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Latin America – The New Frontier of iGaming

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It’s been four years since Colombia became the first country in Latin America to establish a local licensing regime for online gaming, unlocking the potential of an entire continent. Since then, several countries in the region have followed suit while others are still exploring the possibility to regulate igaming.

As the trailblazer in the region, Colombia has done an excellent job of creating a market where licensed operators are allowed to thrive. Players have access to a wide product offering, including both sports betting and online casino games, and are safeguarded by sound player protection measures. The challenge for any regulated jurisdiction is to strike that balance between establishing attractive market conditions while introducing necessary regulatory measures that are not too stringent or cumbersome to scare away operators and content suppliers. It goes without saying that to have a well-regulated market, you need to appeal to operators targeting the country while offering players the products they desire in order to keep the black market to a minimum and ensure maximum protection of consumers.

Colombia’s success also lies in the approach of its gaming regulator, Coljuegos, to engage with industry stakeholders and respond to their concerns. A perfect example is its recent quick response to the challenges arising from the COVID-19 outbreak when the regulator introduced a series of measures to help steer the gaming industry through the crisis. No regulation is perfect, however, and in Colombia, the requirement for operators to store data locally has proved challenging. Nevertheless, the market’s legislation sets a benchmark for other countries in Latin America looking to regulate internet gambling.

Greentube entered the Colombian market in 2019 and we have been quick to gain market share, now partnering with four operators in the country and seeing great interest in our content. For Greentube, it has been a learning curve, having experience in multiple European markets, and entering a completely new region that differs in many ways. Most importantly for us, players in Colombia have a preference for table games and video bingo in addition to the traditional slot games which are popular in most European markets. The bulk of our content portfolio in Europe is based on our classic titles, known from land-based venues, and fruit games. Yet in Colombia, although iconic slots like Sizzling Hot deluxe, Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe, and Apollo – God of the Sun are part of the favourites, other games like Royal Crown Roulette, Royal Crown Blackjack, and 1-2-3 Bingo are topping the list.

After making a strong entrance in Colombia, we were thrilled to also have launched in Paraguay this spring with local operator Il Palazzo. Being on the doorstep of Argentina and Brazil, the region’s two biggest economies, the market offers huge potential for growth both within the country and beyond its borders. Our land-based content has for many years proven successful with local players and so we expect our online adaptions will be equally popular. Paraguay is an important step in our South American strategy, and we are looking forward to expanding our business there as a means for further international growth.

Greentube is also keeping a close eye on the developments in several other countries in Latin America where discussions around regulating online casino gaming are taking place. Our next pending market entry is Mexico where we have struck a deal with the leading local operator. Greentube’s strategy is to operate only in regulated markets, which ensures we act in a legal and compliant matter but moreover, gives us an advantage when establishing new partnerships. As most major operators choose to be active only in legal markets, they prefer to cooperate with suppliers that also comply with the regulation. Equally important before entering any market is the growth potential; the strategic fit of our product and the availability of established distribution channels and platform providers. From our experience and based on the popularity of our games in the region’s land-based casino segments, we believe that Latin America has the potential to become one of our core regions and we continue to explore every opportunity with great excitement.

 

Written by: Markus Antl – Head of Sales and Key Account Management at Greentube

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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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