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As eSports become more popular, time for the industry to get real about security
Police in Ukraine recently seized 3,800 PlayStation 4 consoles, which currently retail for around 290 each, and found to their surprise that the operation wasn’t mining cryptocurrency as they assumed but was in fact being used to generate content packs for FIFA Ultimate Team, a popular game mode in the FIFA football series.
The raid and its results underline a fact that may escape more traditionally minded members of the gaming community: eSports is a major industry, and like any industry it is susceptible to fraud. The fact that the games themselves take place virtually is irrelevant to fraudsters who can use the familiar toolkit of multi-accounting, bonus abuse and affiliate fraud to earn thousands.
With many sports teams unable to play throughout much of 2020 and 2021, eSports grew massively. League Championship Series (LCS), one of the largest eSports leagues, became the third most viewed professional sports league amongst 18-34 year olds in the U.S and has retained its corporate sponsors at a time when other leagues were shut down. Success stories like these are blunted by how pervasive eSports fraud is,
So, what kinds of fraud are taking place in eSports, what is it costing eSports organizations and what can be done to stop it?
What kinds of fraud are possible in eSports?
eSports attracts very similar types of fraud to regular sports betting, including:
- Bonus Abuse: Like other sports betting companies, eSports companies often give sign-up bonuses such as free bets to new players. By coding automated systems, a fraudster can sign up to hundreds of accounts and use the free bets to win real money. This can cost gaming companies up to 15% of their revenue.
- Multi-accounting: Similarly, a fraudster can use multiple accounts to perform other types of fraud, such as matched betting, ‘smurfing’ or arbitrage of affiliate fraud.
- Affiliate Fraud: Those eSports betting organizations that draw in some of their new players from affiliates are vulnerable to affiliate fraud in which an affiliate creates fake accounts to gain the pay-out.
- Account takeover: Using lists of passwords from data breaches, keyloggers or phishing a fraudster can gain access to a player’s account and drain their funds.
- Chargeback fraud: A player, who may be a legitimate gamer and not a professional fraudster, initiates a chargeback on a transaction. This is common in gaming when gamblers regret a bad bet and claim that their account was hacked.
The costs of eSports fraud
Fraud costs have a way of snowballing, with each $1 lost through fraud actually costing companies $3. The above techniques are hardly equivalent to the major data breaches of major banking and tech companies that cost on average $3.86 million, but the constant barrage of low-level frauds can soon drain your company’s security budget. Aside from the cost of the fraud itself, there are a number of hidden costs such as:
- Chargeback losses: Investigating and disputing chargebacks will take up your risk team’s time, leaving them little time for more valuable activities. More worryingly, a company with a large number of chargebacks is likely to find it difficult securing credit or loans. Visa and Mastercard’s resolution processes are making things even more difficult for merchants, so you are likely to lose even more.
- Affiliate budget waste: You could be paying for useless clicks from bot networks rather than legitimate customers, wasting your marketing budget and reducing overall ROI.
- Reputational damage: Once word of mouth spreads about customers losing the entire bank accounts to account takeovers it will not be long until players start deserting your site.
- Regulatory fines: The regulations around eSports are not as stringent as with other sports betting, but it will not be long before they catch up. With the industry growing it will not be long before countries put regulations in place to protect players, and without stringent security your company could be fined.
The solutions
You will notice that the majority of the types of fraud common in eSports have to do with fake accounts. These are easy for fraudsters to create using the wealth of publicly available data and leaked information, but fortunately artificial intelligence-based tools have been developed that allow companies to spot synthetic identities.
Through device fingerprinting, email profiling and IP analysis a complete picture of a new signup to your site can be created, allowing software to spot the tell-tale signs of a hastily created account. For example, it could find that an email address does not match any social accounts, or that they use VPNs and data centers to conceal their IP address.
Of course, a sophisticated fraudster could create a convincing fake identity, especially with the wealth of information available from data dumps, so modern technology can also spot the use of pre-paid credit cards or even the speed with which information is entered, which could indicate it is being filled in automatically by a script.
By combining data points from a large and ever-growing set a system can determine whether it is likely that any given new account is fraudulent. For the many cases in which it will not be fully clear whether an account is authentic or not adaptive Know Your Customer checks can be used – customers with several red flags will be given full tests to determine their identity whereas other customers will have less obtrusive tests for a smoother site experience.
eSports has gone from a niche concern to an Olympic sport in a few short years, and that success is going to attract fraud, so it is vital for the industry to pre-emptively defend against fraud by adopting the very highest levels of security.
To learn more, visit: https://seon.io/
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Atlaslive, a premier iGaming platform provider, today released a comprehensive analysis of the European gambling market transformation, revealing that the industry’s €123.4 billion revenue base is undergoing unprecedented digital evolution. The analysis, based on latest market intelligence from European Gaming & Betting Association in partnership with H2 Gambling Capital, identifies mobile gaming as the dominant force reshaping player engagement across the continent.
Mobile Revolution Drives Market Transformation
Atlaslive’s analysis reveals that mobile devices now generate 58% of Europe’s online gambling revenue in 2024, with projections indicating this figure will surge to 67% by 2029. This mobile-first transformation represents a fundamental shift in how operators must approach platform development and player acquisition strategies.
“The data unequivocally demonstrates that the future of European gambling is mobile-first,” said Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO at Atlaslive. “Operators who fail to prioritize mobile optimization and user experience will find themselves increasingly marginalized in a market where player expectations have fundamentally evolved.”
Online Gambling Accelerates Toward 45% Market Share
The analysis identifies online gambling as the clear growth engine of the European market, with digital channels expected to command 45% of total gambling revenue by 2029, up from 39% in 2024. This €66.8 billion online market projection represents a 6.9% compound annual growth rate, significantly outpacing the 1.8% growth expected in land-based gambling.
Key growth drivers identified by Atlaslive include:
- Casino games leading digital adoption: €21.5 billion in 2024, growing to €30.8 billion by 2029
- Sports betting momentum: €13.7 billion online revenue with 6.9% annual growth trajectory
- Lottery digital transformation: Strongest growth potential at 7.7% annually, reaching €10.4 billion by 2029
Geographic Disparities Signal Untapped Opportunities
Country-by-country analysis reveals significant market maturity variations across Europe, presenting strategic opportunities for technology providers and operators.
Digital Leaders:
- Sweden: 68.3% online share
- Finland and Denmark: Both at 68.1% online share
- Strong mobile adoption and regulatory frameworks driving digital-first engagement
Growth Markets:
- Italy: Europe’s largest market at €21.0 billion with only 21.7% online penetration
- Germany: €14.4 billion market with 22.6% online share indicating substantial digital expansion potential
- France: €14.0 billion market with significant room for online growth
Strategic Implications for Industry Stakeholders
The Atlaslive analysis identifies several critical success factors for market participants:
For Operators:
- Mobile-native platform architecture becomes non-negotiable
- Omnichannel integration essential for capturing cross-platform player value
- Geographic expansion strategies should prioritize markets with low online penetration
For Technology Providers:
- Platform scalability must accommodate sustained high-growth environments
- Cross-jurisdictional compliance capabilities increasingly valuable
- Mobile-first development methodologies essential for competitive positioning
Market Resilience Demonstrates Industry Maturity
Despite digital transformation, analysis confirms the continued relevance of land-based gambling, which maintains €75.5 billion in 2024 revenue and projects steady 1.8% annual growth. This dual-track evolution demonstrates industry maturity and the enduring appeal of gambling experiences.
“The European gambling market is demonstrating remarkable sophistication in its evolution,” added Anastasiia Poltavets. “Rather than simple digital displacement, we’re witnessing the emergence of a truly integrated ecosystem where online and land-based channels complement and enhance each other.”
To explore the full report, regional breakdowns, and strategic insights for 2025 and beyond, visit: https://atlaslive.tech/blog/the-european-gambling-revolution-euro1234-billion-market-transforms-in-the-digital-age.
This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive, formerly known as Atlas-IAC, underwent a rebranding campaign in May 2024. It is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
The post Atlaslive Analysis: European Gambling Market Enters €123.4 Billion Digital-First Era appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Cheers to another year of success! Time flies when you’re having fun — and what a year it’s been! From overcoming challenges to achieving exciting milestones, WinSpirit has grown in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
As we celebrate our birthday today, let’s take a moment to reflect on all our achievements and the exciting journey ahead. This past year has been filled with remarkable moments, including a stunning $361,647 player win, the launch of over 100 local tournaments, and the addition of 1,112 games to our library. We’ve also been honoured with prestigious industry awards, and we’ve continued to make strides with our innovative responsible gaming initiatives. These highlights are just a glimpse of our incredible journey, and we’re excited for what the future holds.
Overview of WinSpirit
WinSpirit is an online casino that has rapidly made its mark in the gaming world. With a vast library of approximately 17,000 games, 24/7 customer support, and fast withdrawals, WinSpirit offers players an exceptional and engaging gaming experience. The platform is built on a robust bonus system, including welcome bonuses and regular offers. In addition, WinSpirit promotes responsible gaming by providing features like deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion options, ensuring players’ safety while enjoying their gaming experience.
Biggest Win of the Year
At WinSpirit, huge wins are what keep the excitement alive. On May 2nd, 2025, a lucky player took home an incredible $361,647 after landing a 4000x multiplier. This monumental win serves as a testament to the exciting potential of big rewards available on the platform.
Tournaments and Other Key Activities
WinSpirit continues to engage its community with exciting new activities. Over the past year, several successful initiatives have taken place, including:
- Updated Gift Shop in April:
One of the key innovations this year was the launch of the revamped Gift Shop — a retention-focused feature that saw impressive engagement, with more than 92% of users actively participating, significantly enhancing player loyalty and satisfaction. - VIP Tournament Series:
In August 2024, WinSpirit organized the Interstellar VIP Journey, a tournament series with three qualifying tournaments and a Grand Final. The prize pool in each tournament was 350 Free Spins. - Christmas and New Year Promotion:
From November 2024 to January 2025, WinSpirit launched the “Welcome to Lapland” campaign, distributing $1,500,000 in cash and sports gifts. Players participated in tournaments, received daily gifts, and exchanged promo currency in Santa’s Gift Shop. - 100+ Local Tournaments:
WinSpirit hosted over 100 local tournaments in collaboration with slot and live providers, awarding more than $300,000 in real money prizes.
Popular Betting Events
Players have shown strong enthusiasm for major global events. Some of the most popular betting events included:
- Super Bowl 2025
- Champions League
- Euro 2024 & Copa America 2024
- Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul
- Olympic Games
- NFL Finals
Collaborations with Other Brands
WinSpirit has also expanded its presence through collaborations with slot and live providers, as well as exciting social media campaigns. Partnerships with brands like 1spin4win and OnlyPlay have helped create engaging giveaways for players on platforms like Instagram, providing players with the chance to win Free Spins and bonuses.
Awards and Achievements
Over the past year, WinSpirit has received significant recognition in the gaming industry. In 2024, the platform was honoured with several prestigious awards, including:
- Rising Star 2023 (SBC Awards)
- World’s Best Online Casino 2023 (World Casino Awards)
- AskGamblers Trust Certificate
- Voice of the People 2024 (Casino Guru Awards)
These accolades are a testament to WinSpirit’s commitment to providing a premium and trustworthy experience for players.
Responsible Gaming Initiatives
WinSpirit places a strong emphasis on responsible gaming. Players are provided with the tools to set deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion options, ensuring a safe environment for everyone. The platform is dedicated to promoting responsible play and player well-being.
WinSpirit Moments
With initiatives like WinSpirit Moments, we invited players to share their casino experiences — not just through gameplay but by showcasing real-life stories and moments. By submitting creative photos of WinSpirit Casino in unique locations, players shared their passion for online casinos and the benefits they enjoy.
This campaign helped forge stronger connections with our community, creating a platform for storytelling and engagement, while also encouraging responsible gaming. Through this initiative, we not only engaged players but also deepened our relationship with them, making WinSpirit more than just a casino — it’s a community where players’ experiences come to life.
WinSpirit Stories and Trends
WinSpirit also introduced WinSpirit Stories and WinSpirit Trends, innovative features that engage players in new and exciting ways. These formats provide players with information on bonus rules, showcase top game titles, and offer exclusive offers. WinSpirit Stories helps players reflect on their achievements and discover new opportunities, while WinSpirit Trends focuses on the most thrilling aspects of gameplay, helping players choose their next adventure.
Feedback from Players
WinSpirit’s high ratings across various platforms highlight its success in providing quality service and entertainment. With strong ratings of:
- 6/5 on Trustpilot
- 6/10 on CasinoGuru
- 9/10 on AskGamblers
These reviews reinforce WinSpirit’s reputation as a top-tier online casino, valued by its loyal player base.
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to creating meaningful experiences — for our players, partners, and the entire industry. Here’s to another year of growth, innovation, and building a stronger community. The journey is just beginning, and WinSpirit is excited for what’s to come!
The company opens a new chapter
DATA.BET, the sportsbook solution supplier, strengthened its portfolio capabilities by adding sports betting.
The new sportsbook covers over 50,000 sporting events per month, featuring over 63 pre-match and 38 live sports, along with 1000+ available markets. From the most popular leagues to niche categories, the company delivers comprehensive sports coverage backed by trusted official data providers. DATA.BET’s 24/7 in-house trading team ensures over 93% market uptime, dynamic odds adjustments, and automated settlements.
Combined with Player Props, operators can deliver a broader, player-centric betting experience. Cashout functionality is also available, allowing players to settle bets early on single and multiple bets. User engagement is further increased through integrated Video Streaming of events for football, American football, tennis, and basketball as well as interactive Widgets across key sports — keeping users engaged within the platform and eliminating the need to seek information elsewhere. This seamless access to match insights, player data, and betting markets enhances the overall experience and supports higher retention, deeper engagement, and increased betting volumes.
Today, DATA.BET’s portfolio includes esports, sports, and virtual sports, providing a complete solution for betting operators. Integration is available via an upgraded SPA or through a direct Odds Feed. Depending on operator needs and market focus, each vertical can be connected individually or as a combined solution.
“With the expansion of our sports betting solution, we are entering a new phase in supporting our partners,” commented Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET. “This update equips operators with a complete betting solution, while ensuring continued access to DATA.BET’s trusted tools for flexibility, control, and fast content delivery.”
The post DATA.BET Rolls out Full-Service Sportsbook Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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