In a world where cyber criminals and cyber–attacks are becoming more prominent, how can operators and providers make sure they’re keeping ahead of the attackers, ensuring protection for not only themselves and their business, but also their customers?
It’s important to understand how cyber criminals typically identify and exploit vulnerabilities in iGaming Platforms, and our CTO Dan Whiteley shared his thoughts at the recent SCB Canadian Gaming Summit panel ‘BEYOND THE BET: Securing Networks from Lateral Attacks.’ We decided to delve deeper on the subject and highlight what attackers are looking to gain, measures to prevent them and more.
“If I’m an attacker, how do I better understand your platform? How is it architected from an outside perspective?”
Firstly, attackers often begin by probing the “front door” of a platform — scanning for open ports, exposed endpoints, and architectural clues that reveal how the system is built. Passive vulnerability scanning helps them identify weak spots, while using credential stuffing to essentially throw well-known usernames and passwords at websites to see what sticks are becoming increasingly common.
APIs are another common target; if misconfigured or over-provisioned, they can inadvertently expose sensitive data beyond what’s visible in the UI, offering attackers a deeper look into the system.
Beyond initial access, attackers may exploit web application vulnerabilities with SQL injection or cross-site scripting to extract data or disrupt services. These methods allow them to gather intelligence or even take systems offline. There’s a wide array of techniques that can be used to understand, infiltrate, and exploit a platform from the outside in.
So, with all the options around ways attackers can infiltrate and gain sensitive information. What measures can be taken to prevent it?
Leveraging AI is one option, emerging technologies such as machine learning are increasingly being applied to detect user behaviour and anomalies which would be symptomatic of a synthetic AI attempting to exploit digital platforms and services.
“There’s more and more technology coming out and being easily available; we need to keep up with the ‘bad guys’ in terms of how they exploit the systems and services.”
As advanced tools become more widely available to cyber criminals, it is essential for defensive strategies to evolve in parallel. Intelligence systems capable of identifying unusual patterns and potential abuse offer a proactive approach to maintaining platform integrity and staying ahead of the rapidly shifting threat landscape.
It’s also crucial to understand the nature and classification of stored data. Whether dealing with personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, or payment details, each data type carries its own level of sensitivity. Establishing a clear baseline of what data is held, where it resides, and how it is accessed is essential. From there, protective measures such as encryption, secure password handling, and strict access controls must be implemented to safeguard against exploitation.
“We operate a zero–trust architecture, meaning every single request we’re going to verify the user is who they say they are and they’re accessing from a verified/known location.“
To further reduce risk, access to sensitive data should be tightly controlled using principles like least– privilege and zero– trust architecture, as these practices help ensure that even if an attacker gains entry, further movement and data exposure remain limited.
When companies bring in third-party partners to become part of their ecosystem, it raises another risk around cybersecurity from their end. So, there must be assessment and management to identify the security risks that these third parties may pose without impacting innovation.
Innovation in iGaming demands agility, but it must be balanced with careful consideration, especially when integrating new services or partners. With multiple touchpoints across PAMs, CMSs, payment gateways, and sportsbooks, each connection introduces potential vulnerabilities. Understanding a partner’s tech stack, software choices, and security posture is essential, as downstream weaknesses can be exploited to gain broader access. Enhanced due diligence and continuous auditing, are key to vetting and validating third-party partners. Asking the right questions about data hosting, estate security, and access controls helps ensure that innovation doesn’t come at the cost of exposure.
Of course, even with the implementation of all these measures, a cyberattack can never be ruled out. So, what steps should be taken in the event of a cyber security breach? How can the incident be managed effectively and with minimal damage?
“You need to develop a Cyber Incident Response Plan, this is your playbook, it helps you identify what attack you’re dealing with and gives you play-by-plays on how to deal with it.”
Once a breach is detected, speed becomes critical. The initial response often unfolds as an emerging picture, requiring swift collaboration with customers and downstream partners to identify and contain the threat. Having a form of Cyber Incident Response Plan – that acts as a playbook— already established in advance of an incident will guide teams through the type of attack, affected systems, and compromised data. Communication is equally vital, especially in regulated markets, where operators may need to inform end users, issue public statements, and report to regulators. After containment, a thorough post-mortem drives continuous improvement, helping teams understand what went wrong and how to prevent future incidents.
Cybersecurity in iGaming isn’t just about technology—it’s about strategy, vigilance, proactivity and adaptability. As threats become more complex, so must our defences. By understanding how attackers operate and implementing robust, multi-layered protections – and partnering with the right Platform – operators can safeguard their platforms, their players, and their reputations.
