams (both Tours and Grand Slams) to ban these individuals from access to venues and rescind tickets. This has also included threats to men’s and women’s players detected by Threat Matrix during Grand Slam events.
Direct Abuse Communication Support
The Threat Matrix service also includes support for players who receive direct abuse, threat and inappropriate communication via DMs, email and letter. Players use a designated email address to share relevant content, enabling Threat Matrix to conduct threat assessment, provide direct player advice and liaise with security bodies to manage risk.
During 2024, 56 reports of concerning communication were received from 28 players, the vast majority coming in the final quarter of the year due to heightened awareness of the service. Angry gamblers made up the vast majority of direct abuse (77%) — at a higher level compared to open-source social media (40%) — as abusers seek to cause direct emotional distress to players following lost bets. Player reported direct abuse has continued to rise in 2025 as players and agents become more aware of the support service.
Social Media Moderation
To further reduce hateful and abusive content targeting players, the WTA and ITF are also enhancing the existing Threat Matrix service to include social media moderation. Moderation allows online toxicity to be hidden or removed in real time across the majority of Social Media platforms. The service will automatically deploy across WTA and ITF official social media channels and be available to all tour players on request. The service will go live in the coming weeks.
A spokesperson for the WTA and ITF said: “Protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threat and abuse is a key priority for us. Today’s report covering the first year of the Threat Matrix service shows the scale of the problem and, crucially, the actions being taken to protect our athletes. From law enforcement escalation and platform intervention to banning abusers from our events, perpetrators must understand that they will face consequences for their actions.
“Given the clear evidence highlighted by Threat Matrix on the link between angry gamblers and prolific online abuse and threat, we are calling for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to help tackle this issue. Everyone — betting operators, social media platforms, governing bodies, players and law enforcers — has a responsibility to make the online space a safer and more positive one. We hope the gambling industry responds constructively to our call for more action on their part.”
Jessica Pegula, Member of the WTA Players’ Council, said: “Online abuse is unacceptable, and something that no player should have to endure. I welcome the work that the WTA and ITF are doing with Threat Matrix to identify and take action against the abusers, whose behavior is so often linked to gambling. But it’s not enough on its own. It’s time for the gambling industry and social media companies to tackle the problem at its source and act to protect everyone facing these threats.”
Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group, said: “This unique dataset, covering all players across international tennis tours and Grand Slams, illustrates that a relatively small number of accounts are responsible for a significant proportion of prolific abuse and trolling. While this is deeply distressing for the athletes targeted, it means that we are able to be even more focused working with the platforms to ensure successful take down, support the tennis bodies to drive law enforcement intervention for the most egregious accounts and work with event security teams to ensure prolific abusers are unable to attend tournaments. This action-orientated approach underpins the Threat Matrix service.”
The post WTA and ITF Publish Season-wide Online Abuse and Threat Report appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing Holds Betting Integrity Sharing Agreement MOU Signing Ceremony with IBIA
Director Sung-chul Lee, the KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing Director, held a betting integrity monitoring agreement MOU signing ceremony with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) at the seminar room of the Korean Cultural Centre UK on Tuesday, 5th August.
The MOU with IBIA represents a landmark moment for South Korean sports integrity, marking the first cooperation of its kind between IBIA and an Asian nation sports body, underscoring the significance of this new collaboration. The agreement demonstrates a commitment to aligning with global best practices in betting integrity and serves as a significant step in South Korea’s broader international engagement with the regulated sports betting sector.
In 2024, South Korea’s betting industry market recorded total sales of 25.3 trillion won (approx. €15.7 billion) and approximately 22.86 million users, establishing itself as a major foundation for public leisure and public fund creation. Among them, K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing recorded annual sales of 1.8859 trillion won (approx. €1.17 billion) and 12.5 million users (online/offline total), accounting for about 7.5% of the total betting industry sales in South Korea. Since the introduction of the system, K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing has contributed greatly to the promotion of national sports and the expansion of public finance by raising approximately 1.9464 trillion won (approx. €1.21 billion) for the National Sports Promotion Fund.
At the event, General Director Sung-chul Lee stated, “Through this agreement, KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing has elevated the status of K-Sports and has taken a leap forward to global standards.” He added, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to CEO Khalid Ali and the IBIA officials for their cooperation in making this agreement successful. Following this agreement, we intend to supply the KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing products to the international betting market, protected by this important integrity collaboration.”
IBIA is the leading global voice on integrity for the regulated betting industry, representing many of the world’s largest licensed operators. A not-for-profit organisation established in 2005, IBIA manages a global monitoring and alert network that tracks transactional activity to detect suspicious betting patterns across its members’ markets, which generate over $300bn in sports betting revenue per annum. The association works closely with major sports bodies like FIFA, UEFA, the ITIA and the IOC, as well as regulators worldwide, to support the fight against betting-related corruption. Committed to transparency, IBIA publishes regular integrity reports and requires all members to meet strict due diligence and betting integrity standards.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, commented: “This agreement marks an important step forward, not only for KSPO and the integrity of K-Cycle and K-Motorboat Racing, but for the advancement of betting integrity standards across Asia. IBIA is delighted to support KSPO in setting a benchmark for clean, transparent and accountable sports betting operations in the region. We look forward to building on this partnership and helping to portect the integrity of K-Sports’ products.”
Professor Jae-kwang Shin of Seokyeong University commented, “The agreement with IBIA is an essential gateway for entering the global betting market, and the process of meeting its standards is quite challenging. The fact that this agreement with KSPO was one of the first in Asia is a remarkable achievement for South Korea’s sports and can be seen as a great accomplishment.” He also evaluated, “In the future, the KSPO will be able to play a significant role as a leader in the betting industry in Asian countries, and this also provides KSPO with a good opportunity to engage with IBIA’s vast global network.”
Through this agreement, KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing has committed to working in alignment with IBIA’s monitoring and reporting framework, strengthening its ability to identify and act on suspicious activity in the betting market. The partnership serves to reinforce South Korea’s sports integrity infrastructure and ensure compliance with internationally recognised standards. With the support of IBIA’s monitoring platform and global network, KSPO aims to build confidence among stakeholders and support the integrity of the betting environment both domestically and abroad.
The completion of this MOU also involved FnS Co. Ltd. (CEO Ho-young Choi), a sports consulting firm that has maintained a strong cooperative relationship with KSPO and has been actively pursuing international opportunities over the past three years. The firm’s extensive network across the UK and Europe played a particularly effective role in facilitating this agreement.
The signing ceremony was attended by Sung-chul Lee, General Director of the KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing Headquarters, Myung-ho Jeon, Senior Manager of the KSPO, Ho-young Choi, CEO of FnS Co., Ltd., and Professor Jae-kwang Shin of Seokyeong University. From IBIA, CEO Khalid Ali and Jason Foley-Train, Head of International Development, were present.
The post KSPO K-Cycle & K-Motorboat Racing Holds Betting Integrity Sharing Agreement MOU Signing Ceremony with IBIA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME
In a key ruling, on 1 August 2025 the UK High Court granted SPRIBE an interim injunction preventing a Georgian company, Aviator LLC, from launching or marketing its copycat crash game in the UK. The order was granted to protect SPRIBE’s award-winning Aviator game.
Speaking today, SPRIBE’s founder, David Natroshvili, said: “I am pleased that the highly respected UK Court supports our position and has granted an injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching and promoting its copycat game. SPRIBE created the Aviator crash game in 2018 and is the sole owner of the game globally. We will continue to take all necessary steps globally to protect SPRIBE, our partners and players from any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe our rights.”
Granting of UK High Court injunction
SPRIBE obtained a UK gambling licence for its Aviator game in December 2020 and has been very successful in the UK market. A Georgian company, Aviator LLC, recently stated its intent to release a copycat game in the UK, also branded Aviator, and has engaged in promotional communications targeted at SPRIBE’s UK customers.
This copycat game is not authorised by SPRIBE. It blatantly infringes the copyright works which SPRIBE owns in its game and seeks to misappropriate the goodwill which SPRIBE has created in its Aviator brand. To prevent the clear risk of reputational and financial damage from any unlawful action by Aviator LLC, SPRIBE has sought, and now won, an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching or marketing its copycat game in the UK.
Throughout these proceedings and elsewhere, Aviator LLC has provided conflicting and contradictory evidence. At the hearing Aviator LLC sought to evade responsibility for this matter, including attempting to misdirect the UK Court by obscuring its role through the creation of a shifting network of licensing entities, denying previously stated plans to enter the UK market and refusing to provide key evidence. This led to Aviator LLC’s conduct being described by the Court as ‘childlike’ and ‘petulant’.
Further information relating to bad faith actions by Aviator LLC
This activity by Aviator LLC forms part of a continuing chain of bad faith actions by Georgian businessman Temur Ugulava, who is behind Aviator LLC and a series of connected companies, aimed at exploiting the commercial success and international reputation of SPRIBE’s brand.
Unfounded and opportunistic claims were launched in the Georgian courts last year by Aviator LLC, seeking to expropriate – for the territory of Georgia only – the Aviator branding and logo used by SPRIBE. The flawed Georgian ruling followed an unusually rapid and procedurally flawed legal process in a jurisdiction where concerns around judicial independence and transparency have been widely documented.
SPRIBE continues firmly to reject these claims brought by Aviator LLC, which related solely to the use of a specific logo and branding in Georgia and did not concern ownership of the Aviator game itself. SPRIBE’s trademarks remain valid and protected outside of Georgia, including in the EU and UK.
SPRIBE is aware that Aviator LLC and companies affiliated to it (such as Aviator Studio Group or AviGroup) have directly contacted SPRIBE customers, falsely claiming to be the owner of the intellectual property rights in the branding of SPRIBE’s Aviator game, whilst at the same time promoting their own copycat version of it. These claims are bogus. The Aviator game, including its features, branding and intellectual property, are entirely created and owned by SPRIBE. SPRIBE will continue to take all necessary steps to defend its rights against any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe them.
Aviator LLC has also sought to use the flawed ruling in Georgia to launch spurious proceedings elsewhere. Such claims are without merit and will be vigorously defended.
The post SPRIBE WINS UK COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST AVIATOR LLC TO PROTECT SPRIBE’S ICONIC AVIATOR CRASH GAME appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Booming Games, a fast-growing provider of premium iGaming content, is proud to announce that it has successfully obtained a B2B license from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC), marking another strategic step in its ongoing European expansion.
With this new license, Booming Games is now authorised to provide its acclaimed slot content to licensed operators in Greece. Greek players can look forward to enjoying top-performing titles such as Burning Classics, TNT Bonanza, Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10 000, Cash Pig, and Gold Gold Gold, 64 Gold Coins Hold and Win among many others.
This regulatory approval underscores Booming Games’ commitment to entering fully regulated markets and working closely with local authorities to ensure a compliant, secure, and entertaining experience for players. The Greek license adds to the company’s growing portfolio of certifications across key European jurisdictions, including the UK, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Sweden.
Frederik Niehusen, Chief Commercial Officer at Booming Games, commented: “Securing our B2B license from the Hellenic Gaming Commission is a significant achievement and part of our strategic goal to strengthen our presence in regulated European markets. Greece is an exciting and fast-growing market, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer our content to licensed operators and their players across the country.”
The post Booming Games Secures Greek License Approval appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
188BET6 days agoCyberArena Officially Rebrands from 188BET to taptap
-
Australia4 days ago
AUSTRAC Launches Civil Penalty Proceedings Against Mounties
-
Asia6 days agoJBO Thailand Launches Esports World Cup Promotion
-
Karina Moral Senior Business Development Manager at Zenith6 days ago
Zenith offers LatAm unbeatable rates for PGSoft games
-
Joe Solosky4 days ago
NASCAR and nVenue, Bring Groundbreaking Live Probabilities to In-Season Challenge Broadcast for Fans Watching Live Racing
-
Dreidel5 days ago
Getting to know Dreidel
-
Baltics4 days ago
SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Enters the Estonian Market
-
Brazil4 days ago
WA. Technology Receives GLI Certification in Brazil for Casino Aggregator Product
