As part of the Black-Market Prevention Summit25 held in Manchester UK today, Gamecheck’s Sales Lead Jack Crabtree and BetBlocker’s Founder Duncan Garvie met at the Deal Me Out Conference for a Fireside Chat to talk about tackling Fake Games and Rogue Casinos.
Did not make it to the Live Fireside Chat? We got you covered.
In this blog post, we share exclusive insights into the discussion, and the measures Gamecheck is taking to identify, report and ultimately help eradicate these harmful gaming offerings.
Deal Me Out is a non-profit organisation committed to shedding light on black market games and related issues in the gambling and gaming sectors.
The Deal Me Out Conference on the Black Market in Online Gaming held at The Alan Hotel in Manchester, featured a line-up of expert speakers presenting talks on various topics that affect operators, game developers and players.
Beyond the keynote sessions and fireside chats, the conference aims to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders ranging from industry veterans to policy experts who share a passion for cleaning up the marketplace. Fake games do not just harm the players who lose money or get scammed, they also erode trust in the entire iGaming market. Therefore, we have an obligation to protect players as well as the industry itself.
Gamecheck and BetBlocker teamed up for a Fireside Chat to discuss the threat that fake games pose to players and the iGaming industry, and the strategies that can be employed to push back on this threat.
Gamecheck’s very own Jack Crabtree was front and centre in the Fireside Chat with Duncan Garvie from BetBlocker, diving into one of the conference’s key discussions: Fake Games and the Threat they Present. Jack and Duncan examined the impact of fake games on the iGaming industry, from risks they pose to unsuspecting players to repercussions for legitimate businesses.
This insightful discussion was an engaging event that dealt with one of the hottest issues of the day – fake games and how do we stop them.
✅ How fake games manipulate players and harm the industry
✅ The impact of rogue operators on trust and security
✅ What Gamecheck and BetBlocker are doing to restore fairness.
Jack Crabtree is an accomplished sales leader with a strong background in the iGaming industry. As Head of Sales at Gamecheck, he works closely with developers, platforms, and other stakeholders to ensure that all gaming products are legitimate and safe for players to use.
Before this, he worked closely with gaming companies on payments and KYC solutions, leading sales teams that specialised in compliance, risk management, and fraud prevention. Jack is known for building strong relationships with various clients and partners and offering solutions tailored to their needs.
With a sound understanding of the unique challenges faced by the iGaming industry today, he has developed a reputation for a hands-on approach to solving problems. He has helped several businesses scale up, providing the support they need to grow sustainably and responsibly in an increasingly competitive market.
Jack’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, with a strong focus on delivering results that contribute to the long-term health of the industry. Passionate about gaming and innovation, he is focused on making the industry safer and more sustainable for everyone.
Duncan Garvie is a well-known figure in the online gambling industry.
With over a decade of experience in alternative dispute resolution, Duncan is the Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at Casino Reviews | Best Rated Online Casinos.
In this role, he has achieved an impressive 100% compliance rate for Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licensed operators during the first half of 2024.
Duncan is also the founder of BetBlocker, an initiative designed to help individuals protect themselves from gambling related harms.
Duncan Garvie's commitment to player protection is further demonstrated by his efforts to encourage industry collaboration in the fight against fake games. Through his various roles, Duncan Garvie continues to advocate for transparency, fairness, and enhanced player protection.
BetBlocker was established by Duncan Garvie in 2019, with the aim of providing a free and effective solution to assist people in managing their gambling habits. BetBlocker is a UK registered charity offering a free service to help support people anywhere in the world.
BetBlocker is a free gambling self-exclusion tool designed to help individuals control their gambling habits by blocking access to gambling websites and apps.
It can be installed across multiple devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
The BetBlocker app is free to use and restricts access to thousands of gambling sites, no matter which device is used. Once activated, the block cannot be removed until the chosen period ends, making it a useful tool for responsible gambling and addiction prevention.
BetBlocker does not require users to register or provide personal information, thus ensuring privacy. BetBlocker offers one of the best tools to help ensure that engagement with gambling is done in a responsible and safe manner. This useful tool is used by thousands of people worldwide every day, and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.
On Monday 3rd March 2025, CasinoReview’s Head of ADR (and BetBlocker’s Founder) Duncan Garvie, spoke to Gamecheck’s Sales Lead Jack Crabtree, during a Fireside Chat held at the Deal Me Out Conference in Manchester UK, about the growing issue of fake games, and the steps that can be taken to fight them.
The Live Fireside Chat aims to start a conversation about fake games, the problems they cause, and the strategies employed to handle one of the most challenging issues the industry is facing today.
Player Education & Awareness
Raise awareness among players about the risks associated with fake games and how to identify and avoid them
Fostering Industry Collaboration
Encourage cooperation among key industry stakeholders including developers, operators, and regulators
Promoting Unified Industry Standards
Encourage them to share information and develop unified standards against fake games
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Here is a short overview of the topics discussed.
Fake games are deceiving players, and threatening the integrity of the online gambling industry.
Not too long ago, fake casino games were easy to spot, but technological advances have allowed these fraudsters to refine their deceptive techniques, making it increasingly difficult for players to distinguish fake games from real ones. This is where Gamecheck steps in.
Gamecheck was specifically created in response to these rising concerns over fake games.
Gamecheck is committed to exposing fake games while empowering players and equipping them with the knowledge required to recognize and avoid fake games.
Gamecheck’s mission is
Without doubt the presence of fake games has had a negative impact on the entire iGaming industry and all stakeholders involved.
For players engaging with these sub-par, fraudulent games this can result in financial losses and emotional distress. For legitimate operators and developers, fake games can result in long-term financial losses, as well as brand damage, and security risks.
Without proper monitoring and detection rogue casinos and their fake games would continue to thrive unchecked. Gamecheck is actively working to change that by identifying and exposing these fraudulent operators, restoring trust, and ensuring a fair gaming environment.
Gamecheck’s global team of investigators monitors online casinos regularly, tracks these fake networks, and publicly exposes dishonest operators. Any casino flagged for fake games is publicly exposed on our platform, helping game providers save significant legal costs while also deterring rogue operators.
Over time, as Gamecheck becomes the industry-wide deterrent that all dishonest casinos fear, these bad actors will naturally fade away.
To ensure ongoing player protection, Gamecheck conducts regular, random tests on casinos every month. These results are then published on the casino’s Gamecheck profile for transparency, allowing players to make more informed decisions.
One of the biggest challenges game providers often face is the lack of enforcement. Most fake games originate from poorly regulated markets, making legal action somewhat difficult.
Every fake game played translates to potential damage to a provider’s credibility.
Therefore, it is imperative for game providers to take an active role in fighting fake games, and the best way to do so is by collaborating with Gamecheck.
To further fight the issue of fake games, Gamecheck is preparing to launch the Gamecheck Seal – a blockchain-integrated verification tool that allows players to instantly confirm a casino’s legitimacy.
While some providers such as PG Soft, have already introduced their own verification tools, Gamecheck’s Seal takes it a step further with real-time scannable verification.
If players are in any doubt when they encounter new games, they can check the games with Gamecheck. Gamecheck’s services have been designed to give players the peace of mind they deserve, and provide a search tool that allows them to verify a casino and its games before they play and wager any money.
By leveraging Gamecheck’s resources, players can ensure they have a safe and fair gaming experience, and providers can work towards eliminating fake games.
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This timely discussion held between two leading industry experts aims to put a spotlight on the contentious issue of fake games and the solutions available to the iGaming industry and its various stakeholders.
By uniting forces, the leading game players in the industry can be protected from the negative effects of fake games. Player awareness, verification, and industry-wide cooperation each have a key role to play in making fake games a concern of the past.
Join the conversation and be part of the movement to safeguard online gaming for everyone.
Stay Tuned for More Updates and Follow-Up Discussions
The fight against fake games starts here. We look forward to connecting with you on our social media.
Follow us on LinkedIn to find out more - we will be posting key takeaways, and follow-up discussions.
✅Do not miss this chance to learn how the industry is uniting to tackle the threats posed by fake games. And, of course do not forget - when in doubt of any online casinos and games - Gamecheck before you play!
