Right to the Source, Episode 41 (iGB)
Host: Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin, Right to the Source (iGB)
Guest: Jack Crabtree, Head of Sales, Gamecheck
Jack Crabtree, Head of Sales at Gamecheck, joins Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin to unpack how serious fake game revenue leakage really is for operators and suppliers.
This episode is a Gamecheck appearance on iGB's own podcast, ‘Right to the Source’, rather than a Gamecheck Insider episode. Jack Crabtree sat down with hosts Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin to talk through how widespread fake and manipulated slot games are on unlicensed and grey market sites, and what that means for suppliers, operators and players.
The conversation covers how Gamecheck detects fake games and who the business serves, the Gamecheck SEAL as an independent certification badge, Brazil's position as the largest fake games hotspot Gamecheck monitors, the latest global detection figures, joint research with BetBlocker, and the shift towards a more sustainable commercial model for suppliers.
Jack explains how Gamecheck detects fake or manipulated slot games running on unlicensed or grey market sites. The business works with both operators and suppliers, checking games against the originals to confirm whether what players are being served is real.
For operators offering real games, Gamecheck provides the Gamecheck SEAL, an independent certification badge that signals authenticity to players. The Gamechewck SEAL sees particularly strong uptake in less regulated markets where independent confirmation carries more weight in the absence of tighter oversight.
Brazil has become the largest hotspot that Gamecheck monitors, with more than 6,800 fake games detected in that market alone. Jack sets out why Brazil's rapid market growth has made it such fertile ground for rogue operators looking to exploit newly opened, fast-moving regulation.
Globally, Gamecheck and H2 Gambling Capital data point to around 8,500 detected fake games, though Jack is clear the true figure is likely higher, with the issue most prevalent in grey and unregulated markets.
Joint research carried out with BetBlocker found that most sites sitting outside its blocklist were running fake games. The finding reinforced Gamecheck's own detection data and gave both organisations a clearer picture of how far the problem extends beyond the sites already known to be high risk.
The research also underlined why blocklists alone are not a complete answer, and why ongoing detection work matters even on sites that appear to sit outside known risk categories.
Jack discusses how Gamecheck has shifted from a pure revenue protection model for suppliers towards something more sustainable, reflecting the scale and permanence of the fake games problem rather than treating it as a one-off recovery exercise.
Looking ahead, Jack's view is that tackling revenue leakage from fake games needs to be treated as an ongoing priority for suppliers and operators alike, not a problem that gets solved once and set aside.
'Right to the Source' is iGB's own podcast, hosted by Robin Harrison and Ed Birkin. This episode is a Gamecheck appearance on their show, not a Gamecheck Insider episode.
Brazil's online casino market has grown very quickly, and that speed has created gaps that rogue operators are able to exploit. Gamecheck has detected more than 6,800 fake games in the Brazilian market alone, making it the largest hotspot it currently monitors.
Gamecheck checks a selection of games running on an operator's site in collaboration with the original game providers, who are the only ones in a position to confirm whether a game is real or not.
The Gamecheck SEAL is a trust badge that online casino operators display to show that Gamecheck has checked a sample of their games in collaboration with the original providers and found them to be real. The SEAL includes a domain-linked QR code that players can scan using the Gamecheck app to check its authenticity. Copied seals are blocked and flagged simultaneously.
The Gamecheck app, search tool, and chrome extension are all free to download and use. Visit Gamecheck.com to check any online casino before you play.
Read more here: Right to the Source: Gamecheck on fake game revenue leakage.
Run any online casino through the Gamecheck search tool before you deposit.
