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Former US legislator likens online poker to terrorism
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Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. Senator from Arkansas, has compared online poker games to terrorism. She is working for a group funded to prevent or delay the casino industry from going online wrote this in an op-ed piece for the Financial Times.
She urged the Congress to revisit the 1961 Wire Act and institute an online gaming ban. She also cited a 2017 FBI Internet Crime Report that listed “victim counts” for the entire spectrum of internet activity.
“The FBI’s 2017 Internet Crime Report revealed that the victim count and financial losses suffered as a result of online gambling surpassed that of terrorism-related cybercrimes last year,” Blanche, a Democrat, wrote. “It is this clear pattern of targeting the helpless that stands out to me.”
However, a look at the report reveals the fear mongering.
In the FBI report, internet gambling was actually close to the bottom (no. 31 of 33) in terms of the number of victims in 2017. According to the FBI, there were 203 victims of internet gambling-related cybercrimes. There were 177 from terrorism-related cybercrimes. The number of online gaming victims was less than half the number of victims of charity-related cybercrimes. Per the FBI data, there were 24 times as many victims of malware or ransomware in 2017 than there were for internet betting. There were nearly 90 times as many victims of identity theft.
The FBI report listed internet lottery and sweepstakes-related cyberscams separately from the gambling category. There were more than 3000 victims of lottery cyberscams.
As for the financial loss, there were $19,000 in losses from terrorism-related cybercrimes, the FBI said. Online gambling was just under $600,000, but again near the bottom of the list. Losses from iLottery schemes were $16.8 million.
Calls to restore the Wire Act, which the Obama Department of Justice greatly watered down in 2011, have been around for about five years, ever since Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson called internet gaming a “toxin.” Adelson backs the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling. The billionaire casino boss once famously declared that he would “spend whatever it takes” to convince Congress to ban online casinos.
Included in past discussions to ban online gaming was an idea to give state-sanctioned online lotteries a carve-out. So far, six of the 45 lottery states have internet lottery offerings, while just three (Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware) have regulated internet poker. Offshore online casinos operate in grey or black markets in many other states.
The U.S. lottery industry had sales of $73.3 billion in 2017, up 1.4 per cent compared to 2016. Internet-based iLottery sales were $176 million, up 30 per cent compared to 2016. Lincoln’s op-ed calling for an online poker prohibition did not mention the lottery.
Lincoln was one of nearly 100 Senators to back the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which dealt a blow to the poker boom of the mid-2000s.
In mid-May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot force states to enforce a ban on sports betting. A handful of states have legalised sports betting thanks to SCOTUS’ interest in the case. Many, if not all, future sports betting states will at least consider allowing bets to be placed over the web.
“With states having been given the freedom to legalise online betting — and the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing states to offer sports betting — I am tremendously concerned about the rise of online gambling in our country,” Blanche wrote.
Source: cardplayer.com
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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Soft2Bet, a leading provider of iGaming turnkey solutions, has been nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 by Romania Gaming Celebration 11 – Casino Inside Gala Awards. The nomination highlights Soft2Bet’s continued investment in the country and its ability to deliver highly localised and high-performing solutions for local operators and players, powered by its proprietary gamification engine, MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application).
This nomination is the latest in a series of achievements in the Romanian market, highlighting Soft2Bet’s data-driven iGaming solutions for player retention. Previously, the company was honoured as the Best iGaming Solutions Provider in Romania at the 12th Reunion of Gambling Professionals. Furthermore, its local brand, Don.ro, secured the title of Best New Launch of 2024 at the same event, and in the process showcased how its approach to creating compelling brands specifically tailored for Romanian players is highly successful.
Don.ro has rapidly established itself as one of Romania’s most recognisable online entertainment platforms. Its success is built on a highly intuitive user experience (UX), a comprehensive range of casino and sportsbook options, and strategic, locally focused marketing campaigns. In addition, Don.ro has strengthened its brand appeal and established strong trust with Romanian players thanks to its partnership with the CFR Cluj 1907 football club, in the process contributing to local sports.
Don.ro uses Soft2Bet’s advanced MEGA technology to boost player engagement with missions, challenges and personalised rewards. This proprietary technology also ensures responsible gaming. MEGA allows operators to customise player experiences, rewards and activation triggers to fit local market needs. These features increase engagement, retention and long-term value for both casino and sports betting platforms.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, stated: “Being nominated in the Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 category is a clear recognition of all the work our teams have accomplished with Don.ro and confirmation of the success in Romania. Our focus is on building locally relevant experiences, powered by MEGA and supported by strong compliance and design standards. We are proud of what we are achieving in Romania and remain committed to bringing quality iCasino engagement tactics and long-term strategies to our players.”
The post Soft2Bet Nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship soccer products are now live online in Romania with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.
Highlight’s premium SOCCERBET games which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers in Romania via its Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna Romania brands. Available iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to see our SOCCERBET portfolio go live with FEG in Romania. This launch represents another significant milestone in our expansion across regulated European markets, and we look forward to building on our partnership with Fortuna and bringing even more compelling content to its customers in the months ahead.’
Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘We are excited to introduce Highlight Games’ SOCCERBET products to our Romanian customers. The combination of authentic archive football footage and innovative gameplay brings something genuinely fresh to the market and perfectly complements our existing portfolio. At FEG, we are committed to offering players the best and most engaging experiences available, and this partnership with Highlight Games supports that mission. We anticipate a strong reaction from players and see great potential for continued collaboration.’
The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Atlaslive has been shortlisted for three categories at the European iGaming Awards 2026: Best Customer Service Award, Best Sportsbetting Innovation, and Best iGaming Platform Supplier.
The European iGaming Awards is held annually during ICE Barcelona and brings together companies shaping the future of sportsbook and casino technology. The 2026 ceremony will take place on 19 January 2026 in Barcelona, recognising providers whose work has gained strong industry attention during the year.
Atlaslive’s shortlisting reflects a year of steady product improvement, new sportsbook features, and strengthened service operations. The company has focused on creating tools that support operator growth while keeping platform setup flexible and transparent.
“The shortlist recognizes the work our people do every day. Most improvements never make it into headlines, but together they shape the experience our partners and their players have every day. Being named in three categories tells us that this everyday work matters.”
—Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO, Atlaslive
About the European iGaming Awards
Organized by Datateam Business Media, the European iGaming Awards highlight companies that bring reliable products, thoughtful features, and stable services to the sector. Finalists are selected by a panel of industry professionals, with winners announced during the awards ceremony held alongside ICE Barcelona.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive is a global B2B iGaming platform provider offering sportsbook and casino technology built for high-load environments. The company focuses on product quality, platform stability, and open communication with operators worldwide.
This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive, formerly known as Atlas-IAC, underwent a rebranding campaign in May 2024. It is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
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