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Playing it safe: Financial transparency, privacy and data protection in online gambling
Online casino customers want to know they are playing at a casino that protects their privacy, data and financial information. Providing this creates several challenges, but licensed UK online operators still champion security protocols and compliance.
Player trust – essential for successful gambling businesses
Financial transparency, privacy, and data protection are crucial to player security and determine whether consumers trust a gambling site. Customer trust is the litmus test of a successful gambling brand. Untrustworthy sites don’t survive long, scoring low with players and review sites.
When considering where to play the best slots in the UK, it’s not enough for players to only look at games choice; customers also need to consider a casino’s reputation, ensuring it has up-to-date licensing, sufficient privacy terms, and state-of-the-art security features.
Reading online reviews can help with research and is one of the easiest ways to narrow down the options. Review sites test online casinos for security, ensuring licensing and site encryption. If a gambling site consistently has terrible reviews, it’ll put prospective players off and limit its success.
Security challenges for operators
Online gambling sites in the UK are held to licensing standards and UK laws, which cover data privacy protocol (following GDPR), fraud prevention, Know Your Customer Checks, Source of Fund inquiries, Anti-Money Laundering prevention, levels of site and server security (SSL and physical considerations), secure payment gateways and methods, and more. These measures, along with game testing and certification, are created to ensure that gambling remains crime-free and that consumers are assured of the industry’s legitimacy.
Despite the measures, the gambling industry is constantly under attack from criminal forces. In the last several years, major scale hacks have exposed the vulnerability of the global online gambling industry from a security point of view.
These include the Betway breach in 2011 (cyber criminals accessed the consumer database), William Hill hack in 2016 (a DDoS attack that took down the site, costing millions in lost bets), the DraftKings fiasco in 2022 (that led to $600,000 being withdrawn from player accounts by a teen) and BetMGM also in 2022 (user data was breached from May-Nov, 22).
These wide-scale attacks on market-leading gambling operators remind us of the pace of tech growth and that cyber criminals pose an ongoing threat to the online gambling industry. This is why operators must invest in robust protections, software and AI and conduct regular security audits with bodies like eCOGRA to expose vulnerabilities.
Data protection and Anti-Money Laundering laws
While some areas of regulation are the remit of the UK Gambling Commission, others, like data protection and AML compliance, are governed by separate laws. Data protection laws for personal and financial details are provided by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). These two regulations govern how businesses and gambling operators can use, and process data, with GDPR considered the latest update.
“Fairness, transparency, accuracy, security, data minimisation and respect for the rights of the individual whose data a business wants to process – these are all things that businesses should already be doing with data. GDPR seeks to build on those principles.”
Data protection laws and rules are complex and include details on encryption, SSL coverage, employee training in best practices, audits and testing, and data retention. UK casinos are experienced in data handling and storage protocol; they also employ the latest security software to ensure player accounts and data are kept secure.
We’ll go more into AML below, but just to add, on financial transparency, UK gambling sites must be completely transparent and even separate player funds to ensure they are protected in cases of solvency issues. All financial records are reported to the Gambling Commission for tax purposes.
Account security
Both consumers and casinos have a role to play in account security. In line with gambling and AML laws, online casinos in the UK must complete Know Your Customer Checks on new accounts. This includes age and ID verification. It helps satisfy source of funds regulations and financial transparency; on the individual level, cases of financial fraud by players have taken place in the past. The Gambling Commission’s primary aim is ensuring gambling remains crime-free, which chiefly means avoiding money laundering efforts.
In avoiding outside hacking efforts and to better reassure players, operators can also increase account security by using 2-factor sign-in accounts, fingerprint logins on apps and for payments, plus security questions.
Security audits and testing
Online casinos and gambling sites can pay third-party auditing companies, like eCOGRA and iTech Labs, to test their platforms. These attack the platform to expose any areas of weakness from an outside perspective. Conducting third-party security audits is considered the best practice for online gambling operators in the UK, at least every two years.
Future of fraud detection and gambling harm indicators
Gambling operators are increasingly using AI to flag cases of suspicious account activity. It’s decreasing the space for error, especially when coupled with the UK’s new rules regarding loss limits and financial checks (these are loss, so will include targeted interventions with players who are not experiencing harm or fraud – early intervention raises awareness of harmful partners of betting).
As AI can process large data sets and uses machine learning, it is getting ever better at flagging cases of fraud and gambling harm at the individual account level. It is also instrumental in detecting bonus abuse, brute force hacking attempts and unusual payments.
However, as the amount of data casinos process regarding players increases, so do the concerns relating to ethical uses of data, including how operators use this for targeted marketing and promotions, which, as the past has shown, has an impact on the behaviour of vulnerable players – we are of course thinking about how some UK operators used VIP schemes and promos to encourage large and unchecked spending on some accounts, which led to new Gambling Commission guidance.
At the end of the day, where there are cases of it going wrong, for the most part, operators play it safe and do their utmost to ensure consumers can trust the UK gambling industry. This means providing the highest standard of online security, financial transparency, privacy and data protection and encouraging responsible, sustainable play.
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Saroca Unveils the Transformational Leadership Program for 2025
Saroca Reimagines Leadership Development for the Gaming Industry
Saroca, a leader in professional development for the gaming industry, is proud to announce its Transformational Leadership Program, launching February 2025. Building on the success of the 2024 LeadHERship Program—a pioneering initiative for women in gaming—the new program expands its reach with two distinct cohorts: one exclusively for women and another open to all genders.
The Legacy of LeadHERship
The 2024 LeadHERship Program achieved an exceptional Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 90, with participants citing transformative growth. With participants like Clemence Dujardin citing it as a “game-changer”. Confidence in leadership abilities rose by 46%, resilience increased by 27%, and imposter syndrome diminished by 39%.
Participants praised the program’s focus on emotional resilience, feedback mastery, executive presence and communication all in a supportive community.
Leadership Development: A Game-Changer for Gaming
In a rapidly evolving and diversifying industry, strong leadership is essential. Saroca’s programs go beyond skill-building to foster resilience, trust, and inclusivity—key traits for thriving in the global gaming market.
“We believe leadership is not about hierarchy—it’s about transformation,” said Emily Leeb, CEO of Saroca. “The Transformational Leadership Program reflects our commitment to cultivating leaders who will shape the future of gaming.”
Transformational Leadership Program Highlights
The program builds on the proven curriculum of its predecessor, featuring:
- Two Cohorts: A women-only cohort and a new all-gender cohort to enrich perspectives.
- Eight Modules: Covering topics such as emotional intelligence, self-advocacy, and radical candor.
- Community and Growth Tracking: Strengthening connections and measuring individual progress.
Registration Now Open
The Transformational Leadership Program begins in February 2025, with limited spots available. Scholarships are also offered to ensure accessibility. For more information, visit Saroca’s website or contact [email protected].
About Saroca
Saroca is a leader in leadership development for the gaming industry, committed to empowering professionals through inclusive, high-impact programs that drive personal and professional growth.
The post Saroca Unveils the Transformational Leadership Program for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Week 47/2024 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Introducing Magawa vs Mines, the debut game from Slammer Studios – a fresh new player in the industry. With the launch of this vibrant 7×7 slot, the studio is kicking things off in style. Inspired by the legendary Magawa, a rat whose life-saving landmine detection skills have earned worldwide acclaim, this game pays tribute to this incredible hero. With Magawa vs Mines, players get to honour the courage of an extraordinary rat, reliving his daring missions through high-energy gameplay.
Spinomenal has added Zeus Unchained Hold & Hit to its marvellous Mythology series. Zeus Unchained Hold & Hit presents a grid framework of 5×3 and is set at 25 fixed lines. Once the action is underway, players join Zeus, the ancient Greek god of sky and thunder for a battle on the reels. A powerful soundtrack heightens the anticipation as players look for Wild symbols on screen.
Betsoft Gaming brings players to the heights of Mount Olympus with Coins of Zeus – Hold & WinTM, an engaging video slot with a 3×3 grid and 5 paylines set in a stunning Ancient Greek theme. From immersive visuals to thrilling gameplay features, Coins of Zeus – Hold & WinTM brings mythology to life, delivering divine entertainment and win potential.
BGaming is helping players hunt for ancient treasures in its latest release Catdiana. Boasting two purr-fect bonus games, the gameplay is further enhanced through cat-themed scatters, coveted coins and high-value gem symbols. The 5×3 reel action unfolds deep within a mystical cat temple where Catdiana goes on the prowl, performing as a wild to guide players to hidden treasures and big wins.
Tom Horn Gaming, a leading igaming software supplier, has unveiled its latest game, Wild Snowfakes, just in time for the winter season. A winter-themed slot transports players to a serene snowy wonderland filled with excitement and rewards. This medium-to-high variance game is played across a 5×3 gaming grid, populated with frosty fruit symbols and snowflakes, which act as wilds.
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has revealed its latest immersive slot, Dolce Dreams, offering a sweet twist on the classic Italian café culture, with the experience designed for high engagement and substantial win potential. Set against the backdrop of a charming streetside cafe, Dolce Dreams features stacked Wilds in the form of waffle ice creams, which substitute for other symbols to maximise winning combinations.
Relax Gaming is taking players on an exhilarating snowy adventure with the launch of Winter Champions, a sports-themed slot that propels players through the mountain tops in pursuit of golden victories. At the heart of Winter Champions is the innovative Sliding Respins mechanic, ensuring the reels remain active as long as winning combinations continue to land, adding a layer of non-stop excitement to the gameplay.
Nolimit City is serving up a twisted carnival treat in Munchies. Step into the fair grounds as Nolimit’s latest Labs game released following the release of Outsourced: Slash Game. As a Labs title, expect a fresh and experimental spin on the classic Nolimit style. In the heart of the carnival tents lies a curious attraction: Fluffers—a cute, cuddly, but oh-so-smelly creature that’s causing quite the commotion among visitors. Some may say it’s the attraction of the year!
Thunderkick has unveiled Split Happens, the latest addition to its product portfolio that combines a quirky bowling theme with Walking Wilds and respins to provide a unique and compelling gaming experience. The action takes place across a classic 5×3 grid, where winning combinations can be formed both ways to help unlock 3,000x maximum wins.
Amusnet has released its latest video slot, 10 Bulky Fruits. It is not an ordinary fruit slot but a dazzling, energetic and exciting game. This is a 5-reel, 10-fixed paylines video slot that offers vivid gameplay, epic sound effects and a variety of features. Keep an eye out for the Clover Wild Symbol and its great rewards – it appears on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th reel. The Star and the Dollar are the shiny Scatter symbols boosting the winnings.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and Booming Games are getting in the spirit early with the November arrival of their fresh, festive game, Holly Jolly Bonanza 2. ‘Tis the season for snowy slots, and just like Santa Claus himself, Holly Jolly Bonanza 2 delivers in style. This sparkling sequel is a sure-fire Christmas classic, a 5×6 game with cascading reels, introducing new features to the festive game.
How deep do you dare to descend in Yellow Slotmarine by Twin Win Games – the exciting new slot where cash prizes can be accumulated and collected on any base game spin, but three bomb symbols are always lurking to potentially blow players out of the water. Utilising just three reels and one row of symbols, Yellow Slotmarine introduces a completely new mechanic where every character that lands contributes towards a specific cash pot.
Gaming Corps is proud to announce the release of Wet and Wild Beavers. This charming new slot game also marks the debut of the exciting new A-MAZE-CADES™ mechanic. This playful adventure takes players down to the river, where a team of ingenious beavers plot their daring escape by the riverbank. Follow Red Rocket, Old Blue and Yella Fella as they utilise a series of creative bonus features to escape the dam and get their hands on wins of up to 10,000x the player’s stake.
Explore a prosperous underwater world and harness the power of the formidable Greek God of the Sea Poseidon in Stakelogic’s latest release, Trident of Legends. This enchanting aquatic adventure invites players to tap into the awe-inspiring power of the mythical Poseidon as they embark on a quest for fortune. With Poseidon’s legendary Trident in hand, players can trigger enticing bonuses while playing for wins of up to 10,000x their stake.
Play’n GO invites players to join the Wilde family in Wildest Gambit, a globe-trotting 5×3 slot that combines adventure, mystery, and massive win potential with an x20,000 Multiplier. Wildest Gambit unites the legendary Wilde family – Rich, Cat, and Uncle Gerard – in an epic journey across four unique destinations. From the golden sands of Egypt to the dense jungles of South America, players will experience a dynamic blend of Expanding, Sticky, and Multiplier Wilds.
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EGT Digital is shortlisted in 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024
EGT Digital is proud to be among the finalists in the impressive 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024. This year’s edition of the prestigious annual competition will be held on November 27 at Black & White Club, Palms Royale Sofia Complex. For the 15th consecutive year, the event will recognize individuals and companies for their outstanding contribution to the gaming and entertainment industry.
Burning Hot Instant, one of the newest offerings in EGT Digital’s ever-growing portfolio of games, is among the shortlisted titles in the Online Game of the Year category. It is also one of the latest additions to the top performer Clover Chance. Although it debuted only 2 months ago, Burning Hot Instant immediately became players’ favorite with its mystery jackpot and numerous rewards.
X-Nave, EGT Digital’s in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform, is a contender in the Online Platform of the Year category. The product earned the nomination thanks to the fact that it provides operators with the technology and tools they need to build and maintain a successful online business. The X-Nave platform includes 4 main modules: Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway. Each module can be part of the complete solution or function independently, allowing seamless integration with developments of third-party providers.
Another prestigious nomination for EGT Digital is in the Online Provider of the Year category, recognizing its wide range of iGaming products and services. The company’s games are extremely popular in a number of markets around the world, where players appreciate their fascinating design, high winning chances, and many attractive bonus features. The X-Nave platform is becoming the preferred choice for an increasing number of operators who want to guarantee their business’ long-term success and sustainable development.
The company is a finalist in the Sports Betting Platform of the Year category as well. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook solution, part of X-Nave’s Sport Product, offers everything operators need to secure a competitive bookmaker position. It includes advanced betting, in-depth statistics, different bet types, back-office tools, a variety of jackpots, and 24/7 technical and trading support. It is provided with powerful management tools that allow betting sites to create personalized content and increase player engagement.
The last category for which EGT Digital has been nominated is Innovative Product of the Year, with its 360-degree retail betting solution. This product covers both software and hardware aspects of the business, including the design and management of devices, the company’s omnichannel solution, sports betting, lottery games, vouchers, online deposits, and commissions. Constantly evolving, EGT Digital’s 360-degree retail betting solution continues to add new tools and options for improving user experience.
The post EGT Digital is shortlisted in 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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