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ESET Research analyzes tools from the China-aligned TheWizards group, with targets across Asia and the Middle East

ESET researchers have analyzed Spellbinder, a lateral movement tool used to perform adversary-in-the-middle attacks by the China-aligned threat actor TheWizards. Spellbinder enables adversary-in-the-middle attacks through IPv6 stateless address autoconfiguration spoofing, which allows the attackers to redirect the update protocols of legitimate Chinese software to malicious servers. Then the legitimate software is tricked into downloading and executing the malicious components that launch the backdoor WizardNet.
TheWizards has been constantly active since at least 2022 until the present and, according to ESET telemetry, targets individuals, gambling companies, and unknown entities in the Philippines, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, mainland China, and Hong Kong.
“We initially discovered and analyzed this tool in 2022, and observed a new version with a few changes that was deployed to compromised machines in 2023 and 2024,” says ESET researcher Facundo Muñoz, who analyzed Spellbinder and WizardNet. “Our research led us to discover a tool used by the attackers that is designed to perform adversary-in-the-middle attacks using IPv6 SLAAC spoofing to intercept and reply to packets in a network, allowing the attackers to redirect traffic and serve malicious updates to legitimate Chinese software,” explains Muñoz.
The final payload in the attack is a backdoor that we named WizardNet – a modular implant that connects to a remote controller to receive and execute .NET modules on the compromised machine. ESET researchers have focused on one of the latest cases, in 2024, in which the update of Tencent QQ software was hijacked. The malicious server that issues the update instructions is still active. This variant of WizardNet supports five commands, three of which allow it to execute .NET modules in memory, thus extending its functionality on the compromised system.
TheWizards and the Chinese company Dianke Network Security Technology (also known as UPSEC) – supplier of the DarkNights backdoor (also known as DarkNimbus), appear to be linked. According to NCSC UK, this malicious backdoor also has Tibetan and Uyghur communities among its primary targets. While TheWizards uses a different backdoor – the WizardNet, the hijacking server is configured to serve DarkNights to updating applications running on Android devices.
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Caesars Sportsbook Accepts its First Sports Wagers in Oregon Through a Partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe

Caesars Entertainment Inc. accepted sports wagers in Oregon for the first time, made possible through a partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe in Coos Bay. The ceremonial first bet was placed on Caesars Sportsbook self-service wagering kiosks inside the Coquille Indian Tribe’s premier gaming and hospitality destination, Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay, previously known as The Mill Casino, which now celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Caesars has enhanced Coquille’s sports viewing experience at its premier destination with a large fleet of Caesars Sportsbook self-service betting kiosks, conveniently located on the casino floor. These kiosks feature a best-in-class wagering menu with a wide array of same game parlays, player props, futures and live in-play markets. Sports fans 21 and older can enjoy the gold standard of sports wagering, including unmatched full college sports offerings which are not otherwise available on a statewide mobile basis in Oregon, reflecting Caesars’ and the Coquille Indian Tribe’s shared commitment to providing world-class experiences.
“We remain committed to supporting Indian gaming, and we’re proud to partner with the Coquille Indian Tribe to enhance their guest experience. Bringing our sports wagering offering to a new jurisdiction for the first time is always significant, and we know offering our expansive menu of sports wagering markets will undoubtedly enhance the exceptional experience that the Coquille Indian Tribe provides to its guests,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.
“We are proud to have this iconic gaming brand join us, as both brands have represented excellence in the industry for decades. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing gaming opportunities and enhancing guest satisfaction. We are excited to collaborate with such a distinguished brand and look forward to creating even more memorable sports wagering experiences for our guests,” said Margaret Simpson, CEO of the Coquille Economic Development Corporation.
Oregon’s newest in-person sports wagering destination at Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay provides a responsible environment for guests to wager on their favourite sporting events, supported by the longstanding commitment to Responsible Gaming that both Caesars and the Coquille Indian Tribe have upheld for decades.
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Light & Wonder Completes Acquisition of Grover Gaming’s Charitable Gaming Assets

Light & Wonder Inc. announced it has completed its previously disclosed acquisition of Grover Gaming’s charitable gaming assets for total consideration of $850 million cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and a four-year revenue-based earn-out of up to $200 million cash.
“Grover Gaming has established itself as a leader in the fast-growing charitable gaming space. Bringing their assets and expertise into our ecosystem aligns perfectly with our strategy to expand into complementary regulated markets. This addition enhances our position as the leading global cross-platform games company and opens new opportunities to deliver our world-class content to even more players. We’re excited to welcome the Grover team to Light & Wonder,” said Matt Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder.
“Joining Light & Wonder marks an exciting new chapter for the charitable gaming business. We’re proud of what we’ve built in the charitable gaming space, and we see tremendous opportunity to grow even further as part of Light & Wonder. Our teams share a passion for innovation and a commitment to serving customers and communities, and we’re excited to take that to the next level together,” said Brian Brown, CEO of Grover Gaming (Light & Wonder’s new division).
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Pavilion Payments Names Alyssa Beaver Senior Vice President of Sales

Pavilion Payments, the leader in omnichannel payment solutions for the gaming industry, has announced the appointment of Alyssa Beaver as Senior Vice President of Sales. In this role, Alyssa will lead Pavilion Payments’ brick-and-mortar sales organisation, working closely with the leadership team to drive growth and foster long-term relationships with new and existing customers. She will also be key in enhancing the company’s market footprint by cultivating strong, collaborative partnerships across product, operations, and service teams.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alyssa to the Pavilion Payments team. Alyssa has a proven track record in sales leadership, and her deep understanding of both the gaming and fintech industries will be invaluable as we continue our growth. Her customer-centric approach, strategic mindset, and collaborative leadership style will help us continue to innovate and deliver outstanding solutions to our customers,” said Dan Connors, CEO of Pavilion Payments.
“I’m excited to join Pavilion Payments at such a pivotal time of innovation and growth. I look forward to working with our incredible team to help our partners grow, enhance the player experience, and deliver meaningful value to the industry,” said Alyssa Beaver, Senior Vice President of Sales at Pavilion Payments.
Alyssa’s extensive experience in sales and marketing comes from her recent leadership role at Passport Technology, where she led the sales and marketing teams and was instrumental in driving significant revenue and organizational growth. During this time, she played a critical role in landing several major enterprise accounts and expanding the company’s market presence.
Before her work at Passport, Alyssa held senior sales positions at Apriva and gained experience at Paycom, where she built a strong foundation in fintech and SaaS solutions across diverse sectors such as education, healthcare, and military.
Her ability to build relationships, close large deals, and scale sales teams has set her apart as a sales leader. Alyssa is passionate about fostering partnerships and collaborating across teams to create customer-first solutions that drive business success. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.
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