Anna Efimova of Winfinity is setting a new benchmark for live casino security.

Although fraud in iGaming is not new, its scope has significantly changed. The number of these instances has increased by almost 60% in the last year. Organized syndicates with their own offices, shifts, and KPIs are becoming more and more of a problem for operators and suppliers.

Due to the intense competition for VIP players and the growing popularity of cryptocurrency casinos, which has driven the industry toward extremely high limits and rapid withdrawals, this problem is becoming especially serious. As a result, the potential reward from a single fraudulent plan is greater than it has ever been, and incidents are happening more often and on a far bigger scale.

In an interview with Anna Efimova, CCO at Winfinity, iGaming Expert discussed what a live casino provider's security system should look like in order to identify fraud attempts early on and stop them from becoming multimillion-dollar losses for the operator.

iGaming Expert: What is the starting point for live casino security?

Anna Efimova: Collusion between a player and a dealer is one possible fraud technique at a live casino. In order to reduce any chance of influencing the round's outcome, security starts with how the supplier sets up and oversees studio operations.

The activities of dealers and shufflers, studio access, gameplay monitoring, and ongoing equipment testing must all be covered by this control. Furthermore, everyone must be subject to these regulations. Even I was once turned away from the studio because I hadn't made any prior arrangements. Since these are precisely the kinds of actions that lessen the possibility of fraud, this is the appropriate strategy.

However, we can never completely rule out an error or a violation, regardless of how well-trained the dealer is or how well-tuned the control and incident-prevention measures are. Because of this, a strong security system needs to have tools for spotting suspicious activities while playing in addition to preventive measures.

iGaming Expert: What should happen if a dealer tries to assist a player or breaks a rule?

AE: The main prerequisite is that processing must be halted instantly and automatically. In order to make decisions, the system must detect unusual activity in real time, stop the process, and send the pertinent data. Here, speed is critical; the longer it takes to identify and confirm an occurrence, the more likely it is that the player will be able to successfully withdraw their fraudulent gains.

Winfinity was one of the first companies to use sophisticated real-time video stream fraud detection solutions in order to address this. These systems track the wheel's movement, the dealer's activities, and the placement and showing of cards in real time. The suspicious round is frozen and the Risk team is immediately notified if any deviation is found.

Consider a straightforward scenario where a dealer reveals a card before it is necessary. We don't yet know if it was an intentional attempt to provide a certain player an advantage or just human error. However, we are aware that the round did not go as planned. This outcome poses a risk, thus we cannot just ignore it. When our system notices this irregularity, the suspect cycle is stopped.

iGaming Expert: Does that imply that a round's cancelation is decided by an automated system?

AE: Not at all. The Risk team really makes the decision, but the system finds the anomaly and freezes the round. Our experts examine the bets, the game's result, the dealer's actions, the video footage, and user behavior. The round is canceled and the players' wagers are reimbursed if fraudulent activity is proven. The outcome is final if there is no infraction.

iGaming Expert: Do dealer activity detection and video surveillance suffice to stop fraud?

AE: It is impossible for a single technology to monitor every kind of scam in every kind of game in an equitable and efficient manner. For example, a camera can monitor a dealer's effort to stop the roulette wheel or peek at a card, which are examples of procedural violations. It is unable to assess the shuffle's quality or other comparable aspects, though. As a result, a security system needs to be an extensive collection of several technologies.

For instance, we use our own exclusive, patented shoe when playing blackjack. A built-in scanner examines each card as it is dealt, and its design prevents it from drawing two cards at once. Any variation from the anticipated sequence, like a card being scanned twice or a bad shuffle, is immediately recognized because every card is recorded. Throughout the round, we employ multiple anomaly-recognition technologies and video monitoring concurrently.

iGaming Expert: In terms of risk management, where does the operator's accountability start and the provider's end?

AE: In the market, you occasionally hear the statement, "This is the operator's player, so it's the operator's risk." However, I am convinced that cooperation is the only way to effectively combat fraud. The equipment, the dealer, the studio, and the actual gameplay are all visible to the provider. The player's account, betting habits, and financial conduct are all visible to the operator. It is our responsibility to be the first to report questionable activity during a round, look into it, and let our partner know.

This is not limited to particular rounds. Our Risk team keeps a close eye on wagers, game results, RNG systems, and unusual user activity. We proactively notify the operator of any issues we find so they can take appropriate action. We can only truly stop fraud with this kind of strategy, as opposed to merely handling the consequences after the casino has been defeated.

iGaming Expert: In the end, what makes a security system of superior quality?

AE: It's crucial that everything go smoothly and quickly: when the system finds an abnormality, the Risk team looks into it right away, and the partner gets all the information promptly. Naturally, nobody can ensure that there are no fraud efforts. However, you can make sure they are prevented before they result in financial loss.

An operator gives a live casino provider some control over their financial risks by integrating them. Winfinity's experience demonstrates that a partner's dependability is determined by their willingness to assume full responsibility for a game's outcome rather than by stand-alone technologies.

This includes proactive decision-making on questionable rounds as well as early fraud prevention. Operators will be able to prevent multimillion-dollar damages thanks to this security strategy.