Latest News

Women in Esports launches women-only tournaments with FACEIT and separate community Discord

Published

5 years ago

November 26, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The British Esports Association, the not-for-profit organisation set up to promote and support grassroots esports, has partnered with FACEIT, the world’s leading platform for competitive online gaming, as part of its ongoing Women in Esports initiative.

Women in Esports will have its own organiser page on FACEIT and will create women-only tournaments and hubs. The Women in Esports initiative aims to create a welcoming community which encourages more women (including trans and cis women) and femme identifying/femme presenting non-binary players to take part in esports tournaments at any level.

Women-only tournaments are viewed by Women in Esports as a stepping stone to give women more confidence and experience to then aim for further involvement in other tournaments (mixed or otherwise) in the future.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The organiser page will initially focus on Counter Strike:Global Offensive (CS:GO) as the first title for tournaments and hubs, primarily due to the fantastic female community prevalent on FACEIT for this title. The variety of tournaments and hubs will later expand with future pilots for other titles.

The first 5v5 CS:GO tournament, The Lioness League, will open for registrations on Friday November 27th and occur on Saturday December 12th. There will be a max of 32 teams in a single elimination bracket. Participants will be able to join as a premade team or join as a solo player and form a team. The prize will be 3000 FACEIT points: 2000 points for the winning team, and 1000 points for second place. This will be the start of regular monthly tournaments.

Our CS:GO hub will enable players to create teams and scrim against each other. The hubs will be private by application, open to women (including trans and cis women) and femme identifying/femme presenting non-binary players to join.

Women in Esports has also created its own separate community Discord server to further its aim of providing an inclusive community space. The server will be public and open to everyone, with many social channels, announcements, an industry section, along with specific tournament chat. It will be vetted, moderated and constantly updated as per feedback and changes in line with the initiative.

“We’re delighted to partner with Women in Esports, a team that shares our passions and values. FACEIT is committed to developing grassroots opportunities and supporting the community. We want everyone to feel comfortable and confident when taking their first steps into esports and we’re hoping this hub will offer a safe space for women to come together and compete,” said Sue Lavasani, Account Manager at FACEIT.

Alice Leaman, Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer at British Esports, said: “Through Women in Esports we aim to build a community and encourage more women to get involved in the industry. By partnering with FACEIT we can start to develop more regular tournaments and opportunities for all skill levels and the creation of a community Discord will provide a dedicated space for diversity in esports to be celebrated.”

Bragg Gaming

Bragg Confirms Cyber Attack – Hackers Access Internal IT Systems

Published

5 hours ago

August 18, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

bragg-confirms-cyber-attack-–-hackers-access-internal-it-systems

Bragg Gaming Group, a leading online gaming technology provider, has confirmed a major cybersecurity incident that compromised its internal IT infrastructure in the early hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025.

The company detected unauthorized intrusion attempts that successfully breached its internal network, triggering an immediate and comprehensive incident response.

Key Takeaways

Bragg Gaming Group experienced a cybersecurity breach involving access to internal IT systems.
No customer personal data or payment information appears to have been compromised.
The company has enacted full containment and investigation protocols.

Details of the Breach

According to a preliminary forensic analysis by Bragg’s internal security team, the attack was a targeted breach aimed at the company’s internal computer environment. While the exact method of intrusion is still under investigation, early indicators suggest a sophisticated exploit of internal network vulnerabilities.

Fortunately, the company’s customer-facing systems, including sensitive user data and financial information, appear to have been unaffected. Bragg’s existing encryption protocols and access control systems successfully prevented the attackers from accessing customer information.

Immediate Response Measures

In response to the breach, Bragg launched a multi-tiered containment strategy, including:

Network Segmentation to isolate affected systems
Enhanced Monitoring of data flows across its Remote Games Server (RGS) platform
Security Audits of critical infrastructure, including the Bragg Hub and PAM systems
Engagement of Independent Cybersecurity Experts to assist in incident analysis and system hardening

Bragg’s Security Operations Center has also elevated its alert level, initiating 24/7 monitoring across all server clusters and network endpoints. In addition, company-wide penetration testing is now underway to proactively identify any residual vulnerabilities.

Business Continuity Maintained

Despite the severity of the breach, Bragg reports that its operations remain unaffected. All gaming services, including iCasino and sportsbook offerings across regulated markets, continue to function without disruption.

“While this incident is deeply concerning, we are confident in the rapid and thorough response initiated by our team,” a company spokesperson stated. “We remain committed to protecting our infrastructure, our partners, and most importantly, our players.”

Looking Ahead

As part of its response, Bragg has also launched mandatory security awareness training for all employees to reinforce best practices and prevent future incidents.

Cybersecurity analysts will continue working with Bragg to determine the full scope of the attack, improve system resilience, and maintain the trust of its users and stakeholders.

Bragg’s handling of the incident highlights both the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats and the importance of robust, responsive defense systems in the digital gaming sector.

Source: cybersecuritynews.com

The post Bragg Confirms Cyber Attack – Hackers Access Internal IT Systems appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Latest News

Slovakia Publishes Groundbreaking Report on Illegal Online Gambling

Published

7 hours ago

August 18, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

slovakia-publishes-groundbreaking-report-on-illegal-online-gambling

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Institute for Gambling Regulation in Slovakia (IPRHH) has published the country’s first comprehensive report dedicated to illegal gambling. The study, titled The Black Book of Illegal Gambling, was officially presented at Bratislava’s Einpark and is now publicly available online.

The landmark publication explores the structure, mechanisms, and social impact of illegal gambling operations in Slovakia, with a particular focus on unlicensed online platforms. According to the report, these operators bypass national regulations, exploit vulnerable groups, and deprive the state of hundreds of millions of euros annually in lost tax revenue.

Key Findings From the Report

The study is based on a nationally representative survey conducted by IPRHH in cooperation with the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Among the most striking results:

23.7% of players – nearly 296,000 Slovaks – admitted to gambling on unlicensed platforms.
24.1% of players could not determine whether the sites they used were legal.
Younger users and those with lower levels of education were the most likely to engage in illegal gambling.
13.1% of users admitted to gambling illegally because they were listed in the national Register of Excluded Persons (RVO), which should block them from licensed gambling.

“These sites ignore every safeguard that licensed operators must follow,” explained Dávid Lenčéš, Executive Director of IPRHH. “There are no limits, no identity checks, and no protection against addiction. And if you lose money, you have no legal recourse.”

Why Players Choose Illegal Platforms

Survey respondents highlighted several reasons for using unlicensed gambling sites:

Higher bonuses (32.5%)
Better odds (29.5%)
Easier registration (29.1%)
Wider game selection (27.4%)

Shockingly, only 42.2% of players actively check for a Slovak license, while 43.2% cannot distinguish between legal and illegal gambling advertisements.

Policy Recommendations

The IPRHH warns that illegal gambling costs Slovakia hundreds of millions of euros each year, money that could otherwise support healthcare, education, and addiction prevention programs.

The institute recommends a multi-pronged strategy to combat illegal operators, including:

More effective blocking of unlicensed websites
Stronger cooperation with banks and payment providers to block transactions
A national public awareness campaign
Stable conditions for licensed operators who contribute to the economy

Lenčéš also cautioned against excessive taxation of legal operators:
“If governments dramatically increase taxes on licensed operators, they risk pushing players further into the illegal market. Regulation should protect the public, not unintentionally support criminal ecosystems.”

About IPRHH

The Institute for Gambling Regulation (IPRHH) was founded in 2024 to promote effective, transparent, and responsible gambling regulation in Slovakia. Led by Executive Director Dávid Lenčéš, former Chairman of the Slovak Gambling Regulatory Authority, the organization works to address modern challenges such as digitalization, illegal gambling, and player protection.

The full report, The Black Book of Illegal Gambling, is available for free download (in Slovak) here: Download Report. An English version is currently in preparation.

For international inquiries or interview requests, contact: [email protected]

The post Slovakia Publishes Groundbreaking Report on Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Red Rake Gaming strengthens its expansion in Switzerland through partnership with 7Melons.ch

Published

8 hours ago

August 18, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

red-rake-gaming-strengthens-its-expansion-in-switzerland-through-partnership-with-7melons.ch

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Red Rake Gaming, a leading provider of premium online casino content, announces its partnership with 7Melons.ch, the official online casino of the prestigious Grand Casino Bern, further strengthening its position in the regulated Swiss market.

7Melons.ch, launched in 2020 following the legalisation of online gaming in Switzerland, operates under an official Swiss concession (Konzession) and offers an authentic, safe, and fully licensed local experience. Backed by the strong reputation of Grand Casino Bern, the platform stands out for its commitment to player protection, secure transactions, and a mobile-optimised gaming environment.

As part of its growth strategy, 7Melons.ch is focusing on CRM automation, localised acquisition campaigns, and enhancing its VIP experience. The operator is investing in performance marketing, expanding its game portfolio, improving platform features, and building long-term brand equity, with the goal of becoming one of the leading names in Swiss online entertainment.

Nick Barr, Managing Director at Red Rake Gaming Malta, commented: “We are delighted to collaborate with 7Melons.ch and Grand Casino Bern to bring our top content to Swiss players. The platform combines the trust of a historic brand with a modern and secure digital experience, making it the ideal partner to expand our presence in this region. We are confident our games will deliver added value and exciting experiences for players in Switzerland.”

This collaboration reinforces Red Rake Gaming’s commitment to creating innovative content tailored to local regulations and designed for highly regulated markets. Players in Switzerland will have access to a wide and diverse game portfolio, featuring standout functionalities, interactive mini-games, and a safe, immersive gaming experience.

The post Red Rake Gaming strengthens its expansion in Switzerland through partnership with 7Melons.ch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.