Latest News
GambleAware: New gambling prevalence methodology review published
GambleAware has today published commissioned research, authored by Professor Patrick Sturgis and Professor Jouni Kuha of the London School of Economics, which investigates how methodological differences between surveys affect the accuracy of estimates of gambling harms. The research was commissioned following a 2019 YouGov study which found substantially higher rates of gambling harms across Great Britain than had previously been reported by the 2016 and 2018 Health Surveys for England.
The research was commissioned to identify the best way to determine gambling participation and prevalence of gambling harms in Great Britain and to develop a better understanding of how methodological factors might account for the differences between the results of the YouGov study and the Health Survey for England’s results. The surveys reviewed in the report produced widely varying estimates of ‘problem gambling’[1] in Great Britain, indicated by a PGSI score[2] of 8+, ranging from 0.7% to 2.4% of adults.
The research reviewed eight different surveys into gambling participation and prevalence of gambling harms to identify differences in results and what causes them. The key finding is that surveys using predominantly, or exclusively online self-completion responses produce consistently higher estimates of gambling harm compared to surveys which use paper self-completion techniques as part of a face-to-face interview.
The primary cause of this discrepancy was found to be selection bias in online surveys. Selection bias in this instance refers to the fact that online surveys skew towards people who are comfortable using online technologies and who use the internet regularly. These people are also more likely to be online and frequent gamblers, meaning online surveys tend to over-estimate gambling harm.
Given these findings, the researchers shared the following recommendations for future prevalence surveys:
- Given the high and rising cost of in person surveys, measurement of gambling prevalence and harm should move to online surveying.
- The move to online interviewing should be combined with a programme of methodological testing and development to mitigate selection bias.
- In person surveying should not be ceased completely; probability sampling and face-to-face interviewing should be used to provide periodic benchmarks.
GambleAware commissioned this study to better understand the true demand for treatment and support for gambling harms across Great Britain and will use the findings of this study to inform and direct the future Annual Great Britain Treatment and Support surveys. Data from the surveys will continue to be used to update GambleAware’s interactive maps, which show in visual format the prevalence of gambling participation and harms at local authority and ward level across Great Britain.
Professor Patrick Sturgis, Department of Methodology at the London School of Economics, said: “Our research has found that online surveys tend to systematically overestimate the prevalence of gambling harm compared to face-to-face interview surveys. However, given the very high and rising cost of in person surveying, and the limits this places on sample size and the frequency of surveys, we recommend a shift to predominantly online data collection in future, supplemented by periodic in person benchmarks.”
Alison Clare, Research, Information and Knowledge Director at GambleAware, said: “We want our prevention, treatment, and support commissioning to be informed by the best available evidence, and having survey data we can be confident in, within the constraints of data collection in an increasingly online world, is key. GambleAware’s annual GB Treatment & Support survey is an important tool in building a picture of the stated demand for gambling harms support and treatment, and of the services, capacity and capability needed across Great Britain to meet that demand.
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Booming Games
Booming Games Introduces Instastrike, the Latest Diamond Hits Trio
- Featuring a 5×3 layout, the game presents a highest win potential of 12,500x
- Players can gather red, green, and blue diamonds to activate three bonus features.
Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has officially released Diamond Hits Trio: Instastrike. The game features a 5×3 layout, incorporating cutting-edge elements and stunning diamond graphics that deliver a high-end experience for players.
The game presents a strong new Instastrike function, delivering immediate rewards of up to 1,200x. Instastrike symbols can emerge unexpectedly, creating a feeling of thrill. Additionally, players who gather red, green, or blue Diamonds will activate one of three new bonus features aimed at further improving the gameplay experience.
The three bonus elements, each aimed at maintaining the excitement, include enlarged reels, enhanced Instastrike payouts, and extra free spins. Participants have the ability to activate each of these bonuses separately or merge them for an enormous winning potential of up to 12,500x. Featuring various instant payout levels, the game is anticipated to attract a broad audience of players.
Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “Diamond Hits Trio: Instastrike is the latest example of Booming Games’ commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative games that provide an ultimate experience for players. Fast-paced gameplay and massive win potential is the perfect combination for anyone seeking high-stakes thrills. Power up and strike it rich with Diamond Hits Trio: InstaStrike!”
The post Booming Games Introduces Instastrike, the Latest Diamond Hits Trio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
How Mobile Ad Fraud Drains In-App Budgets — and How to Avoid It
Mobile ad fraud is a hidden drain on your app marketing spend. Traffy, a performance marketing agency specializing in mobile anti-fraud, shares strategies to safeguard your ad budget and maximize ROI.
Most advertisers don’t lose money because of weak creatives or poor funnels — they lose it because a significant portion of their in-app traffic is invalid from the very start.
The Scale of the Problem
In Q3 2025, mobile apps experienced approximately 33% IVT (Invalid Traffic), meaning roughly one-third of traffic was fraudulent or invalid. (Source: Pixalate — Q3 2025 Global Ad Fraud Benchmark Report).
These numbers aren’t just statistics — they reveal that a huge portion of advertising budgets is being spent not on real users, but on fake traffic, fabricated clicks, and bot-generated installs.
Depending on traffic sources and buying models, particularly in programmatic (DSP) environments, fraud levels can vary dramatically. In some cases, IVT may be as low as 5%, while in others it can exceed 50% where controls are weak. This means many advertisers are making campaign decisions based on data that was never real to begin with.
What IVT Really Means — And Why It’s Critical
IVT isn’t just “low-quality traffic.” It is traffic that can never convert into a real user or paying customer.
It includes:
- Bots and automated scripts
- Click farms and device emulators
- Hidden impressions and background clicks
- Fabricated installs and in-app events
When 33% of traffic is IVT, every third dollar spent is paying for actions that will never generate revenue. Multiple studies show IVT in mobile advertising frequently exceeds 20–30%, and can be even higher for certain platforms, GEOs, or traffic types. Fraud is not an edge case — it is a structural risk in in-app advertising.
Why Mobile Ad Fraud Is Getting Smarter
Despite widespread adoption of anti-fraud systems, techniques continue to evolve. Basic bot filtering is no longer enough. Common schemes include:
- Bot Installs & Bot Activity: Automated installs and simulated engagement mimicking real users.
- Click Injection / Click Hijacking: Apps intercept last clicks before installation and claim attribution.
- Click Spamming / Click Flooding: Mass fake clicks inflate activity signals and steal organic installs.
- Device Farms & Real Device Spoofing: Hundreds of devices generate fake installs and events, rotating identifiers.
- SDK Spoofing & Postback Fraud: Fake install or in-app event data sent directly to attribution systems.
- In-App Event Spoofing: Fabricated postbacks make reports appear normal, but no real users exist behind them.
How to Avoid Wasting Your In-App Budget
Fraud prevention is systematic verification and disciplined traffic management, not paranoia.
- Use an MMP With Advanced Anti-Fraud Protection
- Rely on trusted mobile measurement partners (Adjust, AppsFlyer).
- Enable built-in fraud detection — attribution without fraud protection is incomplete.
- Analyze CTIT (Click-to-Install Time)
- Extremely short CTIT → potential click injection
- Extremely long/uniform CTIT → potential click flooding
- Unnaturally consistent timing → possible automation
- Monitor CTCT (Click-to-Click Time)
- Short CTCT (<100 ms) detects script bots and click farms
- Check New Device Rate
- If 90%+ of devices are “new,” this indicates device farms resetting IDFA/GAID
- Track Assisted Installs
- High percentage of assists → organic hijacking (Click Flooding)
- Monitor Behavioral Anomalies
- Retention curves: bots may fabricate “perfect” retention
- Payments and cards: bots use virtual cards or $0 balances to bypass checks
- Key metrics: rebill rate, actual payment success
- Additional metrics: event depth, session duration, purchase timing, LTV distribution
- Work With Blacklists and Whitelists
- Build placement-level blacklists
- Identify reliable publishers via whitelists
- Audit sub-publishers continuously
- Remove suspicious sources early
- Check Infrastructure Signals
- Datacenter IPs (AWS, DigitalOcean, Hetzner) → block 100%
- Geo mismatch (click from India, install from US) → fraud
How to Win Against Fraud
With up to 33% of in-app traffic being invalid, advertisers aren’t just underperforming — they’re paying for illusions. Fraud can masquerade as growth, but the real advantage comes from knowing which traffic is real.
At Traffy, we specialize in mobile anti-fraud and help advertisers ensure every dollar reaches real users. A comprehensive fraud audit or traffic safeguard can protect ROI, reduce wasted spend, and provide predictable, scalable growth.
The post How Mobile Ad Fraud Drains In-App Budgets — and How to Avoid It appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
PEC.BET Partners with Tugi Tark to Strengthen Sportsbook Offerings
AI-driven customer support company Tugi Tark has revealed a collaboration with PEC.BET, a recently established sportsbook and online casino operator that offers players access to various bookmakers via a single account. The collaboration integrates Tugi Tark’s customer support system and iGaming-focused AI agents into PEC.BET’s player assistance operations as the operator launches in the market.
PEC.BET functions on a cutting-edge multi-bookmaker sportsbook system that embraces winners. Grounded in transparency and accessibility, PEC.BET recognized customer service infrastructure as a critical operational focus from the outset and chose Tugi Tark for this purpose to create its support system.
“As a new operator, it was important for us to put the right operational foundations in place from the beginning,” said a spokesperson PEC.BET. “Our multi-bookmaker model means we welcome winners, which shapes how we approach player relationships. Working with Tugi Tark allows us to support players efficiently while ensuring our internal team remains focused on more complex player matters and VIP care.”
Tugi Tark’s AI platform for customer service offers PEC.BET a unified space to oversee player assistance through various channels. AI agents help with initial resolutions, while more complicated issues are forwarded to support personnel. This method allows PEC.BET to uphold consistent service while adjusting to rising demand as the operator expands.
“PEC.BET is entering the market with a clear focus on transparency and accessibility for players,” said Harpo Lilja, CEO of Tugi Tark. “Our role is to provide a support layer that can operate consistently from day one and scale alongside the platform as it grows.”
The post PEC.BET Partners with Tugi Tark to Strengthen Sportsbook Offerings appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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