The new division, Hard Rock Games, operating under the umbrella of Hard Rock Digital, will focus on creating free-to play online and mobile games that may one day lead to fully-fledged gaming experiences for the online casino operations of the company.

Hard Rock Games to Focus on Social Gaming Growth

Hard Rock Games is created in the wake of the WGames acquisition, a developer of mobile games, which will now give the new division a strong purchase in this new and exciting journey.

Hard Rock Digital executive managing director Rafi Ashkenazi was excited at this new opportunity and said that the company was looking to create world-class games that would help accelerate the social gaming business for the company.

“Hard Rock Games’ enhanced capabilities will allow us to better engage our worldwide player communities with exceptional digital experiences and entertain our players like no one else can,” added Ashkenazi.

Hard Rock Games is openly expanding into the vertical with WGames’ assets, which include proprietary in-house technology that will help boost the growth in the social gaming sector for the newly-setup studio as well.

WGames founder, Daniel Kajouie, who will continue to work on the division through Hard Rock Games, and serve as the managing director for the newly setup social gaming arm, said that he was confident in this new alliance and working under the Hard Rock roof, expressing high hopes for the future and what it may bring to players worldwide, not just in the United States.

Exploring the Potential of Online Casino Gaming

In the meantime, the Hard Rock Bet launched its sports betting operations in Florida, after a prolonged legal fight with several plaintiffs who have alleged that mobile gambling launched under a tribal compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe was unconstitutional.

Hard Rock has got the better of that exchange, although the app launched after a two-year delay, and after it was originally introduced in 2021. The local brand may also consider launching online casino games of chance, although this is still highly speculative at the time of writing.

Having access to an established and dedicated in-house social gaming studio, though, would certainly give the brand a lot more breadth when it considers its next iGaming move.

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The largest technical standards development organization focused on creating standards for the global gaming industry, the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA), announced it forged a new committee that seeks to elevate the standards for cybersecurity. Confirmation about the new Cyber Resiliency Committee (CRC) came Thursday and it comes amid an increasing concern about a growing number of cybersecurity threats and issues.

IGSA confirmed that the new Committee is supported by experts within the gambling sector and recognizable companies, including AXES.ai, Light & Wonder, as well as Aristocrat Technologies. Ultimately, the CRC is expected to help develop standards for cybersecurity governance, cyber risk management, as well as a framework control standard for the gambling sector and operators within the sector.

The announcement about the new Committee comes after earlier this year, IGSA announced the development of a Responsible Gaming Committee (RGC) in an effort to elevate responsible gambling standards and help reduce problem gambling. At the time of the announcement, IGSA revealed that the RGC will help its members better tackle problem gambling and strengthen their responsible gaming efforts.

The New Initiative Brings Excitement

Peter DeRaedt, IGSA’s president, spoke about the recently created CRC, revealing that it represents the efforts of the Association to develop a cyber standard that protects the gambling sector. He outlined that the new Committee is developed with the efforts of Gold and Platinum IGSA members.

Moreover, DeRaedt added: “This committee will solicit experts within our membership to create ready-to-use standards to improve cyber resilience.” Finally, he thanked IGSA’s chairman, Earle G. Hall, for accepting the role of interim chair of the CRC.

“IGSA is being called to lead a concerted effort to create cyber standards to protect our industry and that is exactly what we will do thanks to the incredible leadership within our Platinum and Gold members.“

Peter DeRaedt, president of IGSA

Hall, who also serves as the CEO of AXES.ai and chairman of IGSA, added that it is great to see members of the Association join forces to address a number of rising cybersecurity issues for the gambling sector. “Our members are clear that cybersecurity has to be a top priority for all gaming suppliers in our industry to protect operators and our industry at large,” he added. Finally, he thanked Light & Wonder and Aristocrat for their efforts in this initiative.

Earlier this year, IGSA announced the creation of its Ethical AI Committee. This was another effort by the Association to improve the gambling sector as a whole in addition to other important initiatives.

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