Australia
Australian eSports Star Eyeing World Cup Glory
Australian simulation racer Joshua Rogers recently secured the ESL R1 drivers’ championship after dominating the virtual Circuit de Spa in his digital Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The victory cements his status as a dominant force in the sim racing world and has propelled him to the eSports World Cup (EWC) in Saudi Arabia.
Rogers and his teammates will now aim to showcase their talents at an event which is putting the Middle East firmly on the global eSports map.
Rogers on Track to Win Big for Porsche
Under the banner of the Porsche Coanda eSports Racing team, Rogers entered the final round of the ESL R1 championship as the clear favorite, and he didn’t disappoint.
The Australian delivered an outstanding performance at the Circuit de Spa, launching a dramatic last-gasp attack to secure his third consecutive win.
The victory solidified his position at the top of the ESL R1 Drivers’ rankings with 183 points and ensured his spot in the final round of the EWC finals.
Scheduled to be staged in Riyadh from August 22-25, the EWC promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament as 48 drivers battle for a mouth-watering $100,000 prize purse.
The wining driver will walk away with $25,000, while Team Porsche stands to win up to $170,000 in the team competition.
Rogersā presence in the competition will garner plenty of interest in his homeland, particularly among sports bettors who enjoy wagering on motorsports.
Horse racing has traditionally dominated the landscape in Australia ā a point evidenced by the number of sites which offer racing tips on the sport.
However, a different type of racing looks set to capture the imagination of the Australian betting community, largely fueled by Rogersā exploits in eSports.
Betting on EWC events has already proved to be popular this summer, but looks guaranteed to ramp up a notch when the motorsports tournament is staged.
EWC Attracts Interest from Global Brands
The betting sector is not alone in recognizing the potential in eSports, with numerous major brands eager to jump on the bandwagon.
They include integrated energy and chemicals company Aramco, who have announced the extension of their partnership with the eSports World Cup Foundation (EWCF).
The firm has sponsored this summer’s EWC tournament in Riyadh, building on previous sponsorships of tournaments such as Gamers Without Borders and Gamers8: The Land of Heroes.
Aramco’s involvement with the EWC aligns with the company’s long-term ambition to promote economic development and diversification in Saudi Arabia.
Partnering with the EWCF will help Aramco provide new opportunities for young people, deliver critical educational skills, and help build a diverse and dynamic Saudi economy.
The collaboration will also create a lasting positive impact on the world of eSports. It will showcase Saudi talent on the global stage and inspire today’s youth through the exciting world of gaming.
New Global Sport Conference Will be a Fitting Climax to the EWC
The EWC showpiece also coincides with the second edition of the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) 2024 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh on August 24-25.
Themed āThe Future of Fandomā, the conference will explore how fan engagement has transformed the gaming industry, creating new opportunities for unique experiences, innovative revenue streams and groundbreaking technological development.
The NGSC’s goal is to support the growth of the gaming and eSports sectors in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdomās Vision 2030 to become a global gaming hub.
This year’s event will be an integral part of the action-packed closing weekend of the EWC, featuring a grand closing ceremony and the newly announced eSports Awards.
The conference will bring together the biggest names in gaming, sports, business and technology, serving as a platform to discuss the future of these industries.
NGSC 2023 set a high standard last year by announcing the launch of the EWC with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and other industry leaders from across the globe in attendance.
Building on that success, the NGSC 2024 will feature multiple stages and workshops over a new two-day program, accommodating around 800 guests to discuss the future of eSports, sports and gaming.
Australia
IAGās Andrew W Scott Announced as Latest Conference Chair for 2025 Regulating the Game Conference in Sydney
Leading gambling law and regulation conference Regulating the Game has announced IAGās Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott as the second Conference Chair for its 2025 edition, to be held in Sydney from 10 to 13 March 2025.
With extensive expertise in the gaming sector, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the conference, guiding discussions and engaging participants in critical industry topics.
His career in the gaming industry spans nearly four decades, during which he has established himself as a media publisher, commentator, and journalist. He founded Macau gaming media and events company O MEDIA in 2009, of which Inside Asian Gaming is the flagship publication.
On 7 October 2024 at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, Inside Asian Gaming and US-based gaming publication CDC Gaming announced a merger expected to complete on 31 December 2024. From 1 January 2025 the two companies will combine under a newly founded corporate parent, Complete Media Group, with Andrew at the helm as CEO. The newly merged group will cover the gaming industry in the Middle East, all of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Pacific, the US, Canada and Latin America.
Andrew has led numerous social and professional industry events including the Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner, the IAG Academy Summit and the IAG Academy IR Awards.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Andrew said: āIām delighted to chair a day at the Regulating the Game Conference. This event is a crucial platform for advancing important conversations in the gaming industry, particularly in the Australia and New Zealand markets, and I look forward to contributing to discussions that shape the future of regulation and innovation.ā
Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, added: āWe are thrilled to have Andrew join us as a Conference Chair. His vast industry experience and global perspective will be invaluable in fostering insightful discussions at the 2025 conference.ā
The Regulating the Game conference is a flagship event that aims to bridge the gap between regulators, industry professionals and stakeholders. The conference is dedicated to introducing expert content, inspiring discussion and debate about policy and sector issues, and driving innovation to support efficient and effective gambling regulation. Now in its fifth edition, Regulating the Game continues to attract speakers and attendees from around the world, solidifying its status as a pivotal event for those shaping the future of the industry.
Australia
Crown Fined $2 Million for Self-exclusion Breaches
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined Crown Melbourne $2 million for allowing 242 people who had self-excluded from gambling to place bets at the casino over an 8-month period between October 2023 and May 2024.
VGCCC Chair Fran Thorn said: āIt is an offence under the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic) to allow an excluded person, including anyone who has self-excluded, to enter, remain or gamble in the casino. It also contravenes Crown Melbourneās obligation to protect people at risk of gambling harm.
āThose who self-exclude must be able to trust that gambling providers will take all reasonable steps to enforce their decision to avail themselves of this harm prevention initiative.
āBy allowing people who have self-excluded to enter the casino and gamble, Crown has put them at risk of experiencing further gambling harm. However, it is also clear that a number of these self-excluded patrons are going to considerable lengths to avoid detection and break their exclusion requirements.ā
The self-exclusion breaches were detected through VGCCCās ongoing monitoring of the casinoās operations. The Commission determined the breaches were due to system and control failures rather than deliberate or egregious disregard by Crown of its regulatory obligations.
āAccordingly, the Commission has issued a direction to Crown to engage an independent expert to assess the effectiveness of, and make recommendations for improving, the management of its self-exclusion program. In due course, Crown will be required to implement the independent expertās recommendations,ā Ms Thorn said.
In April this year, the Commission directed Crown Melbourne to implement a transformation plan to continue its reform and remediation following the findings of the Finkelstein Royal Commission.
The Commission acknowledges Crown has taken some steps to strengthen its controls for policing exclusion orders, and introduced measures to improve its monitoring activities, physical security, use of technology and training of staff.
āThe VGCCC is committed to ensuring Crown continues its reform efforts,ā Ms Thorn said.
Australia
Jamieson OāReilly to Deliver Keynote at Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney
The organisers of Regulating the Game 2025 have announced that Jamieson OāReilly, CEO and Lead Hacker at Dvuln, will deliver a keynote titled āOceans 11 Downunder: How I Hacked Australiaās Two Biggest Casinos (Legally)ā at the 2025 edition of the conference in Sydney.
The organisers said: āIn this eye-opening keynote, Jamieson will take attendees behind the scenes of how he legally hacked into two of Australiaās largest casinos, uncovering serious vulnerabilities in their digital infrastructure. Casinos are known for their robust security measures, but as they increasingly rely on interconnected systems and digital processes, new vulnerabilities emerge that even the most fortified establishments must contend with.ā
Mr OāReilly added: āWhen most people think of a casino, they think of high security, underground vaults, and an overall intimidating complexity. But with great complexity comes great security consequences. Itās easy to think of a casino as one big money-making machine. But the reality is, under the hood, casinos are run by many individual moving parts, all relying on each other equally to function.ā
OāReillyās talk will delve into the specific techniques he used to breach these casinosā defences, exposing weaknesses in their systems, surveillance networks, customer databases and backend operations. Although both casinos have since patched the vulnerabilities, Jamiesonās experience highlights the broader challenges facing the gaming industry in the digital age, where the expanding attack surface presents real risks.
Paul Newson, event organiser and Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, said: āWith his incredible experience in ethical hacking and cybersecurity, Jamiesonās keynote is set to be a highly anticipated session of the conference. His revelations about how he legally breached the security of two major casinos provide crucial lessons for the entire gambling sector.
āAs the industry becomes more digitally interconnected, understanding the risks and learning how to defend against cyber threats is more important than ever.ā
As a leader in offensive security, he has conducted countless red team exercises and adversary simulations against some of the hardest targets in the world, from banks and casinos to government agencies, to test their resilience against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs).
His expertise helps organisations uncover critical vulnerabilities and build robust defences against highly skilled attackers.
Jamieson is a member of the CREST Approved Australasia Council, underscoring his leadership in the cybersecurity community in addition to this, Jamieson is also a co-author of the post-quantum encryption specification PPQM, demonstrating his knowledge in advanced cryptography and defensive security.
His keynote will not only offer an insiderās view into casino security vulnerabilities but will also provide practical insights into how businesses can strengthen their defences against ever-evolving digital threats. The session is essential for anyone in the gaming sector looking to safeguard their digital infrastructure in a connected world where no system is truly secure.
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