Industry News

As Online Gambling Legalization Expands, So Do Scams and Regulatory Issues

Published

6 years ago

January 30, 2020

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:

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)
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.

Asia

FUN88 Launches AI Game Recommendations, Setting New iGaming Standard

Published

23 hours ago

November 11, 2025

Niji Narayan

fun88-launches-ai-game-recommendations,-setting-new-igaming-standard

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FUN88, a leading online gaming platform, has introduced its latest breakthrough in the iGaming industry: AI-powered recommendations for slot games. This new feature marks a significant step in enhancing user experience, offering tailored game suggestions based on individual preferences and gaming behaviour.

By analysing user data and local market trends, the AI system recommends popular games tailored to regions such as Thailand and Vietnam, ensuring a more personalised and engaging experience for every player.

Key Highlights of the AI Game Recommendations Feature:

• Personalised Recommendations – AI analyses gameplay history and preferences to suggest slot games that best fit each player.

• Enhanced User Experience – A seamless, customised journey that saves players time.

• Available for Vietnam and Thailand Players – The feature is available to registered FUN88 users in these markets, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to innovation.

• Responsible Gaming Focus – AI technology also supports FUN88’s dedication to safe and responsible play.

This launch marks another step forward for FUN88 in combining technology and entertainment to enhance user satisfaction. The new system not only makes gameplay more convenient and exciting but also aligns with FUN88’s long-term vision of offering safe, smart and enjoyable gaming.

Players can now explore the new AI-powered recommendations by registering on FUN88 or logging in to their accounts. Through the FUN88 app, users can easily access their favorite categories, manage their accounts and enjoy exclusive promotions.

The post FUN88 Launches AI Game Recommendations, Setting New iGaming Standard appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service

AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service Surpasses $80 Million Returned to Players

Published

2 days ago

November 10, 2025

Niji Narayan

askgamblers-casino-complaint-service-surpasses-$80-million-returned-to-players

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The AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service is a vital wheel in the mechanism of AskGamblers, and lately, that wheel has been spinning faster than ever. After reaching the $70 million milestone only a few months ago, the service has now gone above and beyond once again.

At AskGamblers, every complaint is handled with care and persistence to ensure fair treatment for players facing issues with online casinos. The most recent case involved a user who had difficulties withdrawing their winnings from Jackbit Casino. The amount in question was significant – $3,311,000.

After the AGCCS team reached out to the casino, the issue was resolved in less than two weeks, and the player successfully received their funds.

Since its launch in 2009, AGCCS has now returned over $80 million to players across the globe.

Dijana Radunović, General Manager at AskGamblers, said: “Every time our complaint team reaches a new milestone, I’m reminded of how much passion and effort they put into helping players. We’re proud of them and the impact they’re making – it’s a reminder that fairness in gaming really matters.”

The post AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service Surpasses $80 Million Returned to Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ANESAR

ANESAR Holds its 43rd Ordinary General Assembly

Published

6 days ago

November 6, 2025

Niji Narayan

anesar-holds-its-43rd-ordinary-general-assembly

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Spanish Association of Gaming and Recreational Hall Entrepreneurs (ANESAR) has held its 43rd Ordinary General Assembly this Tuesday, November 4, in the Carlos Ferret Salat room of CEOE, in Madrid, where it once again brought together a large representation of members, in a meeting marked by reflection, collaboration and the firm will to continue working with data, arguments and responsibility.

Following the institutional opening by Javier Calderón, Director of Companies and Organisations of CEOE, aspects of mandatory statutory compliance were addressed, such as the approval of minutes, the explanation and approval of accounts and budgets, or the approval of the Annual Report of Activities.

Next, José Vall presented the president’s report, in which he emphasised that, although political decisions are often difficult to understand, “our duty is to continue providing arguments and evidence to defend the sector with rigor, knowledge, and sound judgment.” In this regard, he stressed the need to anticipate events, prepare information and coordinate common messages that reinforce the image of a sector committed to legality, prevention and responsible gaming.

For his part, Juan Lacarra, technical general secretary of ANESAR, reviewed the main current issues from a regulatory and operational perspective, addressing relevant aspects such as sanctioning procedures, opening hours, biometrics and hiring difficulties.

During the Assembly, the “Key Data and Sector Dynamics” were also presented, highlighting that there are currently 3600 gaming arcades (more than 240 have closed in the last four years) and 30,060 slot machines. It was also specified that the average spend per visit is €16, that 85% of people are accompanied by family and friends, and that 60% are men around 30 years old. Regarding employment data, it was explained that the sector supports more than 47,000 jobs, including both direct and indirect workers, making it a significant driver of employment. The ANESAR Training Plan was also emphasised, with 8725 students and 16,539 formal enrollments (data as of October 15, 2025). Furthermore, it was noted that, with a real estate investment of €260 million, gaming arcades represent one of the largest private investments in the leisure sector. A sector that, as was recalled, collects more than 320 million euros in taxes annually, which benefit hundreds of thousands of people, as well as society as a whole.

The Assembly also included the participation of experts in politics and institutional relations, such as Jaime Criado, from the firm ACENTO, who provided insights into the current political situation and its potential impact on the sector. ANESAR Vice Presidents Enric Sanahuja, Raúl Rubio and Antonio Fornés also offered their perspectives on current issues affecting the sector. Finally, Ramón Cubián, Director General of Land and Delegate for Gaming Regulation and Management of the Community of Madrid, accompanied by Gracia Martín Duarte, Deputy Director of Gaming Management and Regulation, and their team, officially closed the 43rd ANESAR Assembly.

The post ANESAR Holds its 43rd Ordinary General Assembly appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.