Welcome to this week’s edition of ONSEC iGaming News Weekly Digest, brought to you by the ONSEC team.
Tailored for online casino operators, sportsbook executives, affiliate managers, and cybersecurity leaders, this digest delivers key updates driving the global gambling industry. In this issue, we explore a projected $198B surge in the sports betting market, the rise of AI-powered personalization and fraud prevention, and Blask’s game visibility dashboard transforming data-driven decisions. We also highlight sweeping regulatory shifts from California to Romania, and a sophisticated Lazarus Group hack targeting a Canadian gambling operator—reminding us that innovation and vigilance must go hand in hand.
Trends and Analytics
- North America Online Gambling Market to Hit $32.95B by 2030
A new report projects the North American online gambling market will reach $32.95 billion by 2030, growing at a 12.2% CAGR, driven by rising demand for digital betting experiences and fintech innovation. Key growth areas include live casino games, mobile platforms, and cryptocurrency integration. Source: Research and Markets - Sports Betting Market Set to Reach $198.5B by 2030
The global sports betting market is projected to grow from $108.9 billion in 2024 to $198.5 billion by 2030, fueled by regulatory reforms, mobile platforms, and emerging technologies like blockchain and VR. As more jurisdictions legalize online betting, onshore platforms and esports wagering are expected to drive the next wave of growth. Source: Research and Markets - BetConstruct Launches Affigates to Revolutionize iGaming Affiliate Marketing
BetConstruct has introduced Affigates, an all-in-one affiliate ecosystem combining program management, AI-driven partner scoring, and a performance-driven network. With over 4,500 affiliates and 630+ active operator partners, the platform is built to scale collaboration and maximize ROI across the iGaming space. Source: Gambling Insider - How AI Is Transforming Online Gambling in 2025
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the iGaming landscape—from real-time odds calculation and personalised game suggestions to smart customer support and advanced fraud detection. As AI continues to evolve, its integration into live dealers, player safety tools, and game development is making platforms more immersive, secure, and efficient than ever.
Source: iGaming Business - Blask Unveils ‘Games’ – A Real-Time Dashboard for iGaming Visibility & Demand
Blask has launched Games, a Nasdaq-style dashboard tracking real-time visibility and player interest in casino titles across five global markets. By combining placement data, search trends, and share-of-interest metrics, the platform empowers operators, providers, and affiliates to make faster, data-driven content and promotion decisions. Source: AGBrief
Law and Regulation
- California Introduces Anti‑Sweepstakes Bill
California lawmakers proposed legislation to prohibit sweepstakes casino operators, barring their business within the state. If passed, this would impact major ‘grey‑market’ sweepstakes brands and set a precedent for U.S. regulatory action. Source: Gaming America - Alberta Aims for iGaming Launch in Early 2026
During the Canadian Gaming Summit, Alberta’s iGaming minister confirmed plans to launch regulated online gambling, with key rules on advertising and taxation to be decided this fall. Alberta would be the second Canadian province to open the market. Source: Covers - Financial Institutions Face Enforcement Over Sweepstakes
U.S. states are targeting not just operators but also banks and payment processors under laws like UIGEA. Financial services may face fines or legal action for facilitating sweepstakes-based games in jurisdictions like Florida and New York.
Source: Nelson Mullins - Spain’s Marketing Restrictions Slash New Accounts by 55% Spain’s marketing ban and prohibition on welcome bonuses (introduced in 2020) resulted in a 55% drop in new online gambling accounts between 2020 and 2023, stabilizing around 1.35 million new accounts last year. The regulatory intervention has had a lasting impact on player acquisition and industry marketing strategies. Source: Sigma
- Romania Forces Meta & Google to Remove Illegal Gambling Ads Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) has directed Meta and Google to take down ads for unlicensed gambling operators, targeting promotions in search results and social feeds. This exemplifies how regulators are enforcing compliance through tech platforms, not just operators. Source: Next
Hacks and Data Breaches
- Lazarus Group Hacks Canadian iGaming Firm via Zoom Scam North Korea–linked BlueNoroff, a subset of the Lazarus Group, breached a Canadian online gambling operator by impersonating Zoom support during a video call. They convinced an employee to run a malicious “audio repair” script, installing infostealer malware that exfiltrated browser data, crypto wallet credentials, and personal files. Impact: Highlights sophisticated social-engineering tactics targeting iGaming staff, with potential compromise of internal systems and financial assets. Source: Vegas Slots Online
- 16 Billion Credentials Exposed in Record-Breaking Infostealer Breach Cybernews uncovered a massive cache—16 billion login credentials—sourced from infostealer malware. While not exclusive to gambling, many credentials likely belong to iGaming users and staff. The leak elevates risks of phishing, account takeover, and credential stuffing attacks across online gambling platforms.Impact: Underlines urgent need for operators to enforce strong authentication (2FA), credential hygiene, and proactive monitoring. Source: Cybernews
- Continued Focus on iGaming Cybersecurity Best Practices A new analysis from London Daily News emphasizes “next-gen” iGaming cybersecurity—promoting AI-driven anomaly detection, zero-trust frameworks, and bot-resistant systems amid rising attack volumes. Impact: Signals industry-wide mandate to upgrade legacy infrastructure and strengthen security posture. Source: LondonDaily
Final Words
As the global iGaming landscape accelerates—with expanding markets, evolving regulations, and rising cyber threats—staying ahead requires more than just adaptation. It demands insight. From AI-driven innovations to policy crackdowns and data breaches, the past week underscores the need for smarter strategy, sharper compliance, and stronger defenses.
If you found this digest valuable, share it with your peers across the industry. Together, we can build a more secure, responsible, and future-ready iGaming ecosystem.
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