Before online marketing, there was often counterfeit software for slot machines. The manufacturers of slot machines modified the games so that internet users could play them. Companies regulated by national legislation had a good reputation. They did not sell their products to unregulated casinos or only at a high price. A number of companies emerged in the market that copied and sold slots from popular manufacturers.
Why are there pirated copies and why are they in demund?
The games from leading manufacturers like Novomatic, NetEnt, Microgaming, and IGT are copied by small IT companies (usually consisting of several programmers and designers) and sold for profit to operators worldwide.
Manufacturers of counterfeit games have learned to copy games so skillfully that even experienced players have difficulty distinguishing originals from fakes. However, design is not the only aspect that the creators of counterfeits can manipulate. Players lose money faster due to changes in the payout rates, as desired by the operator.
The Peak of Gambling Piracy
The boom of counterfeits occurred at a time when gambling was state-prohibited in some countries. This was a true goldmine for counterfeiters, as internet cafes disguised as slot halls opened in many cities, allowing anyone to play well-known games.
A self-created payment system supplemented the accounts. This legal agent structure was established to receive funds for offshore companies. Accordingly, by dispensing money to the device, players filled the payment system’s account legally and withdrew the money after the official payout.
How Gambling Prohibition Has Influenced Piracy!
The use of copies remains relevant even with the regulation of online gambling in many countries. The difference was that many websites only used pirated copies before the ban. In the past decade, both pirated and legal games have been found on the same website. It has reached the point where large gambling companies with official licenses in local markets have been using illegal gambling content for many years and have never stopped.
Is it possible to eliminate copies?
Yes, it is possible, although two things are required. Players must learn to distinguish original gambling content from fakes. There must be legal action against manufacturers of pirated copies.
Piracy Game Features
There are three main features that help distinguish an original from its copy:
- The slot is not downloaded from the manufacturer’s server. Each manufacturer must have its own server from which it can download games.
- There is no unified jackpot system (this indicator is not very reliable, as manufacturers often do not offer their jackpots to all operators and geographic markets).
- Companies that produce original gambling software often publish a list of casinos they work with. Any player can write to the manufacturer’s information service to find out if a specific casino is their client.
Legal Action Against Manufacturers of Counterfeits
On websites without a transparent structure, counterfeit online games are often found. Information about recognized licenses, owners, and managers is often absent. Such companies operate in a gray area and are designed to make the owners hard to identify.
Attempts by Novomatic and NetEnt
Not least for this reason, companies like Novomatic and NetEnt have not made serious attempts over the years to hold accountable the companies that use copied software. This led operators to hide less actively, and even on websites whose owners and managers are known, pirated software appeared. The websites themselves have expensive gambling licenses that allow them to operate legally in international and local markets.
Cases of Counterfeiting – Novomatic Against Pirates
The gambling provider Novomatic launched a campaign against the piracy of intellectual property in 2006. The essence of this fight was to register commercial rights in the form of trademarks, patents, and designs for later enforcement of claims.
Counterfeits of Pragmatic Play and Yggdrasil
In August 2017, there was another case involving famous gaming providers. It started when players reported on the Hera Casino website forum about the strange functioning of games. This led to an investigation and proof that the operator was using the pirated “Dragon Kingdom” slot from Pragmatic Play and “Super Heroes” from Yggdrasil. The operator also provided false information about its license.
Given such fraudulent activities, not only do providers of original content experience economic losses, but players also suffer. They do not receive an adequate gaming experience, as graphics, payouts, and bonuses do not meet their expectations. As for the operators, they risk their business and reputation by offering copied games to attract more players.
