Flutter Entertainment and GTG Network launch Skill Zone partnership

David De Gea’s highly anticipated return to football was far from the triumphant comeback many had hoped for. Fans were disappointed when the match turned into a nightmare for them as the former Manchester United goalkeeper made his debut for Fiorentina. After a 446-day hiatus, De Gea’s performance was under intense scrutiny, and unfortunately, it did not go as planned.

De Gea, who joined Fiorentina on a free transfer at the start of August, was named in the starting XI for the Europa Conference League play-off match against Hungary’s Puskas Academy. Expectations were high for the seasoned goalkeeper, who had last played in a competitive match in May 2023, conceding to Ilkay Gundogan in a 2-1 FA Cup defeat.

The match began with a sense of optimism for Fiorentina, but it quickly turned sour. In just the ninth minute, De Gea conceded a penalty, putting his team on the back foot. The situation worsened three minutes later when he allowed another goal, leaving Fiorentina trailing 2-0 within the first 12 minutes. This early setback was a huge contrast to the expectations surrounding De Gea’s return.

David De Gea’s transfer to Fiorentina was a significant chapter in his career. After leaving Manchester United as a free agent at the end of the 2022/23 season, De Gea spent over a year without a club. In August 2024, he signed a one-year contract with Fiorentina, with an option to extend for another year. This move to Serie A was seen as a fresh start for the 33-year-old goalkeeper, who had made 545 appearances for Manchester United over 13 years, winning multiple trophies including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League. Fiorentina, aiming to bolster their squad, saw De Gea’s experience as a valuable asset, especially as they compete in the Europa Conference League. The transfer was a free transfer, meaning there was no transfer fee involved.

Fans and pundits alike had hoped that De Gea’s experience and skill would provide a solid foundation for Fiorentina’s defence. However, the reality was far from the expectations. The two early goals shook the team’s confidence and left them struggling to regain their footing. De Gea’s performance was a focal point, and his inability to prevent the early goals raised questions about his readiness and form after such a long absence from competitive football.

The match continued with Fiorentina trying to claw their way back into the game, but the damage had been done. Despite their efforts, the early goals proved too much to overcome, and the team ultimately fell short. De Gea’s debut was marred by the early mistakes, and the spotlight on his performance only intensified as the match progressed.

Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration. Comments ranged from disbelief to humour, with many pointing out that De Gea’s performance seemed reminiscent of his more challenging days at Manchester United. One fan wrote, “De Gea never changed, 11 minutes bro has already swallowed 2 goals,” while another posted a screenshot of the scoreline, sarcastically noting, “Oh boy, my favourite goalie David De Gea finally got himself signed by a club! Let’s check in on how he’s doing on his debut against Hungarian plumbers…”

The reaction from fans highlighted the high expectations placed on De Gea and the stark contrast between those expectations and the actual outcome. The match against Puskas Academy was supposed to be a fresh start for De Gea, a chance to prove himself once again. Instead, it turned into a reminder of the challenges he has faced in recent years.

As Fiorentina moves forward, the focus will undoubtedly be on how De Gea responds to this setback. The team and its supporters will be hoping that this match was just a blip and that De Gea can regain his form and confidence. For De Gea, the journey back to his best will require resilience and determination, qualities that have defined his career so far.

Austin Michael Taylor, the founder of the crypto project CluCoin and owner of CLU LLC, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Taylor, 40, admitted to transferring $1.14 million of investor funds to his personal account and using the money for online gambling. He leveraged his large social media following to promote CluCoin’s initial coin offering (ICO) in May 2021, which initially promised a charitable focus. However, Taylor later diverted funds to other projects, including NFTs, a computer game, and a metaverse platform.

In April 2022, Taylor organized an event called “NFTCon: Into the Metaverse” to boost interest in CluCoin. Shortly after, he began withdrawing investor funds and using them at online casinos. Taylor’s sentencing is set for 31 October, where he faces up to 20 years in prison. The FBI is investigating the case, and victims are encouraged to contact the FBI for restitution.

Taylor’s journey began in the spring of 2021 when he launched CluCoin, a crypto project he promoted to his substantial online following as a charitable initiative. The initial coin offering (ICO) in May 2021 saw a surge in trading volume and value. However, this success was short-lived. According to court documents, the value of CluCoin plummeted soon after, leading Taylor to divert the project from its original charitable mission.

Throughout 2022, Taylor continued to assure investors of CluCoin’s potential, including the development of a metaverse-based video game named “Xenia.” Behind the scenes, however, Taylor had a severe gambling addiction. He secretly transferred $1.14 million of investor funds to online casinos, including Stake.com, as revealed by his lawyers.

The deception came to light in January 2023 when Taylor publicly confessed to misusing investor funds for gambling. He subsequently relinquished control of CluCoin to his business associates. On 15 August, Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to forfeit the $1.14 million he misappropriated, which will be used for victim restitution.

Taylor’s sentencing is scheduled for 31 October , where he will appear before U.S. District Court Judge Jacqueline Becerra of the Southern District of Florida. The maximum sentence for his crime is 20 years in prison.

New to market in May 2021, crypto Clu Coin hit a market cap of almost $136 million.

SiGMA East Europe?Summit powered by Soft2Bet, happening in Budapest from 2 – 4 September.

As the gaming industry transitions from traditional casino floors to online platforms, the associated risks have evolved. While physical casinos once worried about counterfeit chips, today's digital landscape faces threats like denial-of-service attacks, advanced hacking, and user account fraud. The need for robust security measures in the iGaming sector has never been more critical.?

Security is paramount in the iGaming industry, where large sums of money move across borders and platforms daily. “Ensuring that fintech services in iGaming are legally compliant and consistently stable is our top priority,” Ariyo Aboumahboud, Chief Business Development Manager of Infipay Tech told SiGMA News.

Infipay Tech, a payment service provider, understands the risks associated with iGaming transactions, including scams, fraud, and money laundering. To combat these, the company has implemented several security measures. “We initially relied on manual KYC (Know Your Customer) checks,” Aboumahboud explained, “but we’ve now transitioned to automated verification systems. Additionally, we encrypt data and use machine learning to analyse transaction patterns, significantly reducing the risk of fraud.” 

The fintech industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with technologies like cryptocurrency, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) leading the charge. Aboumahboud believes these technologies will soon dominate the financial landscape, particularly in sectors like iGaming. “The fintech industry is growing faster than expected. Everything is moving toward crypto and blockchain. In five years, I believe cash will be obsolete, replaced by safer, faster, and more secure crypto transactions,” he predicted.?

Infipay Tech is preparing for this future by integrating AI and machine learning into its services. These technologies not only enhance security but also improve the efficiency and user experience of their payment solutions. Furthermore, the company is expanding its offerings to include cryptocurrency transactions, allowing merchants to seamlessly convert fiat to crypto and vice versa. 

According to Aboumahboud, a crucial element of Infipay Tech’s strategy is forming partnerships with local banks across Southeast Asia. These collaborations help the company navigate complex regulatory environments while bolstering the security and reliability of their services. 

“The partnerships with local banks and providers are vital to our business,” Aboumahboud stated. “Finding a bank that trusts us enables us to offer better, safer services to our merchants.” 

Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA) has clarified its stance on gambling advertisements, allowing social media influencers to promote gambling-related content despite a broad ban imposed recently on traditional media platforms. This decision has?raised concerns.

The controversy stems from the NRA's interpretation of what constitutes "media" under Bulgaria's Broadcasting Act. According to NRA director Rumen Spetsov, the ban on gambling advertisements does not extend to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The NRA's stance is based on its view that these platforms do not fall under the legal definition of traditional media channels.

The NRA's position was articulated in response to a public inquiry by the local news outlet Mediapool, which sought clarity on the scope of the gambling advertising ban. Spetsov explained that users who engage with content on social media do so voluntarily by choosing to follow influencers and create accounts, which, in his view, constitutes implicit consent to view such content. He pointed out that individuals have the right to control the type of information they access through their social media accounts.

Despite the NRA's explanation, the decision has been met with widespread criticism. Many argue that it undermines the original intent of the law, which was enacted in May to fight the spread of gambling advertisements across all media, particularly to protect vulnerable groups like children who are increasingly exposed to online content.

Critics are particularly concerned about the potential for a surge in gambling-related promotions on social media, where younger audiences are most active. They fear that this could weaken consumer protection efforts and lead to an increase in gambling-related harm.

Spetsov's narrow definition of "media" as mass communication channels with broad reach has also been challenged.

Spetsov warned against attempts to bypass the ban by using traditional media to direct audiences to social media platforms for gambling promotions, stressing the importance of "editorial responsibility" in determining the legality of such content.

The NRA has indicated that it will evaluate gambling advertisements on a case-by-case basis. However, the agency's position suggests that all gambling-related content on social media will be allowed as long as it does not appear on platforms that meet the legal definition of "media." This means that even platforms with significant reach, such as YouTube, remain outside the ban's scope.

Bulgaria's decision contrasts with the approach taken by other European countries. For instance, Italy has implemented a complete ban on gambling advertisements on all platforms, including social media, as part of its efforts to combat gambling addiction.?Sweden has tightened its regulations on gambling advertising, particularly on social media, following the re-regulation of its gambling market in 2019. In the United Kingdom, strict regulations govern gambling advertisements on social media, with the UK Gambling Commission enforcing rules to ensure that such content does not target minors.?