Fake casino games are now emerging as a fast-growing peril to the online gaming domain, putting player safety, intellectual property, and consumer trust at high stakes. In a recent interview with James Elliott, Founder of GameCheck, we learned how counterfeit games are entering online casinos and why the industry needs a stronger verification framework to protect players.
Drawing on his experience as former General Counsel at NetEnt, Elliott outlined how fake games have evolved into a widespread issue that traditional legal action alone can no longer contain.
From legal enforcement to player protection
Before launching GameCheck, Elliott spent years working on intellectual property enforcement for NetEnt, the studio behind popular slot titles such as Gonzo’s Quest and Starburst.
Part of his role involved identifying companies accused of copying games and pursuing legal action against them. However, Elliott said the process quickly exposed major flaws in the industry’s approach to combating counterfeit content.
Operators hosting fake games were often difficult to trace, operating across loosely regulated jurisdictions or disappearing under one company name before reappearing under another.
According to Elliott, enforcement became a costly and frustrating cycle that rarely solved the root problem.
GameCheck’s purpose is more than just filing lawsuits and sending cease-and-desist letters; it provides transparency about online casinos by ensuring that people know whether they are playing legitimate gambling sites before they deposit money.
What makes a game fake?
Elliott compared fake games to counterfeit luxury goods. While they may appear visually identical to the originals, the software behind them can differ significantly in quality, fairness, and security.
Because online casino games are digital products made up of software, graphics, music, and code, they can be copied relatively easily. Advances in technology have only accelerated the problem.
The challenge for players is that fake games are not always obvious. Unlike physical counterfeit products, online casino content exists within a fragmented digital ecosystem where regulation varies from country to country.
Players may unknowingly access casino sites offering copied games without understanding the potential risks involved.
How GameCheck works
GameCheck operates through a verification database that allows players to search casino domains and identify whether fake games have been detected on a site.
According to Elliott, the company has already analysed over 66,000 gaming-related domain names, with approximately 8,500 identified as hosting counterfeit content.
The process combines player requests, internal investigations, and direct collaboration with game providers. Researchers access casino sites, analyse gameplay sessions, and identify where the games are being served from.
Importantly, Elliott stressed that GameCheck does not independently classify games as fake. Instead, the company works directly with suppliers to verify the legitimacy of content.
This collaborative model allows GameCheck to gather intelligence from multiple providers while expanding its database of suspicious operators and domains.
Industry cooperation is becoming essential
A major focus of the interview was the need for stronger industry collaboration. GameCheck currently works with several major suppliers, including Evolution, Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming, and Blueprint Gaming.
When providers share their databases, the company can see broader patterns in the fake gaming ecosystem. According to Elliott, if a copyright-infringing site uses a single supplier to create and distribute its counterfeits, it will likely also offer counterfeit video games from many other studios, all on the same site.
This shared intelligence approach helps investigators identify suspicious operators more efficiently while giving players access to clearer information about the sites they use.
Regulation is still catching up
Elliott pointed out that regulators tend to focus on safer gambling and the prevention of money laundering, as there is currently less awareness of fake games on operators’ sites. Compared with these gaming subjects, counterfeit gaming content tends to receive significantly less attention.
According to Elliott, public awareness remains a significant tool. Consequently, Elliott believes players should regularly verify the legitimacy of online casino websites before depositing money, especially since the online gaming market is rapidly expanding worldwide.
As trust becomes increasingly important in iGaming, verification and transparency may soon become as critical as licensing and compliance.
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