In a recent episode, Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin welcomed Jack Crabtree, the head of sales at GameCheck, to discuss the company's operations and the pressing issue of fake games within the industry.
Jack elaborated on how GameCheck identifies counterfeit or altered slot games that appear on unlicensed and grey market websites. To assist operators who offer legitimate games, GameCheck provides the SEAL, an independent certification badge signifying authenticity. According to Jack, this certification has gained significant traction in less regulated markets, particularly Turkey.
As covered previously by Robin, Brazil has emerged as a significant focus for GameCheck, with over 6,800 fake games detected in that market alone. Jack explained that Brazil's rapid growth has made it a prime target for unscrupulous operators.
GameCheck collaborates with both operators and suppliers but has recently transitioned from solely focusing on revenue protection for suppliers to adopting a more sustainable business model. Listeners will find out more about this shift during the episode.
Regarding revenue loss, GameCheck, alongside H2 Gambling Capital, reports detecting approximately 8,500 fake games globally, although Jack believes the actual number may be even greater. The issue is particularly acute in grey or unregulated markets. Research conducted with BetBlocker revealed that numerous sites not on its blocklist were operating fraudulent games.
The pivotal question remains: how much revenue is actually seeping out of the industry due to this issue? Jack has a specific figure, but listeners will need to tune in to discover it.
Jack also referenced comments made by the CEO of Evolution, who highlighted game cloning as one of the most significant sources of revenue loss for the company, effectively diminishing its return to player (RTP) to zero for each cloned game, as the company receives no revenue from these activities.
As content creation faces mounting pressures from tightening margins and an oversaturation of offerings, the issue of fake games may be one that studios can no longer afford to overlook.
Before the episode concludes, an unscripted conversation makes its way into the final cut, with one host expressing a preference for Thundercats over He-Man.
