Blockchain
Unlocking the power of cryptocurrencies to step inside the decentralised casino
Researchers from the Department of Computer Science at the University of York have presented the first ever analysis of gambling transactions taking place in cryptocurrency casinos on the Ethereum blockchain.
In uncovering extreme behaviours, the study could assist in identifying the potential for financial harm via unsustainable spending among players, ultimately leading to better consumer protection tools.
The study unlocks blockchain transaction data to provide a detailed summary of spending behaviours, revealing how people are affected by this new form of online gambling.
Decentralised gambling applications differ from traditional online casinos in that players use cryptocurrency as a stake. The codes running the casino games are also stored on public ledgers, known as blockchains and cryptocurrency platforms such as Bitcoin and Ethereum use the technology to process payments and calculate game outcomes.
When players place wagers, their transactions are recorded on a blockchain in an anonymised form. Whilst this data has always been publically available, the technologically advanced nature of the applications has presented barriers to research and regulation.
As part of the study, researchers developed an algorithm to extract and decode transaction data from the Ethereum blockchain. The work examined more than 2.2m transactions from 24,000 unique addresses on three applications operating on the Ethereum cryptocurrency network (dice2.win, etheroll.com and fck.com).
Focussing on simple casino type games of chance, like dice rolls and coin flips, researchers found that the average decentralised gambling application player spends less than in other online casinos overall, but that the most heavily involved players spend substantially more.
As with regular online casino players, researchers found that those who generally place larger bets are more likely to wager larger total amounts over the duration of their betting careers, however this appears to be amplified in decentralised gambling application use.
The data revealed that the most heavily involved bettors wagered an average of 1,000 ETH (equivalent to approximately $100,000), which dwarfs the average 1.1 ETH (~$110 at time of study) presented by the majority of bettors.
In their assessments of typical ‘player’ behaviour, researchers were also able to identify the presence of non-human players, known as bots, in the data set. Bots may exist for a number of reasons, for example to artificially inflate the perceived popularity of the applications they are transacting with, or to attempt to win the jackpot from an application once it becomes statistically worthwhile to pursue.
The researchers cite that whilst they cannot infer the reason behind the bots’ existence, the identification technique they have developed presents an interesting area for future investigation.
Oliver J. Scholten, a PhD Researcher with the EPSRC Doctoral Centre for Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence, and member of the research team commented: “The study illustrates the power and scale of transaction data that decentralised gambling applications can provide to researchers”.
Scholten added: “These applications could really change the way people gamble online – we in the research community need to know how they operate, how to analyse them, and ultimately how to identify those in harm’s way.”
Dr James Walker from Digital Creativity Labs commented: “The work draws attention to cryptocurrency transactions as a tool for large scale in-vivo gambling research, and presents a robust foundation upon which multiple avenues of further analyses can be performed.”
The article is published by The Public Library of Science ONE at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240693
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Blockchain
EMERGE Group is Leveraging Sei’s Unique Optimizations to Revolutionize Web3 Gaming
EMERGE Group, a leading commercialization partner and Web3 game publishing company, is excited to announce that it will leverage Sei, an open-source blockchain platform and ecosystem, to onboard innovative Web3 games. Powered by Sei, EMERGE Group will use its expertise in Web3 marketing and go-to-market (GTM) strategies to expand the Sei user base and bring in more high-profile gaming projects.
As part of its aggressive expansion into the Web3 gaming industry, Sei is actively seeking quality games to build on its platform. The blockchain platform is offering grants and comprehensive support to help these games succeed from development to launch through Sei’s ultra-fast layer 1 blockchain – currently the fastest chain in the market. By joining Sei, game developers can focus more on creativity and innovation, while utilizing Sei’s secure and efficient blockchain infrastructure to handle technical blockchain complexities.
EMERGE Group is committed to supporting Sei’s vision of elevating the gaming experience by integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) elements and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into quality games. The Web3 integration will also see EMERGE Group hosting significant Web3 events and leading game publishing efforts to ensure successful launches and sustained growth for games on the Sei platform.
The post EMERGE Group is Leveraging Sei’s Unique Optimizations to Revolutionize Web3 Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Blockchain
Traderland.io Launches a Fusion of Gaming and Investment Training
Traderland.io, an innovative interactive trading simulator gaming universe, has officially launched. The dynamic trading platform offers users the chance to immerse themselves in a socially-driven game landscape while honing their investment and asset-trading skills. Since its initial release, Traderland.io has rapidly gained popularity, attracting over 15,000 users.
Traderland.io stands out by utilizing real-time market data, allowing users to experience an immersive and realistic trading environment. Players can engage in trading activities that reflect live market conditions, providing a true-to-life simulation that enhances their learning experience.
In the Traderland.io universe, players are represented by customizable animated avatars. These avatars enable users to explore various cities within the platform, each offering unique challenges and opportunities. A significant feature is the ability to invest in virtual real estate across eight distinct regions, each with varying price points.
A core element of the Traderland.io experience is its tutorials, which are grounded in real-life trading scenarios. Users can choose to navigate these lessons with the guidance of a coach who is available to answer questions and provide step-by-step assistance.
Traderland.io offers a broad selection of virtual assets for users to trade, including forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and futures. By trading these assets, players can gain practical experience and understand the intricacies of different investment vehicles.
The asset prices within the platform mirror actual market fluctuations, allowing traders to observe the impact of their decisions and adapt their strategies accordingly. Players can monitor their gains and losses through a comprehensive dashboard, providing a snapshot of their portfolio’s performance.
One of the platform’s most exciting features is the opportunity for players to engage in trading battles and tournaments against traders from around the world. These competitions not only elevate the excitement but also offer the chance to win real money, adding a tangible reward to the virtual trading experience.
The investment landscape is expanding rapidly, with the cryptocurrency market alone projected to grow to $13.18 billion by 2031. As more investors enter the market, Traderland.io aims to bridge the knowledge gap by educating users about various assets through an engaging, gamified approach. By participating in real-time trading and completing the tutorials, players can enter the investment space with confidence and competence.
Traderland.io is available exclusively through its website, offering a unique and comprehensive trading simulator that combines education, competition, and community engagement.
Blockchain
Rivalry Expands Crypto Native Experience With Token Launch in H2 2024, Web3 Product Enhancements
Blockchain-Based Product to Position Rivalry Within Fast-Growing Crypto Gambling Segment, Drive Product-Market Fit Among Digitally Native Bettors with Increased Functionality and User Experiences
Rivalry, the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for Gen Z, revealed Rivalry Token, a native crypto token on the blockchain to add increased functionality, economics, and user experiences across the company’s product suite, continuing Rivalry’s track record of innovation in online betting. The launch of Rivalry Token, anticipated to arrive in H2 2024, represents one of several forthcoming initiatives to position Rivalry in the crypto gambling market and better serve its core audience of 30-and-under bettors.
“Online gambling is the latest web-based consumer category being increasingly disrupted by blockchain technologies with greater speed, access, and functionality than their legacy counterparts,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO, Rivalry. “Tech-savvy bettors are leading a behavioral shift towards more experiential and crypto-enabled gambling experiences that are taking wallet share from incumbents at an accelerated rate.”
“Rivalry is well-positioned to access the growth opportunity in crypto with a proven product set, a brand entrenched in internet culture, and a captive audience of digitally native users that are driving this economic renaissance,” Salz added. “The launch of Rivalry Token, alongside a broader expansion into cryptocurrencies, strengthens our product-market fit among an under-30 audience and positions us competitively to capture a meaningful share of this fast-growing segment of the market.”
Rivalry Token will be integrated within Rivalry’s product suite – from sportsbook to casino and more – with built-in properties to enhance the customer experience from end-to-end. Users can earn tokens through site activity such as betting and referring friends, which can be used on Rivalry to boost odds, participate in jackpots, and more to be detailed in the future. Rivalry Token will also be available on several to-be-announced crypto exchange platforms, trading under $RVLRY.
Rivalry Token creates a new dynamic relationship between player and house where every sports wager and casino spin, win or lose, is rewarded with a decentralized asset that can accrue value alongside player activity on Rivalry. The company expects its token will drive a meaningful increase in player engagement, loyalty, and advocacy by establishing more positive economic alignment and enabling customers to actively participate in product success.
Rivalry has today launched a pre-farming campaign where users can begin accumulating an interim currency through site activity and eventually social media which will be converted into Rivalry Token during the token generation event in H2 2024. Additionally, tokens will be distributed to all Rivalry accounts based on historical activity, rewarding loyal customers and creating a substantial reactivation opportunity for churned users.
Rivalry will also soon be adding greater support for other cryptocurrencies on its platform, allowing users to more easily bet with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and other major cryptocurrencies. This will enable Rivalry to access a fast-growing audience gambling with crypto that is estimated to account for up to one quarter of global betting handle.
Following the official launch, Rivalry Token will be available for players to use on Rivalry in all of the company’s active markets excluding Ontario and Australia.
The company will release more information about Rivalry Token throughout the coming months, including commercial partners, token economics, and more.
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