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The $100 Billion Problem: iGaming Fraud Set to Surge by 2025

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2025

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The iGaming industry is fighting back against fraudulent traffic, with operators now successfully blocking up to 50% of fraudulent activity, according to recent research published by RockApp. This development marks a major milestone in a sector where fraudsters have long manipulated advertising budgets, distorted key metrics, and inflated acquisition costs.

Fraud in iGaming: A Multi-Billion Dollar Drain

Fraud in iGaming advertising has reached alarming levels, with up to 40% of ad traffic in iGaming campaigns being fraudulent. The rise of sophisticated fraud techniques, such as bot-generated clicks, affiliate fraud, and bonus abuse, has created an urgent need for operators to strengthen their security measures.

RockApp’s latest research, which examines the scale of fraudulent traffic across iGaming, highlights that fraud is draining billions from marketing budgets annually. Digital advertising fraud is projected to cost businesses over $100 billion annually by 2024, and the iGaming sector is among the most impacted due to its high CPAs and complex user acquisition strategies.

How Fraud is Manipulating iGaming Campaigns

Fraud in iGaming advertising takes many forms, with fraudsters using increasingly advanced methods to exploit ad networks, tracking systems, and promotional incentives. Key types of fraud affecting operators include:

Click Fraud & Fake Traffic: Up to 50% of clicks in high-CPA iGaming campaigns come from bots, automated scripts, and fraudulent networks that deplete budgets without bringing in real users.
Affiliate Fraud & False Attribution: Fraudulent affiliates manipulate tracking systems using tactics such as cookie stuffing, fake sign-ups, and pixel fraud, leading to inflated marketing spend.
Multi-Accounting & Bonus Abuse: Fraudsters create thousands of fake accounts to claim promotional bonuses, distorting retention rates and inflating acquisition costs.
Ad Injection & Domain Spoofing: Operators find their ads displayed on unauthorized or low-quality websites, misleading media buyers and reducing conversion rates.

The Financial & Operational Impact

Operators that fail to implement fraud prevention strategies are suffering from:

Inflated CPAs: Fraudulent traffic increases acquisition costs by 30-50%, making real user acquisition more expensive.
Distorted Performance Metrics: Fake traffic results in unreliable retention rates, conversion rates, and ROI calculations.
Regulatory & Compliance Risks: Fraudulent advertising practices put operators at risk of violating strict responsible gaming regulations.
Reputation Damage: Trust is essential in iGaming, and brands associated with high fraud levels risk losing credibility with users and partners.

How Operators Are Cutting Fraud in Half

With fraud levels reaching crisis proportions, leading iGaming operators are taking aggressive measures to detect and eliminate fraudulent traffic. The latest RockApp research reveals that brands implementing AI-driven fraud prevention solutions have successfully reduced fraudulent traffic by up to 50%, improving advertising efficiency and increasing real user acquisition.

Key Strategies for Combating iGaming Fraud:

AI-Powered Traffic Analysis: Machine learning algorithms detect abnormal traffic patterns and block fraudulent users in real time.
Affiliate Fraud Monitoring & Transparent Attribution: Advanced tracking tools expose irregular sign-ups and prevent fraudulent commissions.
Enhanced KYC & User Verification: Biometric authentication and multi-factor verification stop multi-accounting fraud.
Whitelisting & Real-Time Ad Verification: Operators are restricting ad placements to verified, high-quality websites to prevent domain spoofing.

The Future of Fraud Prevention in iGaming

The battle against fraud in iGaming is far from over, but the industry is making significant strides. As more operators adopt data-driven fraud detection solutions, the market is moving toward a future where advertising budgets yield real, measurable results. The reduction of fraudulent traffic by 50% marks a turning point, proving that technology-driven solutions are the key to securing long-term growth in iGaming.

RockApp’s full research on fraudulent traffic in iGaming is available now, providing a deep dive into the financial and operational impact of fraud, as well as the latest strategies operators can use to combat it effectively.

The post The $100 Billion Problem: iGaming Fraud Set to Surge by 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

6 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.