Welcome to The Supplier Supplement by SBC Media, shining a light on some of the most interesting and thought provoking industry commentary from suppliers throughout the week. Each week, SBC Media’s Craig Davies, Charlie Horner and Fernando Noodt will walk through the quotes, highlight the stories that matter most and offer thoughts on how supplier voices are contributing to some of iGaming’s biggest talking points. 

Safer Gambling Week may have ended almost two week’s ago across the UK, however, within the wider industry the debate rages on, as the spotlight is placed on Africa in addition to the role quantum computing can play regarding such issues. 

Elsewhere, one of the industry’s favourite talking points of the year bookmarks our latest edition, with the AI euphoria certainly showing no sign of subsiding any time soon. EveryMatrix steps up first to address how the ongoing fight to combat bonus abuse.

Closing the door to fraudsters

As the tactics and techniques deployed by criminal enterprises become ever more sophisticated, manual reviews are no longer effective enough to protect promo budget leaks, says Stian Enger, Head of Casino at EveryMatrix.

In conversation with iGaming Expert, he outlines how Bonus Guardian, as part of the EngageSuite product portfolio, helps operators protect those budgets, offer better bonuses to genuine players and, ultimately, protect their bottom line.

“Many operators still rely on manual checks and rigid rule-based systems, but they no longer match the scale or sophistication of today’s techniques,” he says.

“This kind of fraud isn’t new, yet it remains underestimated. Too many operators treat it as a ‘cost of doing business’, assuming the financial impact is negligible. That assumption no longer holds.”

Don’t sleep on Africa forever

1xBet’s Strategic Advisor Simon Westbury explains to SBC News just why the industry must stop labelling the continent as beacon of future potential, when the reality is that it is the here and now.

Speaking ahead of the the African Cup of Nations, which gets underway later this month, the biggest challenge of player protection, opportunities that Africa offers, and how operators can properly localise to be in tune with African bettors, all fall on the radar.

“The biggest challenges in Africa come from its market diversity – varying regulations, digital adoption, and cultural attitudes mean there’s no single approach,” he comments.

“Addressing this requires locally informed strategies, integrating responsible gaming into the core experience, and building trust through transparency.”

Slots don’t have to just be slots

Slots boast the potential to explore something bigger, more important and deeper than day-to-day life, believes Viktor Johansson, Slot Game Creator at Thunderkick, they can tell stories worth remembering.

“Those were the thoughts as the critical aspect of storytelling within iGaming was brought to the fore amid an exploration of this artistry within casino games, following the launch of the latest evolution of one particular franchise,” he says.

“Casino games are an underutilised canvas for storytelling. The development process from concept to execution allows for an exploration of ideas, and each game presents a unique and significant opportunity to turn a simple slot into a symbolic, sensory journey.”

Only the quickest survive

Speed is of the essence for the iGaming platform of the future, asserts Mykola Vernydub, COO of Atlaslive, in conversation with iGaming Expert.

This will see strength be judged on how swiftly they react to new regulations, refine user journeys, and maintain stable operating costs, with traditional platforms not designed for this blend of commercial strategy and backend logic.

“This shift has changed expectations. A platform can’t just power the business; it must help steer it,” he notes. “That’s why leading operators look for vendors capable of co-creation: those who think in growth terms, speak the language of ROI, and build technology that learns with the business.”

Falling short

Despite the many ongoing global conversation, dedicated conferences and and showcases, Dr. Mary Donohue, Founder of the Digital Wellness Center, has a damning message for the industry when it comes to responsible gambling practices.

“No one’s using it. It’s not part of a business, it’s an add on. Operators are doing it to meet what regulators say, and the usage by players is even lower,” she remarks.

However, in addition to noting that the public’s viewpoint of the industry is often reminiscent of 1920s America under the alcohol prohibition laws, she points towards a potential game-changer for operators looking to elevate impactful responsible gaming strategies.

“We’ve seen a mood lift and value to customer acquisition. AI and quantum computing allows you to take the right proactive break, relieve some of the stress your players are feeling, and allow them to carry on and make better decisions,” she adds. “It allows responsible gaming to become the water between beers.”