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In what was deemed to be a promising showing for Team Falcons as one of the hyped teams to put up a fight against Team Vitality – arguably their most challenging opponent heading into this competition. Now all those talks would be fading into the distance as the Falcons are set for an early break and will now move on from their hopes of getting a chance at the major. No one expected the Falcons to lose this early, especially when they have been winning impressive games and have certainly found ways to win when it matters most. Not this time against MIBR, however, and now it seems that the team is set to get back to the drawing board with the hopes of eventually figuring out their woes and try to solve their struggles moving forward. To be fair, the Falcons are a top pick to watch out for at the beginning of the tournament, and this is going to be quite a sting. The team fell flat when it mattered most, and they could not find ways to answer the call, which says a lot about how it is expected from the team to be playing at the high level like their contender peers do for most of the season. A Disappointing Loss Falcons initially controlled the series with a win at Ancient to conclude a 13-6 rally in the match opener as the T side, showing that they are going to dictate the series. However, the games got a little bit interesting when they pushed for Game 2 at Nuke, where MIBR caught the Falcons sleeping to take a 10-2 lead in the map. Despite a 7-2 run from the Falcons, MIBR worked well to deny them the comeback and claimed a 13-9 finish to tie the series at 1-1, forcing a series-decider to ensure that they would not go down without a fight. As expected, both teams put up a stand in the final map, which proved to be quite fun to watch as it was decided in Inferno – of all maps. Falcons started by winning the first three rounds, but MIBR responded to take an 8-4 leaf by the half and showed that this is going to be a fun ride for both teams. MIBR did not let up in the second half and won the pistol and conversion rounds. Falcons tried to claw their way back with six wins in the next rounds to even it up at 10-10, forcing an overtime. By Round 42, fans were treated to a massive roller coaster finish, but it was MIBR who stole the show with a defuse to win the game. A Disappointing Finish Considering that the Falcons fielded a strong group composed of Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, the team was definitely expected to win no matter what. However, this ending has shaken a lot of the “favorite” talks at this point, and that no lead is safe when it comes to these majors. For what it’s worth, m0NESY did step up well in the loss with 30 frags and seven assists on 26 deaths. NiKo, however, did not show up for his big game as he only had 18 frags and eight assists against 24 deaths. Now, it is going to be a long, tough break for the Falcons, and this is indeed a tough look for the team at this point in time.

Play'n GO has been under scrutiny after it was found that some of its most popular game titles, such as Book of Dead, can be found in several unregulated platforms in regulated markets like Germany and the Netherlands. This comes as a surprise, especially since its CEO made a definitive declaration that it didn't support illegal sweepstakes platforms and that it will not supply its games to these platforms. Play'n GO, one of the leading developers in the online casino industry, is facing mounting scrutiny following revelations that its games are being offered on unlicensed gambling websites. These platforms, including Goldspin and FoxyGold.com, cater to players in heavily regulated markets like Germany and the Netherlands, despite lacking the necessary approvals to operate there. The controversy is particularly striking given Play'n GO's recent public declarations positioning itself as a champion of regulatory integrity. Just weeks ago, the company made headlines for its vocal opposition to sweepstakes casinos - sites that operate in a legal gray area under US promotional sweepstakes laws but are not officially licensed as gambling platforms. A commitment to regulated markets in public In May, Play'n GO Chief Executive Officer Johan Tornqvist drew a clear line in the sand. He stated unequivocally that the company would not do business with sweepstakes casinos, citing their non-compliance with regulatory standards. Supporting this stance, Shawn Fluharty, Play'n GO's Head of Government Affairs, warned that aligning with such entities could have long-term consequences. "Anyone doing business with sweepstakes casinos today will find it very difficult to do business in a future regulated market," cautioned Fluharty at the time. The company's strong words aimed to solidify its reputation as a strictly regulation-aligned developer. But the recent discovery of its flagship titles - such as the immensely popular 'Book of Dead' - on sites that fall outside of regulated frameworks has cast a shadow over that narrative. Games appear on unlicensed sites Despite its declared commitment to compliance, Play'n GO's games have surfaced on sites operating under Curacao licenses. These platforms, while legal in certain jurisdictions, are considered unauthorized in markets like Germany and the Netherlands, where strict licensing requirements apply. In response, Fluharty acknowledged the issue but sought to downplay its significance. He suggested that low site traffic and VPN usage may account for the presence of the games. Moreover, he indicated the games could be available via larger reseller networks, complicating enforcement efforts. "If there is suspicion that they are also providing games to regulated jurisdictions without the proper licenses in place, then the relevant regulators should be notified so they may take appropriate action," said Fluharty. Industry distribution challenges The situation sheds light on a persistent challenge within the online gambling ecosystem: the reliance on resellers and content aggregators. While these intermediaries help game developers distribute their products globally, they also pose significant risks in terms of compliance. In Play'n GO's case, this model may have allowed their games to appear on unauthorized platforms, despite the company's intention to remain within the bounds of legality. However, critics argue that intention alone is not enough. For a company that has positioned itself as a regulatory standard-bearer, failing to control where its games end up undermines both its credibility and the integrity of the regulated market it claims to support. Moral high ground in question Play'n GO's hard stance against sweepstakes casinos now appears more for performance and less about principles. Sweepstakes sites, while controversial, do not involve real-money gambling in the traditional sense and operate under US promotional law frameworks. In contrast, the black market gambling sites where Play'n GO's games are now found pose a far greater risk to consumers - offering real-money betting with no legal protections or oversight. This discrepancy has led critics to question whether Play'n GO's opposition to sweepstakes casinos was less about regulatory conformity and more about optics. Critics say that if the company truly values compliance and consumer protection, it must ensure consistent enforcement across all distribution channels.