Industry News
As Online Gambling Legalization Expands, So Do Scams and Regulatory Issues
iovation research finds large rise in bonus abuse, credit card fraud and self-exclusion reports
iovation, a TransUnion company, today released its 2020 iGaming Report. Now in its fourth year, the report analyzes more than four billion global online gambling transactions iovation screened for fraud indicators over the past 15 years.
Among the findings, bonus abuse was the number one reported fraud by iovation’s iGaming customers for the third year in a row, rising 72% from 2018 to 2019 (pg. 10). Gambling bonuses often include giving a new player house money to gamble or existing customers incentives to play more. Bonus abusers then use multiple accounts with different email addresses in order to claim the same bonus sometimes hundreds of times, which is often against gambling operators’ terms.
“Deposit bonuses can be a valuable tool for attracting and retaining players,” said Greg Pierson, TransUnion’s senior vice president of business planning and development. “Unfortunately, a few bad apples can abuse otherwise effective programs to the point of eliminating all their value.”
Another key trend in the report was the rise in self-exclusion (pg. 12). iovation received over 363,000 reports of player self-exclusion in 2019, a 63% increase over 2018. Self-exclusion is when a player admits they have a gambling problem and tells an operator not to allow them to gamble. The operator is now legally obligated to ensure the player does not resume gambling activities. In many instances a self-excluded gambler tries to set up a new account, many times with the information of another family member, when they have a change of heart. Or fraudsters set up a new account using a stolen credit card, deposit funds using that card and then self-exclude before the chargeback – a forced transaction reversal initiated by the cardholder’s bank.
“When looking at devices and accounts associated with self-exclusion reports in 2019, we saw eight times (three million) the number of devices and three times (1.2 million) the number of accounts in comparison to reports of self-exclusion. This paints a clear picture that those who self-exclude are not always walking away,” said Angie White, iovation product marketing manager. “Having multiple devices and accounts linked to self-exclusion reports could point to a self-excluded player trying to use another device to set up a new account or something more problematic like a fraud ring.”
Other key findings in the report include:
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Credit Card Fraud Continues Climb: iovation iGaming customers reported a 37% growth in credit card fraud from 2018 to 2019. While operators look to stop credit card fraud, consumers expect reduced transaction reviews and unnecessary step-up authentication with their credit card transactions. (pg. 11)
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Significant Majority of Transactions go Mobile: 79% of all iGaming transactions came from mobile phones and tablets in 2019, an increase of 13% over 2018. It’s clear consumers expect a mobile-first experience. (pg. 6)
“Providing a secure and friction-right mobile experience to onboard new players has never been more important for competing effectively in the iGaming market with new countries and states seemingly legalizing online gambling every week,” said Pierson.
Download iovation’s 2020 iGaming Report. To discuss it in person Feb. 4-6, visit iovation at the ICE London gaming technology event, stand N9-500. For more details about the findings, register for the Feb. 19 2020 iGaming Report webinar.
About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU):
TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.®
A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.
About iovation:
iovation, a TransUnion Company, was founded with a simple guiding mission: to make the Internet a safer place for people to conduct business. Since 2004, the company has been delivering against that goal, helping brands protect and engage their customers, and keeping them secure in the complex digital world. Armed with the world’s largest and most precise database of reputation insights and cryptographically secure multifactor authentication methods, iovation safeguards tens of millions of digital transactions each day.
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
IGT announced that its much-anticipated Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin electronic table game (ETG) recently made its world debut at Downtown Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The vibrant standalone ETG game includes many of the attributes that have propelled the success of the Wheel of Fortune slots franchise for nearly three decades including word puzzles, wheel spins and exciting jackpot rewards. The game is accompanied by an attention-grabbing, 9-plus-feet upright video wheel that stands independent of the ETG terminals and entertains casino guests with the famous “WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!” chant.
MGM Resorts International has announced that Corey Sanders, Chief Operating Officer, will retire from the company after more than 30 years of dedicated service and leadership. Sanders has agreed to remain COO through Dec. 31, 2025, and to serve as an advisor to the President and CEO through Dec. 31, 2026. The Company intends to name a new COO to serve as Sanders’ successor later this month. Sanders is currently MGM Resorts’ Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the company’s Las Vegas and regional properties as well as multiple corporate departments, including Hospitality, Gaming, Human Resources and Strategic Initiatives. Prior to that, he served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Members of Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria and Big Lagoon Rancheria gathered outside the State Capitol in Sacramento to protest Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831). If passed, the bill would limit economic opportunities available to less wealthy tribes in the state by banning legitimate online social games using sweepstakes promotions. It would also eliminate more than $1 billion of existing economic activity generated by the industry in California, and close off a potential new revenue source for the state via sensible, modern regulation and taxation.
Partnerships
Genius Sports Limited has expanded its long-term partnership with Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook (Hard Rock Bet) to power the top-rated platform with its market-leading official data, trading and marketing solutions, as well as its ground-breaking BetVision product. Genius Sports has worked in partnership with the leading operator since 2021, providing the highest quality official data and pinpoint trading solutions across top tier leagues globally, including the Premier League, Serie A, European Leagues, Liga MX, NFL and more. Hard Rock Bet will be able to provide its customers with Genius Sports’ first-of-its-kind BetVision low latency streaming solution.
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of data-driven casino intelligence and player engagement platforms, has announced that Dania Beach Casino is continuing to benefit from its deployment of the QCI Nimble platform. While the property currently focuses on the QCI Host and QCI Marketing modules, it has expressed enthusiasm about the capabilities of the new AGI56 release and its impact on future customer engagement strategies. AGI56 represents the most ambitious release in QCI’s history, with the platform undergoing a full refresh of its technology stack, improved integration of advanced analytics, and the introduction of generative AI-driven tooling through Chatalytics.com. QCI’s platform is currently deployed in more than 350 casinos worldwide.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 8-15 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
MediaX Agency, a globally recognised leader in digital PR and growth marketing, has officially launched Linkible, an AI-powered link building agency engineered to help businesses in highly competitive and regulated industries achieve stronger online authority, higher search engine rankings and sustainable organic growth.
With AI-driven outreach and industry-specific link strategies, Linkible is redefining how brands secure high-quality backlinks, increase domain authority and dominate their niches in Google search.
Linkible is purpose-built for industries where credibility and compliance are critical:
• Law Firms & Legal Marketing – Earn authoritative legal backlinks to attract clients and improve local SEO.
• SaaS Companies – Accelerate organic growth with niche placements and product-led content strategies.
• Cannabis & CBD Brands – Gain SEO visibility while staying compliant in a restricted advertising environment.
• iGaming, Casino & Gambling – Drive traffic with white-hat link strategies tailored for high-competition keywords.
• E-commerce Businesses – Build scalable backlinks to boost product visibility and drive online sales.
Key Features of Linkible
• AI-Powered Prospecting & Outreach – Identify and connect with the right publishers at scale.
• Niche-Relevant Authority Backlinks – Secure placements on trusted websites that move rankings.
• Compliance-First Approach – Tailored strategies for industries facing strict regulations.
• Transparent SEO Reporting – Real-time dashboards to track backlinks, traffic and keyword improvements.
• Scalable Growth Solutions – Flexible link building packages for startups, enterprises and agencies.
“Traditional link building is outdated and ineffective in competitive industries. With Linkible, we’re combining the power of AI with our proven PR and SEO expertise to deliver smarter, faster, and compliance-friendly link building strategies that help businesses rank higher and grow sustainably,” said Rachita Chettri, Co-Founder of MediaX Agency.
The post MediaX Agency Officially Launches Linkible appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Allwyn, the lottery-led gaming entertainment company, has announced the launch of Allwyn Player Protection Lab, a global responsible gaming initiative aimed at supporting novel research and innovation to advance player safety.
Opening immediately for applications, the programme will support academics and experts working in the field of responsible gaming to explore new ideas, concepts and perspectives. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals focusing on one of three key areas: digital innovation; using messaging to drive positive play; and developing effective safety tools.
Following the open call for applications, awards will be made for successful projects of up to €100,000, dependent on the scope of the prospective proposal.
The project demonstrates Allwyn’s commitment to developing global leading practice in responsible gaming. The call for applications will ensure Allwyn is casting the widest net and has the best chance to uncover new and interesting approaches to protecting players.
Nicole Garrett, Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn, said: “The Player Protection Lab is an exciting new avenue for Allwyn. Our responsible gaming team is seeking proposals that will encourage progress in player safety and break new ground in our industry. We hope that by opening the application process, we will have the opportunity to explore genuinely new ideas and draw lessons from other sectors.”
The call for proposals will run until 14 November.
The post Allwyn Launches Player Protection Lab appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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