Author: Oliver Dale

TLDR Ohio lawmakers are considering legalizing online casino and lottery games (iGaming and iLottery) A study commission has signaled potential support for these expansions Some lawmakers suggest a cautious approach, possibly starting with online poker Concerns exist about cannibalization of brick-and-mortar casinos The move is seen as addressing the reality of Ohioans already using illicit online gambling markets Ohio lawmakers are examining the possibility of legalizing online casino and lottery games, a move that could significantly alter the state’s gambling landscape. The Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio, which recently concluded its work, has signaled potential support…

TLDR The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) is developing model legislation for legal online gambling The draft legislation aims to cover areas including tax rates, responsible gaming, and licensing NCLGS plans to release a draft for public comment by August 1, with final approval expected in December Only seven US states currently have legal iGaming, despite its potential for higher revenue than sports betting Experts discuss concerns such as cannibalization of brick-and-mortar casinos and anti-money laundering measures The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) is crafting model legislation to provide a framework for states considering…

TLDR AI development has reached a plateau due to a lack of high-quality training data. The next breakthrough in AI is likely to come from leveraging workplace data. There are concerns about AI companies potentially misusing business data for training. Four key opportunities for AI startups include engaging experts, leveraging latent data, capturing data in context, and securing proprietary information. The rapid development of AI poses significant societal and ethical challenges that require urgent attention. The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, with recent developments suggesting both exciting possibilities and concerning challenges. As we stand at the cusp…

TLDR The game features over 150 bite-sized challenges from 13 classic NES games. It focuses on speedrunning, with players trying to complete challenges as quickly as possible. The game includes multiplayer modes for up to 8 players, both local and online. It offers weekly online events and leaderboards for global competition. While nostalgic, the game’s focus on short challenges may frustrate some players wanting full game experiences. Nintendo has launched a new take on classic gaming with “Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition” for the Nintendo Switch. This unique collection brings together moments from 13 iconic NES games, challenging players to…

TLDR Netflix has over 80 games in development, many based on Netflix’s own IP. The company plans to release about one game per month in its Netflix Stories series. Netflix’s gaming business remains “quite small” but is meeting growth targets. The company has released over 100 games so far and is refining its approach based on user engagement. Netflix sees games as a way to keep fans engaged between seasons of shows and potentially introduce new storylines. Netflix, the streaming giant known for its vast library of movies and TV shows, is making significant strides in the gaming industry. With…

TLDR Over 200 developers at Bethesda Game Studios have formed a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). 241 workers, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers, have joined the union. This is the first “wall-to-wall” union at a Microsoft video game studio, meaning all eligible job titles are represented. Microsoft has recognized the union. The unionization follows similar efforts at other Microsoft-owned studios like ZeniMax and Activision. Nore than 200 developers at Bethesda Game Studios, the renowned creator of franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, have successfully unionized. The workers have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA),…

TLDR LinkedIn is introducing AI-powered career advice and games to increase daily user visits. The platform reported “record engagement” of 1.5 million content interactions per minute in June 2024. Site visits grew 5% year-over-year in June, down from higher growth rates in previous years. LinkedIn is aiming to broaden its platform beyond job searching to drive growth and revenue. The company is also enhancing its advertising business and using AI to generate content. LinkedIn, the professional networking platform owned by Microsoft, is taking steps to transform itself from a job-search site to a daily destination for its users. The company…

Key Points: CyberGhost VPN received 534,449 legal requests in Q2 2024, a 44% increase from Q1. Malicious activity flags made up 61.7% of all requests, followed by DMCA complaints at 38.2%. The company received only 2 police requests in Q2. CyberGhost VPN underwent another security audit by Deloitte Audit Romania. The company reported on several major cyber attacks that occurred during Q2 2024. CyberGhost VPN, a leading virtual private network provider, has released its Transparency Report for the second quarter of 2024, covering April, May, and June. The report shows a significant increase in legal requests and highlights the company’s…

Key points: CrowdStrike’s faulty software update affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices globally. The outage impacted critical services including airports, banks, and hospitals. Microsoft released a USB tool to help IT administrators repair affected Windows systems. Chinese cybersecurity firms used the incident to promote their own products. Experts suggest the update likely skipped necessary quality checks before deployment. On July 19, 2024, a routine software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused widespread disruption to computer systems around the world. The update, which was meant to improve security, instead resulted in one of the largest tech outages in recent years. According…

Key points: Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has increased its Bitcoin holdings to 245.99 BTC, worth approximately $16.7 million. The company’s latest purchase of 20.38 BTC valued at $1.2 million completes its goal of acquiring 1 billion yen worth of Bitcoin. Metaplanet’s stock price has surged, rising 25% on Monday and over 800% year-to-date. The firm is using Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and economic instability in Japan, earning it the nickname “Asia’s MicroStrategy.” Metaplanet plans to continue accumulating Bitcoin using long-term yen debt and occasional new share issuances. Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has seen its bold Bitcoin strategy pay…

Key points: Hamster Kombat players are being targeted by phishing scams, particularly through fake airdrop claims and token conversion promises. The game has gained over 250 million users in less than 100 days, making it an attractive target for scammers. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has detected various fraudulent schemes targeting Hamster Kombat users. Scammers are using psychological manipulation to trick users into revealing login credentials and crypto wallet information. The rise in phishing attacks correlates with the game’s growing popularity and plans to launch its own cryptocurrency token. The wildly popular mobile game Hamster Kombat has become the latest battleground for…

Key points: Donald Trump is reportedly considering Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, for US Treasury Secretary if he wins the 2024 election. Fink and Trump have a history of mutual respect, with BlackRock having managed Trump’s investment portfolio in the past. This choice aligns with Trump’s recent trend of associating with crypto-friendly figures, as Fink has become more positive about Bitcoin. There are conflicting reports about whether JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is also being considered for the position. The relationship between Trump and Fink is described as an unlikely but potentially beneficial pairing for the country. Former President Donald Trump…

Key points: Bitcoin price has surged above $68,000, with bulls aiming for the $70,000 level. The cryptocurrency is trading above key support levels, including the 100-hour Simple Moving Average. Bitcoin has shown a 10.4% week-to-date gain and a 6.6% increase for July. Analysts are optimistic about Bitcoin’s price action, noting successful retests of previous resistance levels as new support. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has shifted dramatically from “extreme fear” to near “extreme greed” in just one week. Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency, has once again captured the attention of investors as its price surged past the $68,000 mark,…

Key points: President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, citing concerns about his fitness for office. Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. The decision comes after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump raised doubts about Biden’s capabilities. Bitcoin briefly surged above $68,000 following the news, before settling around $67,500. Crypto betting markets had predicted Biden’s dropout hours before the official announcement. President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, sending shockwaves through both political and financial circles. The decision, which comes less than four months…

Key points: AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is increasing online, particularly on dark web forums. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) found a 17% increase in AI-generated CSAM images over a 6-month period. Most AI-generated CSAM involves manipulating existing abuse footage or adult pornography rather than fully synthetic videos. Experts warn that as AI technology improves, the volume and realism of such content could increase. This trend poses challenges for law enforcement and tech companies in detecting and preventing such material. The proliferation of artificial intelligence technology has led to an alarming increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM)…