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Betting firms have responsibility to tackle esports corruption
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Gambling companies have a responsibility to stamp out corruption in esports, according to one betting industry official.
The reputation of esports has been harmed by scandals including match-fixing, cheating and underage gambling.
Recent examples include CSGO player forsaken being banned after using a hack in an ESL Premiership event and Clash Royale payer Jimit Bhatt being suspended for 12 months for cheating.
Lars Lien, founder and CEO of esports betting operator Luckbox.com, says the legitimate operators in the gambling industry have a duty to help clean up the reputation of esports.
Luckbox is a member of the Esports Integrity Coalition, which works to maintain standards in esports.
Lien said: “Gambling will happen and it’s a matter of making sure that responsible operators work together to stamp out match-fixing and to help prevent it. We have an integral role in eliminating that from our world.
“This is why we’re part of ESIC, where we and other responsible operators share suspicious alerts. So if we see betting patterns that are not consistent with a normal match, we report to ESIC and they will investigate the event in question. They work with tournament organisers, teams, they educate players, they work to stamp it out.”
Players need to understand the risks
Luckbox holds an Isle Of Man gambling licence, which offers esports fans the highest levels of security and protection to bet on Dota 2, CSGO and League Of Legends.
Lien said it was also important for esports fans to be aware of the risks when choosing where to bet.
He said: “Recently, there’s a Reddit post that a gaming company stole $500 from them. There might be legitimate reasons for seizing the funds of a customer, because match-fixing is a problem in every sport, including esports.
“That gambling company might have very good reasons for seizing funds but the difference is if that company had a good licence, the customer would be able to go to the Gaming Commission, file a formal complaint and the Gaming Commission would help the customer get the money back if that seizure was unwarranted. There’s legal recourse.
“Operators in jurisdictions such as Curacao, Cyprus, many others. There’s no recourse. I could borrow a Curacao licence if I wanted to.
“Esports has seen the skin-betting scandals where operators have let 12-year-olds play using their parents’ credit cards. Children don’t have the same understanding of gambling risks. Even with adults, you will have problematic behaviour.
“Betting should enhance your experience, it should not be the experience. If someone loses their house, that’s a bad thing, of course.
“This is also part of the distinction between the good guys and the bad guys. We have deposit limits, we have responsible gaming limits, we will make sure our players are over 18 and we will be looking for problematic behaviour, so we can help people not spend more on gambling than they can afford.”
Learning from the best
Lien said he was motivated to obtain the Isle of Man licence after working at PokerStars, which is also based on the island. In 2011, the US government banned online poker and PokerStars was able to return funds to players while rival Full Tilt collapsed.
Lien said: “You can either be one of the good guys, that has a proper licence, where all of the player funds are segregated from the funds of the company.
“We have what’s called a ‘client account’, which is similar to what a lawyer would have to keep the funds of their clients, that’s completely legally and physically separated from the funds of the business.
“I worked for PokerStars and the Department of Justice, in the US, decided they wanted to shut down the poker scene. They filed complaints against PokerStars and one of the competitors, Full Tilt. What happened?
“PokerStars, because they had taken licensing seriously from day one – they actively and intentionally got the strictest gambling licence in the world (the Isle of Man) – and as a consequence of that they were forced into having good corporate governance, good structures, good compliance. They were forced into doing things right and Full Tilt did not.
“So when the Department of Justice pulled the rug from under the industry, FullTilt collapsed. Customers couldn’t get their money, everything was black, no one understood how they would get their money back. They didn’t have the money, PokerStars did and paid everyone back in a matter of weeks.”
Make sure to view the video where, Lars Lien, CEO of Luckbox, discusses the role of betting in the esports industry, and how proper regulation can solve the issues that it raises.
About Luckbox
Luckbox was founded by former PokerStars colleagues Lars Lien and Mike Stevens. Luckbox was built by a team combining vast experience in the igaming industry and a passion for esports to offer players unique and highly social platform for CSGO gambling, Dota 2 and League of Legends betting. Real Time Games Holding Limited – the company behind the Luckbox brand – holds a full licence under the Online Gambling Regulation Act (OGRA), issued by the Gaming Supervision Commission. Luckbox is a proud member of ESIC and is committed to supporting responsible gambling.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Betting firms have responsibility to tackle esports corruption
Ygam and TSB Bank have joined forces to help increase understanding of in-game spending and help young gamers manage their money with confidence.
Ygam and TSB Bank have joined forces to help increase understanding of in-game spending and help young gamers manage their money with confidence.
As part of this collaboration, they have co-created specialist educational resources for schools. Developed with Ygam’s expertise and delivered by TSB Bank staff as part of their school’s programme which runs throughout the UK, the module aims to provide young gamers with practical guidance on managing their money and understanding potential financial risks while gaming.
A recent Censuswide survey of over 2,000 young gamers, commissioned by TSB, found that while the average initial cost of a game is £32, gamers spend an average of £540 annually on in-game purchases and subscriptions. Nearly half (47%) of those who spend money in-game feel they have little or no control over their spending while playing.
Linda Scollins Smith, Director of Programmes at Ygam, said: “Gaming now plays a central role in young people’s lives, offering significant benefits. However, it is always important to safeguard against the risks, and the increasing sophistication of game monetisation through microtransactions and in-game purchases underscores the need for education on this issue. We are delighted to be working with TSB to support their school programmes, combining financial education with gaming education, to help young gamers develop healthy habits and navigate the digital world safely.”
Kate Osiadacz, Head of Responsible Business, TSB, said: “Gaming is often one of young people’s first interactions with spending or managing their money digitally; so we’re pleased to be working with Ygam to reach young people with targeted advice. Our Money Confident schools programme greatly benefits from Ygam’s insight – and we’re keen help empower the next generation to make informed decisions for their financial lives ahead.”
According to a 2024 Mumsnet survey commissioned by Ygam, 88% of parents in the UK believe schools should provide education on gaming, despite only 35% reporting that their children currently do. Furthermore, 99% of these parents think this education should begin by the end of Key Stage 2.
Alongside developing educational resources, Ygam and TSB Bank will collaborate on a range of initiatives throughout 2025 to raise awareness of this issue and support families in avoiding unexpected costs from gaming.
For more information about Ygam and our portfolio of education programmes, please visit our training pages or email [email protected].
The post Ygam team up with TSB Bank appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
MixRift unveils brand new strategic PvP arena gaming experience
MixRift, an innovative mixed reality (MR) gaming developer, today announced the official launch of Battle Orb, a competitive strategy game which invites players to challenge each other and transform their physical surroundings into dynamic battlefields. Available now for Meta Quest platforms, Battle Orb represents the next evolution in mutli-player MR gaming.
A first PvP game for MixRift, Battle Orb allows players to step into immersive arenas where physical and digital worlds collide. Skill meets chaos in this fast-paced multiplayer strategy game, which challenges players to aim, shoot, and dominate with speed and precision across customized battlefields, combining tactical thinking with physics-based gameplay. Every hit counts as players collide, strategise and outplay opponents from around the world, from the comfort of their own homes. Players can compete in 2-player or 4-player battles, earn trophies, unlock and upgrade powerful units, and master unique arenas to climb the leaderboard.
“With Battle Orb, we’re not just launching a game, we’re basically turning your living room into a fantasy battleground.” said Bobby Voicu, CEO of MixRift. “We wanted to create something where anyone can jump in and start having fun in seconds, but that you could also master and keep replaying. I think this is what the future of gaming looks like, and it’s a blast!”
Key Features:
- HD Graphics: Cutting-edge MR design technology creates a truly immersive gaming experience
- Creative Character Options: Choose from tens of monsters, creatures, and cartoons to play with – each one zanier than the last
- Real-Time PvP Action: Face-off in 2-player or 4-player matches full of high-stakes action
- Physics Meets Strategy: Master the perfect angle, power, and timing to outmaneuver opponents, and perfect your shots to climb through the ranks
- Unique Units & Powers: Earn wins and open loot chests to unlock and upgrade special characters and abilities
- Environmental Integration: Scale your battlefield to fit any space, turning living rooms into competitive arenas
- Competitive Progression: Climb global leaderboards through a rewarding rank system and prove you’re the righteous winner
The game’s intuitive controls ensure players of all skill levels can jump in immediately, while the strategic elements provide long-term engagement for competitive gamers. Battle Orb’s intuitive and quick matchmaking system means players are matched with others in similar ranks within seconds.
Battle Orb has been designed with comfort and safety in mind, earning a “Comfortable” rating and PEGI 3 classification, making it appropriate for players of all ages while still delivering compelling gameplay for serious competitors.
“We’ve created Battle Orb to be a really special mixed-reality competitive experience,” said Voicu. “The way it transforms your physical environment into a strategic battlefield creates moments of gaming magic that simply aren’t possible in traditional formats.”
Availability:
Battle Orb is available now on the Meta Quest Store for Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 2 platforms. The game requires an internet connection for its online features.
For more information, visit https://mixrift.com/ or follow MixRift on social media for updates, tournaments, and community highlights.
The post Physics-Based Strategy Meets Mixed Reality: Battle Orb Redefines Competitive Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Blask, the AI-powered analytics ecosystem for the iGaming industry, has added nine new countries to its Market Overview dashboard — bringing total coverage to 55 global jurisdictions. The latest update significantly strengthens the platform’s insights across Tier 1 and established markets.
Newly added countries include the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and France. These markets are now fully available inside Blask’s Market Overview dashboard, with access to key performance indicators:
- Blask Index – a general signal of overall brand activity in the market
- BAP (Brand Accumulated Power) – reflects audience interest based on search trends and engagement
- APS (Acquisition Power Score) – measures how effective a brand is at acquiring new users
- CEB (Competitive Earning Baseline) – estimates a brand’s potential earnings within its competitive environment
“This expansion sharpens our coverage where it matters most,” said Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask. “Tier 1 markets are where competition is toughest — and decisions need to be backed by data. With these additions, Blask gives operators a clearer edge in navigating regulated, high-value regions.”
The Market Overview dashboard is designed to help operators, suppliers, and affiliates benchmark brand performance at the country level, track market dynamics, and spot early trends.
This release follows previous expansions into Asia, Latin America, and Africa, as Blask continues to respond to user demand for reliable, granular insights across the global iGaming landscape.
The post Blask expands Market Overview dashboard with 10 new countries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ygam team up with TSB Bank
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