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New report today reveals a staggering 85% increase in online fraud with over a fifth of all online traffic now an attack

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  • In the UK: gaming, online streaming and social media sites, travel and retail/ecommerce companies are the worst hit by fraudsters

  • Experts also find that the metaverse is already fast becoming a fertile breeding ground for cybercrime and newly defined, ‘Master Fraudsters’

A new report released today, The 2022 State of Fraud and Account Security, is warning UK commerce that it faces its most challenging year ever. Experts from the Arkose Labs Network, an online fraud deterrence platform, analyzed over 150 billion transaction requests across 254 countries and territories in 2021 over 12 months to discover that there has been an 85% increase in login attacks and fake consumer account creation at businesses.  Alongside this, it identified that a quarter (one in four) of new online accounts created were fake. A further 21% of all traffic was confirmed as a fraudulent cyber attack. 

“From the earliest days of online information to the rapid evolution of today’s metaverses, the internet has come a long way. However, this latest data shows that it is more under attack than ever before,” said Arkose Labs Founder and CEO Kevin Gosschalk. 

He continued: “Your digital identity is a currency for fraudsters and wherever there is online commerce, cybercriminals are quick to identify vulnerabilities.”

The new report focused on a number of key themes:

The Worst Attacked Sectors in the UK

The latest research took a deep dive into UK business specifically to understand which sectors were the most attacked by online criminals. The ongoing popularity of online gaming puts it top of the list for fraudsters with almost half (46%) of all the attacks in the UK, as seen by Arkose Labs. Digital media companies (social networks and online streaming platforms) are also high value targets and represent a third of all attacks, seeing an 88% increase since 2020. Across all sectors including ecommerce/retail, travel, gaming, financial services, one in every four new online accounts created were fake throughout 2021. 

Metaverse companies are more likely to be targeted by “Master Fraudsters”

The rise of virtual worlds has created new attack opportunities for bad actors. Early insights from the Arkose Labs Network show scams, microtransaction abuse, and unfair play are the top threats in a metaverse world. These companies experienced 80 percent more bot attacks and 40 percent more human attacks than other businesses. “Master Fraudsters” attack their targets by scripting together multiple tools with intense persistence. They combine bots and human fraud farms, and invest large amounts of capital, creating virulent attacks. Top attack patterns Master Frauders use to disrupt fair commerce include microtransaction fraud, spam and scams.

Crypto-fraud sees Asia overtake Russia as the world leading attacking region

In prior years, Russian attacks were more common, but in 2021, attackers from Asia took the top spot, with 40 percent of all attacks coming from this region. One in every two Asian attacks originated from China. Leveraging an ecosystem of tools and low-cost resources, two-thirds of Chinese attacks targeted registration, primarily driven by abusing free trials at cloud computing platforms for crypto mining. 

Credential Stuffing attacks see a significant spike

Attacks are more volatile than ever. A single attack can consume nearly 80 percent of traffic at peak periods, and in 2021, credential stuffing spikes hit up to 76 million per week. Attack rates doubled during peak season in November, making it the most dangerous month in 2021. Bots were used almost exclusively in Black November. 

The Intelligent Bot

Attackers have continued to invest in increasingly sophisticated bots. Bots mimic human behavior with a high degree of accuracy and in 2021 accounted for 86 percent of all attacks. Today’s bot signatures are three times more complex than signatures of previous years. This level of sophistication makes it more difficult to assess risk and make accurate decisions. Businesses require even more sophisticated analysis to detect anomalies and prevent loss.

Arkose Labs provides support for some of the world’s most recognized brands and platforms, including Honey, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PayPal, Pitney Bowes, Roblox, Venmo, and Zilch, covering industries, including financial services, fintech, gaming, retail, technology and social media, representing more than 1 billion social media users, 60 percent of online video gamers, and 40 percent of all retail volume.

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Abigail Welch Editor of iGaming News

Press Box PR Becomes Official Sponsor of Women in iGaming, Backed by iGaming News

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iGaming News is excited to reveal Press Box PR, a top digital and conventional PR firm for the iGaming and sports betting sector, as the official Women in iGaming sponsor of the publication. This collaboration backs iGaming News’ Women in iGaming initiative, a program focused on honoring, showcasing, and elevating the accomplishments of women leaders advancing the industry.

To launch the partnership, iGaming News has unveiled a new category, sponsored by Press Box PR, at its first iGaming News Awards: “Woman of Influence,” highlighting outstanding women who are transforming the industry and fostering innovation.

Abigail Welch, Editor of iGaming News, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Press Box PR as the official sponsor of our Women in iGaming initiative. Their expertise in digital PR will help us bring the incredible stories of women across the industry to a wider audience. This partnership is about celebrating women every day, supporting their achievements and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

Sarah Williams, B2B account manager for Press Box PR, said: “We’re thrilled to be a part of iGaming News’ Women in iGaming initiative! With International Women’s Day coming up this Sunday as well as March being Women’s History Month, there’s no better time to announce this fantastic partnership. By putting our time, money and effort behind initiatives like Women in iGaming, Press Box PR is showing support all year long, not just on certain days or months.

“While we are certainly seeing more women excelling and leading in the industry, only about 16% of executive-level roles in the sector are held by women, according to the latest 2025 data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain. I hope that by shining a light on the skilled women in this industry, we can see that representation increase.”

The partnership will feature editorial pieces, interviews, podcasts, and campaign material highlighting women who are shaping history in iGaming, their professional paths, and how they are progressing the industry. Uniting iGaming News’ industry influence with Press Box PR’s digital communication skills and client network, the collaboration aims to amplify women’s voices and enhance recognition for female leaders.

The post Press Box PR Becomes Official Sponsor of Women in iGaming, Backed by iGaming News appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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HAPPY MONEY HENS

INSPIRED UNVEILS HAPPY MONEY HENS™, GOLDEN WINNER GRAND CHANCE SUPER WHEEL™ & GOLD CASH FREE SPINS RISING WINS™ ACROSS ONLINE & MOBILE

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Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, has unveiled three new online and mobile slot releases—Happy Money Hens™, Golden Winner Grand Chance Super Wheel™, and Gold Cash Free Spins Rising Wins™—now live across the UK and Maltese iGaming markets.

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Golden Winner Grand Chance Super Wheel™ builds on the award-winning Golden Winner Grand Chance series with a shared Super Wheel feature powered by patented Player Link™ technology. High-energy reels, golden bells, and the iconic Grand Chance Cherry come alive with reel “dings” that activate wheel spins, instant cash prizes, and Super Bonuses. Shared prize pots, multiplier-boosting trails, and surprise modifiers create a community-driven, pulse-pounding slot experience designed to keep players returning.

Gold Cash Free Spins Rising Wins™ is the latest chapter in the renowned Gold Cash™ franchise, introducing fresh mechanics while retaining the series’ signature style. The base game features random reel expansions, while the bonus round lets players choose: more spins at lower reel heights for steady wins, fewer spins with taller reels for high volatility, or a mystery option. Additional features include Fortune Bet, Fortune Spins, a Gamble option, and Bonus Buy where permitted, giving players control over risk and reward while enhancing overall excitement.

Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, commented:
“These new releases reflect our commitment to delivering diverse, engaging entertainment while supporting responsible play. By blending innovative mechanics with familiar formats, each game offers exciting and balanced gameplay. Inspired remains focused on creating high-quality, innovative, and enjoyable entertainment experiences as we continue to expand our portfolio.”

The post INSPIRED UNVEILS HAPPY MONEY HENS™, GOLDEN WINNER GRAND CHANCE SUPER WHEEL™ & GOLD CASH FREE SPINS RISING WINS™ ACROSS ONLINE & MOBILE appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance Updates

Isle of Man Govt Publishes its National Risk Assessment (NRA) Covering Money Laundering Risk in Gambling Sector

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The Isle of Man government has published its updated National Risk Assessment (NRA) for the gambling sector.

The assessment identifies key threats of Money Laundering (ML) to the island’s Gambling sector (both Terrestrial and Online) and the materiality and impact of those threats. Both terrestrial and online gambling have been given a risk rating, with an overall rating for gambling as a whole. These risk ratings and key findings of the NRA feed into the wider NRA work, ensuring the Island has a comprehensive view of the entire threat landscape.

The NRA aggregates, compares and weighs the findings across all sectors to determine which risks drive national exposure. This ensures the NRA is not hypothetical: it reflects actual sector-level dynamics so that the Island can understand the “bigger picture” with each sectoral assessment piecing together a border threat picture.

It is important that the island has a comprehensive understanding of risk at all levels, which does not reflect poor standards but instead outlines structural features of a sector. A robust NRA demonstrates that the jurisdiction understands its ML risks and applies targeted controls that are appropriate.

Risk Ratings are as follows:

• The gambling sector overall is assessed as medium-high risk for money laundering.

• The online gambling sector has a medium-high risk, reflecting a large number of international customers and transaction volumes.

• The terrestrial gambling has a medium-low risk, reflecting its smaller size, domestic profile and lower transaction volumes.

Key Takeaways

The Sectoral NRA highlights core threats in both the online and terrestrial sectors, including:

• Criminal ownership and control of gambling businesses or B2B services, via front companies and complex corporate structures.

• Exploitation by organised crime groups, including those from East and Southeast Asia, for money laundering, cyber-enabled crime and other illicit activities globally.

• Criminals use false or stolen IDs, synthetic identities, and mule identities to access gambling services and obscure their true identity to bypass due diligence controls.

• For terrestrial gambling, cash-intensive operations and casino-specific instruments remain primary channels for laundering domestic predicate offences.

It also highlights potential emerging threats such as:

• Use of advanced technologies (AI, deepfakes, virtual assets) to obscure identities, automate fraud, and facilitate cross-border transfers.

• Use of “turnkey solutions” (pre-packaged business setups) allowing rapid establishment of operations and access to banking services with minimal experience.

Importantly, the NRA makes it clear that these risks arise in specific circumstances with the sector operating legitimate international structures, strong governance and applying high standards of AML/CFT compliance. Those features that make activity higher risk for misuse should be considered within that context.

The post Isle of Man Govt Publishes its National Risk Assessment (NRA) Covering Money Laundering Risk in Gambling Sector appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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