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YGAM launch ‘Parent Hub’ as university research highlights loot box danger amongst children
National charity, YGAM has joined with research teams from Newcastle and Loughborough Universities to help parents and carers understand the danger of loot boxes, with one young respondent in the Economic and Social Research Council funded project confirming how he spent nearly £500 buying packs of random cards.
The expert insight and advice is being posted on YGAM’s new ‘Parent Hub’ website www.parents.ygam.org. The hub which has been developed thanks to funding received from Lottoland, GVC and Playtech, provides families with the resources, information and activities to help build digital resilience and safeguard children. ‘Parent Hub’ helps explain why children are drawn to purchase loot boxes, ranging from the surprise and suspense of opening a box and the desire to win something rare, to receiving specific items that deliver an in-game advantage or boost their social status.
The research covers the potential harm loot boxes can cause, such as young people’s exposure to and normalisation of gambling style systems, as well as the emotional and financial harm from repeat spending – with one young person telling researchers how he spent nearly £500 in a mobile card game by buying packs of random cards, playing for up to seven hours a day. The advice covers how parents can take important steps to safeguard children, including the use of parental controls and identifying potential signs of harm.
“For some children, the act of opening a loot box is as important as what it contains” explains Dr James Ash, Reader in Technology, Space and Society at Newcastle University, who is leading the research. “Feelings of surprise and suspense lead to the repeat purchase of loot boxes. But this is often short-lived.
“Children and young people have told us how they feel disappointment, frustration, anger, and regret at loot box purchases, yet they are still driven to purchase again. This is concerning, given the deliberate design of these mechanisms – the visual stimulus, the randomised contents, and the very unfavourable odds for unboxing rare items – which can lead to repeat loot box purchases.”
Amanda Atkinson, Head of Parental Engagement at YGAM said the research will help inform and develop the charity’s educational programmes so that all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms. She stated: “Certainly the enormous variety of games and in-app purchases that are available can make it confusing for parents to keep on top of safety controls. Through our educational resources, we are focused on providing crucial information to parents so they can identify changes in behaviours and understand the effects this may have on mental and financial wellbeing.”
In collaboration with GamCare, YGAM is delivering the UK’s ground-breaking National Gambling Education and Prevention Programme. Supported by members of the Betting and Gaming Council, the £10 million programme will reach over 3 million young people to raise awareness of the risks of potential gaming and gambling related harms.
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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.
Belatra
Belatra Rings in 33rd Anniversary During SiGMA South America
Belatra Games, the expert in online slots development, is celebrating its 33rd anniversary at this year’s SiGMA South America in São Paulo, Brazil, where the company will host partners, clients, and industry acquaintances to honor the occasion at Booth M70.
The occasion offers an ideal setting for Belatra to contemplate over thirty years of advancements in the worldwide iGaming sector. Since its inception, the company has built a reputation for developing captivating and immersive gaming experiences, partly fueled by enduring partnerships in global markets.
Attendees at the Belatra booth will have the opportunity to connect with the LatAm team from Buenos Aires, headed by Lucila M. Barletta, Head of Accounts LatAm, and learn about the company’s newest titles and the opportunities arising in LatAm. Belatra’s European team members will likewise be in São Paulo to commemorate the milestone alongside partners and guests.
To commemorate the event, Belatra will hold a unique stand celebration, encouraging attendees to toast with the team while engaging in a special booth giveaway that includes various prizes.
Festivities will occur at Booth M70 in the Transamérica Expo Center, as Belatra eagerly invites industry partners to join in celebrating 33 years of innovation.
Sergey Chernyavski, Belatra Games’ CCO, said: “Celebrating 33 years of Belatra at SiGMA South America is a special moment for our team. A huge part of our success has been inspired by relationships within the iGaming community and events like this give us a chance to say thanks to our partners and friends. LatAm and Brazil are big markets for us and we look forward to showcasing our latest titles and plans for the region.”
The post Belatra Rings in 33rd Anniversary During SiGMA South America appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games Drops Lucky Charms Trio
- Featuring a 5×3 layout, the game provides a highest win possibility of 5,000x.
- Mystery Symbols may show up completely or partially at any moment, producing enchanting rewards when aligned throughout the reels.
- Gamers can dive right into the excitement with the Trio Bonus feature, offering immediate exhilaration.
Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has officially released Lucky Charms Trio. The game features a 5×3 layout with a highest possible win of 5,000x. Set against a stunning, vibrant backdrop of beautiful green hills and shimmering rainbows, Lucky Charms Trio boasts a variety of thrilling features aimed at enhancing the enjoyment for players.
The grid is adorned with classic symbols of good fortune, including four-leaf clovers, shiny horseshoes, and joyful leprechauns, creating an ideal setting for St Patrick’s Day celebrations later this month. To create a feeling of thrill, Mystery Symbols may show up either partially or completely at any moment, allowing players to align symbols across the reels to produce enchanting rewards.
Activating the Lucky Pots Feature reveals as many as seven unique bonus variations; Boost, Multiply, and Collect, in various combinations. Every pot can provide its own bonus independently or combine with others, and the maximum payout occurs when all three features trigger simultaneously for the largest rewards. To maintain the momentum, players have the option to utilize the thrilling Boost+ feature, or dive directly into the excitement with Buy Bonus and Trio Bonus for immediate enjoyment.
Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “Step into the realms of sparkling fortune with Lucky Charms Trio, our vibrant new slot game where shimmering reels and playful surprises build excitement with every spin. With St Patrick’s Day just around the corner, our latest release demonstrates our ability to develop games that connect with both local and global audiences. Fast-paced, dynamic gameplay and large win potential combine to create an ultimate gameplay experience packed with adventure. Play Lucky Charms Trio now!”
The post Booming Games Drops Lucky Charms Trio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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