Industry News
Tennis Integrity Unit Briefing Note: January – March 2020
Increase in first quarter match alerts linked to suspension of tennis
Between January and 22 March 2020 the TIU received a total of 38 match alerts through its Memorandums of Understanding with the regulated betting industry. This compares to 21 alerts for the same period in 2019, a year in which the fewest alerts were recorded since data was first published in 2015.
The increase of reported matches in the first quarter of 2020 is an indication that the entry levels of professional tennis were deliberately targeted by corruptors, as the sport moved towards suspension due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In anticipation of heightened integrity concerns when tennis resumes, the TIU, in conjunction with the governing bodies of tennis, is developing an education and awareness campaign to inform and support players, officials and tournament staff. Further details will be announced in due course.
TIU match alert policy
- every alert reported to the TIU is recorded, assessed and followed up as an indicator that something inappropriate may have happened. It is important to appreciate that an alert on its own is not evidence of match-fixing;
- there are many reasons other than corrupt activity that can explain unusual betting patterns, such as incorrect odds-setting; well-informed betting; player fitness, fatigue and form; playing conditions and personal circumstances;
- where analysis of a match alert does suggest corrupt activity, the TIU will conduct a full, confidential investigation.
New CEO joins the TIU
Jonny Gray became the first Chief Executive Officer of the TIU when he joined the organisation in mid-February. A former Colonel in the British Army and senior partner with Control Risks, he will be responsible for implementing the integrity recommendations of the Independent Review Panel, which include the establishment of a new, independent integrity organisation with a separate legal personality.
TIU Education update; Australian Open, WTT $15,000 pilot, online education during suspension of tennis
January’s Australian Open saw more than 650 officials, main draw and junior players receive integrity briefings and one-to-one sessions ahead of and during the tournament. Bespoke education sessions were also delivered to ATP coaches and the ATP’s international group tournament directors’ workshop. In February, a pilot Education outreach project took place at the ITF World Tennis Tour combined $15,000 event in Heraklion, Crete. This new initiative included presentations and an integrity pledge campaign for players, coaches, officials and tournament staff. More than 100 players received face-to-face education, alongside all tournament officials.
Colombia became the second nation to complete the TIU’s integrity criteria as part of the ITF Recognition of National Training Centres Programme. Six further nations are being supported as they work towards certification.
During the suspension of tennis the TIU team has continued to deliver its comprehensive education programme, including online 1-2-1 sessions for WTA Rookie players and Grand Slam Development Fund grant recipients.
Disciplinary code rules strengthened for Provisional Suspensions
Amendments have been introduced to the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), to strengthen the rules relating to the Provisional Suspension of individuals suspected of serious corruption offences. With effect from 1 April 2020, a Covered Person charged with a criminal offence or the subject of criminal proceedings, can be immediately suspended by an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO). The individual subject to the provisional suspension retains the right to appeal that decision to the AHO.
A further amendment clarifies that a decision to impose, or not impose, a Provisional Suspension cannot be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The final change allows a Covered Person subject to a Provisional Suspension to appeal for that suspension to be lifted after a period of 90 days, rather than the previous term of 120 days.
Disciplinary decisions – January to March 2020
Between January and March three players – Jonathan Kanar, Joao Olavo Soares de Souza and Patrick Keane – were subject to disciplinary sanctions for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. In addition, an appeal decision was received for Argentinian player Nicolas Kicker:
- https://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/jonathan-kanar-suspended-and-fined-after-admitting-corruption-offences
- https://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/lifetime-ban-and-200000-fine-joao-olavo-soares-de-souza-after-conviction-match-fixing-charges
- https://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/independent-anti-corruption-hearing-officer-reduces-nicolas-kicker-suspension-recognition-player-education-support
- https://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/patrick-keane-suspended-and-fined-betting-tennis-offences
These sanctions have previously been announced and are included here as a retrospective record.
Alex Manning
LCKY Group announce Alex Manning as Group CTO
LCKY Group has announced the appointment of Alex Manning as Group Chief Technology Officer, marking the first major leadership hire since the company’s strategic rebrand earlier this year.
Previously known as Glitnor Group, the entrepreneurial-led organisation entered a new phase of its development in January when it adopted the name LCKY Group. The rebrand was designed to better reflect the strong portfolio of brands operating under the group while also positioning the business for future expansion.
Alex’s appointment as Group CTO represents a significant step in this next stage of growth. With more than 25 years of experience across the fintech and iGaming sectors, Alex brings deep expertise in scaling businesses and leading complex digital transformations.
Prior to joining LCKY Group, Alex served as CTO of iGaming at Light & Wonder, where he led a major engineering transformation. During his four-year tenure, he transitioned the team to a product-led, cross-functional delivery model, oversaw the development of several first-of-their-kind products, and supported the company’s expansion into new regulated markets.
Richard Brown, Group CEO at LCKY Group, said:
“Everyone at LCKY Group is delighted to welcome Alex at what is a defining moment in the company’s evolution. He brings extensive experience across regulated fintech and iGaming markets, and his proven ability to guide organisations through successful scale-ups and digital transformations makes him an ideal fit for the role of Group CTO.”
Alex Manning, Group CTO at LCKY Group, added:
“I’m excited to join LCKY Group at a time when the business is focused on strengthening its international presence and growing its influence across key regulated markets. My priority will be to build on the strong culture that already exists within the group, creating a high-performance environment where teams can thrive, innovation is encouraged, and each of our brands is given the platform it deserves.”
The post LCKY Group announce Alex Manning as Group CTO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
2025 Ads Safety Report
PropellerAds 2025 Ad Safety Outlook
PropellerAds, a top performance advertising platform worldwide, has just published the 2025 Ads Safety Report, which offers an in-depth analysis of ad fraud trends, protective measures for the platform, and guidance for advertisers on compliance.
The report emphasizes that as fraudulent methods grow more advanced, the organization’s multi-tiered security measures are essential in protecting advertisers, traffic providers, and end users.
Advancing Ad Fraud Methods and High-Risk Areas
In 2025, ad fraud advanced considerably, transitioning from basic techniques to more intricate, infrastructure-intensive schemes. Fraudsters exploited cloaking, malware distribution networks, and social engineering tactics aimed at messenger accounts, frequently across various ad formats. PropellerAds enhanced initial moderation and foundational detection to identify high-risk actions before campaigns launched.
Throughout the year, the platform processed 729,794 campaign rejections, mainly driven by content compliance and user safety issues, with adult content and malware alerts representing the largest portions. These actions guaranteed that campaigns were halted prior to delivery, safeguarding advertisers, publishers, and end users, while upholding a consistent and reliable advertising landscape. In comparison to 2024, campaign rejections rose by 35%, indicating enhanced moderation reach and more robust preventive measures.
Markets of high value, such as Turkey and Spanish-speaking areas, saw increased levels of fraudulent behavior. Approximately 80% of identified attacks aimed at users of Windows and Android. Fraud patterns typically integrated technical, behavioral, and content indicators, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing monitoring and thorough infrastructure evaluation.
High-Risk Accounts and Safeguarding Methods
Cloaking continued to be the primary high-risk infraction, making up more than 80% of verified account suspensions. This method consists of displaying varying content to moderation systems and users, masking the actual essence of campaigns. Ransomware, unsuccessful identity verification, and scam schemes also played a role in account suspensions, albeit to a smaller degree. Fraud that relies on heavy infrastructure necessitates multi-tiered enforcement and ongoing monitoring to guarantee platform safety.
In 2025, schemes of fraud grew more advanced. Cloaking methods encompassed multi-tiered traffic management, selective content distribution, and decentralized architecture. Malware distribution has progressed from basic redirects to immediate file downloads or complex interactions. Incidents of Messenger account hijacking rose, featuring phishing sites, counterfeit login forms, and mobile-centric social engineering assaults. Certain campaigns even utilized compromised or left-behind servers and domains, necessitating thorough technical and behavioral analysis for detection.
AI and automation contributed to fraud prevention by analyzing behavioral patterns, identifying high-risk signals, and aiding expert evaluations. Although fraudsters tried to utilize AI for creating counterfeit documents or modifying creative assets, PropellerAds guarantees that all campaigns undergo expert reviews and infrastructure checks prior to traffic delivery, stopping high-risk operations from accessing users.
Advertiser Adherence and Risk Oversight
PropellerAds advises advertisers to adhere closely to platform guidelines, verify that ad content aligns with format and regional specifications, comprehend the entire user experience, and track infrastructure and domain reputation. The use of cloaking or misleading tactics is deemed high-risk and typically leads to permanent account termination.
The PropellerAds team highlights that preventing fraud is an ongoing and developing process that demands technology, expert evaluation, and collaboration across the ecosystem. The organization continues to prioritize improving platform safety, ensuring transparency, and safeguarding all individuals involved in the advertising ecosystem.
The post PropellerAds 2025 Ad Safety Outlook appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Fortune Wheel Drops
Just Slots and Hype.Bet Celebrate Year One of Multiplayer Gaming Together
The slot developer Just Slots, based in Malta, participates in Hype.Bet’s anniversary festivities as a highlighted provider partner, offering exclusive contests, Fortune Wheel Drops, and community incentives to players during March.
Just Slots, an iGaming developer recognized for its striking and premium slot games, has revealed a collaboration with Hype.Bet to commemorate the platform’s inaugural anniversary. Taking place in March 2026, the partnership includes Just Slots as a highlighted provider for the significant event, offering unique contests, community-focused rewards, and prominent lobby positioning to users on one of iGaming’s most creative platforms.
Hype.Bet has transformed social casino gaming into the exclusive multiplayer community casino platform where players can join streamers and friends in real-time spins. Since its debut in March 2025, the platform has created a dedicated community centered on its hallmark Multiplayer Rooms feature, where hundreds of players can enter a communal room, observe a host oversee the gameplay, and track their balances fluctuating together, all in real-time.
In March, three Just Slots games—Rain and Ruin, Dynamo’s Show, and Vegan Nightmare—will be highlighted in Hype.Bet’s main lobby section, each adorned with unique halo icons to signify their participation in the anniversary promotion. Gamers can easily identify the highlighted games and dive right into the contest. The month-long competition, taking place from March 1 to 29, encourages participants to compete across the full Just Slots collection on Hype.Bet, offering rewards for individual players and streamers alike. The individual player champion receives a unique, limited-edition Hype.Bet anniversary merchandise pack, a Just Slots merchandise pack, and $500 in cash, whereas the leading streamer is awarded their own exclusive merchandise and a bonus incentive.
Enhancing the thrill, Hype.Bet’s exclusive Fortune Wheel Drops will take place every Monday and Wednesday during the campaign. Participants in Multiplayer Rooms during streamer events can seize $2,500 Fortune Wheel Drops, broadcast live to the community in a distinctly Hype.Bet style. The drops occur twice a day on those days, upholding the platform’s central belief that achieving success is more enjoyable when it is shared.
Nick Formosa, Head of Client Strategy at Just Slots, commented, “Hype.Bet has built something genuinely different in this space with a platform where the community is as much a part of the experience as the games themselves. That’s a philosophy that resonates with us at Just Slots, and this partnership felt like a natural fit from the start. Seeing our titles at the centre of their anniversary celebrations, with players competing and winning together throughout the month, really captures what ‘Play Together, Win Together’ is all about.”
Iana, Head of Marketing at Hype.Bet, added, “Celebrating our first anniversary with partners like Just Slots is a great way to highlight the community experience that defines Hype.Bet. Their games fit perfectly into our Multiplayer Rooms format, where players can watch, compete, and win together. This collaboration brings exciting competitions and rewards to our players while showcasing what social casino gaming can look like when the community comes first.”
After the launch of their inaugural game in 2024, Just Slots has introduced ten titles and established a variety of strategic alliances within the industry, emerging as a significant player in next-generation slot development. Participants can access complete information about the anniversary promotion, including contest rules and the Fortune Wheel Drop timetable, at hype.bet/promotions.
The post Just Slots and Hype.Bet Celebrate Year One of Multiplayer Gaming Together appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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