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INTERVIEW: Jake Apperley Apsley Director – US

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With sports betting opening up across the US, Pickswise, part of Spotlight Sports Group, has seen a huge growth in audience over the past 18 months. The affiliate is run by the same team that saw huge growth and success in the UK with MyRacing and FreeSuperTips. We sat down with Jake Apperley to discuss the growth and what he sees as the key opportunities for 2021.

  1. Can you run us through the Pickswise journey in the US? How it came about and early growth?

JA: Following the repeal of PASPA we began to explore opportunities in the US market, and how receptive the audience was to sports betting content for the major US sports. Having had success in the UK with MyRacing and FreeSuperTips, our team set about building and growing the site to reach a new audience. I moved over to fully manage Pickswise myself in the Autumn of 2019 to focus on the upcoming NFL season and reaching a new audience.

Using our expertise in SEO content campaigns, we began to grow exposure through organic channels. These campaigns were hugely successful with CNN, CNBC and Fox picking up our content and Pickswise climbing to number one in the google rankings for competitive search terms focused on US sports betting. To highlight just how successful these campaigns were, during the NFL playoff season in 2018 our traffic was c.10k users per month, and by the end of the 2019 regular season we had grown that to c.350k users, and it’s still growing today.

 

  1. The affiliate landscape in the US looks quite a bit different to Europe, where do you feel affiliates can support new US operators?

From our research and experience over the past couple of years we’ve definitely seen an appetite for sports betting content. Bettors are looking for key pre-game and in-game picks and we can offer that full game experience through our bet stimulating content. American sports are stats heavy, even the language used around sporting performance is focused on statistics, and we know that betting tools that provide reliable information using data are popular as sports bettors can make more informed decisions.

It’s also important to educate bettors in the US. A lot of our audience won’t be used to betting online and it’s important to give them a full understanding of what you can bet on and how it differs from the traditional casino or black market gambling. As it’s ever-changing, we also think it’s hugely important for affiliates to inform customers on the regulatory landscape, what sportsbooks are legal, who has licences and how they can place bets. Of course, as with traditional affiliate methods we also want to highlight operator offers and how our customers can open accounts.

  1. It’s a bumper second half of the year for US Sports with the NBA returning at the end of July signifying the start of 5 months of non-stop sport. Do you think this is the opportunity for US operators to convert new customers into sports betting?

We know that sports fans and bettors alike will be hungry for some action. Like when any event gets cancelled, marketing teams would have designated some spend that might be moved to another time of the year and that will likely fall into the new NFL season.

On a practical note, bettors and visitors will have concerns visiting casinos and sportsbooks if the virus is still circulating with the numbers we are seeing in the US at the minute, so we think it’s the perfect opportunity for online sportsbooks to work with affiliates to drive conversions and turnover throughout the second half of the year. With the amount of sport on offer and with a lot of new sports bettors looking for value it is a great time for newer operators to close the gap on DraftKings and Fanduel.

 

  1. The growth of FST and MyRacing in the UK set the bar for Pickswise, just how different was the growth of Pickswise in the US?

We launched FreeSuperTips and MyRacing as social media affiliates first and when we saw the opportunity for growth we repositioned the business to become an SEO first business. We enjoyed incredible success ranking for major football and horse racing tipping keywords once we did this. The combined traffic has grown to over 1 million unique users. We took what we learned from these two ventures to Pickswise.

We focused on SEO first from the outset as we had built the skills and expertise around us, leading to increased traffic and some early success. We now have that solid foundation to build from and we want to grow our brand awareness and enhance the product offering for our customers which will take Pickswise to the next level.

 

  1. Looking beyond what is a very strange 2020, how do you feel the US landscape will evolve as we approach 2021?

As the market and industry grow, we expect three more states to open up before the NFL season begins. And more competition is good for customers, customers will begin to use multiple bookmaker accounts as they begin to trust newer brands. This will be a ‘best product’ wins race and the improvement in the customer experience will help operators stay ahead of the game.

I think the trend of gambling filtering into sports as more teams embrace it will continue. As we’ve seen with the Denver Broncos and Betfred, I’d expect to see more deals between operators and huge franchises. With all this going on it is vital that we as an industry take responsible gambling seriously and put consumer protection in place. We have done an awful lot in the UK on responsible gambling and there is still more to do, this must translate to the US.

 

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AGLC

Casino ATM Scam in Edmonton Reveals Money Laundering and Drug Links

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Law enforcement in Alberta continues to search for the last suspect in a sophisticated fraud operation that targeted ATMs in Edmonton-area casinos and resulted in over CAD 1 million ($720,487) in losses throughout Western Canada.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has confirmed that Hisham Ismaeel, 28, remains at large with a province-wide warrant for his arrest. He faces charges of fraud exceeding $5000 and possessing proceeds of crime. Police have already arrested four other men linked to the scheme. Investigators describe the operation as a well-planned effort to exploit financial systems and clean dirty money.

The accused, Elliot Miao, 42, Van Bau Ta, 39, Hassan Jaafar Haydar Ahmad, 37, and Dennis Jones, 42, showed up in the Alberta Court of Justice last week. They face charges from fraud and money laundering to owning criminal property. Miao also has a narcotics trafficking charge after police found cocaine when they searched with warrants.

Investigators claim the group made coordinated withdrawals at several casino ATMs, timing their transactions to avoid getting caught. This action messed up ATM networks in the area and showed flaws in the systems that banks and casinos use to stop misuse.

The RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region led an investigation that involved six search warrants in Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Service, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), and several banks supported this effort. Officials said the case shows how teamwork between public agencies and the private sector plays a key role in combating modern financial crime.

AGLC representatives pointed out that casino operators in the province must follow strict reporting and surveillance rules under Canada’s anti-money laundering laws. The specific casinos affected remain unnamed, but the Edmonton region has seven licensed facilities. AGLC said its policies helped spot problems and backed the RCMP’s investigation.

Compliance experts say this fraud shows how criminals change their methods to take advantage of weak spots in reporting limits and transaction checks. They claim that casinos, which deal with lots of cash, are still easy targets unless they keep improving their detection systems and teach their front-line workers to notice coordinated actions like several big withdrawals happening one after another.

For now, the case highlights both the money and crime aspects of casino-related fraud. Besides the million-dollar losses, finding drugs during the raids points to a bigger criminal operation where financial crimes and drug dealing overlap.

The post Casino ATM Scam in Edmonton Reveals Money Laundering and Drug Links appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Bragg Gaming

Bragg Confirms Cyber Attack – Hackers Access Internal IT Systems

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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

  • Bragg Gaming Group experienced a cybersecurity breach involving access to internal IT systems.

  • No customer personal data or payment information appears to have been compromised.

  • 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:

  • Network Segmentation to isolate affected systems

  • Enhanced Monitoring of data flows across its Remote Games Server (RGS) platform

  • Security Audits of critical infrastructure, including the Bragg Hub and PAM systems

  • 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.

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AGCO

AGCO Removes Cap on Seller Commission for Charitable Lottery Products

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has updated several lottery policies to remove the cap on seller commission for Paper Raffles and Media Bingo, along with removing the prohibition on Catch the Ace paper lotteries, to align with other charitable lottery products.

Licensed charities may now negotiate commissions directly with sellers and determine commissions, provided they are reasonable and tied to the cost of service provided by the seller.

These updates further the AGCO’s commitment to adopt an outcomes-based regulatory approach and reduce burden for the charitable gaming sector. Local charitable organizations will have greater flexibility to make decisions that best serve their fundraising objectives.

Important Reminders

• Charities must still receive approval for other expenses incurred under their licence and retain receipts for seller commission paid.

• Licensing authorities will not require documentation to be submitted as part of the application process, however, charities are still subject to audit to determine compliance.

• Charities are reminded of their legal requirement to meet their obligations under the Criminal Code and with respect to conducting and managing a charitable gaming scheme.

• As with all licensed charitable lottery events, charities must take the necessary steps to ensure that they are conducting and managing the lottery event within Ontario.

For charitable gaming-related inquiries, email an AGCO Eligibility Officer at [email protected] or call AGCO Customer Service at 1-800-522-2876, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The post AGCO Removes Cap on Seller Commission for Charitable Lottery Products appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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