Latest News
Virgin Media O2 Issues Warning Over Significant Rise in Scam Texts
Virgin Media O2 has urged Brits to stay vigilant after its latest analysis of suspicious messages reveals a significant increase in the number of recruitment, car finance and gambling prize scams.
The telecoms provider has analysed messages reported and blocked throughout the month of August to help inform Brits about the latest scam tactics they need to look out for.
The most commonly reported messages right now are gambling or fake prize scams in which fraudsters offer free “credit” on gambling sites, “prizes” or “rewards” with a link to an unsafe website. The criminals encourage people to hand over personal details including bank information to claim their prize.
The second most common tactic currently being used is “Hi Mum / Hi Dad” scams, where scammers pretend to be a child reaching out to their parent in distress on a new phone number before asking them to transfer money.
Third on the list is fake parking fines – where scammers threaten significant fines or for people’s “license to be revoked” if they do not visit a suspicious website and make an immediate payment.
Also on the rise are recruitment scams where fraudsters say they’re hiring for lucrative positions which don’t exist and car finance scams in which victims are told they are entitled to compensation. In both, scammers encourage people to share personal information and may ask them to pay fees for their services to help secure the job or access compensation.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Scammers aren’t sticking to old tricks; they’re evolving fast, tapping into trending news and targeting vulnerable people with fake prizes, job offers and financial compensation schemes.
“At Virgin Media O2 we’re doing everything we can and have already blocked more than 600 million scam texts from reaching our customers so far this year. By analysing these messages and sounding the alarm, we’re helping to spread the word about the latest trends and help Brits to swerve the scammers.
“But with fraud continuing to increase, we’re reminding people to remain vigilant; always be careful when you receive a call or text out of the blue, don’t share personal details with anyone and report suspicious messages for free to 7726.”
Customers can help fight back against fraudsters by forwarding suspicious texts or calls for free to 7726 – which spells “SPAM” on an alphanumeric phone keypad – on any network. Customer with certain devices including newer iPhones can also use the “report junk” tool which appears at the bottom of messages from people not in their contacts.
By reporting messages, it makes it easier for new trends to be identified and shut down faster. Numbers reported to Virgin Media O2 are blocked whilst messages are analysed to help improve the company’s blocking technology– which uses machine learning to identify new spam patterns and attempts.
The post Virgin Media O2 Issues Warning Over Significant Rise in Scam Texts appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
América Latina
Las diferencias locales de Argentina representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad para el sector del iGaming
El crecimiento del iGaming en Argentina ha posicionado al país como uno de los mercados más dinámicos de América Latina. Sin embargo, detrás de esta expansión existe un desafío que está cobrando cada vez más relevancia para los operadores: adaptarse a un mercado donde cada provincia presenta diferentes requisitos regulatorios, condiciones operativas y dinámicas comerciales.
A diferencia de muchos otros mercados de la región, Argentina no opera bajo un único marco regulatorio. Cada jurisdicción establece sus propios requisitos, procesos de licenciamiento y condiciones de operación, lo que obliga a los operadores a adaptarse constantemente a diferentes realidades dentro de un mismo país.
Para OKTO PAYMENTS, proveedor de infraestructura de pagos y servicios financieros para industrias digitales complejas y reguladas, estas particularidades locales representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad. A medida que el mercado evoluciona, los operadores deben encontrar formas de escalar de manera eficiente manteniendo la consistencia en entornos operativos cada vez más diversos.
“Durante años, el crecimiento fue el principal objetivo de la industria. Hoy, el desafío radica en cómo escalar eficientemente en un mercado donde cada jurisdicción puede presentar distintos requisitos, expectativas y dinámicas operativas”, señaló André Boesing, gerente general para South LatAm de OKTO PAYMENTS.
A medida que el mercado continúa madurando en las distintas provincias, los operadores enfrentan crecientes exigencias en materia de transparencia, trazabilidad y control operativo. La capacidad de adaptarse a requisitos regulatorios y operativos diversos se está convirtiendo en un factor cada vez más importante para lograr un crecimiento sostenible.
Como resultado, la capacidad de coordinar múltiples proveedores, métodos de pago y procesos operativos se ha vuelto cada vez más estratégica para los operadores que buscan ampliar su presencia en todo el país manteniendo una experiencia de usuario consistente.
“Los usuarios esperan una experiencia simple y fluida independientemente del lugar donde jueguen. Pero detrás de esa experiencia existe una creciente complejidad operativa que los operadores deben gestionar eficientemente a medida que se expanden a diferentes jurisdicciones”, agregó Boesing.
A medida que los operadores amplían sus operaciones en múltiples jurisdicciones, gestionar distintos proveedores de pago, métodos de pago y requisitos operativos se vuelve cada vez más complejo. Capacidades como la orquestación de depósitos y retiros, la gestión de tesorería y liquidez, y los procesos de liquidación eficientes están emergiendo como habilitadores críticos para este crecimiento. Al permitir que los operadores centralicen múltiples conexiones de pago a través de una única capa de infraestructura, mejoren la visibilidad de la liquidez y optimicen los procesos de liquidación, estas capacidades ayudan a reducir la complejidad, fortalecer el control operativo y respaldar una experiencia de usuario fluida en diferentes mercados.
“En muchos casos, la infraestructura pasa desapercibida hasta que algo sale mal. Sin embargo, en mercados altamente fragmentados como Argentina, la capacidad de gestionar múltiples proveedores, mantener la consistencia operativa y adaptarse rápidamente a los requisitos locales puede convertirse en una ventaja competitiva en sí misma. En OKTO PAYMENTS llamamos a esto ‘jugar de una manera diferente’: competir no solo a través de productos y servicios, sino también mediante la resiliencia operativa y la capacidad de adaptación”, explicó Boesing.
Para OKTO PAYMENTS, la evolución del mercado argentino demuestra que el éxito a largo plazo dependerá no solo de atraer usuarios, sino también de la capacidad de operar eficientemente en entornos cada vez más complejos.
“Los operadores mejor posicionados para alcanzar el éxito a largo plazo serán aquellos capaces de combinar crecimiento, control operativo y adaptabilidad. La infraestructura financiera ya no es simplemente una capa de soporte tecnológico; se está convirtiendo en una ventaja estratégica en mercados cada vez más sofisticados”, concluyó Boesing.
OKTO PAYMENTS trabaja con operadores que navegan el escenario multijurisdiccional de Argentina para simplificar las operaciones de pago mediante una única capa de orquestación para depósitos y retiros instantáneos, gestión de tesorería y liquidez.
The post Las diferencias locales de Argentina representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad para el sector del iGaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
Two new online slot titles go live across the UK and Malta iGaming markets, including a Player Link community mechanic.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. has launched two new online slot titles—Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel
and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab
—now available across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.
The company said Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel combines its Bigger Piggy Bank
series with Player Link
and a “Super Wheel” community feature. The title includes cash collection mechanics, a Free Spins Bonus and shared wheel prizes.
Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings back the Cops ‘n’ Robbers franchise with a 243-ways setup and multiple bonus mechanics. Inspired said the game includes Free Spins, Wheel Bonuses and random reel modifiers, plus optional features including Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, Fortune Spins and Gamble, and a choice of volatility profiles.
Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to evolve proven mechanics and themes that resonate most with players, and these two releases do exactly that. Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel offers a fresh social-style dynamic through Player Link, creating anticipation that builds beyond the individual player experience, while Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab brings one of our most recognisable game franchises back with more action, features and entertainment. Together, this duo offers operators two distinctive titles that combine proven gameplay with strong engagement potential and broad market appeal. Whether it’s smashing Piggy Banks or cracking safes, these games are built to keep players coming back for more.”
The post Inspired rolls out Bigger Piggy Bank Super Wheel and Cops ‘n’ Robbers Smash ‘N’ Grab appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm
Sportradar is positioning the 2026 World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026), hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as a major acquisition moment for Latin American sportsbooks—while warning that the expanded tournament format will raise operational and risk demands. In a “World Cup Report 2026,” the company highlights a 48-team field, 104 matches and a “favorable time zone” for Latin American audiences as factors likely to drive spikes in deposits and in-play betting activity.
The report cites the tournament organizer’s projection of approximately 6 billion engagements across traditional TV, streaming, digital platforms, and public screenings, with streaming and mobile consumption expected to represent over 30% of total audience. Sportradar also points to broader consumer intent data it references: around 60% of consumers plan to bet online or via mobile apps during the tournament, including nearly 19% who plan to bet for the first time.
Operationally, Sportradar argues the expanded match schedule increases exposure: “More matches mean more in-play betting windows, greater liability exposure, and higher volatility.” It also frames payments and product depth as differentiators, citing Brazil’s PIX instant payment system as an example of local rails shaping user expectations and internal efficiency, and pointing to growth in Parlays and Bet Builders among its operator partners.
On market context, the report highlights Brazil entering “its first full event cycle under a licensing framework,” stating the regulated market generated R$37 billion (approximately US$ 7.3 billion) in gross gaming revenue in 2025. It adds that Brazil is projected to account for approximately 10% of global betting handle during the tournament.
Sportradar’s recommended strategy centers on three pillars—enhanced betting experience, deeper fan engagement, and “an ecosystem of uncompromising integrity”—with artificial intelligence positioned as the cross-cutting enabler. The company says its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS AI) analyzes “over 30 billion odds movements” annually from more than 600 operators, and claims modern manipulation trends are concentrated in live betting, stating approximately 89% of cases target in-play markets. It also says that in 2025, “AI drove a 56% increase in detections.”
The post Sportradar flags AI, payments and integrity as World Cup 2026 pressure points in LatAm appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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