Industry News
Impact of COVID-19 on Virtual Gambling Sector: ConnectPay Calls to Fortify Payment Security as Industry Fraud on Rise
Online gambling has increased during the pandemic. Evidently, so did the illegal activity related to the industry. Scammers are abusing the vulnerability of the circumstances, which is reflected by the rise in financial fraud and exploitation schemes. ConnectPay, an online banking service provider, encourages businesses, especially the ones considered to be higher-risk, to make the security of payment transactions their top priority in order to build trust with new and existing clients, and protect them from falling victim to fraudulent payments.
Illicit activity concerning monetary transactions has been a long-standing issue for the virtual gaming industry even prior to the pandemic, with financial crime estimated to be at $2.1 trillion per annum. That said, the COVID-19 crisis has brought new challenges as new fraud schemes started to plague various markets. This has influenced some countries, fearing an increase of illicit activity in online gambling, to issue tighter measures for the vendors to protect consumers during the lockdown.
“The increased online gambling sessions correlate with the noticeable jump in payment transactions”, explained Liutauras Varanavičius, Head of Business Development at ConnectPay. “When comparing data from January with the stats from April, we have noticed a 30% increase in gambling-related transactions. Even though it’s hard to predict how prolonged will the aftermath of the pandemic be, the necessity of instating more precautionary measures to support secure payments is too apparent to be left unaddressed.”
The surge of online gambling activity has greatly increased the public’s exposure to digital risks. While others are capitalizing on the crisis, businesses have to face the conundrum on how to disassociate from the perpetrators, remain credible and retain their target audience.
“The spike in fraudulent financial activity could hit the sector even harder than others: it’s already under a magnifying glass due to the nature of acquired revenue, thus any association with financial fraud could be leveraged as a pretext to revoke acquired licenses and restrict business”, said L. Varanavičius.
As the global health crisis continues, the need for reliable security measures and prevention of illicit financial flows will only continue to grow. Implementing timely and adequately prepared safeguards to combat arising threats is paramount, as, until brick-and-mortar casinos are once again operational, gambling industry relies on digital-only vendors.
Preserving secure payment transactions could be the difference between remaining operational or having to close up shop. The pandemic has already hampered AML supervision and presented new threats that could aid criminals in avoiding customer due diligence. However, having acknowledged current obstacles enables businesses to evaluate measures that would help avoid being juxtaposed with illicit activity and choose partnerships accordingly.
To keep the scammers at bay, ConnectPay continuously invests in innovative fraud prevention solutions, latest AML safeguards and other smart tools, helping companies in underserved markets to maintain credibility and keep the associated risks to the bare minimum. Furthermore, the company places high emphasis on a thorough screening process: this prevents taking on clients involved in unethical business practices, limiting the grounds for financial fraud. In 2020, ConnectPay is planning to invest additional 750 thousand euros in Anti Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism compliance solutions.
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AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service
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
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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.
CreedRoomz
CreedRoomz Launches New Game Show: Mr. First Live
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CreedRoomz, a leading provider of live casino content, has officially launched its new game show, Mr. First Live. This thrilling, fast-paced bouncing ball game show takes place in a vibrant, adventure-themed studio, blending the excitement of gumball machines with an innovative, endless-runner-style bonus game.
In the main game, players match numbers on up to eight game cards, which are randomly enhanced to one of three types: Normal, Safe or Risk. Players can also choose from three bonus ticket levels Sprint, Trailblaze and Marathon, each offering a different path to the bonus round and a bigger potential win. What truly sets this game apart is its unique bonus round, where players are launched into an exhilarating, interactive adventure, collecting coins to boost their prize with up to a 10,000x multiplier.
This launch is a significant milestone that validates the provider’s strategy to create a new generation of game shows. Mr. First Live is designed to not only captivate players but also serve as a powerful new tool for the partners to drive acquisition and retention in a competitive market.
The post CreedRoomz Launches New Game Show: Mr. First Live appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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