We have reported numerous times over the last few months of online gaming players data been sold, which has included usernames and passwords. This week an online operator has had to publically announce that a database of players data was stolen back in 2009. It has NOW decided to warn players that if they used the same usernames and passwords for other accounts then they should immediately change them. Furthermore it is warning players to check their bank accounts for any fraudulent activity.

Why Bet24.com is finally doing the right thing there are a number of other operators that should have also warned the public sometime ago. However like what Bet24.com has done over the last 19 months they are trying to keep quiet about the matter even though their members are at significant risk. Foxy Bingo is one of the guiltiest companies of this after their recent data breach which included all personal details of players being openly sold. They have refused to inform the public of the breach to 'protect their brand'.

Bet24.com warned customers on Monday that their personal data may have been exposed by a breach that took place in December 2009. The company claimed that while the breach happened sometime ago that they did take measures at the time by resetting passwords on player accounts. The problem is that most gambling websites such as online bingo, players play at multiple different brands and use the same usernames and passwords as we found out in our investigations. It is highly unlikely that other operators will reset their members accounts if they do not know a breach has occurred and who it effects.

"We have been informed by police authorities that they have arrested third party individuals who were in possession of unauthorised copies of personal customer information relating to various companies including Bet24," Chief Executive, Thomas Petersen stated in a statement.

"The Bet24 customer information was stolen from Bet24 by means of illegal electronic access to our database, which is believed to have taken place in December 2009. We have no information to indicate any unauthorised access to our database or breach of our security systems since December 2009, and we have no reason to believe that accounts registered after 31 October 2009 are affected in any way."

Data stolen from Bet24 included customer names, addresses, email addresses, user account IDs, account passwords and encrypted payment card numbers. The company has admitted that the stolen data had been used in instances of fraud on its site, adding that victims had been reimbursed.

"The stolen information is so far known to have been used to access a limited number of customers' Bet24 accounts, third-party accounts and personal email accounts," Petersen wrote. "A small number of customers have alerted us to unauthorised activity on their Bet24 accounts and we have fully reimbursed them for any financial loss incurred on their accounts."

In this case it is reported that a hacker gained access to the Bet24 database which included usernames and passwords of the players. The online operator claims that following the breach it has been working with unnamed police authorities into the breach. The breach only affects accounts registered prior to the end of October 2009.

As a precaution players are urged to monitor their bank and online gaming accounts for suspicious activity and ensure they do not use the same passwords on multiple sites. Players are also urged to change passwords on their personal email accounts if they used the same details. The company claims that the encrypted payment card information has not "to our knowledge" been decrypted, with a subsequent review by internet security specialists confirming that the level of encryption on the site is very high.

"In addition, no payment card security codes are stored on the Bet24 database," the company advises.

"We are working closely with the police authorities to establish how the information was stolen, how it has been used, and which customers are affected," the advisory emphasises. "We implemented a thorough security review in 2010, which included an audit by industry specialists and simulated hacker penetration tests, and we have further upgraded the security of our network.

"The Bet24 passwords for all customers who had registered accounts as at 28 April 2007 were reset during 2010. We continue to monitor our systems and customer transactions constantly, and to upgrade our systems regularly."

“If you have ever used your Bet24 password for your email account, then please immediately change your email account password and then change all passwords that you use for any other accounts including your BET24 account

“If you have not used your Bet24 password for your email account but have used it for any other services or accounts, please immediately change the passwords for such services or accounts

“If you believe that your Bet24 account has been compromised in any way, please contact us immediately by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it