October 23, 2024 2 min read

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Fact-checked by Velimir Velichkov

Huge Gambling Site Network Linked to Polyfill Supply Chain Hack, Report

The network of websites reportedly included copycat versions, impersonating recognizable brands and operators such as Sands, Bet365 and Bwin, among others

In the digital age, cyber threats, attacks and scams are not uncommon. With the development of technology, cyberattacks have become more complex and in some cases can affect millions of consumers without them even knowing.

Supply Chain Attack Linked to Gambling Websites

Earlier this year, one of the largest digital supply chain attacks was launched. The case that raises eyebrows involved the purchase of a domain called Polyfill.io by the little-known company, FUNNULL. The aforementioned domain helped host an open-source JavaScript library.

This library was available for websites that could embed it and deliver different features. The transfer of ownership sounded the alarm, and further concerns were raised after the owner of Polyfill confirmed that they were not the owners and never owned the domain Polyfill.io.

Now, extensive research by Silent Push, in collaboration with TechCrunch, claims that FUNNULL was tied to a network of thousands of gambling websites, primarily in Chinese. The recent probe tied the network of gambling websites to the supply chain attack by Polyfill.io, although the exact goal of the supply chain attack remains unclear.

Online Gambling Ring Suspected of Being Tied to Money Laundering

The research uncovered that FUNNULL allegedly leveraged Polyfill.io to redirect visitors to copycat online gambling and casino websites, while at the same time injecting malware. Zach Edwards, senior threat analyst and researcher who focused on the recent report, cited by TechCrunch, revealed: “It appears likely that this ‘online gambling network’ is a front.” Moreover, the expert said that it looks like FUNNULL is currently behind “one of the largest online gambling rings on the internet.”

According to the probe, some 40,000 websites hosted by FUNNULL featured domains with lots of similarities, were mostly in Chinese, and impersonated popular casino operators and online brands for the region. Allegedly, the casino websites impersonated SunCity Group, Bet365, Bwin, as well as Sands and Macau’s Grand Lisboa.

What’s suspected so far is that the network of fraudulent websites is somehow used for money laundering. This doesn’t come as a surprise as cyberattacks often focus on generating proceeds. It is unclear whether the hosting of the copycat websites can lead to legal troubles for the company. Certainly, gambling operators may consider fighting the black market as after all, the illegal gambling sector leads to losses for licensed casinos.

Journalist

Jerome is a welcome new addition to the Gambling News team, bringing years of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry begun after he graduated from college where he played in regular local poker tournaments which eventually lead to exposure towards the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now puts all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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