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GAMESCOM 2023: THE FANCENSUS VERDICT
Top 20 Games With Most Press Coverage
As the biggest and most-hyped game on show this year, Starfield got the most headlines and media mentions both in the opening night show, and overall during the week. Clearly, there’s a lot of expectation around Bethesda’s first new IP in more than two decades.
Deep Silver’s Payday 3 was in the top 10 games for press coverage; this isn’t a complete shock since Payday 2 still has around 40,000 daily players. Coverage was boosted by celebrity endorsement as rapper ICE T revealed a special gameplay trailer for a mission he’ll appear in during ONL.
Cyberpunk 2077’s new DLC, Phantom Liberty, came third for coverage figures during Gamescom – the only DLC announcement in the top 20. Following on from the botched launch back in 2020, Projekt Red has continued to improve the game, and the coverage of the DLC shows just how much interest there still is for the game.
Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, both from Chinese studio MiHoYo, were the only mobile-centric games to make the top 20 by coverage – and neither was featured in Opening Night Live. Genshin Impact didn’t announce anything new in the actual game, but it did release a trailer for its upcoming global series of live concerts of its in-game music. The only mobile title that did get featured during ONL was Marvel Snap, but that wasn’t enough to get it into the top 20 list.
Top 20 Indie Games With Most Press Coverage
The only indie games (in the top 20) that were featured during ONL were Nightingale, Dustborn, Thank Goodness You’re Here and Last Epoch – making up four of the five most talked about indie games. Interestingly, Flashback 2 – a sequel to the now 30-year old original – wasn’t featured at ONL, but secured the number four slot for most covered indie games, and it generated more dedicated articles than the others in the top five, which were mostly mentioned as part of round-ups.
Overall, the media interest in Gamescom 2023 proved to be is bigger than ever, with the volume of coverage about the 2023 event and the games on show increasing by 10% over 2022. The big showpiece of Opening Night Live is still a major media draw, with most of the games featured going on to dominate the media coverage for the rest of the week – with a few notable exceptions such as Flashback 2. Overall, 53% of the total media coverage was about the games featured in Opening Night Live.
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
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Bragg Gaming Group experienced a cybersecurity breach involving access to internal IT systems.
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No customer personal data or payment information appears to have been compromised.
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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:
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Network Segmentation to isolate affected systems
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Enhanced Monitoring of data flows across its Remote Games Server (RGS) platform
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Security Audits of critical infrastructure, including the Bragg Hub and PAM systems
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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.
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:
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23.7% of players – nearly 296,000 Slovaks – admitted to gambling on unlicensed platforms.
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24.1% of players could not determine whether the sites they used were legal.
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Younger users and those with lower levels of education were the most likely to engage in illegal gambling.
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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:
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Higher bonuses (32.5%)
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Better odds (29.5%)
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Easier registration (29.1%)
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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:
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More effective blocking of unlicensed websites
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Stronger cooperation with banks and payment providers to block transactions
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A national public awareness campaign
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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.
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Red Rake Gaming strengthens its expansion in Switzerland through partnership with 7Melons.ch
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.
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