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Rising Bonus Abuse in Sports Betting: Fraudsters Leveraging Hidden AI Powered Bots
As digitalisation sweeps through the industry, the sports betting market has flourished. Taking betting online has made the experience more accessible, convenient, and interactive than ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made a big splash in recent years, giving sportsbooks access to more detailed data analytics. AI doesn’t only benefit sportsbooks however, as fraudsters have taken advantage of the technology for more malicious purposes. If sportsbooks don’t take action now, they face rapid losses to their budgets.
Sportsbooks frequently invest in pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns to drive first-time depositors (FTDs), using promotions such as bonuses to attract new users. However, these bonuses are a prime target for fraudsters, who leverage advances in AI to exploit them—driving fake sign-ups that drain budgets without delivering genuine new players.
To accomplish this, bad actors program AI-powered bots to rapidly create new accounts and take advantage of promotions without ever generating a conversion on the site. Bot networks like this are detrimental to advertising budgets, being responsible for nearly 40% of click fraud according to FraudLogix.
Most sportsbooks have fraud management systems in place to intercept and block these bad actors during the sign-up process. However, this does not prevent bots from clicking on paid search ads in the first place, driving up costs and draining marketing budgets before fraud can even be detected.
Sportsbooks need to take it upon themselves to develop a proactive strategy to identify fraudulent engagement. Without a strategy in place, sportsbooks risk significant profit loss and distorted campaign metrics.
Evolving Fraud tactics
Sportsbooks have been reaping the rewards of digitalisation, but this increased success comes with a hidden cost. The success of the industry has drawn the attention of bad actors, and with AI they pose a bigger threat than ever. Bad actors can now program AI bots to convincingly behave as a human user would. Bots can then carry out repetitive tasks repeatedly, allowing fraudsters to create floods of them to interfere with campaigns.
The PPC campaigns utilised by sportsbooks are often targeted by bots which repeatedly click on these paid ads. This drives up ad revenue for the publisher drastically, as bots increase the overall customer acquisition costs (CACs).
To carry out an attack, fraudsters use hosting servers. These servers can be used to store large amounts of data. From here, bad actors can then disguise themselves using a residential Internet Service Provider (ISP) to blend in with other users. Bad actors can mask their real location by routing their connection through a different server. This is typically carried out by using a residential IP address through a residential proxy, making the fraudster appear like a legitimate user to trick systems.
Fraudsters are experts at covering their tracks, as they can program bots to delete their information and cookies after clicking on a paid ad. Bots can then carry out the task on repeat by switching to a different device to appear as a new user. Fraudulent clicks from bots increase market expenditure without leading to a legitimate conversion, draining resources, and diluting return on investment (ROI). The problem is plaguing the industry as bots are responsible for approximately 24% of all clicks according to Imperva, and the risk is only increasing.
Bots Taking Advantage of Paid Promotions
A great way for sportsbooks to capture a new audience is through one-time special promotions. Bonuses like these are a popular hook, and encourage players to keep betting, even after the bonus funds are used up. Most of these promotions are offered once per account, but fraudsters can use bots to manipulate the system. These bots are programmed to generate multiple fake accounts and abuse the bonus repeatedly. Funds intended to drive FTDs are then diverted by bots without delivering genuine value, significantly draining resources.
Fraudulent traffic negatively impacts future campaigns as bot activity skews metrics. An influx of bot activity provides marketers with false positive results. Sportsbooks will then mistakenly direct more funds to these campaigns, setting them up for future losses and more bot activity.
Legacy fraud tools typically concentrate on the sign-up stage, targeting and blocking fraud there. However, this tactic doesn’t stop bots from siphoning media spend beforehand. Differentiating between sophisticated bots and legitimate traffic is difficult for these tools, allowing fraudsters to act before they can be identified. Attacks are on the rise, and if sportsbooks fail to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against fraudulent clicks, they face considerable losses.
Utilising Transparency to Tackle Fraud
To ensure marketing efforts aren’t wasted and first-time depositors can be reached, sportsbooks need a strategy in place to combat fraud. Sportsbooks should be analysing their traffic for any sign of potential bot activity before they suffer multiple losses.
Monitoring traffic allows sportsbooks to identify irregular engagement, such as high bounce or click rates, or traffic from suspicious locations. To identify bots before they can impact campaigns, sportsbooks should continuously monitor their traffic for anomalies like these so they can be dealt with.
Fake accounts run by bots are a growing problem for sportsbooks, therefore sportsbooks should deploy strong identity verification alongside a trusted partner. This prevents fraudsters from creating multiple accounts to exploit promotions by forcing them to prove their identity.
Sportsbooks can also set click frequency limits for users. Setting limits prevents a particular user from repeatedly clicking on the same paid ad campaign. Bots are especially vulnerable to this tactic, preventing them from driving up costs by blocking them with a click threshold.
Ending Bonus Abuse
Digitalisation has provided both opportunities and complex challenges for sportsbooks. The pivot towards online betting has presented sportsbooks with the chance to reach a whole new audience. However, sportsbooks can’t truly capitalise on this new opportunity as long as bots are draining budgets behind the scenes.
To protect their advertising investments, sportsbooks need to take action. Sportsbooks need to take control of their traffic and identify any bot activity before bad actors have the chance to take advantage. By taking an active role in their defence, sportsbooks can ensure their bonuses stay strictly in the hands of their real audience.
Article by Chad Kinlay, Chief Marketing Officer, TrafficGuard
A driven, open-minded, creative senior marketer with a strong sense of dedication and commitment. With over 15 years of progressive international experience in marketing and communications management, Kinlay has a credible history of commercial success.
The post Rising Bonus Abuse in Sports Betting: Fraudsters Leveraging Hidden AI Powered Bots appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Dream Play expands its portfolio with Hyper Gems, a space-themed slot built around speed, tension, and multiplier escalation.
Set against a deep cosmic backdrop filled with glowing nebulae and vibrant crystal symbols, the game delivers a sharp, modern presentation.
The bottom control panel follows Dream Play’s polished design approach — centered spin button, smooth metallic controls, clean layout — keeping the focus entirely on action and momentum.
Fast Base Game, Reactive Multiplier
The base game moves quickly thanks to avalanche mechanics — winning symbols disappear and new ones cascade into place without breaking the flow.
Here, the multiplier works per spin.
If it lands and a winning combination connects in that same spin, the payout is instantly amplified. If not, it resets — keeping the gameplay reactive and dynamic.
It’s fast. Immediate. Energetic.
Bonus Game — Where Adrenaline Builds
The real shift happens in the Bonus Game.
Once triggered — or accessed via Buy Bonus — the atmosphere intensifies. The background changes, colors become more aggressive, and during symbol connections the grid adds a subtle shake effect, reinforcing the impact of every hit.
Most importantly, the multiplier no longer resets.
Instead, it accumulates with every spin — even if no win lands. The tension builds. Spin after spin, the number grows. And when a winning combination finally connects, the entire payout is multiplied by the full accumulated value.
Several spins can quietly stack the multiplier — and then one cascade suddenly lands, amplifying the entire win in a single surge.
That is where Hyper Gems delivers its core adrenaline.
Pop-Ups, Sound & Visual Identity
Hyper Gems features distinct Big, Epic and Mega Win pop-ups, each with its own animation style and visual identity. The transitions are dynamic, modern, and fast — designed to enhance momentum rather than interrupt it.
Every win feels energetic and visually impactful.
The soundtrack supports the pace with a driving, space-inspired rhythm, rising alongside multiplier growth and intensifying during cascades.
Together with the visual effects and subtle grid shake in the bonus round, the game creates a cohesive, high-energy presentation.
With its avalanche engine, accumulating bonus multiplier and max win potential of x1000, Hyper Gems stands out as a release built around escalation and momentum.
👉 Step into the cosmic arena and experience Hyper Gems.
https://api.dreamplay.games/launch/virtual?game=hyper-gems
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
Amusnet has launched Panda’s Gold Golden Coins Link, a beautifully crafted 40-payline slot where luck, beauty and excitement come together in perfect harmony. Players join the Panda on a journey towards prosperity, collecting symbols into the Golden Pot as the reels spin and build toward generous rewards.
Thunderkick has infused the age-old concept of harmony into Pan’s Arcadia, where the deity of nature combines a serene environment with a Sticky Respins feature and a complex progressive bonus game. Pan is surrounded by elemental nymphs on the 6×3 grid, set against a picturesque background filled with wildlife.
Spinomenal has introduced Majestic Joker within its renowned Spinomenal Classics series. Majestic Joker draws influence from the elegance of a traditional casino setting, infused with a fun, contemporary twist. Against a vibrant, dramatic setting of red and gold, Spinomenal’s newest launch features traditional fruit symbols like grapes, lemons, cherries, and watermelons.
BGaming encourages players to team up with a group of charismatic athletic contenders as they hit the ice and strive for victory in Winter Trophy Hold and Win. The slot places players at the center of a vast stadium, framed by snow-covered mountains as a variety of thrilling sports and games unfold.
PokerStars Casino’s ‘The Slotlist’ has unveiled its initial game spotlight of 2026, ‘12 Burning Baseballs’, a fresh and innovative game packed with features where players can launch blazing baseballs to gain significant rewards and access exclusive bonuses, such as Home Run Spins, Giant Baseball Hold’n’Win, and Burning Bonus Rounds.
Hölle Games has released its latest online slot, Book of Sobek. This 5×3, 10 payline slot invites players to dive deep into the magical Nile and enter the aquatic temple of the ancient Crocodile God. With every spin, the mighty Sobek may rise from the depths to bless the reels.
SlotMatrix has enhanced its exclusive content collection with the debut of Catsino Royale, a playful slot that merges feline attitude with traditional casino excitement. Featuring stunning visuals, captivating characters, and intricate mechanics, the game combines enjoyable presentation with significant winning possibilities.
PG Soft is marking Chinese New Year by enhancing its highly popular Fortune series with the launch of Fortune Horse. This is a 5×3 game that races quickly through a lively, neon-lit skyline influenced by bustling Asian food markets and lively street celebrations. The Wild symbol takes the form of a stylish red supercar adorned with luxurious gold decals that exude opulence.
Million Games is excited to announce the release of Looting Raccoons, an internally developed slot game that immerses players in a playful pirate escapade. After the recent narrative-heavy launches of Rudolph’s Gone Rogue and Chicken X & Friends, Looting Raccoons maintains Million Games’ emphasis on compelling story-driven experiences and impressive visual aesthetics.
Amid a gaming environment filled with in-game modifiers and complex bonus rounds, it’s crucial to return to the fundamentals of seamless gameplay and significant rewards – and that’s exactly what Swintt is focusing on this month with Fresh Fruit Deluxe. This is a traditional 5×3 video slot featuring five fixed paylines, merging the thrill and simplicity of a vintage slot experience with a stylish, contemporary design.
Amusnet has released its latest online slot, 40 Glossy Hot. Designed for players who love fast-paced, thrilling spins, this 5×4 slot with 40 fixed paylines gives every spin the potential to land big wins. 40 Glossy Hot delivers pure, straightforward fun – it’s colorful, dynamic and packed with excitement.
Booming Games has officially released the much-awaited Cash Pig 2 15,000. Following the hugely popular original, Cash Pig 2 15,000 features a 5×4 grid with 30 paylines, impressive graphics, and an enhanced maximum payout of 15,000x. To offer a superior experience for players, the game conveys a sense of opulence and wealth.
The post Week 6/2026 slot games releases appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Winter sports fans have a new reason to get excited. The Wildz Group has unveiled a bold and refreshing Winter Sports hub within the Wildz Sports portal, delivering a one-of-a-kind experience for fans of cold-weather competition.
From the high-speed drama of Ice Hockey and Speed Skating to the precision of Curling and Biathlon, the new hub brings together the world’s most thrilling winter disciplines. Ski Jumping, Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country, Luge, Nordic Combined and more are all showcased in one immersive space — alongside a dedicated Winter Sports tournament offering players the chance to win a share of €25,000.
Country-Focused Action with Seamless Betting
Wildz Sports is taking a unique approach by organising winter sporting events by country, allowing players to follow their national heroes all in one place. Whether you’re cheering for Team Canada, Finland, or beyond, fans can track events, enjoy live entertainment, and engage with insightful commentary tailored to their region.
Betting goes far beyond the basics. Players can access special betslips with boosted odds directly from the lobby, creating a smoother, more intuitive betting journey and adding extra excitement to every event.
Innovation Built Around “Get More”
Mark Simmonds, Head of Wildz Sports, explains the vision behind the new Winter Sports experience:
“At Wildz, our promise to players has always been to ‘Get More’, and this Winter Sports hub delivers exactly that. Over the coming weeks, punters can immerse themselves in their favourite winter sports as the world’s elite athletes compete at the highest level.
Our creative teams have built a content-rich environment with something for everyone. No matter where you’re playing from — Finland, Canada or elsewhere — you’ll enjoy the very best of winter sports action. We believe this approach speaks directly to the new generation of sports bettors.”
What Players Can Look Forward To
The Winter Sports hub offers a host of standout features, including:
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NHL players returning to the Winter Games for the first time since Sochi 2014
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A content-rich lobby with live streams and instant access to betslips
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Value-packed promotions, such as free bets for every gold medal won and country-specific specials
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Enhanced odds on major winter sports, plus niche markets for added excitement
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Winter-themed slot games to keep the fun going between events
A Complete Sports & Entertainment Destination
Wildz Sports is the flagship sportsbook of the Wildz Group, offering a comprehensive selection of top-tier sporting events including football, basketball, golf and more. The platform features a dynamic live chat environment, guest streamers, and engaging commentary, all brought together through Wildz TV, the home of live sports insights and entertainment.
Importantly, all regular sports markets remain fully available alongside the Winter Sports hub, ensuring players can enjoy every sport, every season, all in one place.
The post Winter Sports Gets Unique Wildz Treatment appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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