Connect with us
MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2024

Latest News

Exclusive Q&A with Alex Morgan-Moodie, Senior Director, Worldpay

Published

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

We talk here with a passionate gaming industry professional, mainly about the risks of fraud.

Alex Morgan-Moodie, who currently holds the position of Senior Director, Vertical Growth focusing on Gaming Vertical at Worldpay, offers insightful and precise answers about various facets of fraud.

 

Q. We usually start with a quick bio. Our readers love it. Could you briefly narrate how you landed in the gaming industry and progressed?

A. I started in the gaming industry back in 2009 when I joined PokerStars as an analyst in the payments team. I was soon learning about payment trends and regulatory complexity from Europe to the US, Latin America and other emerging markets. From there I was hooked and after roles in product delivery and corporate development (including working on the integration of Sky Betting & Gaming into the group in 2018 and preparation for the company’s subsequent acquisition by Flutter) I moved to Worldpay to lead our global Gaming vertical strategy.  The role felt made for me and I haven’t looked back. My role may have expanded since I joined, but the gaming industry remains my passion.

Q. You joined Worldpay Gaming in September 2020. Could you describe your role and responsibilities?

A. As I mentioned, my role entails defining the strategy for Worldpay’s presence in the Gaming industry together with my team. We support the commercial teams by defining our value proposition, keeping them abreast of trends and developments, and partner with our account managers to support our tier-1 customers in mid to long-range planning. We also work with Legal and Risk to explore new markets and help Product to define the gaming-specific product roadmap. Finally, we are the team that ensure Worldpay shows up at key events – ICE, G2E or our own merchant workshops for example. As you can see, it’s pretty varied but the vertical itself is hugely important to Worldpay – we’ve been supporting customers here for over 20 years and have masses of experience working within operators themselves as well as being payments partners.

Q. You are talking about global digital fraud in London ICE – especially about how digital fraud in the gaming sector increasing even while the incidence of overall global fraud shows signs of decline. What do you think are the reasons why the gaming sector seems particularly vulnerable to fraud?

A. I think the story around fraud is an interesting one because we see fraud attempts in ecommerce increasing generally across the globe, driven in part by the shift online as people have reduced their in-person spending and usage of cash, so with more transactions online, there is more data. With that said, the increase of fraud in the gaming sector appears to be driven by the competitive nature of new, emerging markets and the types of bonus offers we’ve seen, such as in the US in order to gain market share. This leads to ‘friendly fraud’ or ‘bonus abuse’ where opportunists will attempt to create several accounts in order to take advantage of multiple offers. Thankfully, operators in general manage large teams and develop bespoke tools that go some way to managing that risk – but it is certainly a drag on growth.

Q. What are the challenges and opportunities in front of gaming entrepreneurs in balancing the risk of fraud versus the need to provide an amazingly seamless end-user experience?

A. Gaming consumers are savvy and demanding, and this means their expectations around user experience are high. Seamless and real-time are the key tenets and any additional checks – whether they are regulatory requirements, for fraud or in order to protect players for safer gambling purposes – need to fit into that seamless experience as far as possible. This means identifying tools that can operate in real-time whilst minimising the need for manual intervention. Thankfully payment solutions have come a long way since I first joined the industry and we are now able to offer solutions to ensure how a player pays or withdraws winnings is seamless and real-time wherever possible – something our research tells us drives loyalty for customers, which is essential when the marketplace is as competitive as it is.

Q. Now, tell us about the recent Worldpay FIS Global Gaming Payments Report. What are the key insights from that report that explores payments habits in over 40 markets and real-time payment trends?

A. The GGPR is a much-anticipated round up of industry trends and payments information. So it’s a pleasure to be responsible for its delivery after years as an avid reader. This year, as well as the usual country profiles on key established and emerging markets in the industry, we’ve also done deep dives into trends such as the emergent fraud challenges mentioned above, as well as the opportunity presented by omnichannel gaming as users have returned to physical stores and suddenly operators want a single view of their customers across all of their physical and online stores. We also tackle the opportunities presented by improvements in virtual reality technology that will potentially give rise to gaming metaverses of the future, and our thoughts on how the industry is adapting to cryptocurrency/blockchain technology.

Q. Could you talk about the innovations and strategies Worldpay has adopted or planning to adopt to curb the growing fraud in the gaming sector?

A. At Worldpay, our role is to develop tools that augment operators’ in-house solutions and provide yet more data points to help them identify and prevent fraud. We have seen huge success in the sector with our new Fraudsight tool, which uses machine learning to review the billions of transactions Worldpay is processing per annum and continuously update a set of configurable fraud rules for operators to help flag and prevent fraud, providing yet another layer of protection. This is already in the market with significant adoption in the gambling industry, and we’re continuing to find innovative ways of curbing fraud in the gaming sector.

Q. New Neural Language Models (NLM) applications are emerging after the news-making launch of OpenAi’s ChatGPT. How do you view such developments in the machine-learning sector with respect to the risk of fraud in the gaming sector?

A. As mentioned above, Fraudsight is already harnessing machine learning to improve how it identifies fraud. Beyond that, I think the possibility to harness AI technology advancements to refine existing tools and identify new ones is almost limitless. We invest in product innovation teams that are focused on identifying exactly that; so there are lots more to come!

 

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

Continue Reading
Advertisement


MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2024
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Latest News

Soft2Bet Presents CampoBet.dk: Its Latest Casino and Sportsbook in Denmark

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Soft2Bet, a leading provider of technical solutions for online betting, announces the launch of CampoBet in Denmark for mobile and desktop users. Already an industry award-winning brand, CampoBet is now available under the name CampoBet.dk for Danish users, offering them a comprehensive betting experience across 30 different sports.

The CampoBet brand provides some of the best odds in the market on more than ten million sporting events per year and with a full range of pre-match and live betting options. In addition to its sportsbook offering, CampoBet also offers more than 3,000 casino games to its players including the best live casino products complete with high-quality production values and top-level professional dealers.

CampoBet.dk players will also have access to Soft2Bet’s award-winning Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), the best gamification platform in iGaming, and will be able to take part in weekly challenges and rewards to enhance their playing experience with intelligent and engaging content.

All this is available through CampoBet.dk’s easy-to-navigate UI, providing a quality experience for players that is focused on simplicity and seamless payments for both new and experienced bettors.

“CampoBet.dk is an innovative online platform that offers a comprehensive betting experience and we are delighted to introduce it to our Danish customers,” the Chief Product Officer for Soft2Bet, Yoel Zuckerberg, said. “The user interface is fast, simple and flexible so that players can access their favourite betting markets and casino products with ease and make CampoBet.dk a firm favourite among iGaming enthusiasts in Denmark.”

CampoBet is already active in Malta and Sweden with CampoBet. com and CampoBet.se respectively and the launch of CampoBet.dk marks a significant milestone in Soft2Bet’s expansion into Denmark and the Nordics region in general. Both Soft2Bet and CampoBet have been shortlisted for prestigious industry awards in recent years and this year Soft2Bet’s gamification platform MEGA won the award for In-House Innovation of the Year at the EGR Nordics Awards.

CampoBet’s mobile app will also shortly be available to Danish Android and iOS users. For more information, please visit www. CampoBet.dk.

The post Soft2Bet Presents CampoBet.dk: Its Latest Casino and Sportsbook in Denmark appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Thunderkick Unveils Sequel to Top-Performing Game with Midas Golden Touch 2

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Latest release features wild multipliers, Gift of Midas feature and thrilling bonus game

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has announced the launch of Midas Golden Touch 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2019 original.

This latest release invites players to rediscover an enchanted realm where everything King Midas touches turns to gold. The 3×5 video slot boasts 15 paylines and showcases Thunderkick’s signature high-quality design and innovative features.

In the base game, players can trigger the Gift of Midas feature at random, adding up to nine wild symbols or up to three scatter symbols to the reels. Wild symbols carry multipliers from 2x up to 32x based on the number of wilds in a winning payline.

Landing three or more scatters triggers the lucrative bonus game where any win activates a sticky re-spin feature. During re-spins, winning symbols lock in place while the rest of the reels re-spin, continuing until no additional winning symbols appear.

The Epic Wild symbol, starting with a 2x multiplier, is also added to the reels at the start of each free spin. Collecting three scatters during the bonus game doubles the Epic Wild multiplier up to 32x and awards two extra free spins.

Midas Golden Touch 2 also introduces new BET+ options, allowing players to increase their chances of triggering the bonus game. For an additional cost, spins can be 2x or 5x more likely to activate the coveted bonus game.

This release sees Thunderkick continue to develop high-quality, dynamic slots that have contributed to its significant growth, with recent releases Xterminate and 12 Bolts of Thunder receiving impressive player engagement rates.

“We’re excited to invite players back to King Midas’ kingdom with this feature-rich sequel,” the Game Product Owner for Thunderkick, Mike Collins, said. “With Midas Golden Touch 2, we want to offer a visually immersive journey filled with golden treasures and big win potential.

“Features such as the new BET+ options add an extra layer of choice and excitement. The original Midas Golden Touch was a player favourite and we believe this follow-up will resonate strongly with customers and operators worldwide.”

The post Thunderkick Unveils Sequel to Top-Performing Game with Midas Golden Touch 2 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

F1 Star Joins SOFTSWISS as LatAm Non-Executive Director: Key Highlights

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

On the eve of SiGMA Americas, the largest iGaming show in the region, SOFTSWISS, a leading global software supplier with 15 years of experience, introduced the racing legend Rubens Barrichello as its Non-Executive Director in Latin America. Local press, influencers, and industry representatives attended the unveiling event, expressing broad interest in SOFTSWISS as the company actively expands its presence in the region.

During the official introduction, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, and Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, shared the company’s plans for the Brazilian market, commented on the local gambling regulations, and answered questions about Barrichello’s role within SOFTSWISS.

Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, expressed his excitement about the significant milestone, saying: “This marks a thrilling chapter for us. It’s an extraordinary day for me personally as I’ve been a Formula 1 fan since 1994, my teenage years. Welcoming Rubens to our team feels like a dream come true.”

Rubens Barrichello, now serving as SOFTSWISS’ Non-Executive Director in Latin America, highlighted his deep connection to the company’s values. “I am new to this role but no stranger to challenges. In racing, the goal is always to win, but knowing when to step back and why things didn’t go as planned is important. I see responsible gaming in a similar manner. It is about knowing your limits and pushing forward to improve. I’m here to bring that mindset to our team.”

In light of the ever-evolving news about gambling regulation, Montik commented: “We are looking forward to the final version of the Brazilian law, expected to be unveiled this July. Understanding the regulatory landscape will guide our efforts to adapt to software requirements and bring solutions to the market. We aim to collaborate closely with local operators and businesses, empowering them with robust software tools tailored to their needs.”

Addressing security concerns, Ivan Montik emphasised: “Ensuring the security of our software solution has always been paramount. It’s been a core strength for us since the beginning. Throughout our journey in the industry, we have maintained a clean record with no cases of software hacks, of which I am proud. Our software undergoes rigorous testing by international laboratories like GLI, meeting many cybersecurity standards. We not only meet but exceed these requirements because fraudulent activities and hacker attacks constantly target the gaming industry.”

Rubens Barrichello’s appointment as Non-Executive Director in Latin America signifies a pivotal strategic step for SOFTSWISS, particularly in Brazil’s rapidly expanding market. With projections from TGM Research indicating that by 2026, Brazil’s iGaming industry could yield gross revenues of 2.3 billion euro, potentially accounting for 1% of Brazil’s GDP, which stands at 1.5 trillion euro.

 

About SOFTSWISS 

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

The post F1 Star Joins SOFTSWISS as LatAm Non-Executive Director: Key Highlights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending

We are constantly showing banners about important news regarding events and product launches. Please turn AdBlock off in order to see these areas.