John Engates is an expert in the field of networking, hosting, Internet, Cloud computing and networking industries. He is currently Field CTO at Clouflare.

What measures have the gaming sector taken to ensure the cybersecurity of its users?

iGaming operators have largely adopted cybersecurity measures commonly seen in sectors involving financial transactions and user funds (e.g. financial applications, e-commerce).

As the digitisation of the iGaming industry attracts hackers aiming to steal player funds, or personal data, regulators and operators alike recognise the importance of prioritising player safety and funds security. However, as the threat landscape continues to evolve, there is no definitive endpoint in enhancing awareness and improving procedures and security tooling. Investing in cybersecurity is critical to maintaining brand reputation, ensuring a positive client experience online, avoiding hefty fines and safeguarding the overall financial health of the company.

Operators often employ resource-heavy teams, or rely on multiple vendors, to help fight fraud. What impact does this have on the players’ transaction experience? How can this process be improved?

Ensuring robust fraud prevention and player security should not come at the expense of increased latency, or poor customer experience. Operators must carefully consider the security measures they implement, as well as the player verification steps integrated into the customer journey: from player login to funds cash-out. Operators have numerous options to choose from, with some catering to local market regulations and others offering cloud-based solutions suitable for global operations.

Achieving the ideal customer experience requires balancing these various requirements. Operators must consider methods for 2FA, KYC solutions, Captchas, password recovery, and blocking malicious traffic from the application. For each solution, they need to evaluate its design, effectiveness, cost, ease of use, implementation time and compatibility with current architecture, or long-term security strategy.  Selecting the right security vendor and design should involve a thorough analysis of these factors.

How can Machine-learning and AI-driven tools help operators fight fraud on a global scale?

AI and Machine-learning can play a crucial role in identifying fraudulent patterns in incoming internet requests or player behaviour.

AI and ML enable earlier, more intelligent, and more automated fraud detection — at a significantly reduced cost. With millions of BOT attacks occurring every minute, it’s unfeasible for humans to assess each request and make the right determination in a timely manner. AI and Machine-learning not only serve as preventive measures but also improve incident response time by continuously gathering data and intelligence. The effectiveness of these ML/AI tools depends on the quality and diversity of the data, as well as the fine-tuning of the AI models.

Source: iGamingFuture – iGaming News