Continent 8 Technologies, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Douglas Athletic Football Club for the 2025/26 season, supporting the club from grassroots to seniors.
The sponsorship deal will see the senior and junior teams wearing new kit for the season, proudly displaying the Continent 8 logo.
Anna McChesney, Director of Digital Marketing at Continent 8 Technologies, commented: “We’re thrilled to support Douglas Athletic FC this season. As a business rooted in the Isle of Man, it’s important to us to give back to the community. Football brings people together, and we’re proud to play a part in helping the club thrive both on and off the pitch. Best of luck to everyone in the 25/26 season!”
John Minter, Club Secretary & Treasurer of Douglas Athletic FC Committee, added: “Having Continent 8 on board is a huge boost for the club. Their support means we can continue to grow and provide opportunities for players of all ages. It’s fantastic to see a local company investing in local sport, and we’re excited about what this season holds.”
Continent 8 incorporated on the Isle of Man in 2006 to service global businesses in the iGaming and online sports betting industry. The company, with around 300 staff globally, employs 20 talented individuals working from its purpose-built Tier-3 data centre facility in Douglas.
In the iGaming industry, trust is everything – not just for players, but for the entire ecosystem of operators, suppliers, and technology providers. Players expect seamless experiences, secure transactions, and confidence that their personal data is protected. At the same time, suppliers and platform partners demand robust cybersecurity standards and transparent risk management to safeguard their own systems and reputations. Yet, as the sector grows – driven by new markets, mobile-first platforms, and real-time betting – the attack surface expands exponentially. Cybercriminals have noticed. From ransomware groups to phishing campaigns, the industry is now a prime target for sophisticated attacks that exploit both technology and human behaviour.
Recent analysis shows a 400% surge in cyber incidents impacting casino operators and gambling businesses since early 2025. The cost of downtime during a major sporting event can exceed $6,000 per minute, and phishing attacks have grown by 180% since 2023. These numbers underscore a stark reality: the iGaming ecosystem is under siege.
The past year has been a wake-up call for the industry. In July 2025, Flutter Entertainment, owner of Paddy Power and Betfair, confirmed a breach affecting up to 800,000 users, exposing personal data such as IP addresses and betting activity. In March, Merkur Group, a major European casino operator, suffered a catastrophic incident that compromised sensitive data across multiple platforms, including payment details, identity verification documents, and over 70,000 ID scans, all due to misconfigured backend interfaces. Beyond data theft, account takeover attacks surged by 42% in Q1 2025, with one European betting platform losing €1.7 million in just 48 hours before detection. These examples illustrate a clear trend: attackers are exploiting both technical vulnerabilities and human factors, and the financial and reputational stakes have never been higher.
Why is the industry a target? Because it offers two things that attackers value most – money and data. Every payment gateway, affiliate integration, and game studio aggregation introduces new vulnerabilities. Add to this the complexity of real-time transaction engines, regulatory reporting systems, and third-party content providers, and you have an environment where a single weak link can compromise the entire chain.
Now that I have set the scene, here’s what I believe will shape cybersecurity in iGaming in 2026.
Artificial Intelligence is the double-edged sword of cybersecurity. In 2026, expect AI-driven attacks – deepfakes, automated intrusions, and identity-centric exploits – to become mainstream.
On the defensive side, AI will power advanced threat hunting, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics. Operators will deploy machine learning models to identify fraudulent transactions in real time and detect behavioural anomalies before they escalate. But securing AI itself will be critical as attackers are already targeting AI systems to turn them into insider threats.
Cybersecurity will move from being a compliance checkbox to a strategic KPI. This is a welcome shift for the industry. Regulators are demanding real-time, machine-readable compliance data, while players increasingly view security as part of the user experience. Seamless onboarding, frictionless withdrawals, and transparent data handling will become loyalty drivers.
The complexity of today’s threat landscape means no single operator can fight alone. Intelligence sharing will become the cornerstone of industry-wide defence. This is where Continent 8’s Threat Exchange sets a new benchmark.
Launched in late 2025, Threat Exchange is the industry’s first dedicated cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform, engineered specifically for iGaming and online sports betting. It processes billions of signals daily, delivering real-time, actionable insights to operators, platform providers, and regulators.
Key capabilities include:
As I often say, “Threat Exchange is changing the game.” By leveraging our position as the industry’s trusted cybersecurity and hosting partner, we transform vast datasets into clear, actionable intelligence. This isn’t just about detecting threats – it’s about anticipating them and enabling proactive resilience.
Jurisdictions from Brazil to Finland are introducing competitive licensing models, while established markets like the UK are tightening advertising and security requirements. Compliance will increasingly rely on API-driven automation, enabling operators to feed regulators real-time data on transactions, safer gambling measures, and incident response.
To thrive in this environment, operators should:
Cybersecurity in iGaming is no longer about reacting to incidents – it’s about anticipating them. Those who harness intelligence, embrace collaboration, and embed security into every layer of their operations will not only survive but lead.
Meet Patrick and learn more about Continent 8’s cutting-edge cybersecurity and managed IT solutions at ICE Barcelona, Stand 2Q20.
As we approach the end of 2025, Justin Cosnett, Chief Product Officer, has been reflecting on what has been an extraordinary year for Continent 8 Technologies. Our mission to deliver secure, innovative, and customer-focused solutions has never been more important, and this year we’ve achieved milestones that truly set us apart. From expanding our global footprint to driving cutting-edge cloud and cybersecurity solutions, 2025 has been a year of recognition and success.
We were proud to be a double winner at the 2025 Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards during the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, taking home:
And that’s not all – Continent 8 was also named Data Centre and Cloud System Provider of the Year at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards, cementing our position as a trusted leader in the industry.
Here are eight standout moments that defined our journey in 2025.
Cybersecurity is at the heart of everything we do. This year, we launched the Continent 8 Threat Exchange, a collaborative platform that empowers customers to share threat intelligence and strengthen defences against evolving attacks. It’s a game-changer for proactive security.
As Patrick Gardner, our Chief Security Officer, said: “The Threat Exchange is a one-of-a-kind initiative for our industry. It gives customers the ability to collaborate and act on real-time intelligence, creating a stronger, united defence against cyber threats.”
In April, we hosted our annual Customer Advisory Board in Ireland, bringing together our trusted customers and partners. The event is designed to share insights and help shape the future of our services. These conversations are invaluable – they ensure we remain aligned with customer needs and market trends.
A proud moment for all of us was seeing our Founder and CEO, Michael Tobin, receive major industry recognition, ranking among the top global tech leaders in GamblingIQ’s Trusted 10 list. His vision and leadership continue to inspire our team and drive innovation across the business.
GamblingIQ’s commentary on Michael mentioned: “Michael Tobin has become one of the defining figures in iGaming infrastructure… In an industry often chasing the next big thing, Tobin embodies the kind of leadership that prioritises stability and sustainable growth without losing sight of innovation.”
We successfully migrated Sportingtech from a VMware-based environment to a Nutanix AHV hyperconverged infrastructure, delivering enhanced scalability, resilience, and compliance. This strategic move helped Sportingtech avoid a 42% increase in virtualisation costs following VMware licensing changes.
The cloud migration was no small feat:
Read the full case study here
Knowledge sharing is key to progress. This year, we launched the Ask The Expert podcast series, offering insights from specialists on topics like iGaming infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and compliance. We have welcomed guest speakers from AWS, Sportingtech and Nutanix. It’s become a valuable resource for the industry.
All the episodes can be viewed here
You can expect more episodes in 2026!
Our partnership with Alea went beyond technical collaboration – it became a platform for driving industry-wide awareness of the importance of cybersecurity for gaming. Alea, one of the fastest-growing iGaming aggregators, handles over 21,000 transactions per second and connects operators to 16,000+ games from 160 providers via a single API. Securing this scale of operations is critical, and together we’ve raised the bar for cybersecurity standards in the sector.
This collaboration was showcased at SBC Summit Lisbon, where we hosted a press conference to emphasise proactive security measures for operators and suppliers.
Security layers matter. We rolled out our MFA solution, adding an extra level of protection for customer environments and reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding critical systems. It also ensures regulatory compliance across iGaming jurisdictions and markets.
Continent 8’s one-step login solution, powered by MIRACL, has a proven success rate of 99.9%, taking on average just two seconds to login. It is also designed to reduce an organisation’s support costs.
We have recently signed a major US operator (more on that news soon!) and expect to announce some exciting partnerships in 2026.
We achieved ISO 50001 certification, demonstrating our dedication to energy efficiency and sustainability across our global data centre operations. This is an important step toward a greener future.
Michael Tobin said: “Achieving ISO 50001 certification is a significant step in our commitment to sustainability, and I’d like to congratulate all involved in this accomplishment. This certification ensures that our organisation is responsible for continuously enhancing our energy management system and implementing objective and best practices for energy efficiency.”
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2025 has been a year of innovation, collaboration, and growth. I want to thank our customers, partners, and the incredible Continent 8 team for making these achievements possible. As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to delivering secure, resilient, and forward-thinking solutions for the industry.
Weygandt tasked with nurturing long-term customer relationships and securing new partnerships
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces the appointment of Julia Weygandt as Head of Client Growth & New Business.
Based in Malta, Julia will spearhead strategic initiatives to drive customer growth and capture new market opportunities globally, working closely with the existing Sales team and Practice Leads.
Julia brings over 20 years of experience in gaming, entertainment, and technology, with a proven track record in commercial strategy, international market expansion, and strategic partnerships. Her career includes senior roles such as COO at G Games and Tornado Games, and Head of International Partnerships at GAMOMAT, where she successfully scaled operations and delivered significant revenue growth.
Julia is an active advocate for diversity and leadership in gaming, serving as a Board member for Global Gaming Women and leading partnerships for the Behind the Gloves initiative, which combines boxing and corporate engagement to support charitable causes.
Nick Nally, Chief Revenue Officer at Continent 8 Technologies, commented: “Julia’s appointment reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional value and growth opportunities for our customers. Her deep industry knowledge, commercial acumen, and passion for building strong partnerships make her an outstanding addition to our team. We are excited to see the impact she will have as we continue to expand globally.”
Julia Weygandt, Head of Client Growth & New Business, added: “I’ve known the Continent 8 team for a long time; they are a trusted and respected partner to the world’s leading iGaming operators and suppliers, and I am thrilled to join at such an exciting time. My focus will be on driving client success through innovative solutions and strategic growth initiatives, ensuring we continue to lead in this fast-evolving industry.”
Meet Julia Weygandt and the Continent 8 team at ICE Barcelona, 19-21 January at Stand 2Q20. To arrange a meeting, please visit https://lp.continent8.com/ice-barcelona-2026 or contact sales@continent8.com.
Brace tasked with leading and growing the company’s AWS practice
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces the promotion of David Brace to its executive leadership team.
In his new role, Brace will serve as practice lead for AWS solutions, spearheading the company’s continued expansion and innovation within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ecosystem.
The news follows Continent 8’s selection as an official AWS Solution Provider under the Solution Provider Program (SPP). This has enabled Continent 8 to augment its AWS portfolio, including Managed AWS Workloads, Managed Hybrid Network and AWS Cloud Migration.
Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “Over the past eight years at Continent 8, David has consistently demonstrated a deep and nuanced understanding of technology, infrastructure, and the regulatory landscape – both on industry panels and directly with our customers. His expertise is widely respected, and this promotion is a well-earned recognition of his contributions.
“David’s elevation to the executive team comes at a pivotal moment for our business, as we sharpen our strategic focus on cloud innovation. He is the ideal leader to drive our AWS practice forward, bringing vision, experience, and a customer-first mindset. With continued investment in this area, we’re committed to delivering AWS solutions that are secure, scalable, and tailored to the unique demands of the iGaming sector.”
David Brace, Chief Alliance & Partnership Officer, AWS, at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “I’m honoured to join the executive team and lead our AWS practice. The iGaming industry is evolving rapidly, and cloud adoption is central to that transformation. Our goal is to simplify the journey for our customers – whether they’re launching in new markets, navigating regulatory frameworks, or scaling their operations globally. With AWS and Continent 8’s combined capabilities, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver.”
Continent 8 has vast experience in delivering AWS solutions to the industry. The company has already delivered 90% of AWS Outposts in the industry to major brands in the regulated betting and gaming market, including FanDuel, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, and Hard Rock Digital.
Meet David Brace and members of Continent 8’s AWS practice at AWS re:Invent 2025, 1-5 December in Las Vegas. To arrange a meeting, please visit https://lp.continent8.com/aws-reinvent-2025 or contact sales@continent8.com.
Swimmer, an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band, brings a wealth of experience in technology and cybersecurity to the Council
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and tribal gaming industry, is proud to announce that Jerad Swimmer, Regional Sales Director, has been appointed as an Advisor to the Tribal Leadership Council (TLC). This prestigious appointment recognizes Jerad’s deep expertise and commitment to advancing technology solutions and robust cybersecurity strategies that support Tribal sovereignty and economic development.
The Tribal Leadership Council is a national organization committed to advancing the sovereignty, leadership, and long-term sustainability of Tribal nations across the United States. The TLC today announced the appointment of three new Advisors – Jerad Swimmer, Shane Urry, and Michael Kim.
As an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band, Swimmer brings a wealth of experience in technology infrastructure, cybersecurity and strategic partnerships across Indian Country. His career includes leadership roles in compliance and gaming regulation, providing him with a unique perspective on the intersection of digital innovation and protection, and Tribal enterprise.
“Being appointed as an Advisor to the Tribal Leadership Council is an incredible honor,” said Jerad Swimmer. “I look forward to collaborating with the admired Board of Directors and fellow Advisors to drive initiatives that strengthen sovereignty and create sustainable opportunities for Tribal communities. Technology and cybersecurity play a vital role in this journey, and I’m excited to contribute my experience to support these efforts.”
Jerad Swimmer will be attending GSATS Phoenix 2025 and is speaking on the panel titled ‘Tribal Gaming – Unique Challenges and Opportunities’ on November 13. To arrange a show meeting, please visit www.continent8.com or contact sales@continent8.com.
Bolton, tasked with accelerating growth within the company’s cybersecurity portfolio, brings over 20 years of experience to the role
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces the appointment of Rob Bolton as Cybersecurity Sales Director.
In recent years, the iGaming industry has faced significant cyber attacks driven largely by financial motives. The use of diverse payment methods, reliance on third party integrations and widespread use of mobile devices contribute to the industry being targeted.
His appointment follows several years of strategic investment by the company in its cybersecurity solutions, aimed at supporting operators and suppliers across the industry. This has included developing key offerings such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Threat Exchange, and a fully managed Security Operations Centre (SOC). These developments underscore the company’s commitment to delivering robust, scalable, and proactive security services that meet the evolving needs of its customers.
Bolton has vast experience leading US, EMEA and APAC revenue functions having worked at global MSSPs such as Versa Networks, Proofpoint and Infoblox. In his new role, he will oversee revenue growth across the company’s growing cybersecurity portfolio, engaging with CISOs and technical teams for Continent 8 and C8 Secure (a dedicated Continent 8 cybersecurity company) to identify the solutions required to best protect their business.
Patrick Gardner, Chief Security Officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rob to the team who brings over two decades of experience in sales and business development to Continent 8. His deep technical knowledge and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to evolve and enhance our solutions to best support our customers.”
Rob Bolton, Cybersecurity Sales Director at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “Continent 8’s portfolio and service offering in the iGaming industry is unique; their managed security solutions are built on over 27 years of industry experience. The recent launch of the Threat Exchange – the industry’s only cyber threat intelligence platform – is a prime example. I look forward to showcasing our security solutions to the industry, supporting customers with their cybersecurity challenges, and contributing to the company’s growth.”
Rob Bolton will be attending GSATS Phoenix 2025 and is speaking on the panel titled ‘Cyber Resiliency – Protecting the Gaming Industry’ on November 13. To arrange a show meeting, please visit www.continent8.com or contact sales@continent8.com.
Continent 8 Technologies’ Regional Sales Director, Jerad Swimmer, and Principal Solutions Architect, Tony Engel, recently attended TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow.
Here, Jerad and Tony share their key takeaways from the show.
Tony Engel (TE): It was another great event. The show was noticeably larger this year, with considerable growth in participation and an impressive expansion in educational track sessions, which was great to see.
Jerad Swimmer (JS): I absolutely agree with Tony – it was another great event! We had the opportunity to engage with CIOs, CTOs, CSOs, IT directors, IT managers and security analysts, demonstrating active interest from all levels of IT infrastructure and security leadership.
TE: A notable theme from this year’s event was the continued advancement of cybersecurity maturity across the industry. Attendees displayed deep technical expertise and a proactive commitment to implementing cybersecurity strategies, whether it’s security operations centers (SOCs) or vulnerability assessment and penetration tests (VAPTs). I can see the tides are changing, and they’re changing fast, which is great to see through the lens of a cybersecurity professional.
JS: 100%! Cybersecurity dominated our discussions, with significant interest in pen testing, the latest threat detection and response approaches, as well as the real-world benefits of cyber training and simulation methods to strengthen the human element within an organization’s security posture.
It was also interesting to see the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) as a key presentation track at this year’s event. I had the opportunity to attend some of the sessions which explored AI’s role as both a protective and adversarial entity and insights into how tribal casinos can monitor and protect their operations.
TE: As I mentioned earlier, cybersecurity evolves quickly, and this necessitates ongoing discussions with managed security service providers (MSSPs) to ensure the adoption of leading best practices. The increased visibility of cybersecurity as a core presentation track at the conference demonstrates the industry’s commitment to making cybersecurity a strategic priority, which is reassuring to see.
JS: Threat intelligence was a focal point at TribalNet, with tribal organizations actively seeking to integrate this capability into their security frameworks. The tribal gaming community will be pleased to hear that Continent 8 has just launched Threat Exchange – the industry’s first dedicated cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform. Purpose-built for the gaming community, this platform delivers actionable intelligence, providing tribal gaming entities with exclusive insights into emerging threats. This development enables tribal organizations to now make informed decisions and implement advanced measures to enhance the security of their gaming environments.
If you’re also looking to further the conversation on cybersecurity for tribal gaming, we invite you to visit Booth #4235 at G2E Las Vegas, from October 7-9. Book a meeting today and we’ll be happy to schedule a time with you at the show: https://lp.continent8.com/global-gaming-expo-2025
Continent 8 provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your tribal organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how Continent 8 can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email sales@continent.com or fill out our Contact Us page.
Download the tribal cybersecurity checklist to start your proactive cybersecurity journey.
Also, be sure to watch the latest episode in our Tribal Talks: Cybersecurity Unlocked podcast series. Each episode delves into new stories, insights gained, best practices and key developments that are shaping the future of tribal casino gaming and cybersecurity.
Tribal Talks: Cybersecurity Unlocked
As the iGaming and online sports betting industry faces increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, Continent 8 is proud to launch Threat Exchange – the sector’s first dedicated cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform.
Below, we answer some of the most pressing questions regarding the solution and how it is tailored for incident response teams, operators, platform providers, B2B gaming technology companies and regulators.
A cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform collects, analyses and shares information about current and emerging cyber threats to help organisations anticipate, detect and respond to attacks more effectively. It typically includes:
CTI platforms are essential for building a proactive security posture, especially in high-risk industries like iGaming and online sports betting.
Threat Exchange is a managed cyber threat intelligence platform designed specifically for the iGaming and online sports betting industry. It delivers real-time, sector-specific insights to help incident response teams, operators, platform providers, B2B gaming technology companies and regulators detect and share information on emerging threats, sharpen awareness and act with confidence.
Unlike generic CTI solutions, Threat Exchange is purpose-built for iGaming. It leverages Continent 8’s and C8 Secure’s unique position as both an internet service provider (ISP) and managed security service provider (MSSP) in the industry, offering exclusive intelligence, real-time threat correlation and honeypot-driven insights tailored to gaming environments.
Threat Exchange addresses the following critical challenges:
Cyber Threat Exchange’s key features include:
Whether you’re protecting high-value player accounts, monitoring threats during major sporting events or securing gaming APIs, Threat Exchange is designed to meet the needs of the industry. The solution is suitable for:
Threat Exchange offers several tiers, from a community tier with basic access to advanced tiers with predictive analytics and premium add-ons. Each tier is designed to meet different operational needs and cybersecurity maturity levels.
It’s important that businesses take a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity to ensure full protection. Add-on services include:
We’re excited for the launch but we’re already looking to the future. Developments include:
Contact your Continent 8 account manager or visit Threat Exchange to request a demo, explore pricing tiers and see how Threat Exchange can elevate your cybersecurity posture.
The sector-specific platform equips iGaming and online sports betting operators, platform providers and B2B gaming technology companies with real-time insights to stay ahead of cyber threats
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, introduces Threat Exchange – the industry’s first dedicated cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform. This game-changing solution equips incident response teams, operators, platform providers, B2B gaming technology companies and regulators with actionable, real-time intelligence to proactively detect and share information on emerging threats, enhance incident response and deepen understanding of the threat landscape.
The iGaming and online sports betting industry: a prime target for cyber threats
The iGaming sector remains a primary target for cyber attacks, driven by the substantial volume of financial transactions and high-value customer data – recent analysis reveals a surge of over 400% in cyber incidents impacting both online and land-based casino operators since February 2025. Today’s critical cybersecurity challenge is the ability to efficiently manage and analyse large-scale, complex datasets to detect and correlate emerging, sector-specific threats in real time. Threat Exchange directly addresses these requirements with a dedicated CTI platform engineered to:
Patrick Gardner, Chief Security Officer at Continent 8 said: “Threat Exchange is changing the game, providing unrivalled visibility into the behaviours and tactics of threat actors. Leveraging our position as the industry’s cybersecurity partner, we are able to analyse vast and complex datasets and deliver the results in a clear, actionable format. Customers have consistently asked for greater intelligence and deeper analysis, and Threat Exchange is our response – a purpose-built solution designed to meet the unique security challenges of the iGaming and online sports betting industry.”
Continent 8 will be exhibiting at G2E Las Vegas, from 7-9 October at Booth 4235. To schedule a demo of Threat Exchange at the show, please visit https://lp.continent8.com/global-gaming-expo-2025.